i just purchased Real Science 4 Kids at both levels to use with a 9 and 10.5 year old. the pre-chemistry is actually really good, and we are going to start with it. i thnk they will have a lot of fun with it, while learning some basic chemistry vocabulary and ways of thinking. the only problem is her reference near the beginning of the textbook to molecules/atoms having been "designed". sigh.... but its only mentioned once, so we will have a good discussion about it. the level 1 chemistry will be a good follow-on.

hi - you said you wanted a secular curriculum. i haven't seen the real science 4 kids curriculum, but the author is on record as being a creationist, not a secularist.... there is an interview with her on the www.idthefuture.com, an intelligent design website. hth, elfgivas

i have both, and use the teacher's guide almost exclusively. the approach to teaching ways of thinking in the two guides seems different to me, and i like it a lot. i used the homeschool guide twice last year. fwiw, elfgivas