Our focus today is on choosing elementary homeschool curriculum. We all have different ways we choose our homeschool programs. Some of us focus on what goals and learning objectives we have for our children. Others focus more on methods and styles of learning because they makes our homeschooling compatible with our daily life and our children’s uniqueness. We hope that some of our suggestions can assist you in making choices for your elementary age students for the upcoming year. Be sure to also check out The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Homeschool Curriculum.
Welcome back to Five Days of Choosing Curriculum! We are here to help you with curriculum choices for specific age levels. This post is all about elementary resources. Don’t miss the list of resources at the end of the post. We invite you to stop by every day this week!
Plus, today’s post is sponsored by Answers in Genesis Homeschool, a ministry we love! Please see our full disclosure policy for more details.
Choosing Elementary Homeschool Curriculum
When I first started homeschooling I began with packaged curriculum to guide my way and I learned a great deal about homeschooling. But later I found out that no packaged curriculum was just right for our homeschool and that I needed to tailor my programs to fit my children’s needs and the flow of our family life. So I am going to recommend some posts I feel will help moms who are looking to design their own programs and put their own selections together.
5 Easy Steps to a Unit Study Approach– Want to design your own unit but not sure how to proceed? Use my very simple S.P.I.N.E method to get you started. Building a unit study yourself around good literature selections is perfect for a fun, delight directed homeschool approach. Don’t be burdened by lofty lesson plans, why not have the homeschool of your dreams!
Methods are everything. When I choose my curriculum I consider first and foremost my methods. This isn’t actually about what I choose but how I want to implement it. I have found that method are just as important and what I choose. I need to be consistent, have routines and follow through. I can’t say that I use any one method to homeschool my children. Over the years the methods have changes and I have used many of them resulting in a very integrated approach. Therefore, it’s fair to say a little something about the main methods I use and why.
Before you choose curriculum it’s good to consider three factors: Your teaching style, your child’s learning style and goals. Before you choose, think about whether you prefer a loaded plan or a light load. Do you prefer to have everything planned now or just a few things with which you can add more later? There is no right or wrong. You just need to go with what’s best for you.
A Child’s Introduction to Poetry I can happily recommend this book to you since it is so complete, well done, and simply a delightful way to enhance any language program with poetry study. It’s a great “spine” book for poetry lessons that you can branch off from. It is also perfect as a resource book on poetry: looking up authors, types of poetry, and their history. It’s a book that you can visit over the years as your children grow, picking the poems to study that will interest them (and you) over time.
Our Elementary Homeschool Reviews
Here you will find an amazing list of resources from our wonderful authors – with a sampling of informative reviews to help you as you choose your elementary homeschool curriculum! Here’s a selection from our archives…
- Browse our Elementary Review Archives
- Home Art Studio – a compilation of reviews from our authors
- Discoverer’s Bible
- Scripture Memory Box
- Traceables from Grapevine Studies
- Child Training Bible
- For Instruction in Righteousness
- First Holy Communion Preparation and Printables
- Old Testament Days and Classical Kids Activity Review
- Tapestry of Grace Review
- Adventures in Our Father’s World
- My Father’s World first grade
- Winter Promise All American
- Accelerated Christian Education {A.C.E} review
- The Light and the Glory for Children
- James Towne: Struggle for Survival
- Story of the World for the Classical Child
- Practice Test Spelling Words with the Spelling Bee App
- Primary and Intermediate Language Lessons: Workbooks
- Funnix Reading Program Review
- Wordplay Cafe
- Daily Grammar (free resource!)
- Handwriting Without Tears: Cursive Success
- Copy and Draw review
- Rummy Roots – A Fun Way to Learn About Words
- The Word Spy
- Classical Copywork
- Presidential Penmanship
- Lighthome Publications Penmanship Books
- Staying Up to Speed with Grammar Minutes
- Growing with Grammar review
- A Gentle Approach to Grammar with Grammar Island
- Sequential Spelling
- On the Quest for Quality Children’s Literature
- WonderMaps from Bright Ideas Press review
- Eat Your Way Around the World from Geomatters
- Geography Songs
- A Child’s Geography by Ann Voskamp
- Seterra – Learn World Geography while having fun!
- Horizons Math
- See Math Clearly with Math U See
- Math U See Works for Us!
