Best STEM Curriculum for Elementary Homeschool (2026)

The best STEM curriculum for most elementary homeschool families is Engineering is Elementary for its research-backed engineering design process, affordable materials, and genuine integration of science with problem-solving. If you prefer a subscription model with zero planning, KiwiCo's Tinker Crate delivers hands-on projects to your door every month. Below, we review seven STEM programs and resources so you can find the one that fits your family's style, budget, and goals.

What Makes a Good STEM Curriculum

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics — but the real magic of STEM education is not in the individual subjects. It is in how they work together. A child building a bridge out of craft sticks is not just doing engineering. She is using math to measure, science to understand materials and forces, and technology (even simple tools) to construct her design.

Here is what we looked for when evaluating STEM curricula:

• Integration across subjects — the best STEM programs weave science, math, and engineering together naturally rather than teaching them in isolation
• Hands-on, inquiry-based learning — children should be building, testing, iterating, and solving real problems, not filling out worksheets about engineering
• The engineering design process — a clear framework for identifying problems, brainstorming solutions, building prototypes, testing, and improving
• Accessible materials — programs that require expensive lab equipment or hard-to-find supplies are frustrating for home use
• Age-appropriate challenge — problems should stretch children without overwhelming them
• Open-ended thinking — the best STEM challenges have more than one right answer, encouraging creativity alongside analytical thinking

If your current science curriculum already includes hands-on experiments and your math program involves manipulatives and problem-solving, you may already be doing more STEM than you realize. A dedicated STEM curriculum adds the engineering design piece — the structured process of identifying a problem, designing a solution, building it, testing it, and making it better.

1. Engineering is Elementary (EiE)

Engineering is Elementary was developed by the Museum of Science, Boston, and is one of the most widely used and researched elementary engineering programs in the country. Each unit pairs a storybook set in a different culture with an engineering challenge related to the story. For example, children read about a boy in India who needs to keep animals out of a garden, then design and build their own barriers.

Age range: Grades 1-5 (ages 6-11)

Approach: Each unit follows a five-step engineering design process: Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Improve. Lessons begin with a storybook that introduces the problem in a real-world context, followed by preparatory science activities, then the engineering design challenge itself. Children work through the full cycle of designing, building, testing, and iterating.

Pros:

• Developed and rigorously tested by museum educators and researchers
• Storybooks set in diverse cultures make engineering personally relevant and globally aware
• Materials are mostly inexpensive, everyday items (paper cups, foil, craft sticks, tape)
• The engineering design process is taught explicitly and consistently
• Teacher guides are thorough and easy to follow, even for parents with no engineering background
• Individual units can be purchased separately, so you only buy what interests your family

Cons:

• Units are designed for classroom settings, so some adaptation is needed for a single child or small group
• The full curriculum set is expensive if purchased all at once (individual units run $20-$40)
• Storybooks, while well-written, are not available as standalone purchases
• Some units require more material preparation than others
• The format is lesson-plan heavy, which may feel overly structured for relaxed homeschoolers

Price range: $20-$40 per unit; bundles available at a discount.

Best for: Families who want a research-backed, structured engineering program that connects design challenges to real-world stories. EiE gives children the vocabulary and habits of engineering thinking that will serve them for years.

2. Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding (BFSU)

BFSU, by Dr. Bernard Nebel, is primarily a science curriculum, but its emphasis on hands-on investigation, Socratic questioning, and cross-disciplinary thinking makes it one of the strongest STEM foundations available. While it does not teach engineering as a separate discipline, it builds the scientific reasoning and problem-solving skills that underpin all of STEM.

Age range: Volumes A and B cover ages 4-10 (roughly K-5)

Approach: BFSU uses a web of interconnected lessons across four domains — Nature of Matter, Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth & Space Science. The teacher leads Socratic discussions, poses questions, and guides children through hands-on investigations. There are no worksheets, no textbooks — just a parent who reads the lesson, gathers simple materials, and facilitates discovery.

Pros:

• Develops genuine scientific reasoning and critical thinking at a level most programs never reach
• The interconnected lesson web teaches children how science topics relate to each other — a core STEM principle
• Extremely flexible — lessons can fill 20 minutes or extend into full afternoon explorations
• Affordable — the teacher guide covers years of content
• Encourages children to ask "why" and "what if" rather than memorize answers
• Pairs naturally with engineering challenges, since children understand the science behind their designs

Cons:

• Requires significant parent preparation — you must read and digest each lesson beforehand
• No student materials, worksheets, or pre-made assessments
• The teacher manual is dense and text-heavy
• Not a pick-up-and-go program — it demands genuine parent engagement
• Does not explicitly teach engineering design, so you would need to add that component

Price range: $35-$45 per volume.

