The Best Homeschool Science Kits for K-8: Make Science Fun! (2024)

Overview: Contributor Candice McDaniels has found the best homeschool science kits for elementary and middle school students.

Let's face it, science is one of those subjects that if you're not careful can become really dry and boring. If you're only teaching through textbooks and lectures, it can be hard for your child to engage with the material.

And, as I'm sure you've seen, if your child isn't engaged in the lessons or they're getting bored, your homeschool day can be a struggle. Plus, they aren't really learning very much.

That's where homeschool science kits come in. They provide hands-on experiments and activities that bring learning to life.

They help students really dive into the subjects and learn science the way it's meant to be learned! Plus, homeschool science kits make learning more fun and exciting.

So, if you're looking for the best homeschool science kits for Kindergarten through 8th grade, we'll be sharing our top picks in this article.

Let's dive in!

What’s a Homeschool Science Kit?

Before we divulge our favorite homeschool science kits, it's worth going over what a homeschool science kit actually is.

A homeschool science kit is a collection of supplies and instructions that allow your homeschool student to explore science in their own home or homeschool setting. It often includes materials like beakers, test tubes, stir rods, and other lab equipment as well as instructional manuals with experiments and activities.

What’s so great about homeschool science kits?

Homeschool science kits are designed to make science accessible and exciting. They provide students with a hands-on experience that traditional textbooks and lectures just can't match.

Rather than just reading about something or even watching it in a video, science kits let your child explore the concepts themselves. They get to feel and experience the learning in a way that translates better for how their brains learn information.

This is especially true for kinesthetic learners. Hands-on experiments and activities really engage their brains and help them to remember the concepts better.

Plus, homeschool science kits make learning fun! There's something exciting about setting up an experiment or watching a reaction occur. It creates memories your child will never forget!

Not to mention, they make doing science experiments way easier. Everything you need for the experiment is all in one box so you don't have to hunt around or remember to buy all the supplies.

The Best Homeschool Science Kits for K-5

So, now let's take a look at some of the best homeschool science kits available!

KiwiCo – Ages 5-14

Our first recommendation for homeschool science kits is the one offered by KiwiCo. They have several different subscription boxes for different ages.

Kiwi Crate: This box is designed for ages 5-8. It includes a storybook, hands-on activities, and experiments, plus all the supplies needed to complete them. It focuses on teaching science and art. I used this box for over a year with my kids and they loved it!

Yummy Crate: This box is designed for ages 6-14. It focuses on teaching science, technology, engineering, and math concepts through food experiments.

Tinker Crate: This box is designed for ages 9-16+. It includes hands-on STEM activities and projects that require some construction. The focus of this box is on science and engineering.

Eureka Crate: This box is designed for ages 14+ and provides more challenging projects that require some construction. It focuses on engineering, technology, and design principles.

All the KiwiCo boxes come straight to your door with everything included. You can purchase the crates either via monthly subscription or individually.

Prices range from $19.95 and up depending on what crate or subscription you purchase. You can check out the KiwiCo website for more information.

Noeo Science – Grades 1-8

Another great company that offers homeschool science kits is Noeo Science. They offer homeschool science kits for grades 1 to 8, each tailored to a specific age group.

The kits are divided into 3 sections that teach different aspects of science: Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. Each kit includes hands-on activities that you can do with your homeschool student as well as living books related to the topic.

The kits are designed to be full curriculums, not just complements to an existing one. They can be completed in 15-20 minute lessons throughout the week.

The kits are a little more expensive than others, but they do offer payment plans to help offset the cost. To learn more about their kits, check out the Noeo Science website.

Mel Science – Ages 5-16

Mel Science is another company that offers homeschool science kits. They have different levels of kits for ages 5-16+.

Here are their science-specific kits:

STEM: These kits are designed for kids 5-10+. They focus on teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics concepts. Each kit includes hands-on experiments that your homeschool student can do.

Physics: These kits are designed for kids 8-14+ and focus on teaching physics concepts. They cover topics like glowing liquids, electromechanics, and stress patterns.

Chemistry: These kits are designed for kids 10-16+ and focus on teaching chemistry concepts. They cover topics like solids, liquids and gases, acids and bases, and the periodic table.

One thing that stands out with the Mel Science kits is that they incorporate more technology into their kits. They offer video guides instead of paper lessons as well as VR experiences for some of their kits.

This makes them a good option for visual learners who might get bored or distracted with traditional printed guides.

To purchase Mel Science kits you will need to have a subscription. Each month you'll get your kit delivered to your door so you can dive right in.

