If you’re shopping for a general science 3rd-6th curriculum, you probably want to know one thing first: what will the year actually look like? Here’s the breakdown.
“General Science” sounds simple. Teaching Through it should be too.
You want a year of real science for upper elementary... without decoding a dense textbook, without building a scope-and-sequence yourself, and without BEING a science person. This is what a 3rd-6th year looks like when you don’t have to do any of that.
The four units
One shared lesson path across the year. Here’s what students explore, unit by unit.
Unit 1 · Physical Science
Matter and mixtures; properties of water; buoyancy and displacement; forces and simple machines; light, sound and heat; electromagnetic energy.
Unit 2 · Earth Science
Earth’s spheres and interior; natural resources; erosion and the Earth’s surface; water’s effects; air pressure; weather and natural disasters.
Unit 3 · Space Science
Planets and space rocks; rotation and revolution; stars and galaxies; the Sun; solar and lunar effects; the Moon and space exploration.
Unit 4 · Life Science
Classifications of living things; biomes and ecosystems; plants and cells; animals and cells; microbes and germs.
How a week works
Built for real life, not a five-day textbook grind.
- About 1-2 days a week, roughly 1.5 hours per teaching day if including extension activities
- 24-26 weeks across the year... slow down, speed up, or run it as summer science
- One shared lesson path - 3rd-4th and 5th-6th work the same lessons, with notebook work leveled for the age
- Optional extension activities stretch the lessons your kids love
- Materials lists are in the Teacher Manual, so you’re not inventing the supply list
What’s in the bundle
Three books. One click. The whole teaching set.
Teacher Manual 3rd-6th
The book you teach from. Plain-language scripted lessons, materials lists, projects and experiments. Non-consumable - keep it and reuse it.
Student Notebook 3rd-4th
The write-in book for the younger band. Same lessons, age-appropriate notebook work.
Student Notebook 5th-6th
The write-in book for the older band. One notebook per student - add more for siblings or co-op students.
A few details: it’s print-only, spiral-bound, and shipped to you. Supplies are not in the box (the manual tells you exactly what to gather). The manual is written so parents and volunteer teachers can pick it up and teach.
Not sure if it’s a “textbook”? It isn’t - we don’t use a traditional student-textbook format. The longer explanation is in Looking for a General Science Textbook? Here’s What Many Homeschool Parents Really Want. Teaching a co-op class instead? This one was built for that.
The bundle price
Teacher Manual + 3rd-4th notebook + 5th-6th notebook.
The same three books are $90 bought separately.
FAQ
What grades is this for?
Built for 3rd-6th. A strong 2nd grader or light 7th grader can often join successfully. 3rd-4th and 5th-6th use the same lessons with different notebook work.
How much time does it take each week?
About 1-2 days per week, roughly 1.5 hours per teaching day, across 24-26 weeks. Optional extensions let you stretch lessons when kids are hooked.
Do I need a science background?
No. Not a sciency person? OK. The Teacher Manual is written so parents and volunteer teachers can pick it up and teach.
Is this a textbook?
No. You get a Teacher Manual you don’t write in, and Student Notebooks students write in. Same great general science content, clearer for the person teaching. More on that: the textbook post.
Are experiments and supplies included?
Supplies are not in the box. The Teacher Manual includes detailed materials lists (common household and easy-to-find items), so you know what to gather without designing the list yourself. In the extension activities there are videos on experiments so you don't have to figure them out from scratch.
Can multiple children share the books?
The Teacher Manual is shared and non-consumable. Student Notebooks are write-in consumables - typically one per student. For a co-op, one manual can serve the class while each student has a notebook.
Is there a digital or PDF version?
This is print-only, spiral-bound books, shipped to you.
Ready to leave an imprint?
Science isn’t only boring facts... it’s discovery. Imagine a year of general science you didn’t have to invent, and your kids ask "when's the next lesson?".
Get the 3rd-6th BundleQuestions? Contact us or email info@etchstudies.com