New Jersey Homeschool Science Curriculum for Grades 3–5: 11 Hands-On Units
New Jersey families who need a science plan for a child in Grades 3–5 can use the Elementary Science Curriculum: 11 hands-on units on the water cycle, forests, circuits, weather, pollination, forces, the skeleton, light and shadow, and birds, for $109.99. New Jersey sets no subject list for home instruction, only academic equivalence, so this is one piece of your plan, not proof of anything.
Look inside the science unitsThe Elementary Science Curriculum ($109.99) gives a Grades 3–5 child 11 science units: Water & the Water Cycle, a forest ecosystem, simple electric circuits, weather, meadows and pollination, forces and motion, the skeleton, light and shadow, and three units on birds. It is described as a full year of hands-on science across life, earth and physical science. It is not reviewed by any New Jersey authority and not aligned to the NJSLS-Science; families judge the fit themselves.
The resources
Elementary Science Curriculum, Grades 3–5
11 resources in one download: $109.99 instead of $228.62 bought separately.
Start with the first resource; the others are optional add-ons. Open any cover for the full contents and price.
Elementary Science Curriculum | Life, Earth & Physical Science | 11 Units | Grades 3–5
Elementary Art & Music Units Bundle | Rhythm, Singing, Instruments, Color Mixing & Printing | 5 Units | Grades 3–5
Complete Learning Books Bundle | 10 Units: Grammar, Math, Science, History, ESL, Art & Music | Grades 3–6
Environmental Science Units Bundle | Climate Change, Climate Data, Ecosystems, Resources & Climate Ethics | 5 Units | Grades 8–12
The real problem
New Jersey's homeschool rules in brief, and the science question
New Jersey's compulsory attendance law covers ages 6 to 16 and can be met by equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school, under N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25. As of the 2026–27 school year, notice is not generally required, though the NJDOE encourages families to notify the local board of education, and any paperwork goes to that local board, not the state. There is no statutory subject list. Instead, instruction must be academically equivalent to the local public schools, a standard that goes back to State v. Massa in 1967, and the board cannot review or approve your curriculum. Homeschooled children do not have to take state or district tests. This is a summary, not legal advice; check current law with the state or a homeschool legal resource. For science, this freedom has a catch. Nobody tells you what equivalent looks like. Many parents compare against the 2020 NJSLS-Science that public schools use, then realize they need actual lessons, experiments that work on a kitchen table, and a way to explain circuits or pollination without a science degree.
Why it fits
Why this set suits science at home in New Jersey
The units cover all three areas of elementary science, which helps when you are thinking about equivalence.
- Life, earth and physical science units give a balanced year you can set against public school topics.
- Water cycle and weather units connect to rain, snow and seasons your child sees in New Jersey.
- The forest ecosystem and meadow pollination units turn a local park walk into science observation.
- Three bird units cover traits, nests and migration, and protecting birds, ideal for backyard watching.
- Simple circuits, forces and motion, and light and shadow give the physical science side its hands-on tasks.
- A finished unit leaves you worksheets and notes to keep as a record of your child's science year.
Getting started
A possible homeschool science year
Science at home works best when it follows the seasons. Here is one way to order the 11 units across a school year.
- Fall: forests and migrationBegin with the forest ecosystem unit while leaves change, then Birds Through the Year with its nests, migration and winter content as birds leave or arrive.
- Late fall: water and weatherTeach Water & the Water Cycle and Observing & Understanding Weather. A simple weather log kept for a few weeks gives your child real data to talk about.
- Winter: physical science indoorsMove inside for simple electric circuits, forces and motion, and light and shadow. Batteries, bulbs, wire or a flashlight are things you gather yourself, since the download includes no materials.
- Late winter: the bodyTeach The Skeleton in Motion. Children can test how their own arms and legs move and connect bones and joints to the sports or games they enjoy.
- Spring: flowers and birdsFinish with meadows and pollination, What Is a Bird?, and Protecting Birds. Spring flowers and returning birds give daily chances to observe what the units teach.
What to buy
Choosing science and companion sets
For a child in Grades 3–5, the Elementary Science Curriculum at $109.99 is the core purchase; the 11 units cost $228.62 separately. Families wanting arts in the same years can add the Elementary Art & Music Units Bundle ($74.99, parts $124.95) with rhythm, singing, instruments, color mixing and printing. The Complete Learning Books Bundle ($99.90, Grades 3–6) spreads ten units over grammar, math, science, history, ESL, art and music, useful for a lighter mixed year. An older sibling in Grades 8–12 might use the Environmental Science Units Bundle ($69.99, parts $124.95), which covers climate change, a climate data lab and ecosystems.
Honest limits
What to know before buying
This curriculum is not a New Jersey product, and no board of education or state office has reviewed it. Judging if your home program is academically equivalent is your call, so compare it with the NJSLS-Science if you wish and check current law with the state or a homeschool legal resource. No lab kits, batteries, bulbs or magnifiers are included; you gather simple materials. The licence covers your own family; a co-op should message Teach Lessons before sharing it. If it does not suit your child, exchange it within 7 days for store credit of equal value, not cash.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is this enough for New Jersey's homeschool rules?
No product can promise that, and this one is not approved or endorsed by the NJDOE or any local board. New Jersey asks for instruction academically equivalent to the local public schools, and judging that is up to you. Check the current rules with the state or a homeschool legal resource before deciding.
Do I have to show this curriculum to my school district?
Under the NJDOE's guidance as of 2026–27, the local board of education cannot review or approve a homeschool curriculum, and notice is not generally required, though the department encourages it. Any paperwork goes to the local board. Confirm details for your situation with a homeschool legal resource.
Is it aligned to the NJSLS-Science?
No. It is not aligned to or approved under the 2020 NJSLS-Science. Many families still use the public school standards as a reference when thinking about equivalence. You can compare the 11 unit topics with those standards yourself and fill any gap with extra lessons or library books.
What equipment do I need?
The bundle is a digital download and includes no lab kit. For the circuits and light units you gather simple things such as batteries, wires, bulbs or a flashlight. The nature units mainly need time outdoors, a notebook and maybe a field guide from the library.
Can I teach two children at once?
Yes, if both are roughly in Grades 3–5. Read the material together, run the hands-on task as a pair, and let each child complete their own worksheet. A younger sibling can join observations and drawings while the older child handles the written work, so the whole family spends science time together.
Is there a test my child has to pass?
Homeschooled children in New Jersey are not required to take state or district tests. The units give you worksheets and tasks to check understanding at home, so you can see what your child has learned without any formal exam. Keeping a few finished pages from each unit also gives you a simple record of the year.
Plan a year of science at your kitchen table
See the 11 units and sample pages on the product page, then choose your fall starting point.
Look inside the science units