As homeschoolers, we have loads of options to teach science at home and tons of resources at our fingertips to show our students about the principles of science! This month, I wanted to share some of our favorites with you all.

This list is a huge one, so I am going to break it down into two categories - encyclopedias and living books. You can use this list as you create your own plans. But many of these are already scheduled in one our programs, so if you don't want to do the work of pulling it all together learn more about how we can help you teach science at home.

Enjoy!

Encyclopedias

Encyclopedias are highly visual and packed with scientific facts. Here are a few of our favorites arranged from by subject from youngest to oldest:

General Science

• Usborne First Science Encyclopedia 
• Usborne Science Encyclopedia 
• Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia 
• Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Science 
• DK Encyclopedia of Science 
• Science: The Definitive Visual Guide 

Biology

• Kingfisher First Encyclopedia of Animals 
• DK Encyclopedia of Animals 
• Kingfisher First Human Body Encyclopedia 
• DK First Human Body Encyclopedia 
• Plant Parts (Life of Plant Series) 
• Encyclopedia of Nature
• DK Eyewitness Human Body

Earth Science

• Planet Earth: What planet are you on? 
• Rocks & Fossils: A Gem of a Book
• Discover Science ~ Planet Earth
• Discover Science ~ Weather
• Discover Science ~ Rocks & Fossils
• DK First Earth Encyclopedia 
• Usborne Encyclopedia of Planet Earth

Astronomy

• Astronomy: Out of this World 
• Discover Science ~ Solar System
• DK First Encyclopedia of Space
• Glow in the Dark Constellations 
• DK Eyewitness Astronomy 
• Exploring the Night Sky

Chemistry

• Fizz, Bubble, Flash 
• Chemistry: Getting a Big Reaction 
• The Periodic Table: Elements with Style
• DK Eyewitness Chemistry

Physics

• Gizmos and Gadgets 
• Physics: Why Matter Matters
• The New Way Things Work

Living Books

Living books are incredible tools to inspire our students to love learning about science. Here are a few of our favorites:

Early Elementary Students

• The Let’s Read & Find Out About It series by various authors, such as Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean
• Parables of Nature by Margaret S. Gatty
• The Among the… series by Clara Dillingham Pierson, such asAmong the Farmyard People

Elementary Students

• The Sassafras Science Adventures series by Johnny Congo and Paige Hudson, such as The Sassafras Science Adventures Volume 1: Zoology
• Any of the science-themed books by Thornton Burgess, such asThe Burgess Bird Book for Children
• The Stories Mother Nature Told Her Children by Jane Andrews
• The Storybook of Science by Jeani Fabre

Middle School Students

• The Living History Library series has books on scientists by various authors, such as Galen and the Gateway to Medicine
• The Story of Science series by Joy Hakim’s, such as The Story of Science: Aristotle Leads the Way
• The Wonder Book of Chemistry by Jeani Fabre
• The Fairy-Land of Science by Arabella Buckley
• Madam How and Lady Why by Charles Kingsley

High School Students

• Physics for Future Presidents: The Science Behind the Headlines by Richard A. Muller
• The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean
• Microbe Hunters by Paul de Kruif
• The Wild Muir by Lee Stetson
• The Story of Western Science by Susan Wise Bauer

Additional Resources

Want to learn more about how to teach science at home? Check out this series:

1. Performing Hands-on Scientific Tests
2. Gathering Information
3. Keeping a Record

Many of these resources are already scheduled for you in our science programs! Figure out which one will fit your family's needs.