Prices start at $29.90 per month. Check out the Mel Science website to learn more.

Creation Crate – Ages 10-12+

Next on the list, we have the homeschool science kits from Creation Crate. These are designed for kids ages 10-12+ and focus on teaching electronics and programming concepts.

They offer four different courses in electronics, chemistry, engineering, and challenger electronics.

Each kit comes with a breadboard, a UNO R3 Microcontroller, and all the components needed to complete your project. Your child will learn about circuitry, coding, and robotics as they explore their kit.

You can purchase their homeschool science kits as a subscription with prices starting at $39.99 per month for a single kit or $104.97 for a 3-month subscription. To learn more about their homeschool science kits, check out the Creation Crate website.

Home Science Tools – Ages 4-14+

Next, we have homeschool science kits from Home Science Tools. These are designed for kids ages 4-14+ and cover a wide range of topics including:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Biology and Nature
• Chemistry
• Dissection
• Earth and Space
• Engineering
• Environmental
• Forensic Science
• General Science
• Kitchen Science
• Physics
• Technology and Electronics

Each kit contains instructions and all the materials needed to complete your project. The kits are available for individual purchase and are pretty affordable with the simpler kits starting at just $9.95.

To explore their selection of homeschool science kits, visit the Home Science Tools website.

Timberdoodle – Grades PreK – 8

Next are the homeschool science kits from Timberdoodle. Timberdoodle offers both creation-based and secular science kits for kids.

Their kits are designed for PreK-8th grade and they cover a wide range of topics including Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and more.

Each kit comes with a curriculum guide, and all the materials your homeschool student will need to complete their project.

Prices vary based on the kit you select, but start at about $20. To learn more about their homeschool science kits, check out the Timberdoodle website.

Biobox Labs – Ages 6+

Another great company that sells homeschool science kits is Biobox labs. These kits are designed for kids ages 6+ and focus on teaching life science concepts.

The kits come with all the materials needed to explore topics like genetics, evolution, cells, and more. Each kit also has an activity booklet that explains each experiment in detail.

Biobox labs homeschool science kits can be purchased as a monthly subscription. The 3-month plan starts at $56.95 per month.

To learn more about their homeschool science kits, visit the Biobox Labs website.

Insect Lore – Ages 5-8

If you're looking for homeschool science kits that are great for the younger kids, check out Insect Lore. Their kits are designed for kids ages 5-8 and focus on exploring the world of bugs, insects, and other creepy crawlies.

Each kit comes with an activity guide as well as all the materials needed to explore your chosen bug. Some kits come with live insects which can be a lot of fun and others come with plastic replicas.

Each science kit can be purchased individually. Prices start at $14.95 for the butterfly kit and go up to almost $50 for the Deluxe Butterfly Garden Kit.

Visit the Insect Lore website to check out their homeschool science kits.

Quality Science Labs – Grades 6-8

Finally, we have homeschool science kits from Quality Science Labs. These kits are designed for homeschoolers in grades 6-8 and provide a great way to explore topics of Earth Science, Life Science, and Physical Science.

The kits are designed to function as the laboratory portion of a full science class providing a year's worth of labs. Each kit also comes with a manual that fully explains all the experiments included.

Because the kits are designed to accompany a full, year-long curriculum, they do tend to be more expensive than the smaller boxes. But with over 30 different experiments to explore, they are well worth the price.

To learn more about homeschool science kits from Quality Science Labs, visit their website.

What to Look for in a Homeschool Science Kit

As you're shopping for homeschool science kits, all the options may be a bit overwhelming. How do you find the one that will fit in best with your homeschool?

Here are a few tips:

• Look for kits that are age/grade appropriate.
• Consider your homeschoolers' interests and find kits that will appeal to them.
• Make sure the kit offers enough materials to complete the experiments safely.
• Choose a kit with an activity manual or guide to help explain each project.
• Check how the homeschool kit will fit in with your current homeschool method. Do you need a full science curriculum or just something fun to complement what you're already doing?

Above all though, don't stress about finding the “perfect kit” right off the bat. No matter which one you choose, your homeschoolers are sure to have a great time exploring the world of science.

Finding homeschool science kits can seem overwhelming, but hopefully, this list will help you find a great kit for your homeschool student! The most important thing is to find something that will engage and excite them while also teaching them something new.

With these kits, your homeschooler is sure to learn a lot and have some fun in the process! Does your family love homeschool science kits too? Let us know about your favorites in the comments below!