- The Key To… math curriculum
- Math Splash iPad App Grade 5
- Teaching Textbooks
- Make Math Drills Fun with Math Monkey
- Calculadder
- Timez Attack Multiplication and More by Big Brainz
- Nature Adventures
- The Way Things Work, Animated
- Playful Learning
- Maestro Classics – Carnival of the Animals
- Science Unit Studies for Homeschoolers and Teachers
- Apologia Elementary Science
- Ranger Rick AppVentures
- Your Backyard Birds DVD
- Your Backyard DVD: The Life and Journey of the Amazing Monarch Butterfly
- Type Write Touch Typing and Typing Practice from Gentle Shepherd
- Meet the Masters review
- Art with a Purpose
- Learning to Draw Cartoon Faces with Pick and Draw
- Hearts and Trees Kits
- Notebooking Publisher from Notebookingpages.com
- Notebooking Success – Charlotte Mason, You’d Love This Notebooking Resource!
- Amanda Bennett Unit Studies
- A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels Art Curriculum Review
More Encouragement from Our Authors
Most of the Curriculum Choice authors have active blogs where they share all kinds of homeschooling advice and experiences. Below, you’ll find links to some of our reviews and curriculum choices as well as encouraging, practical posts from our authors.
Cindy West from Our Journey Westward has so many, many favorite curriculum choices for elementary age children! Her main criteria for choosing 1st-5th grade curriculum? Meaningful, short lessons that don’t demand unnecessary busy-work, and lessons that allow her children as much hands-on understanding as possible (within reason.) To spare you a million or more links, she’s chosen to choose just a few of her very favorite posts about elementary curriculum choices.
- Planning Unit Studies
- Homeschooling with Field Trips
- NaturExplorers Studies (Series of posts on how to add nature study. Cindy is the author of NaturExplorers.)
- Loving Living Math (Series of posts for adding living math lessons. Cindy writes Loving Living Math, too.)
- My Favorite Logic Resources
- Primary and Intermediate Language Lessons
Tricia from Hodgepodge:
5th grade Kinesthetic Learner Curriculum and Organization – My 5th grader is a creative kinesthetic learner. She loves to make things. Do things. Move. Participate. Give her a display board for a biography report. Let her make a salt dough map. She loves to color while I read. Crafts, creations, busy. That’s her.
Answers in Genesis: God’s Design for Science – Gone are the days of buying separate science curriculum for various levels. Focusing on different topics in multiple grades. For me, as homeschool parent, I no longer have to set aside time to “do science” with each child. Everyone is learning together. A unit study approach for the whole family. Four years worth of units for grades 1-8. Each with 3 units. Even more on Answers in Genesis God’s Design for Science in Homeschool Science for Multiple Ages. (don’t miss the giveaway of a curriculum set ($89 value – winner’s choice) of this curriculum at the end of this post!)
Spelling Workout Review – When you stick with a curriculum throughout your homeschool years, I believe it speaks volumes to its success and ability to meet the needs of different learning styles. Spelling Workout is more than just spelling. Besides spelling practice, this series teaches…
Rod and Staff Grammar – We’re heading into our eighth year of Rod and Staff English! We’ve enjoyed all grades from 2nd to 9th. See also Annie Kate’s review of Rod and Staff Grammar.
Harmony Fine Arts Plans for Art and Music Appreciation – For this mama, using HFA plans is easy. I just click to open the plans, click to print what we might like to compliment our studies, click to print a coloring page for the younger ones.
Steve:
Rocket Math App – In Rocket Math, you build your own rockets from the ground up. As you build a rocket, you have to earn money for parts by doing math problems. There are over 90 colorful pieces and parts from which you can build your own unique rocket. Once your rocket is complete, you can put it on the launch pad and blast off into space. Tilting the device steers your rocket and a slider controls the thrust.
Sprout Labs Science App Reviews – (Butterfly, Plants, Recycle, Water) Like Butterfly HD and Plants HD, the Recycle HD and Water Cycle HD apps held the attention of our younger children. The older children enjoy them often as well. I can heartily recommend all of the Sprout Labs apps.
Stack the States – While learning about the 50 states by answering questions about them, this app requires critical thinking skills as well. Your brainpower is tested in your ability to stack your states successfully.
Jen:
This is such a fun age, most kids are such natural, eager learners that it doesn’t take much in the way of bells and whistles to keep kids interested. I like to keep curriculum fairly simple in the early years and have always taken a pretty relaxed approach. Here are some of our family favorites:
I can’t say enough good things about Five in a Row! Here is why we use Five in a Row and then how I planned for Five in a Row.
We also used and loved Paths of Exploration, it was a great fit for us when my older three children were in grads 3rd-5th. We had a fantastic year learning about Daniel Boone and Lewis & Clark.
I have had much success this year with All About Reading. I am using it with my younger three children and they have made great progress in their reading skills this year!
The complete Oak Meadow – First Grade curriculum package , including the Syllabus, which is full of weekly lesson plans.