Best for: Ages 4-10. Families who want deep scientific thinking as the foundation of their STEM education. BFSU children understand why things work, which makes them far better engineers and problem-solvers when they encounter design challenges.

3. Mystery Science + Engineering Supplements

Mystery Science is an online program that poses intriguing questions — "Why do woodpeckers peck wood?" or "Could a volcano pop up in your backyard?" — and answers them through short videos and hands-on activities. While Mystery Science is primarily a science program, its optional engineering supplements (called "Engineering Extras") add design challenges to many units.

Age range: Grades K-5 (ages 5-11)

Approach: Each lesson starts with a compelling mystery question, followed by a short video explanation and a hands-on exploration or experiment. Engineering Extras add a design challenge connected to the science topic — for example, after learning about erosion, children design a structure that protects a hillside from washing away.

Pros:

• The mystery format is incredibly engaging — children genuinely want to find out the answer
• Short video lessons (10-15 minutes) require zero parent preparation
• Hands-on activities use common household materials
• Engineering Extras are well-integrated with science content, showing how science informs design
• A full year of content available with a subscription
• Works well for mixed-age families — younger and older siblings can watch together

Cons:

• Screen-based — the video component requires a device, which may not suit all families
• Engineering Extras are supplementary, not the core program — coverage is uneven
• Less rigorous than EiE or BFSU for engineering design process instruction
• Subscription required ($70-$100/year), and pricing has fluctuated
• Activities are relatively short and may not satisfy children who want deeper projects
• You cannot purchase individual units — it is all or nothing with the subscription

Price range: $70-$100/year subscription (free trial available; some content free for educators).

Best for: Ages 5-11. Families who want an easy-to-use, video-based science program with engineering built in. Mystery Science is especially good for parents who feel uncertain about leading STEM activities — the videos do the heavy lifting.

4. KiwiCo Tinker Crate (and Kiwi Crate, Atlas Crate)

KiwiCo is a subscription service that delivers monthly STEM project crates to your door. Each crate contains all the materials and instructions needed for one hands-on building project. Tinker Crate (ages 9-14) focuses on engineering and design; Kiwi Crate (ages 5-8) covers science and art projects; Atlas Crate explores geography and culture.

Age range: Kiwi Crate ages 5-8; Tinker Crate ages 9-14 (also Koala Crate for ages 2-4 and Eureka Crate for ages 14+)

Approach: Each crate arrives monthly with all materials, illustrated step-by-step instructions, and an educational magazine explaining the science and engineering behind the project. Children build something tangible — a hydraulic claw, a walking robot, a trebuchet — and learn the principles involved through doing.

Pros:

• Virtually zero planning — everything arrives in the box, ready to go
• Projects are genuinely fun and result in something children are proud of
• Excellent production quality — materials are sturdy and well-designed
• The educational magazine connects the project to broader STEM concepts
• Flexible subscription — skip months, switch crate types, or cancel anytime
• Children build real, working creations, not just craft projects

Cons:

• One project per month is not enough for a complete STEM curriculum on its own
• At $20-$25/month, costs add up over a year ($240-$300)
• Some projects go together quickly (30-60 minutes), leaving children wanting more
• Limited opportunity for iteration and redesign — the project is pre-designed
• Does not teach the engineering design process explicitly — children follow instructions rather than designing from scratch
• Not customizable to your family's interests or current studies

Price range: $20-$25/month; discounts available for longer commitments.

Best for: Ages 5-14. Families who want hands-on STEM projects without the planning burden. KiwiCo is an outstanding supplement to a broader STEM education, not a replacement for one. Think of it as the dessert, not the main course.

5. LEGO Education

LEGO Education offers structured building challenges and curriculum-aligned kits designed for classroom use but adaptable for homeschool. Their flagship elementary products include BricQ Motion (physics and forces through LEGO building) and SPIKE Essential (coding and robotics for younger students). Standard LEGO sets, of course, are also powerful STEM tools on their own.

