By Elemental Science, Inc.·Biology · Earth Science · Chemistry · Physics · Astronomy · Geology · Meteorology · Botany · Zoology
3 video reviews
These reviews are overview-style walkthroughs rather than long-term user reports, but they paint a consistent picture of Elemental Science's two elementary lines. The classical line (grammar stage for younger kids, logic stage for older) follows the trivium: memory work, very heavy notebooking, weekly experiments or observations, a timeline, and 36 weeks of lightly scripted lesson plans, with a Kingfisher or DK science encyclopedia serving as the spine while you spend a full year on one discipline. The Sassafras Science Adventures line takes the opposite tack — a living-book adventure novel following twins around the globe, paired with a logbook and an activity guide, covering two semester-long topics per year on a flexible two-day or five-day schedule. Reviewers consistently describe both as engaging and easy to run, religiously neutral (nothing a faith-based family would likely find offensive, but no Christian content), and a natural fit for families who blend Charlotte Mason and classical styles. One reviewer reads the Sassafras book with his kids and says it's comprehensive enough to be a science program on its own for around $15, though he cautions the sparse illustrations won't suit a five-year-old. The recurring caveat on the classical line is hidden cost: the roughly $40 core set requires around five additional books, including the encyclopedias, so budget beyond the sticker price. No reviewer reported abandoning the program, but none documented multi-year use either — treat this as informed first-look enthusiasm rather than battle-tested endorsement.
Synthesized from 3 independent video reviews — every claim sourced from what real homeschool parents said on camera.
Classical or Charlotte Mason-leaning families who want a flexible, religiously neutral elementary science built around notebooking, memory work, and either an encyclopedia spine or a story-driven adventure book that can combine multiple ages.
Families who want a fully self-contained box — the classical line requires extra encyclopedias and books — or very young kids who need lots of pictures, since the Sassafras adventure novels are text-heavy.
The Top 10 Homeschool Science Curriculum Comparison Video for Elementary Feeling overwhelmed trying to choose the right curriculum? What if you could do all your subjects with all your kids . . . together? Try a free sample and see just how easy this can be! http://gatherroundhomeschool.com/samples Homeschool Science Curriculum laid out for you with inside flip-throughs, prices, and approach. If you are looking for homeschool science curriculum for elementary, this video will help give you an idea of what is out there and what may be a good fit! Below is a simple time code skip tool so you can click on the time code and go to the section you are most interested in. All the links are also listed below as well as any relevant coupon codes. TIME CODE SKIP TOOL: Berean: 00:54 Sonlight: 03:54 AOP: 06:56 Real Science 4 Kids: 09:42 Masterbooks: 12:58 Elemental Science: 16:32 BJU: 20:20 Moving Beyond the Page: 23:54 Funschooling: 27:35 Science Shepherd: 30:09 Links/Codes (some are affiliate links): Berean Builders: https://bereanbuilders.com/ecomm/product-category/elementary/ Sonlight: http://www.sonlight.com/rewards/RS20384905 AOP: https://www.aop.com Home Science Tools: https://www.homesciencetools.com CODE: HSON19 Real Science 4 Kids: https://gravitaspublications.com Masterbooks: https://www.masterbooks.com/r/E1xrYDIi/ CODE: REBECCASFRIEND Elemental Science: https://elementalscience.com/collections/elementary-science Bob Jones University: https://www.bjupresshomeschool.com/category/science Moving Beyond the Page: https://www.movingbeyondthepage.com/purchase/science.aspx/aid=ff2f3133/ Funschooling: https://amzn.to/2ZT4JqD Science Shepherd: http://homeschoolon.com/go/science The blog post is coming next week with mini video clips if you prefer to skip and read/watch what is the most interesting. So stay tuned!