Betsy:
Review of Oak Meadow – First Grade – “I was delighted when I found Oak Meadow – First Grade – full of hands on activities, beautiful art, and lots of resources. The Oak Meadow introduction spoke of developing the whole child: head, hands and heart.”
Spectrum Writing – 2nd grade – Many happy hours were spent creating stories, art, and don’t forget the illustrations! Every child’s story needs its pictures, and drawing them usually helps the child to decide what happens next.
Heidi:
Write Shop Jr. – We’re nearing the end of our year and I give WriteShop Junior D two thumbs up. I’m delighted with what my daughter has accomplished during the year and I’m also delighted that I can hold onto this program to use with her little brother later.
Annie Kate:
The most important resource when choosing curriculum is Cathy Duffy’s guide, 101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum, which helps you determine what curriculum suits your family. I recommend it to all new homeschooling families and use it regularly myself even after 17 years of homeschooling and 4 years of reviewing curriculum. The older version, 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum, is still useful, but does not mention some of the great new curricula available.
Even More Elementary Resources!
- Our Curriculum Choice review team features a topic monthly. You can see all that our authors have shared on electives, math, curriculum choices and more under Review Team Features, plus…
- Language Arts resources, Math resources, special needs homeschooling, electives and extras, Visit our Homeschool Rooms, and our Carnival of Curriculum.
- We invite you to explore all the reviews in our elementary archives.
- Our Curriculum Choice Pinterest boards! reviews of all kinds from our archives and more.
We are joining up with our iHomeschool Network friends in a summer hopscotch! Be sure to stop by the rest of the week for more on Choosing Curriculum. Pin each post for future reference!
Five Days of Choosing Homeschool Curriculum
- Monday – Choosing Preschool and Kindergarten Curriculum
- Tuesday – Choosing Elementary Homeschool Curriculum
- Wednesday – Choosing Middle School Curriculum
- Thursday – Choosing High School Curriculum
- Friday – Choosing Homeschool Curriculum for Multiple Ages
God’s Design for Science Curriculum
Answers in Genesis loves homeschoolers! We are always excited to see families who are so dedicated to teaching Biblical Truth to their children that they would teach their children at home. We want to make sure you have our full support to do this. Not just in our wonderful resources in our store but through community in our all new Social Media outlets – Facebook – Twitter – Pinterest – Google+ and yes even Instagram! We have covered them all so that we can be there to support you – homeschool families. Join us!
God’s Design for Science is for 1st through 8th graders. “We know of no other series of science textbooks that can educate grade-schoolers with so many fun lessons while at the same time affirming the truth of creation and the insufficiencies of the idea of evolution…
An entire 8-year elementary and middle-school science curriculum, the God’s Design science series…Covers life science, earth science, physical science, and chemistry & ecology. In the award-winning, full-color student curriculum the lessons are short, easy to teach, and take a hands-on approach using ordinary household items for experiments and activities. But easy does not mean lacking in substance; God’s Design textbooks and the all-new teacher supplements and CDs are comprehensive.
- has a strong biblical worldview.
- is multi-level (easy to use with multiple children and different ages).
- is flexible and works with all learning styles.
- requires minimal teacher preparation.
- teaches critical thinking skills.
- includes fun hands-on activities with every lesson.
- is written by seasoned homeschoolers.
(This giveaway has ended) Just follow the instructions in the rafflecopter widget below…
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Hosted by Stephanie Harrington. Avid Gardener. Recipe Writer and Coffee Lover. She shares curriculum choices, prayerful reflections, recipe creations, military spouse adventures and Catholic music @ Harrington Harmonies and nature studies @ Nature Notebook. You can follow her on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.
I love this week’s posts! Thank you for a wonderful resource for finding curriculum that works for my family!
I use Facebook most often to connect with other homeschoolers. I also have a local group that allows me to connect in person.
What an awesome blog! I will most definitely be bookmarking this and coming back over and over again! There is so much great information here! Thank you for compiling everything in one place!
I usually connect with other HSers via blogs or FB.
I most like to connect with homeschoolers on FB.
I like to connect through blogs, and the Well Trained Mind forum has been one of the most helpful things ever.
I most connect with other homeschoolers on a forum I belong to
I love connecting on Facebook and Instagram!
On FB
We love what AIG is all about. Some of the first science books I read aloud to my boys came from them!
This curriculum looks great!
This was a great post! I like to connect with other HSing families through blogs and online forums. I like the homeschooling group on diaperswappers.com. They are very helpful and supportive!
I mostly connect on Facebook. Especially at Christian Unschoolers. Thanks for the chance to win!
