Supercharged Science

This is an online, hands-on science curriculum for homeschooled children from kindergarten through 12th grade, which its program page calls the e-Science program, with a companion math curriculum sold from the same site. It is built around step-by-step experiment videos that a child can follow alone, so a parent does not need a science background to teach it. The homepage calls it "self-guiding, so your kids can do it on their own," and promises that children "won't be reading boring lessons from a book."

The program is the work of Aurora Lipper, who introduces herself on the homepage as "a mechanical engineer, university instructor, pilot, astronomer, and busy mom of four" and says she has taught science classes and workshops to over ten thousand kids since 1999. The program page adds that she first taught engineering at Cal Poly State University at age 21, and its footer states the mission as creating "an outstanding education for K-12 kids by focusing on wonder, discover and innovation." The site claims "We are the ONLY homeschool science and math curriculum taught by a real rocket scientist and team of engineers!"

What the science program covers

According to the program page, the e-Science curriculum is "a video-based, hands-on science curriculum program jam-packed with experiments taught by engineers and scientists," covering physics, chemistry, life science, biology and earth science for K-12. Physics and chemistry sit at its core. Aurora says every activity was used in classrooms with real children for over a decade before it reached the program.

Projects range from beginner experiments to advanced builds. The page names underwater robots, linear accelerators, hovercraft, battery-free radios, solar-powered robots and underwater vehicles, along with topics such as aeronautics, electromagnetism, robotics, lasers, optics, astronomy, engineering and renewable energy. There is even a section on how to fly a real airplane by taking a first flight lesson.

Each study unit includes lesson plans, objectives and goals, highlights and key concepts, vocabulary, discussion and development, experiments and activities, troubleshooting and going-further ideas, evaluation and exercises, and a place to ask questions and get answers. Each block of study also carries downloadable student worksheets, exercises, labs and a final review, and a sample Academic Planner shows the schedule.

The program page states that "The e-Science program exceeds national standards" and links a page listing which standards it meets.

How families use it

There are two ways in. A parent can go through the material first and teach it in their own style, or set children up to learn on their own from the videos. The program page says 70% of its families who have struggled with written directions consider the step-by-step videos the most valuable part of the program.

Families can also follow a structured year. In that format each lesson covers one science concept; students start their lab work in class and finish experiments at home, choosing from several lab options depending on the materials they have. The first half of the year runs through the physics of motion, light, optics, electricity and magnetism, then adds chemistry labs. The second half applies those ideas to mechanical engineering, aerospace, astronomy, geology and planetary sciences, renewable energy, and biology and life science, with students keeping science journals and engineering notebooks. The year can start whenever a family chooses.

Live teaching is part of the offer. Aurora writes that she is "personally teaching entire program step-by-step in my weekly live online lessons," in which children can ask questions and take part in engineering challenges. The program also runs monthly stargazing, live interactive Q&A sessions and flight lessons in a real airplane, and new this year are design challenges and a real Science Fair.

Materials and support

Most experiments use low-cost, everyday materials. Aurora says most supplies come from the grocery store, office supply store or hardware store, and the site provides sample shopping lists. How much a family spends depends on how often a child does science; the program page says students typically do science 1-3 times per week. The fine print adds that the high school program needs a reference textbook in physics and chemistry for the year.

For questions a parent cannot answer, the program offers what Aurora calls "Unlimited Support for as long as you need it." She encourages children to contact her directly as part of taking charge of their own learning. The site lists a phone number and a support email address.

Enrollment and pricing

The science program has two levels: K-8, and 9-12, which also includes the K-8 material because, the page says, many students have gaps that only show up in high school. Enrollment is one per household, so a family with children at both levels picks the higher one. The prices published are:

• K-8 Full Year Enrollment Package with Bonuses: $333
• 9-12 (includes K-8) Full Year Enrollment Package with Bonuses: $513

A month-to-month enrollment is offered for both levels, but its price is not shown on the program page. Families can cancel at any time with no contracts.

Both annual and monthly enrollments include what Aurora calls a full "Unconditional Happiness Money-Back Guarantee." Families can test-drive the program for the first 30 days, and if it is not a good fit, they get "a full and complete refund - and there's nothing to send back."

Free samples and other products

Before buying, families can sign up for 5 free hands-on science lessons, which include step-by-step videos, a 17-page student guidebook PDF and a science newsletter, with sign-up options for grades K-3, 4-6, 7-8 and 9-12. The site also offers free class samples, printables and lesson plans, and a scholarships and funding section covering ESA programs and paying through ClassWallet. Beyond the full curriculum it sells single-topic science programs, small science bundles, a math curriculum, a personal finance math curriculum for teens, and refresher classes in Algebra 1, decimals and fractions.

Who it suits

The program suits homeschool families who want science to be the hands-on subject of the week, especially parents who do not feel confident teaching it themselves. Children who like building things will get the most from it, and the one-enrollment-per-household price works well for families with several children. The live weekly lessons and unlimited support give a parent backup when questions go beyond their knowledge.

It is a science and math specialist, not a full curriculum, so families still need other subjects from elsewhere. High schoolers will need a textbook alongside the videos, and every unit needs a run to the shops for materials.