Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Everything you need to know about Real Science-4-Kids curriculum, ordering, and getting started.

The answer depends on your child's reading ability and whether you'll be teaching with read-aloud support. RS4K's atoms-first spiral model allows for flexibility: younger learners can begin with parent assistance, while independent readers may start at higher levels. Start with the level your scholar is reading at, not grade-based.

Grades K-2: If your child is not yet reading independently, we suggest starting with our Science Literacy bundles and reading them aloud together before beginning the Science Series. Our Digital Reader Library is also a great fit — 71 Leveled Science Readers organized by topic across six categories, all in one login. Take a look inside.

Grades 3-5: Once your child is reading, start with Science Book 1. Work through the subsequent Science Books in the Science Series at your own pace.

Grades 6-8: If your child is in middle school, we recommend starting with Science Book 5. The series follows a spiral curricular approach. Science Book 5 revisits introductory topics from Science Book 1 with a higher reading level and more in-depth content.

Parent Note:

  • Independent readers typically start Science Book 1 around Grade 3.
  • Younger learners (Grades 1-2) can thrive with teacher read-aloud support.
  • Strong readers in upper elementary may accelerate into Science Books 3-4.

Not sure where to start? See the Curricula Map to find the right fit for your student.

We recommend viewing the sample pages and matching them to your student's reading level. If a Science Book level feels too challenging, simply move down one level. Samples are available for the Student Textbook and the Student and Teacher Pages for all seven Science Books. See the "Can I see sample pages or try before I buy?" section below for all sample links. The Curricula Map can also help guide your starting point.

Real Science 4 Kids does it differently. We start with a modern map right from the start, introducing atoms-first beginning with the Grade 1 Teaching Dashboard and working through every level. We use correct vocabulary and accurate concepts from day one, preventing misconceptions before they begin.

Most science programs start with 18th and 19th century science, focusing on the properties of matter and measurement. Phrases like "particles too small to be seen," "mass is the same as weight," and "chemical reactions are the same as physical change" introduce and layer misconceptions throughout elementary school. Modern science with atoms is often not introduced until middle school, and frequently delayed until high school. Imagine spending your entire elementary education only to spend a summer relearning everything you thought you knew. It's like trying to navigate a new world with an old map! This delayed structure leads to disinterest, frustration, and withdrawal for too many students in middle and high school.

It took scientists hundreds of years of progress from macroscopic observational matter and measurement to finally understand that the world is made of atoms. RS4K stands on the shoulders of those scientists to fast track your student's learning. If you would like to see a direct program-by-program comparison, go here.

Recommended for parents
The Map We Never Got
The atomic foundation most of us were never taught. Read it while you teach, so the why is clear from day one.
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Student Pages Workbook

This consumable softcover workbook replaces the older student laboratory notebook and includes:

  • Study Notebook Pages, with perforated pages so each student works in their own individual copy
  • A quick and clear guide to each experiment
  • RATATAZ Experiment Pages with space for students to record hypotheses, observations, and conclusions
  • Chapter Quizzes and Final Exam

Teacher Pages Workbook

This softcover teacher resource provides everything educators need:

  • Weekly Lesson Plans with pacing, objectives, and teaching notes
  • Full Experiment Guides with clear instructions
  • Answer Keys for Study Notebook Pages, Experiment Pages, Quizzes, and Final Exam

The lesson plans are designed for 3 to 4 days per week, with 35 to 45 minutes per lesson. Many families have their students read independently during the week and then hold one extended 90-minute science session. The program is flexible and fully designed so parents and teachers do not need to spend time creating curriculum. RS4K is Open and Go.

The Digital Teaching Dashboard is RS4K's all-in-one online curriculum platform. Each dashboard gives you a full year of science in one login, accessible for 18 months from the date of purchase.

What's included in the K-2 Teaching Dashboard:

  • Digital Readers
  • Printables
  • Lesson Plans
  • Experiments

What's included in the Science Books 1-7 Teaching Dashboard:

  • Flipbook digital Science textbook
  • Audio Narration
  • Printable student pages
  • Chapter quizzes and final exam
  • Lesson plans and teacher guides
  • Experiments

Teaching Dashboards are available for every level:

The Digital Teaching Dashboard does not include the printed textbook. The printed textbook is sold separately as part of the Print Trio (Student Textbook, Student Pages, and Teacher Pages). We also offer a bundle that includes the Print Trio and the Digital Teaching Dashboard together.

Yes, an internet connection is required to access the Teaching Dashboards and digital Science Books. We recommend a reliable broadband connection for the best experience with the flipbook textbook, audio narration, and Leveled Readers.

The Digital Reader Library is a complete K-2 science library featuring 71 illustrated Science Readers across six subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Geology, Astronomy, and Exercise Science. Written and leveled for young readers from kindergarten through second grade, these fun, easy, and engaging readers build authentic scientific vocabulary and real science understanding.

Yes, RS4K Science Kits are on the way! We are developing complete experiment kits that include everything you need to run every hands-on RATATAZ experiment in the curriculum, from Grade K through Science Book 7. Check back soon for more updates.

Lesson and experiment videos are currently under development. The RS4K Teaching Dashboards will soon include short student-facing lesson videos. Students watch a video first, then open their reader or Science Book and read, then do the activities. First release dropping soon.

