If you are looking for solid secular curricula and resources that encourage critical thinking, inquisition, and investigation, you have come to the right place! Our publications are not written from any political or religious point of view and do not posit religious beliefs as factual.
History Odyssey and History Quest are secular-based. Various religions and their belief systems are discussed in detail in History Quest and in all of our History Study Guides as they had influence on the history of humankind. However, we do not assign any readings from books, such as Story of the World, that may appear to have a faith bias, or that overtly or subtly present historical events as divinely influenced.
Common Core Standards (CCS) are language arts and mathematics national standards created for public school. The “Next Generation Science Standards” are the public school standards for science. Pandia Press is independent of public education. However, History Odyssey, and History Quest exceed public school standards.
History Quest is our history series for students for grades 1st though 7th. It consists of a read aloud (or independent read for older students) chapter book for children. The accompanying study guide, when paired with the book, creates a complete one year history curriculum. The History Quest study guide is a multiple resource approach that combines history with geography, activities, and writing. There is a history Travel Log activity with a timeline/geography exercise that pairs with the imaginary time travel in the History Hops from the chapter books along with activity ideas, literature readings, writing and comprehension exercise, map work. At this time there is History Quest Early Times and History Quest Middle Times. Next to come out (in early 2022) will be History Quest United States. Following this will be History Quest Modern Times, which will pick up in world history where History Quest Middle Times left off for a total of 3 year long book/study guides of world history.
History Quest has gradually replaced our original History Odyssey Level 1 series for elementary students over the past few years. In September, 2019 we retired History Odyssey Ancients Level 1 and replaced it with History Quest: Early Times Study Guide. History Quest: Middle Times Study Guide replaced History Odyssey Middle Ages Level 1 in August, 2020. In August 2021, History Odyssey Early Modern Level 1 and History Odyssey Modern Level 1 were replaced with an updated and combined version in the form of Modern History Bridge. Modern History Bridge is a one-year study guide that completes the three year cycle of world history of History Quest. It will eventually be retired when History Quest Modern Times is released.
History Odyssey (previously known as History Odyssey Level 2) is our history study guide series for middle school and high school. History Odyssey study guides will transition your student to independent learning with minimal assistance from a parent or teacher. Students learn information organization, literary analysis, research skills, and writing skills through reading some of the the greatest literature for each time period. They learn outlining, timeline analysis, geography, and critical thinking through daily lessons with worksheets and backline maps included. The History Odyssey series consists of 4 years of world history study including Ancients, Middle Ages, Early Modern, and Modern.
History Quest is our history series for students for grades 1st though 7th. It consists of a read aloud (or independent read for older students) chapter book for children. The accompanying study guide, when paired with the book, creates a complete one year history curriculum. The History Quest study guide is a multiple resource approach that combines history with geography, activities, and writing. There is a history Travel Log activity with a timeline/geography exercise that pairs with the imaginary time travel in the History Hops from the chapter books along with activity ideas, literature readings, writing and comprehension exercise, map work. At this time there is History Quest Early Times and History Quest Middle Times. Next to come out (in early 2022) will be History Quest United States. Following this will be History Quest Modern Times, which will pick up in world history where History Quest Middle Times left off for a total of 3 year long book/study guides of world history.
History Quest has gradually replaced our original History Odyssey Level 1 series for elementary students over the past few years. In September, 2019 we retired History Odyssey Ancients Level 1 and replaced it with History Quest: Early Times Study Guide. History Quest: Middle Times Study Guide replaced History Odyssey Middle Ages Level 1 in August, 2020. In August 2021, History Odyssey Early Modern Level 1 and History Odyssey Modern Level 1 were replaced with an updated and combined version in the form of Modern History Bridge. Modern History Bridge is a one-year study guide that completes the three year cycle of world history of History Quest. It will eventually be retired when History Quest Modern Times is released.
