Real Science-4-Kids Book 2
An easy-to-teach, engaging curriculum that helps kids apply real science to real life—building confidence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills across all five core disciplines, with no required experiments and plenty of optional support.
$141.00
Quantity:
Nonreligious
Nonconsumable
In a Curriculum Kit
The Digital Dashboard is non-returnable.
2026 Second-Grade Curriculum Kit
Real Science-4-Kids Book 2
After Book 1 answers, "What is science?" Book 2 tackles an even more important question: How do scientists figure things out?
This is where students move beyond learning about science and begin learning how science works. Instead of focusing on chemistry, biology, physics, geology, and astronomy themselves, Book 2 explores the tools and methods scientists use to investigate the world around them.
Students learn how to make careful observations, ask meaningful questions, create models, measure accurately, record information, and communicate what they discover. In other words, they begin developing the habits of mind that enable scientific thinking.
One of the strengths of Book 2 is that it helps children realize science is not simply a collection of facts to memorize. Science is a process. It's noticing something interesting, asking questions, gathering information, and testing ideas. For many students, this shift in perspective changes the way they think about learning altogether.
The lessons are written in a way that makes these concepts approachable for elementary students, even if they've never considered how scientific discoveries happen. Parents don't need a science background to teach the material, and experiments remain optional for families who prefer a lighter approach.
For those who enjoy hands-on learning, the Digital Teaching Dashboard includes lesson plans, notebook pages, quizzes, answer keys, and optional lab activities. The digital flipbook with audio narration is especially helpful for auditory learners, emerging readers, and students encountering unfamiliar scientific vocabulary.
Book 2 serves as the bridge between understanding science and practicing it. By the end of the course, students have a clearer understanding of how scientists investigate questions, gather evidence, and build knowledge—skills that will support every science course that follows.
What's Included?
Book 2 Text + Digital Dashboard Set includes the hardcover text and 18 months of access to the Digital Teaching Dashboard with lesson plans, answer keys, student notebook pages, lab activities, quizzes, grading tools, and audio narration. This is the version included in Timberdoodle's Second-Grade Curriculum Kit.
Additional options include hardcover text-only, printed Student Pages, printed Teacher Pages, or Digital Dashboard access only.
Take a look inside the Real Science-4-Kids book here:
How to Use Real Science-4-Kids
- Plan to complete one chapter each week. With 22 chapters in the book, this pace fits comfortably into a typical school year while leaving room for breaks, field trips, and life's inevitable interruptions.
- Each chapter is divided into 5–11 short sections, making it easy to adjust the schedule to fit your family. Many families prefer to complete 4–5 sections per week, while others enjoy reading a section each day and finishing chapters more quickly.
- Read the lesson together or have your student read independently. The clear explanations and engaging illustrations make the material accessible. The audio-narrated digital flipbook provides additional support for auditory learners and emerging readers.
- Use the Student Pages, quizzes, and notebook activities as desired to reinforce learning. These optional resources help students process and apply what they have learned without turning science into a workbook-heavy subject.
- Experiments are entirely optional. If your family enjoys hands-on learning, choose activities from the Digital Teaching Dashboard that fit your schedule and interest level. If not, students can still gain a strong understanding of the material through the reading and discussion alone.
- Take time to discuss the ideas rather than rushing through them. Some of the best learning happens when students pause to ask questions, make connections, or relate new concepts to things they observe in everyday life.
Most importantly, keep science enjoyable. Real Science-4-Kids is designed to build understanding one step at a time, helping students develop a solid scientific foundation while maintaining the curiosity that makes science worth studying in the first place.
What's included?
- Book 2 Text + Digital Dashboard Set: Printed hardcover text plus 18 months of access to the Digital Teaching Dashboard. You'll get lesson plans, answer keys, student notebook pages, lab pages, and quizzes—all downloadable. The Book 2 Text digital flipbook with audio narration is especially helpful for auditory learners. With both a solid print foundation and flexible digital support, this is the set we include in the Second-Grade Curriculum Kit.
- Book 2 Text Only: Printed hardcover text. A simple option for families who want to read, learn, and skip the extra structure.
- Book 2 Student Pages Only: Printed softcover Student Pages. These turn reading into doing, with notebook prompts, experiment ideas, and quick quizzes to reinforce each chapter. Prefer paper in hand? This gives you key pieces of the digital content, already printed.
- Book 2 Teacher Pages Only: Printed softcover Teacher Pages with four-day pacing guides, answer keys, and clear lab notes to make experiments approachable. A practical print option if you'd rather not rely on the dashboard.
- Book 2 Digital Dashboard Only: 18 months of access to the full Digital Teaching Dashboard, including lesson plans, student and teacher pages, labs, quizzes, and grading tools—plus the digital flipbook of the Book 2 Text with audio narration.
Publisher: Gravitas Publications Inc
Author: Rebecca Woodbury, Ph.D., M.Ed.
