Tampa Families: Hands-On Life Science Practice at Home, Grades 3–7
Tampa Families: Hands-On Life Science Practice at Home, Grades 3–7
Tampa parents and homeschool families who want life science at home for Grades 3–7 can use the Elementary Life Science Bundle: eight resources on forests, meadows and pollination, the skeleton, birds, frogs and growing cress, for $79.99. The work is printable and hands-on, with observation and experiments instead of screen time, and it fits next to what a Hillsborough student does in class or forms the science strand of a home education year.
Explore the Life Science BundleThe Elementary Life Science Bundle costs $79.99 and includes Explore a Forest Ecosystem; Meadows, Flowers & Pollination; The Skeleton in Motion; three bird units; Frogs in the Ecosystem; and Cress in the Classroom with growing experiments. It suits Tampa families adding science at home or homeschooling across Grades 3–7. It is not written for Florida's science standards, and you supply any seeds or materials.
The resources
Elementary Life Science Bundle, Grades 3–7
8 resources in one download: $79.99 instead of $134.65 bought separately.
Start with the first resource; the others are optional add-ons. Open any cover for the full contents and price.
Elementary Life Science Bundle | Ecosystems, Pollination, Skeleton, Birds, Frogs & Plants | Grades 3–7
Elementary Science Curriculum | Life, Earth & Physical Science | 11 Units | Grades 3–5
Elementary Physical Science Bundle | Circuits, Forces, Light, Levers & Pulleys | Grades 3–7
Environmental Science Units Bundle | Climate Change, Climate Data, Ecosystems, Resources & Climate Ethics | 5 Units | Grades 8–12
The real problem
Science at home in Hillsborough this year
Hillsborough County Public Schools started 2026-27 on August 10, 2026 with some changes that matter to parents. In K-2, the district has moved away from i-Ready, Amira and Imagine Learning in daily instruction in favor of printed books, writing and discussion, and many families want home practice that follows the same paper-first approach. Under the new Referendum-funded Millage Field Trip Program, every PreK-8 student in Hillsborough can take a grade-level field trip at no cost to families or schools, and a trip lands better when a child has some science words and questions ready. Then there are families teaching at home. Florida's home education program under s. 1002.41, F.S. starts with a notice of intent filed with the county superintendent within 30 days of beginning. You keep a portfolio of activity logs, reading materials and work samples for two years, and file an annual evaluation chosen from five options. Science at home is harder than reading or math because it needs something to observe. A worksheet about pollination is thin without a flower to look at. Check current homeschool law with the state or a homeschool legal resource.
Why it fits
How the eight resources work at home
Each resource connects to something a child can see outside or at the kitchen table. Here is where they fit a Tampa family's year.
- Meadows, Flowers & Pollination gives you a reason to look closely at flowers in the yard or park.
- Three bird units cover traits, nests and migration, and protecting birds through habitats and watching.
- Frogs in the Ecosystem follows the frog life cycle and the animal's place in its habitat.
- Cress in the Classroom runs growing experiments on a windowsill with seeds you buy yourself.
- The Skeleton in Motion turns science toward the body, a welcome change from plants and animals.
- Grades 3–7 range lets a fourth grader and a sixth grader work on one topic together.
Getting started
A suggested science rhythm for the year
Use this as a starting point. Homeschool families may cover more; after-school families may use one resource a month.
- Start with cress in the fallSet up Cress in the Classroom early. Growing experiments give quick results, and checking the windowsill each day builds an easy science habit. Have your child sketch the seedlings every few days.
- Move outdoors with meadows and forestsUse the meadow and forest ecosystem resources on mild days. Bring the printed pages along and have your child record what they see. A clipboard makes outdoor work easier.
- Tie a unit to the field tripWhen your child's grade-level trip is announced, pick the closest topic and work through it in the weeks before. Afterward, have them write what they saw.
- Spend winter and spring on birdsThe three bird units cover traits, nests, migration and protection. Pair the pages with a few minutes of bird watching from a window or a park bench.
- Log it for the portfolioIf you homeschool, note each resource and date in your activity log and keep finished pages as samples for your annual evaluation. A photo of each outdoor activity is a useful extra sample.
What to buy
Choosing your science bundle
Start with the Elementary Life Science Bundle at $79.99 if living things are the focus; the eight parts cost $134.65 on their own. For a full year that also covers weather, the water cycle, circuits and forces, the Elementary Science Curriculum ($109.99, parts $228.62) is written for Grades 3–5 and includes several of the same life science units. Children who prefer building and testing may enjoy the Elementary Physical Science Bundle ($64.99), with circuits, forces, light and levers. Older students from Grade 8 can move on to the Environmental Science Units Bundle ($69.99).
Honest limits
Before you buy
The bundle is written for any state and has no Florida content. It is not built on Florida's Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for science, so check it against your child's grade-level expectations or school. No seeds, soil, lab kits or other materials are included; you supply what each experiment needs. It covers life science only. Homeschool families remain responsible for their own portfolio and evaluation. The licence is for your family; a co-op class needs a short message to Teach Lessons first. Within 7 days you can exchange it for store credit of equal value.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Does this follow Florida's science standards or count toward homeschool rules?
No. It is not aligned with Florida's Next Generation Sunshine State Standards and is not approved by the state or Hillsborough County Public Schools. It can be part of your home education records, but you decide how it fits. Check current law with the state or a homeschool legal resource.
Does the cress kit arrive in the mail?
No. Cress in the Classroom is a printable resource with growing experiments. You buy the seeds and whatever else the experiments call for. Nothing physical is shipped; the bundle is a digital download. Check the experiment pages first so you can buy what you need in one trip to the store.
Can a third grader and a seventh grader share it?
Yes, the bundle is written for Grades 3–7. A younger child may need you to read along, while an older one can work more independently and go deeper in the written tasks. Working on the same topic also lets siblings explain things to each other, which tends to help both of them remember.
We live near the coast. Is there anything on Florida wildlife?
There is no Florida-specific unit. The bird, frog, meadow and forest resources are general, but they give you questions to bring to the birds and plants you see around Tampa Bay. Ask your child to compare what the pages describe with what they see on a walk, and note the differences in a notebook.
How does it compare with the Elementary Science Curriculum?
The Elementary Science Curriculum covers life, earth and physical science for Grades 3–5 across eleven units. This bundle focuses on living things only and reaches up to Grade 7, with frogs and cress added. If you already own one, check which parts overlap before buying the other.
How do I receive it?
As a digital download. The link arrives by email right after purchase and stays in your account under Orders. Print the cress pages first so the seeds can go in this week. Keep the files in your account so you can reprint observation pages for each new experiment or each child.
Science your child can see and touch
Eight life science resources for Tampa families with children in Grades 3–7. Open the product page to see each part.
Explore the Life Science Bundle