Delta Education Science Kits

ScienceGrades 2–8

About This Curriculum

Delta Education offers hands-on science kits and equipment for inquiry-based learning, including the Science in a Nutshell line for homeschools and larger Delta Science Modules for classrooms, covering life, earth, and physical science topics.

What makes it unique: Comprehensive, all-inclusive kits with sufficient materials for multiple students and ability to repeat experiments; includes student journals and activity guides; flexible for customization or structured use.

Delta Education Science Kits: Hands-On Activity Kits for Inquiry Learning

Delta Education Science Kits are hands-on science activity kits that provide materials and experiments for inquiry-based learning across life, earth, and physical science topics. The Science in a Nutshell line targets grades 2-6 with comprehensive materials for 8-12 activities per kit, designed for homeschools and small groups.

Best for

Homeschool families and small groups seeking high-quality hands-on science activities to supplement a core science curriculum with direct instruction

Evaluation Criteria

1 strength · 2 concerns · 1 neutral · 3 insufficient evidence

Hands On IntegrationStrength

These kits excel at providing comprehensive hands-on materials and structured experiments for inquiry learning.

Kits include all necessary materials including small items like straws and rubber bands, with activities that can be repeated multiple times and are described as 'fantastic' by users

Knowledge RichConcern

The kits focus primarily on hands-on activities and experiments without systematic content knowledge building.

Reviews recommend pairing kits with science texts or living books to create a well-rounded program, indicating the kits alone don't provide comprehensive content instruction

Direct InstructionConcern

The curriculum appears to emphasize inquiry-based discovery rather than explicit instruction of concepts.

Described as inquiry-based learning materials, and the need to supplement with additional texts suggests limited direct instruction components

Teacher TrainingNeutral

Activity guides are provided but comprehensive teacher training or professional development appears limited.

Each kit includes an activity guide and teacher's guides are available separately for larger kits, but no mention of extensive teacher support materials

Ngss AlignmentInsufficient Evidence

Coverage spans life, earth, and physical science topics but alignment to specific standards is unclear.

Kits cover the three major science domains and target grades 2-6, but reviews don't mention NGSS alignment or standards coverage

Retrieval PracticeInsufficient Evidence

Student journals are included but there's no clear evidence of systematic retrieval practice or review.

Kits include student activity journals, but reviews don't describe specific retrieval or review components

Scientific VocabularyInsufficient Evidence

Limited evidence suggests vocabulary instruction may not be systematically addressed in the activity-focused format.

No specific mention of vocabulary instruction in reviews, and the recommendation to supplement with texts suggests vocabulary gaps in the kit materials

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com, thecurriculumchoice.com