This post has been so helpful! Love all the curriculum ideas!
So much great information! Thanks for pulling it all together and sharing. Facebook is my favorite way to connect online.
I love connecting on FB and I read a ton of blogs!
Facebook!
I connect with other homeschoolers on Facebook.
I mostly connect and learn through blogs.
mostly on facebook……looking forward to starting with a local co-op in the fall for some more IRL conncections, too!
It is easiest for me to connect via Facebook!
I mainly connect thru Facebook and blogs
I read through various platforms. I like G+ most b/c from what I understand, they don’t choose which blog posts will actually to show in my feed. Thanks so much for hosting this giveaway!!
Always looking for ideas and your blog gives many great ones!
I connect with others on fb, blogs, or our homeschool groups email loop
I connect with other homeschoolers online on facebook groups and yahoo groups.
FB is a great place to connect.
I connect with most of the homeschoolers I know on Facebook groups and pages.
What an awesome giveaway! In my area yahoo groups is the best way to connect with other homeschoolers, although fb is gaining popularity. Blog hops & carnivals have been a great way to find other like-minded homeschoolers online.
Thanks for this post.
I connect with homeschoolers through reading blogs like this one as well as facebook.
I usually connect with other HSers on FB…
I connect via blogs and through FB.
Facebook and Pinterest! 🙂
I mostly use Facebook to connect with other homeschoolers online.
I like to connect with other homeschoolers on facebook pages for blogs and curriculum publishers (like aig!)
Always looking for new ideas and fresh encouragement. Connect on yahoo groups and facebook.
We like to connect on FB and occasionally on blogs.
Awesome giveaway!! I use FB, Pinterest, and Curriculum Choice regularly to connect with other homeschoolers and for support!!
Thank you SO much for this week! I have 4 kiddos – preschool through 8th grade and am in the process of choosing curriculum for a new year right now! Thanks for all the resources and reviews!
Oh I am so happy to hear this helps – we are all in the thick of choosing and planning as well. Blessings on the new year ahead!
This will be our first year homeschooling & I have found other homeschooling moms on Facebook to offer support & help with all my questions. Pinterest has been a great resource for finding materials & ideas for our new adventure.
Facebook is usually the easiest way for me to connect. Sometimes email. 🙂
Facebook, twitter, blogs, and pinterest
I joined a local yahoo group a few years ago and I’ve been doing that for a while. I just joined a facebook group too. 🙂 Love your site!
Great curriculum! We used the ecosystems and weather books this year.
I like to connect online at my favorite curriculum board… FIAR!
What a great post. Thanks!
I love AiG and learning about all my other choices out there especially as I move to combine a few subjects for my students. I most often connect on Facebook with other home school families and it is such a great place to reach out and learn about others.
I would love to win this.
Great ideas! I’m excited about trying some of these this Fall!
I belong to a yahoo group associated with a unit study package I use. They post pictures and great ideas that go along with the unit study. It’s inspiring!
Thanks for the post and the giveaway opportunity! I usually keep up with other homeschoolers through Facebook, blogs, Pinterest and in person with my CC community.
Facebook!
I usually connect with other homeschoolers through their blogs and on facebook… Since I am still new to homeschooling, I love all the info and help I get from more experienced homeschoolers!
This website and your reviews are an invaluable resource! Thanks for all your hard work! I connect with other homeschoolers at my church and through our new TOG co-op!
Facebook! So many great homeschooling groups and pages!
A great list of resources. Thank you.
I like to connect to other homeschoolers on facebook. It’s the easiest way for me.
I connect mostly with other homeschoolers through Facebook.
I mostly interact with other homeschoolers on facebook. Although I would have to say that I would much rather do a face to face. 🙂
Just getting started with homeschooling. This article is very helpful…thanks,
I typically connect with other homeschoolers on Facebook or method-specific forums (ie. Simply Charlotte Mason, etc). I always love reading the questions, comments and advice other homeschoolers have!
I connect with other homeschoolers online via Facebook and Pinterest.
Whoa! What a great week of blog info. “One stop shopping” for answers to lots of questions and links to great information. Soooooo helpful. Thank you! Blogs, Facebook and Pinterest are lifesavers in my homeschool journey.
I like to connect through FB and blogs!
Facebook blogs conference and co op
I really really really love AiG!!!! And, I love this curriculum. I would love to win what we plan to use next school year!!
My fave place to connect online is fb-I have various groups of local and not local homeschoolers. 🙂
I have found facebook groups to be my best place to connect with homeschoolers. The support is wonderful!
I like to connect with other homeschoolers through blogs, FB and locally.
What a wealth of information on this post – both for new and seasoned homeschoolers!