Age range: SPIKE Essential ages 6-10; BricQ Motion ages 6-10; standard LEGO building from age 4+

Approach: LEGO Education kits pair specific LEGO builds with structured lessons exploring physics, engineering, and coding concepts. BricQ Motion uses non-digital LEGO builds to teach forces, motion, and energy. SPIKE Essential introduces coding through a simple drag-and-drop interface connected to motorized LEGO creations.

Pros:

• Children are already motivated by LEGO — engagement is built in
• BricQ Motion teaches real physics without any screens or technology
• SPIKE Essential introduces coding in a tangible, concrete way
• Builds fine motor skills and spatial reasoning alongside STEM concepts
• Open-ended play after structured lessons extends learning naturally
• Standard LEGO bricks (which you may already own) are among the best engineering manipulatives ever created

Cons:

• LEGO Education kits are expensive ($100-$350 per kit) and priced for schools
• Designed for classroom use — lessons assume groups of students working in teams
• SPIKE Essential requires a tablet or computer for the coding component
• Replacement parts for specialized pieces can be hard to find
• The structured curriculum can feel overly scripted compared to free LEGO building
• Standard LEGO sets teach engineering through play but are not a formal curriculum

Price range: $100-$350 for Education kits; standard LEGO sets vary widely.

Best for: Ages 4-10. Families who already love LEGO and want to add structure to their building time. For a budget-friendly approach, skip the Education kits entirely and simply give your children LEGO bricks, a design challenge (build a bridge that holds a book, build a house that survives a fan), and time.

6. Snap Circuits and littleBits

Snap Circuits and littleBits are electronic building systems that teach circuits, electricity, and basic electronics through hands-on construction. Snap Circuits uses snap-together components on a plastic grid; littleBits uses magnetic, color-coded electronic modules.

Age range: Snap Circuits ages 8-12; littleBits ages 6-12 (with supervision, younger children can enjoy both)

Approach: Both systems are project-based. Children follow diagrams to build circuits that produce light, sound, motion, or other outputs, then experiment with modifications. Snap Circuits provides numbered project guides (the larger kits include 300+ projects). littleBits emphasizes invention — children combine modules to create whatever they imagine.

Pros:

• Demystifies electronics and circuits in a way that books and videos cannot
• Snap Circuits are durable, reusable, and well-engineered
• littleBits' magnetic connections make circuit-building accessible even for young children
• Both systems allow open-ended experimentation after guided projects
• Snap Circuits are affordable and widely available ($20-$80 depending on kit size)
• Real understanding of how electronics work — a skill that applies everywhere in modern life

Cons:

• Focused specifically on electronics — does not cover other STEM areas
• littleBits kits are expensive ($80-$200+) and the company has shifted focus, making some kits harder to find
• Snap Circuits can feel like "just following diagrams" if children do not experiment beyond the project book
• Neither system teaches the engineering design process explicitly
• Limited curriculum support — these are kits, not programs with lesson plans
• Small pieces can be lost, and replacements may be hard to source

Price range: Snap Circuits $20-$80; littleBits $80-$200+.

Best for: Ages 6-12. Families who want to add electronics and circuits to their STEM education. Snap Circuits in particular is an excellent value — the $30 base kit provides dozens of projects and genuine understanding of how electricity works.

7. CS Unplugged and ScratchJr

Computer science is the "T" in STEM that many homeschool families overlook. CS Unplugged is a free collection of activities that teach computer science concepts — algorithms, binary numbers, sorting, patterns — without any computer at all. ScratchJr (ages 5-7) and Scratch (ages 8+), developed by MIT, are free visual programming platforms where children create animations and games by snapping together code blocks.

Age range: CS Unplugged ages 5-12; ScratchJr ages 5-7; Scratch ages 8+

Approach: CS Unplugged uses physical activities — card games, puzzles, mazes, and movement — to teach computational thinking. Children learn how computers sort information by sorting cards, how binary works by flipping dots, and how algorithms function by following precise instructions to draw a picture. ScratchJr and Scratch move to the screen, where children write real programs using a visual block-based language.

Pros:

• CS Unplugged is completely free and requires no technology at all
• ScratchJr and Scratch are free, well-designed, and used by millions of children worldwide
• Computational thinking transfers to problem-solving in every discipline
• CS Unplugged activities work beautifully in homeschool co-ops and with mixed ages
• Scratch projects let children create things they actually care about — games, animations, interactive stories
• No coding experience needed from parents — the platforms are designed for beginners

Cons:

• CS Unplugged activities are brief — more like enrichment than a full curriculum
• ScratchJr is limited in scope and children outgrow it quickly
• Scratch requires a computer or tablet, which may conflict with screen-time goals
• Without guidance, children can spend hours on Scratch without learning deeper concepts
• Neither program covers hardware, electronics, or physical computing
• CS Unplugged requires a parent who can facilitate the activities with enthusiasm

Price range: Free (both CS Unplugged and Scratch/ScratchJr).