History Odyssey (previously known as History Odyssey Level 2) is our history study guide series for middle school and high school. History Odyssey study guides will transition your student to independent learning with minimal assistance from a parent or teacher. Students learn information organization, literary analysis, research skills, and writing skills through reading some of the the greatest literature for each time period. They learn outlining, timeline analysis, geography, and critical thinking through daily lessons with worksheets and backline maps included. The History Odyssey series consists of 4 years of world history study including Ancients, Middle Ages, Early Modern, and Modern.
After many months of research and listening to customer wants and needs, we made the decision to pull American History Odyssey from distribution so we could revamp the course. The revised edition will include expanded Native American and African American history and will offer additional resources from a range of American voices. These changes will add more diversity and more coverage of marginalized groups throughout US history. We are being diligent with this update and expansion and we don’t have a release date as of yet.
You may have noticed, History Odyssey is different; different even than the textbook-style of our science courses. Our unique approach to history has to do with the subjective nature of history studies. History Odyssey courses are study guides that organize and carefully lead students through multiple resources that encourage critical thinking including literature, geography, encyclopedias, the classics, hands-on activities, artwork, poetry, music, primary source excerpts, etc. History Odyssey is anti-textbook by design and we’re happy you noticed!
Pandia Press is not an accrediting agency and does not offer high school credits. However, an accrediting institution has informed us that each level three course would count for at least one full history (social studies) credit, one full literature/writing (English) credit (if a formal writing course is added), and possibly a half credit for geography. Many customers have told us that their high school accredited institutions have approved HO courses.
We recommend courses that teach thesis writing, research papers, and how to write essays–literary, expository, descriptive, narrative, and persuasive.
Specifically, we recommend the following:
If you are looking for solid secular curricula and resources that encourage critical thinking, inquisition, and investigation, you have come to the right place! Our publications are not written from any political or religious point of view and do not posit religious beliefs as factual.
A scientist whose only agenda is to teach real science and present science facts and theories that are accepted as core by the science community writes each REAL Science Odyssey course. Therefore, RSO is not from a creationist’s viewpoint and does not politicize science issues. Scientific inquiry and theory based on empirical and measurable evidence are understood to be valid and standard science in all our courses. RSO Biology 2 has an entire unit on evolution. RSO Astronomy 1 and 2 address universe origins including big bang theory. RSO Earth & Environment courses include material that teach the science behind climate change.
Common Core Standards (CCS) are language arts and mathematics national standards created for public school. The “Next Generation Science Standards” are the public school standards for science. Pandia Press is independent of public education. However, REAL Science Odyssey exceed public school standards.
The second edition of RSO Biology 2 was released in August of 2020. The changes from the first edition are mostly cosmetic with just a few minor changes in content. The first edition student book was a combination of both the student text and the work pages all in one very large book that was a little difficult to manage. In the second edition, the student book has been separated into two parts There is the perfect-bound, softcover student text book that is in full color and non-consumable. There is also a separate coil-bound, consumable student workbook. You will need both parts to complete the course. If you have more than one student, you can easily use one copy of the student text book and have as many workbooks as needed. Both parts are available as print copies or as PDF files.
A Teacher’s guide is also available and recommended, especially for the parent/teacher who is a science novice. The second edition of the teacher guide has been edited to correspond with the new format and page numbers of the second edition student textbook and workbook.
Yes! Many high school students are using Biology 2 and Astronomy 2 successfully. We recommend high school students pair The Stargazer’s Notebook with Astronomy 2. And for Biology 2, if you complete the entire course including all microscope labs, it is entry high school level. Blair Lee explains exactly how to make Bio 2 a more advanced high school level in a blog article: Using RSO Biology 2 for High School Biology.
Also, many high school students are using History Odyssey Level 2 courses for high school with little to no modification. The current History Odyssey Level 3 courses (Ancients and Middle Ages) should be considered advanced high school level. American History Odyssey is standard high school level.
Home Science Tools now sells supply kits for most RSO courses!
Select a course from the Pandia Store to view specific supplies needed.
A Rock and Mineral made specially for RSO Earth & Environment 1 can be purchased from Rainbow Resource Center. If you want to put together your own kit, you will need samples of: Talc, Magnetite, Mica, Pyrite, Feldspar, Quartz Crystal, Granite, Basalt, Snowflake Obsidian, Conglomerate, Sandstone, Shale, Marble, Slate, and Schist. Plus, you need a streak plate or unglazed kitchen tile.
