Wow! Prior to a few weeks ago, I hadn’t yet seen a homeschool science curriculum that really made me gasp in happy surprise by it’s scope and content. Then I had the chance to check out two global topics, Sound, and Fluid Dynamics, from CrossWired Science. And I said, “WOW!”
What Is This Program?
CrossWired Science is a flexible online science curriculum. You can use it for a stand-alone program, or as a supplement. It’s delight-directed, and really engaging.
There is currently 3 months of instruction on their site, but they are rapidly expanding. Additional material is planned, and there will eventually be enough to provide 6 years of science classes for your family.
The material I sampled was their Beta launch, so things are still growing and changing.
This program is geared for learners of all ages. It wasn’t created with a single age or grade in mind. Instead, the whole family can learn the same concepts, while more capable learners dive a little deeper. There are projects, experiments, and reading lists to help expand the learning. Ideas for field trips are also included.
CrossWired Science is also unashamedly Christian. It is Biblical based, and consistently points children to the Creator who made us and the laws of science that we study.
Once students log in, they can select from numerous lessons inside each topic.Much of the material is video based. There is also a quiz for each video, and a worksheet. Students can open and close a notes window as well, to add notes from the video.
Here is a sample worksheet:
How We Used CrossWired Science in Our Homeschool
Our internet is metered, and really slow. Videos don’t work well. If they did, I would totally switch to this as our full-time science curriculum – I liked it that much!
But, for now we are in the boonies and slow internet was not a good match for this video-intense program. But, we still found ways to use it as a supplement.
I let a child pick a topic and we watched one video and learned more.
For instance, we learned about birds and their calls in the sound unit. Then we took an at home field trip outside to the woods to go bird watching. The kids enjoyed listening for different sounds and trying to identify where they were coming from. There are so many sounds in the woods!
I love how many suggestions for field trips and extended learning there are throughout this program.
I absolutely love the concept of CrossWired Science. It had everything I was looking for in a science curriculum. It’s flexible, gives honor to God as Creator, and can be used with all of my kids at the same time.
But, I don’t love the videos because of where we live. Well, I love the content of the videos, just not how slowly they load on our limited internet.
There are so many topics, which is one of the things I appreciate. The kids really could find something they wanted to learn about, and then go learn. There were related readings and devotions, experiments, and so much more.
Science isn’t compartmentalized with this program. Students aren’t studying life science, chemistry, or physics by itself. Instead, they are studying them all at the same time – through different lenses. It allows them to see how connected the sciences are, and to really go deep in their understanding.
If you’re looking for a flexible science program that works for multiple ages, I highly recommend CrossWired Science. Unless you have bad internet. Then don’t subscribe – you will just be frustrated at how slow your internet is…
Want to Know More?
I was one of 80 reviewers. To read more reviews and see how this program works for families with better internet, click on the banner below.