Illustrator: Janet Moneymaker
Age Recommendation: 7
Grade Recommendation: 2nd Grade
Faith-Based: No
Consumable: Text & Teacher Pages: No, Student Pages: Yes
ISBN: Text: 9781941181805, Teacher Pages: 9781941181829, Student Pages: 9781941181812
Format: Text: Hardcover book, Teacher Pages & Student Pages: Softcover, Digital Dashboard: Online
Copyright: 2024
Language: English
- Well-Trained Mind - Top Recommendation
- Cathy Duffy - One of 103 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum (2022)
- Practical Homeschooling - 2018 Reader Award
- Practical Homeschooling - 2015 Reader Award
- Practical Homeschooling - 2014 Reader Award
- About.com - 2012 Readers Choice Finalist
- Practical Homeschooling - 2009 Reader Award
- Practical Homeschooling - 2008 Reader Award
Explore two real Teacher Dashboards to see how chapter-by-chapter organization works.
Not sure where to start your student? Take their placement quiz to find out.
“We’ve used a lot of different science curricula over the years and I have to say, Real Science-4-Kids is a winner!” Read the Review.
Little Learner and Mom:
“This curriculum weaves Chemistry, Biology, and Physics together in one year. Instead of siloing topics, it introduces kids to the interconnectedness of science exactly how real scientists approach the world.” Read the Review.
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about this product below:
Yes. It is by the same author, but has been substantially updated.
What we love about the update is that it removes the pressure of experiments and lab notebooks while retaining rigorous scientific instruction. Plus, the redesigned books are a visual step up, too.
One of the most common questions we get: "Should my child start with Book 1 in first grade, or wait until third?"
The short answer: it depends on reading ability and how much support you'll provide. RS4K's atoms-first spiral model is designed for flexibility—younger learners can begin with parent read-aloud support, while independent learners can pick a level that fits their reading level and science knowledge.
Students who start with Timberdoodle kits in the early grades and work through the sequence year by year should be well-prepared for each book as it arrives — including Books 6 and 7 in middle school, which build on everything that came before.
If you're starting RS4K mid-sequence, use the chart below as your guide. Books 6 and 7 in particular require some prerequisite knowledge—a student jumping in at that level without the earlier books might want to back down a book or two first.
The goal isn't to rush. It's to build the kind of atomic-level foundation that makes high school science feel manageable — even exciting.
Real Science-4-Kids stays neutral on origins—it doesn't explicitly teach creation or evolution, leaving those conversations to your family.
Access begins as soon as our team processes your order and continues for 18 months—plenty of wiggle room if you're not starting right away or need a little extra time to finish.
Any of these options can be a great fit, depending on how you want to teach science this year.
Families who want a straightforward yet thorough approach may find the print text is all they need. It covers the topics in depth, with no experiments, no worksheets, no fuss.
Many families like to add an occasional experiment or activity as time allows. For these families, the print text + digital dashboard is a great combo — you get the hardcover book for regular science learning, plus downloadable resources to access when you want them. The read-aloud flipbook is also a hit for any family who struggles with pronunciation. This is the option we include in our curriculum kits—the print text keeps learning simple and solid, while the digital dashboard is there when you want to go deeper.
Want everything in print? Choose the print text, printed student pages, and printed teacher pages — everything you need, nothing that requires a screen.
Prefer to learn on the go, or know the read-aloud flipbook will be the best fit for your student? The digital dashboard only is a natural choice.
Customers earn Doodle Dollars for reviewing products they've purchased, and some promotions add an entry in a prize drawing. Rewards never depend on the rating given.
- June 3, 2026
Karo
Last year's science experience was not very positive. We jumped into Real Science this year not knowing what this new curriculum would be like. We thoroughly liked this Science. The illustrations were fun and it was nice that the science covered the major scientific fields at a child's level while still introducing many of the actual scientific terminology. I am looking forward to another year of this Science in 3rd grade.
- April 2, 2026
Karolyn B.
After last year’s science fiasco this curriculum was a breath of fresh air! We really enjoyed the lessons. I liked how it touched on all the main areas of science at a basic level. I didn’t figure out the optional supplemental experiments. I don’t know where I was supposed to find them so that was the only confusion. We were grateful that experiments were not required in order to learn what the lessons were about.
- February 21, 2026
We love this curriculum!
Catherine
I've written a review for book 1 and it continues to be the same with this level. My son gets excited to do science. It can be adjusted to any schedule. It's colorful and has silly stuff but give outstanding information. Experiments aren't required but are there if you wish to use them. They are a free download on their website. When you buy just the book, you will get an email with everything else you need so you can print it out. The student notebook pages are in color and are fun to do. We will definitely continue to use this series. Highly recommend
- February 18, 2026
Great series
Steph H.
Real Science-4-Kids has been a great addition to our homeschool curriculum. In the past, I have done the pick-and-choose unit study method. This book covers chemistry, biology, physics, geology, and astronomy all in one source. My son really enjoys the age-appropriate reading and notebook activities. We aren't able to complete all of the experiments, but they are well laid out and fun to do. There are lesson plans and quizzes that are a great addition to the course as well.