Sonlight Homeschool Curriculum Science Review, Elemental Science, Classical Conversations, 2022 2023 I review several program options for Kindergarten and Higher: Sonlight, The Good and The Beautiful, Be Naturally Curious, Elemental Science, Classical Conversations and more. Timestamps 00:00 Sonlight Science Curriculum Review 05:09 Classical Conversations Science Curriculum Review 06:43 Elemental Science Curriculum Review - Sassafras 09:38 The Good and The Beautiful 13:10 Torchlight Science curriculum Review 16:27 Architecture Curriculum 16:54 Be Naturally Curious 19:53 FREE Curriculum Science Options 20:16 Final Thoughts Free architecture curriculum: http://www.k5architecture.org/Download_chpt.htm Free DNA Course: https://discover.hubpages.com/education/cells-and-dna
Differences among secular science curriculum - S2E23 Sorting out the differences between secular science curriculum that is available for homeschoolers can be a challenge. What curriculum utilizes a Charlotte Mason approach? What about Classical? Are their online options? How demanding are each option going to be on me, as the teacher? These are all great questions and our curriculum consultants look at 6 difference options and discuss their differences. Science Curriculum Comparison Chart https://www.rainbowresource.com/pdfs/resources/Science_CurriculumChart.pdf Download/Request a Curriculum Guide https://www.rainbowresource.com/request-catalog Sassafras Science https://www.rainbowresource.com/sassafras-science Elemental Science https://www.rainbowresource.com/elemental-science Discover! Science https://www.rainbowresource.com/discover-science Elevate Science https://www.rainbowresource.com/elevate-science-homeschool-bundles R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey https://www.rainbowresource.com/r-e-a-l-science-odyssey Primary Science https://www.rainbowresource.com/primary-science 00:00 - What is "secular" science? 01:55 - Sassafras Science 08:09 - Elemental Science 12:49 - Discover! Science 18:12 - Elevate Science 25:02 - R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey 30:23 - Primary Science
“the heart of this program is always read, do, and write. So you read from your main text, the adventure text”
“the big difference is that the sassifrass uses the living book novel approach. This one is using encyclopedias as your spine”
“it has memory work which is very classical it has note booking it's very very heavy on note booking and it's done in a really fun way”
“it is not a text book it is an adventure book into the story of these kids discovering science”
“it's comprehensive enough and interesting enough that it really could be a science program in its own”
“my five-year-old will not like it because there's not a lot of pictures”
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Same publisher, very different feel. Sassafras uses a living-book adventure novel as the main text, with a logbook and activity guide, and covers two semester-long topics per year. The classical series uses science encyclopedias as its spine and dedicates a full year to one discipline, with grammar-stage and logic-stage levels that share parallel topics.
Reviewers describe it as neutral or non-sectarian — it avoids religious and theoretical topics rather than taking a side. One retailer notes there's nothing in it a faith-based family would likely find offensive, and another reviewer says it simply doesn't get into it at the younger ages, though older levels may recommend outside reading that does.
For Sassafras, one reviewer carries it for 1st through 6th grade while another recommends it for K-5; older kids can still enjoy the novels as free reading. The classical line runs through the trivium stages: grammar stage for elementary, logic stage for middle grades with more writing and critical thinking, and rhetoric for high school.
Yes, for the classical series. It requires a Kingfisher or DK science encyclopedia as the spine, and one reviewer counted about five required books on top of the roughly $40 teacher-and-student set. Sassafras add-ons — lapbooks, experiment kits, coloring pages, audio downloads — are optional.
Reviewers cite about $40 for a year of the classical grammar-stage books (before the required extra books), about $61 for a three-book Sassafras set, and around $15 if you just buy a Sassafras adventure novel as a read-aloud.
Sassafras is highlighted as great for multi-level, family-style learning — a first, second, and fifth grader can share it. With the classical series you can keep siblings on the same topic, but reviewers advise against mixing grammar-stage and logic-stage kids in the same materials.
Both lines offer a two-day or five-day schedule, and reviewers praise the flexibility — you can do two days one week and five the next. The classical series provides 36 weeks of lightly scripted lesson plans, with experiments or science observations about once a week in the grammar stage.