Yes, we are a full curriculum from Grade K through Science Book 7. Each of the three Grade K, 1, and 2 Teaching Dashboards covers four units and a full year of science. Each Science Book 1 through Science Book 7 is designed for a full school year, complete with student notebook pages, RATATAZ experiments, and quizzes.

Yes! Real Science 4 Kids is an approved vendor for scholarship and ESA programs across multiple states.

Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA)
Arizona ESA Program

There are two ways to use your Arizona ESA funds:

Vendor/Marketplace: Log in to your ClassWallet account and search for "Real Science 4 Kids" in the vendor list or Marketplace.

Direct Pay: Visit RS4K, choose your curriculum, proceed to checkout, enter your shipping address, take a screenshot of your order, and upload it to your ClassWallet account. We are approved as a Direct Pay vendor.

Additional Approved Programs:

Questions about using your scholarship funds? Contact us and we will help you through the process.

Yes, RS4K aligns to NGSS by grade band: K-2, Grades 3-5, and Grades 6-8.

Dr. Woodbury developed Real Science 4 Kids with student learning, not student assessment, as the primary goal. In many areas, RS4K goes further than the NGSS minimum by introducing modern concepts like atoms and molecules in elementary school, which most NGSS-aligned programs delay until later grades. See our NGSS alignment notes.

Real Science 4 Kids is a secular science program with a worldview-neutral stance. Dr. Woodbury focuses on the science of atoms first, which gives students the foundation for understanding chemistry, biology, and physics.

The K-8 Science Books do not discuss evolution directly. This is not because we do not want students to learn about evolution, but because the atomic and molecular biological foundation must be presented first before we discuss genes, heredity, and how organisms evolve and adapt to their environment over time. If we do not introduce atoms and molecules first, students will not truly understand heredity, genes, chromosomes, and how the machinery inside living things function. That is why we do not introduce evolution in K-8. If we had the high school Science Book written, this is where we would put it.

Dr. Woodbury's first book was Level I Chemistry written for Grade 3. Pre-Level I and Level I were later renamed the Focus On Series, a unit study program focusing on one subject at a time, covering a semester of instruction. The Building Blocks series was written after the Focus On series and has now been rewritten and renamed the Science Series.

The Science Student Pages and Teacher Pages are backward compatible with Building Blocks Textbooks. However, the Building Blocks books, teacher manuals, and workbooks will be discontinued and not available for print beginning Fall 2026. We encourage all families and schools to transition to the updated Science Series.

RATATAZ is Dr. Woodbury's approach to multimodal learning: Read, Ask, Test/tinker/try, Answer, and TAZ (talk, tell, and dazzle).

Science is not really about following a recipe. RATATAZ combines several different learning modalities to capture how real scientists do real science. The model is embedded in every RS4K Science Book and dashboard.

Yes. Families with multiple students are welcome to share one login. Each student can log in on their own tablet or device using the parent's email to access the digital Science textbook and the Leveled Readers independently.

Desktops and laptops work great for the full Teaching Dashboard experience. Tablets work best for student reading of the digital Science Books and Leveled Readers. To get the best reading experience on a tablet, tap the three dots in the bottom-right corner and select full-screen mode.

Mobile phones do not currently support full-screen mode reliably across Android, Apple, and other platforms, so they are not recommended for reading the digital Science Books. For the Teaching Dashboard itself, computers, tablets, and phones all work, and the interface uses a mobile-first design.

For families using the K-2 Teaching Dashboards, we encourage you to transition to the Science Series when your access period ends. For Science Book users, we encourage you to continue progressing through the program, moving from Science Book 1 through Science Book 7 at your own pace. If you have questions about your next step, contact us and we will help you find the right fit.

Yes! We have demos and sample pages available for every product:

Yes. The Student Pages and Teacher Pages are each available as softcover print or digital PDF download. The Print Trio was designed to make it easy for families to get all three components (the Student Textbook, Student Pages, and Teacher Pages) in a single purchase.

Yes, we work with co-ops, microschools, charter schools, and private schools. Volume discounts are available based on the total number of titles ordered. For inquiries, please email office@gravitaspublications.com and describe your learning environment and what you are looking to accomplish.

In addition to ordering directly from our website, RS4K Science Books are available through these trusted distributors:

Yes, we ship to Canada and Mexico from our Tempe, AZ warehouse. If shipping costs are reasonable, we can ship to other countries as well.

For international orders in Europe, Australia, East Asia, and India, we utilize a network of global print providers for the Science textbooks. For the Student and Teacher Pages, we recommend the PDF download, as our global print providers do not make perforated pages. We encourage international customers to use our digital platforms where possible for instant access. Please note that printing and shipping to certain countries can take an extended amount of time.

Please see our full Return and Refund Policy for details.

After purchase, your account is updated and you will receive an automated confirmation email. You can access your curriculum at any time by visiting the Digital Hub and selecting the product you purchased.

Yes, all RS4K experiments are safe for home use. For a full list of experiments and the materials needed, visit our Experiments page. We have open-sourced all of our RS4K experiments so anyone can access and use them, whether or not you have purchased the curriculum.