Best for: Ages 5-12. Every homeschool family should explore CS Unplugged — the activities are short, fun, and genuinely eye-opening. Add ScratchJr or Scratch when your child is ready for screen-based coding. These are not full curricula, but they fill the computer science gap that most STEM programs leave open.

How to Combine STEM with Your Existing Science and Math

You do not need to add a separate, time-consuming STEM block to your day. The most effective approach is to weave engineering and design thinking into what you are already doing.

Add engineering challenges to your science units. If you are studying weather, challenge your child to design a rain gauge or build a structure that withstands wind from a fan. If you are studying plants, design an irrigation system for a small garden. The science content provides the knowledge; the engineering challenge asks children to apply it.

Use math as a tool, not just a subject. When your child is building a bridge from craft sticks, they need to measure lengths, calculate how many sticks they need, and compare the strength of different designs. This is math in context — and it sticks far better than a worksheet. If you are looking for more ways to make math hands-on, math games and activities can bring the same applied-math mindset to your regular lessons.

Set aside one afternoon per week for STEM projects. Many homeschool families designate Friday as their hands-on project day. Keep a box of materials — cardboard, tape, string, craft sticks, foil, cups, rubber bands — and present a design challenge. "Build the tallest tower you can using only 20 craft sticks and tape." "Design a container that keeps an ice cube from melting for as long as possible." These open-ended challenges develop engineering thinking without any curriculum at all.

Follow your child's interests. If your child is fascinated by robots, lean into robotics with LEGO SPIKE or Scratch. If they love building forts, study architecture and structural engineering. If they are obsessed with animals, design habitats and study biomechanics. STEM education is most powerful when it connects to something a child already cares about.

Tips for Families New to STEM

If you have never done formal STEM activities, here is how to start without feeling overwhelmed:

1. Start with one engineering challenge per week. Just one. Choose a simple design challenge from EiE, a KiwiCo project, or a free challenge from the internet. See how your child responds.

2. Embrace failure. The entire point of the engineering design process is that the first attempt usually does not work. When your child's bridge collapses, that is not failure — that is data. Ask, "What happened? What could we change?" This iterative mindset is the most important thing STEM teaches.

3. You do not need to be an engineer. The best STEM parent is not one with a technical degree — it is one who says, "I do not know. Let us figure it out together." Your willingness to learn alongside your child models exactly the curiosity and persistence that STEM education is trying to develop.

4. Keep materials simple. Cardboard, tape, string, paper clips, craft sticks, foil, cups, rubber bands, and a pair of scissors will get you through 90% of elementary engineering challenges. You do not need expensive kits.

5. Connect STEM to real life. Point out engineering everywhere — bridges, buildings, plumbing, bicycles, zippers, can openers. Ask your child, "How do you think that works? How would you design it differently?" These conversations cost nothing and teach everything.

6. Do not force it. Some children gravitate to engineering challenges immediately. Others need time. If your child resists structured STEM activities, back off and leave out interesting materials — blocks, gears, circuits, building toys — and let unstructured tinkering do the work. STEM is a mindset, not a checklist.

Comparison Summary

Our Top Recommendation

For most elementary homeschool families, we recommend Engineering is Elementary as your primary STEM curriculum, supplemented with Snap Circuits for electronics and CS Unplugged or Scratch for computer science. This combination covers the full STEM spectrum — engineering design, electronics, and computational thinking — at a reasonable cost and with manageable preparation.

If you are already using a strong science program and want to keep things simple, skip the formal STEM curriculum entirely. Instead, add one engineering design challenge per week using household materials, let your children build freely with LEGO and blocks, and introduce Scratch when they are ready for coding. That approach, combined with a solid science curriculum and hands-on math, provides a complete STEM education without a single kit or subscription.

The goal of elementary STEM is not to produce future engineers (though it might). It is to raise children who see a problem and think, "I could solve that." Children who build, test, fail, and try again. Children who understand that the world around them was designed by people — and that they can design things too. That confidence and creative problem-solving will serve them no matter what they grow up to do.