Exploration Education Physical Science Courses

Name: Exploration Education Physical Science Courses
Brand: Exploration Education

by Exploration Education

ScienceGrades K–10

Exploration Education Physical Science: Hands-On Project-Based Science

Exploration Education Physical Science Courses offer project- and experiment-based learning across grades K-10 with three kit levels. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on activities and experiments with online video demonstrations and physical materials included in each kit.

Best for

Homeschool families seeking hands-on physical science experiences for grades K-10, particularly those teaching multiple children across grade levels simultaneously

Evaluation Criteria

2 strengths · 2 concerns · 2 neutral · 1 insufficient evidence

Hands On IntegrationStrength

This is clearly a strength with extensive hands-on experiments and projects integrated throughout. Students construct items like solar fans, electric race cars, and steamboats while completing standard lab procedures.

Course described as having 'much higher' proportion of hands-on activity than traditional courses; includes building solar fans, electric cars, steamboats, and circuits with provided materials

Scientific VocabularyStrength

The curriculum includes vocabulary development with quizzes and a glossary. Each unit concludes with vocabulary quizzes, and the logbook includes an index with definitions.

Course includes 'vocabulary quizzes' at end of each unit and logbook has 'Index with definitions (glossary)' providing alphabetical list of key terms

Knowledge RichConcern

The curriculum appears to prioritize hands-on activities over systematic content knowledge building. The reviewer notes that information is 'not very difficult' and 'might not get as technical' compared to traditional textbook-based courses.

Reviewer states 'the information and questions are not very difficult' and 'Some of the information might not get as technical' than conventional courses

Direct InstructionConcern

The curriculum relies heavily on brief online text materials followed by hands-on activities. There appears to be minimal explicit teacher-led instruction, with students reading material independently on computers.

Students 'read relatively brief text material with illustrations on the computer' followed by experiments; designed for largely independent student work

Teacher TrainingNeutral

The curriculum includes a teacher's manual but appears designed primarily for independent student use. No mention of professional development or extensive teacher support materials.

Each kit includes 'a teacher's manual' but course is designed so 'students should be able to do most work independently'

Retrieval PracticeNeutral

The curriculum includes some assessment through quizzes and exams. There are two quizzes per unit (vocabulary and concepts) plus four exams covering pairs of units.

Course has 'two quizzes at the end of each of the eight units' and 'four exams, each covering two of the units'

Ngss AlignmentInsufficient Evidence

No information is provided about NGSS alignment or adherence to specific science standards in the review.

Review does not mention NGSS, state standards, or any standards alignment

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com