NOEO Science is a literature-based homeschool science curriculum for grades 1-8 that combines Charlotte Mason living books with hands-on experiments, offering biology, chemistry, and physics courses with included materials kits.
What is NOEO Science?
NOEO Science is a homeschool science curriculum created by Dr. Randy Pritchard that integrates living books with hands-on experiments for students in grades 1-8. The program blends Charlotte Mason and Classical education approaches, providing instructor guides, student lab manuals, curated reading lists, and complete experiment kits. Each course covers either biology, chemistry, or physics at three developmental levels, eliminating the need for parents to gather materials or plan lessons.
Key Takeaways
- Three levels: Level 1 (grades 1-3), Level 2 (grades 4-6), Level 3 (grades 7-8)
- Subjects include biology, chemistry, and physics at each level
- Experiment kits include 70+ materials; some household items still needed
- Meets NGSS standards for grades 1-5; exceeds for grades 6-8 chemistry
- Charter school editions available with religious references removed
How the Curriculum Works
Each NOEO course includes an Instructor's Guide with daily lesson plans, a Student Lab Manual for recording observations, a curated selection of living books that make science engaging, and an experiment kit with most needed materials. Daily lessons take 15-20 minutes for younger students, 20-30 minutes for middle grades, and 30-40 minutes for upper elementary. The open-and-go format means parents can teach science effectively without background knowledge or extensive preparation.
Multi-Age Teaching Benefits
One NOEO curriculum box can serve multiple children across grade levels. While each student needs their own lab manual to record work, families can share the books and experiments. This makes NOEO cost-effective for homeschools with several children. The living books approach also engages students who struggle with textbook-style learning, using narrative and discovery rather than memorization.
Secular and Religious Flexibility
NOEO is Christian-owned but the curriculum content itself is secular science. Religious content appears only in separate instructor notes and is not woven throughout lessons. For families using charter school funds or preferring secular content, NOEO offers charter editions with all religious references removed. This flexibility makes NOEO accessible to homeschoolers across the worldview spectrum.
The Bottom Line
NOEO Science fills the gap for families wanting engaging, literature-based science without hours of preparation. The included experiment kits remove a major barrier since parents don't need to source obscure materials. For Charlotte Mason or Classical homeschoolers, NOEO aligns philosophically with living books and hands-on learning. Note that NOEO doesn't offer Biology 3 for middle school, recommending instead that families transition to high school biology options.