I connect with other homeschoolers through blogs, facebook groups, and Pinterest. Most actual communication happens in the facebook groups.
Great giveaway! I connect through FB 🙂
I connect through a local homeschool group, email newsletters, and Facebook.
Love answers in genesis!
Thank you for all the great information and the wonderful giveaway!
I am definitely bookmarking this page! Thanks!
I usually connect with other homeschoolers on facebook
I typically connect with other homeschoolers on FB, esp. the page used by the co-op we are part of.
I connect with fellow homeschooling families through facebook.
I connect with other homeschoolers mostly on Facebook.
I like to connect on Facebook and in my co-op.
I connect with other homeschoolers on Facebook and The Well Trained Mind forum.
Facebook and pinterest, but I get so much information from bloggers!!!
I have found the best homeschool friends on Facebook and in homeschool Facebook groups!
I love having Facebook to connect with other homeschool moms and families. It truly makes the homeschool community an international one.
I connect with homeschoolers through facebook! Love this blog! Thanks for everything!
Besides getting together with my homeschool friends IRL, I connect on FB.
Thank you for this awesome giveaway! I most like to connect with homeschoolers via FB or Instagram!
I guess I use Facebook the most to connect online with other homeschool moms.
Thanks so much for these posts! We are just beginning our homeschool journey in the fall with our 4 little ones. I have been extremely interested in the AiG science curriculum! We have been to the creation museum a few times and I have had my eye on it.
My favorite place to get info on homeschooling is a small private local FB group along with a few blogs I follow.
Thank you for a great series of blogs. We live out in the country in a rural area so there are not alot of homeschoolers. So I connect most with other homeschoolers online through facebook and blogs. Can not imagine how I could do it without them. Its a great community for those without physical ones.
I like to connect with other homeschoolers on facebook.
I’m just starting homeschooling adn I have five kids, four of which are school age and I am a little bit overwhelmed about picking curriculum. This sounds awesome!
Definitely on Facebook!
Locally I like to connect through Yahoo group, and Facebook is great for connecting with other homeschoolers across the country and world.
I like connecting on twitter and Instagram.
I use FB to keep up with homeschool sites and bloggers, and I have a group there for my local friends to post in.
thanks for all the info…this is soooo very helpful!
I connect through facebook and homeschool organization activities.
I like connect with other homeschoolers on various Facebook groups.
I like to use blogs, fb, and I love Pinterest.
I connect most through blogs!! Thanks!!
Facebook opens many opportunities to learn more from other homeschoolers.
I mostly connect over Facebook since we aren’t close to any groups. We love the AIG Science curruculum!
I love using the various Fb groups to connect locally, nationally, or even internationally.
Thanks for the opportunity to win the AIG science
I love reading blogs and experiences from other homeschoolers. Facebook is also a great resource. Thank you for the chance to win!
This series is such a blessing! Thank you! I connect online with other homeschoolers primarily through blogs, and I have truly benefited from them!
I like to connect with homeschoolers on yahoo groups.
I like to connect with other homeschoolers on facebook and local support groups.
Facebook 🙂
I use Facebook and Pinterest to keep in the know.
Facebook and Pinterest seem to be the easiest for me to connect online and share ideas.
I connect throgh Facebook and blogs.
I love to blog hop to see all sorts of information, but I also link up with a local Facebook group. I’m always amazed at home AWESOME the homeschooling community is…with advice, opinions, encouragement…love it!
FB is a great place to connect!
We just purchased science curriculum from AIG this year, and I have been very impressed. I would love to use this curriculum again.
Thank you for sharing all of the curriculum reviews! And for offering this giveaway!
I feel most connected to other homeschoolers on FB. I can quickly interact with different moms, with different methods.
I am really enjoying the posts this week. Pinning them all so I can look back on them in the coming weeks while I do my planning for 2013!
Facebook is great for finding all things homeschool!
Great blog! Can’t wait to keep reading about more curriculum for the fall 🙂
I usually like to read the Well Trained Mind forums as well as faccebook.
Facebook and co-op
FB – blog – pinterest
I love connecting with other homeschoolers via Facebook!
Homeschool blogs and FB pages!
I usually connect on Facebook , through blogs or email.
I use Facebook for connecting with other homeschoolers, and for resources and info.
My blog and FB
I mostly connect to other homeschoolers via Facebook and The Homeschool Lounge (when I have time).
🙂
I mostly visit with other homeschool families in my area, and I blog hop a lot! I am very new to homeschooling, and I am so grateful for all of the helpful information online!
I’d love to win.
I have homeschooling friends at church, in the family, and on Facebook.