Disclaimer: I was compensated for my time in exchange for my honest review. Opinions and viewpoints are my own.
The closer it gets to summer, the more homeschoolers start to plan – and worry – about next year’s curriculum. Should you continue on with what you’ve been using or try something different? Well I’ve got a great option you can consider for Science, and that’s Sonlight!
My kiddo works on different grade levels for a variety of subjects, but for Science I like him to stay around his age and grade level. He has plenty of time to revisit the sciences and keeping things simple makes me confident he understands the foundational learning and that he doesn’t get frustrated by more complex concepts. With Sonlight, we tried out their Science C for 3rd – 5th graders. Sonlight gives you solid a Literature-based learning using a trusted selection of titles to aid the 36 week course. With Sonlight, the key word here is simplicity. Everything you need comes in your Sonlight shipping box including:
- A Discover and Go Box of Science Supplies for Experiments
- A Binder ready Instructor’s Guide with student activity pages
- 12 Hardback and Paperback Books on Science
- An Experiments Paper Packet for Science C
Sonlight Science C is a Low-Prep, All-in-one solution that doesn’t take hours of planning or a mad hunt around town for experiment supplies. It’s well written, the curated books will find a permanent place on your bookshelves, and by the end of the course your learner will have a great 3rd – 5th grade science education. In this course alone for Science C they’ll study Forces and Interactions, Life Systems and Cycles, Weather and Climate, and Engineering Design.
So let’s jump into it and address the thing that homeschoolers need to know but a lot of folks try to avoid talking about – is it Secular or Christian? First, so that you understand my personal point of view before I give you an opinion of this curriculum – I am a born again Christian who believes that Jesus Christ is my personal savior. You don’t hear me talk about this in regards to homeschool and resources because my religious beliefs are my own. Mine.
And because of that, you need to chose materials for YOUR family that edify your beliefs.
Now, with that said, I am a secular homeschooler. Shocked? Don’t be. I guide, but don’t coerce, my child to follow my beliefs and I would like him to make an intelligent and personal decision about his relationship with God just like I did when I was a child. Religion for us is a separate study in my homeschool. There are too many sects of belief within Christianity itself for me to trust that all curriculum vendors will get it right for me, so I steer clear from materials that go too far in either the religious OR secular direction in teaching subjects. Especially science.
Sonlight has a well thought through introduction to their approach in teaching science right in the first pages of the Instructor’s guide and begins the curriculum with a verse from Genesis. So is Sonlight Christian? Yes. Is it my kind of Christian? Yes. Science is science here but God is not excluded and this Mama gives it a cfull two thumbs up. It’s written from a perspective that leaves plenty of room for your personal beliefs and explains how to do it. Bravo Sonlight.
Whew! Now back to the curriculum.
Don’t expect to get lost while using Sonlight Science C – it’s everything you need in one place, remember? Even your Book list is right in the Instructor’s Guide with notations of when you’ll use each book. Same goes for the Science Supply list. You can chose to do 4 or 5 days a week of Science. I chose 5 days a week. Your choice will reflect in the weekly schedule you’re given for course. Each week includes an easy to follow columnar chart of what to read and what to do for each day. For an independent learner, you could hand them their books and materials and let them go or for those of us that share homeschooling duties with another parent, you could hand over the day’s science lesson off without discussion.
For me, Sonlight Science C makes a great parent/kiddo hybrid curriculum. I add the day’s reading and activity to Cash’s homeschool planner and he completes the work in about 30 minutes, on his own. Later in the day, I use the answer key from the Instructor’s Guide to check over his work. On experiment days, which are once per week (sourced from the included title, Discover & Do 3rd Grade Science Experiments), I gather materials for him and then observe the experiment, helping when needed. Most times, I still sit down with him and join in the fun because who doesn’t like a science experiment?
The learning is clear, concise, and enjoyable. My kid works on his science independently. I’m confident that the learning is science based but doesn’t erode our family’s beliefs. It’s easy to implement and complete. Long story short, we are loving Sonlight Science C. If you’re looking for a solid science for your homeschool, Sonlight may be exactly what you’re looking for! Head to their website and see for yourself.
Remember when I posted about Sonlight’s 50 States Unity Study? You can try it too! Enter to win below:
Giveaway — Enter to Win 50 States Unit Study!
@Mamasweetbaby 
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