New Policy on the Discussion of New Releases
In the past, we’ve discussed tentative publication release dates based on the best information we have from our content authors, copy and technical editors, artists and designers, and printers. More often than not, there are unforeseen setbacks that cause a slip in the schedule, affect the whole publishing process, and move release dates further out than our earlier projections. Therefore, we have started a new policy of no longer talking about new product release dates until we are within a month of publication.
REAL Science Odyssey
We are committed to completing the R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey series of courses. At this time, no courses are within a month of release. The next R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey course to be released will be Biology Level 1.
History Quest
At this time, no History Quest publications are within a month of release. The next History Quest to be released will be History Quest United States.
History Odyssey
At this time, no History Odyssey publications are within a month of releas
The revised edition of Ancients 3 is complete! Also, we now offer an Answer Key for Ancients 3.
The current History Odyssey Level 3 Middle Ages course is being phased out to be replaced by a new updated edition at some point in the future. The print version of this course are no longer available. The eBook edition is available from Pandia Press at a much reduced price for a limited time. A new edition of the main spine for Level 3 History Odyssey was released in 2015, and it does not match the sequence of Level 3 Middle Ages. We could not in good conscience continue to offer courses that require our customers to work to match the sequence to the main spine.
Modern Times 2 Teacher Guide, available as an eBook, is a test product to determine if more teacher guides are warranted. History Odyssey was written with the intention of NOT requiring teacher guides due to the subjectivity of the assignments that encourage critical thinking (i.e. there is rarely any one correct answer). Answer keys to map work are found in the main spine (The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia). If MT2 Teacher Guide proves to be popular, we will consider creating more. Please do not email requesting a release date as there are no more Level 2 Teacher Guides in the works at this time.
The best place to learn about our products is on our Facebook page: Pandia Press Facebook.
Also, there are three Facebook groups run by Pandia Press writers and customers: History Quest Teacher’s Lounge, History Odyssey and REAL Science Odyssey
The smiles this curriculum produces are priceless! THANK YOU for creating such an amazing SECULAR curriculum!! –, homeschooling parent
We are on week 2 of Biology 2 and my kiddo can not get enough!
RSO Chemistry 1 is a fantastic, rigorous, secular science curriculum! It uses a multi-sensory approach to teach key principles and stays well clear of classic text-book style teaching. My kids are thoroughly enjoying this level and we highly recommend it!
After a ton of science curricula research, I finally ordered RSO Life Science! I am not a science person but I want my kiddo to love science. This seems like it’ll work for us both!
Every single year of homeschooling so far, (4 years), we have chosen a Real Science Odyssey program from Pandia Press. The lessons are informative, engaging, and fun! We have done Chemistry, Astronomy, and Physics, now Biology 2!
It's incredible after homeschooling for 18 years to find a resource that creates exactly what we were looking for in merging constant experimentation with text. Thank you once more for putting it all together.
Today in Biology 2, We talked about DNA and RNA and how fascinating it all is. Sooo fun! Thanks for a great curriculum Pandia Press!
I have tried various science resources over the years and have never found one I like as much as REAL Science Odyssey. Kudos!
We love History Odyssey. It's our favorite subject!
I love your multi-faceted approach towards history, History Odyssey fits perfectly with our interdisciplinary approach.
We love the history series. My daughter has written some fun, really superb essays over the years. Thank you so much for helping us have this experience!
After reading the first several chapters myself, I got the audiobook. Now the kids prefer the audiobook instead of me reading to them! I like to have both the audiobook and physical book. My oldest likes to read nonfiction, so he can pick it up whenever he wants to read it.
This is so wonderful! The narration is truly lovely!
I’ve never loved history as much as I have using History Quest Middle Times with my boys. I really appreciate your global approach and better inclusion of the Eastern world in your history books!
We used fudge brownies as our ziggurat base! Everyone enjoyed the activity. Even my husband got in on the fun! We love this curriculum. It's our favorite subject!
