WHAT IS “STEP 4”?
STEP 4 is three-five years of secular, religion-friendly curriculum, designed for use by students ages 11-adult, who read well.

Step 4 contains studies in History, Science, Study & Life Skills, Creative Writing, Reading, Spelling, and electives such as Music Theory, Music History, Acting, Animation, Literature Guides, Current Events, and Civics. We do not provide Math.  The focus of Step 4 studies is to develop critical thinking skills, vocabulary, literacy, self-sufficiency and self-expression, while thoroughly educating the student at a much higher than high School level, in each subject.

Additionally, Step 4 History, our most extensive study, covers many important areas of study for emerging adults, all in context with history.  These include politics, religion, economics, geography, art and science.  STEPS is designed to provide a complete education, well into college-level work.

DOES MY STUDENT NEED TO DO STEP 1, 2 OR 3 TO GET A STEPS EDUCATION?
No.  Each Step covers the entirety of each subject offered, but as the student goes up through the Steps, the materials become more detailed, and challenging.  Students start at the Step right for their age and literacy.  They do not need to go back to an earlier level unless they find themselves truly struggling, and for a significant amount of time.

IS STEP 4 FOR HOMESCHOOLING?  OR THE CLASSROOM?
Step 4 is independent study for homeschoolers, but it has been used with success in the classroom.

ARE STEPS 4 COURSES BOOKS?  HOW DO I GET THEM?
STEPS courses come as PDFs, online downloads.  When you purchase courses on our site, they are immediately sent to the email address you give us.

HOW DOES STEP 4 SCIENCE WORK?
Like all STEPS studies, Step 4 courses are broken into daily lesson plans.  Each lesson plan is made up of small things to be done, in sequence.  The student does each step in the lesson plan, in order.  Sometimes, the course shows students art work, video, or photography – all found in sequence, in the lesson plan.  And in every lesson plan, the student uses what has been taught and does things, there are always activities. 

Over a period of three-five years, the duration of Step 4 studies, students develop improved reading and literacy skills.  Each student moves at their own pace in developing literacy, as in all their studies.  By the end of Step 4, a student should have developed excellent critical thinking skills, a huge vocabulary, a profound ability to communicate, and an exceptional grasp for this age of history, science and related subjects.  Additionally, the student will be facile at self-motivated, unassisted study – a skill that will serve the student well as they step into life.

Step 4 Science provides 4 years of study, in eight courses.  It starts with Advanced Science Basics, defining the overall subject of science, a step very often skipped in other studies.  What is Science, and why should we know about it?   Covered.  The tools of science are explored in the first course, including the concepts of measurement, categorization, and the Scientific Method.  The student tests every idea, hands-on.  These are all lab sciences, using commonly-found articles.  And they easily fulfill any State requirements!  The student is prepared for rigorous science studies with this first course. 

Then, specialized courses in each of the following: Geology, Oceanography, Meteorology & the Atmosphere, Chemistry, Biology, Physics & Astronomy.  By the time the student completes these massive seven courses, each course taking about a semester of work, he’s ready for our final, graduate level science course – Science Projects, where the student sums up all the knowledge acquired in their science studies, and then fully designs several specific science projects, using their understanding of many sciences.

One more thing about our Science – it is “concept driven”, rather than mathematics driven.  We felt it was important for the student to thoroughly grasp each area of science, and did not wish to obscure that understanding with rigorous math requirements many students would not be able to – or care to – fulfill.  One man with a Master’s in Chemistry review our Step 4 Chemistry course, and thought we’d done exactly the thing no one seems able to do – explain science in detail and still have it be understood by the non-science oriented and science-oriented student alike.  He felt a student wishing to go even farther could do math-science studies at the college level, but that we’d accomplished more than is ever taught at the High School level.  Our students agree with him.

HOW WELL DOES STEP 4 “TEACH” THE SUBJECTS”?
Very.  That’s what Step 4 is all about, a detailed education in every offered subject.  Each subject starts with the most basic ideas in that subject – usually a definition of the subject itself.  Info builds on info, and becomes increasingly detailed.  But the unique approach taken in STEPS allows students to understand the most complex information the first time they’re exposed to it.  Step 4 is the longest, most important of STEPS levels.  It is the Step that prepares the student to triumph in life. 

CAN I PURCHASE INDIVIDUAL COURSES TO FILL NEEDS IN MY CHILD’S EDUCATION?
Yes.  Each STEPS course is a free-standing, independent study. 

CAN I PURCHASE A FULL SEMESTER OF STUDIES IN STEP 4 SCIENCE ALL AT ONCE, OR A YEAR'S WORTH OF A CERTAIN SUBJECT?
Most of our Step 4 Science courses take around a semester apiece to do.  But yes, you can purchase “bundles” on our site.  Bundles are the least expensive way to purchase STEPS courses. 

HOW QUICKLY COULD I START USING STEPS 4?
Start now.  You can start STEPS at any time of the year, 24/7/365.   Everything you need is pretty much included in the courses you will download, for STEP 3.  (Some courses require films or outside books, which are carefully explained, with links provided detailing where to find them.)

HOW MUCH DO I, THE TEACHER OR PARENT, NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SCIENCE IN ORDER TO USE STEPS?  HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO DO?
You (teacher/tutor/parent) do not need any expertise in subjects your student is studying, using STEPS.   Not as a teacher, or in the subjects being taught.  You do not need a degree, or experience as a teacher.  Each course does the “teaching”.   Just follow the lesson plans, and keep your eyes open for fun opportunities related to whatever the student is studying.   The course does the teaching.

HOW QUICKLY CAN I MOVE MY STUDENT UP STEPS?
A student can move up at any time he has the literacy skills and maturity for the next level.  The student does not need to “complete” a lower level of curriculum to move up.  The student just needs to be able to successfully do the next higher level of curriculum as far as difficulty and literacy.  With STEPS, a student is never “behind” or “ahead” – each student moves at the pace they’re comfortable with, every step in every lesson plan, every course, every level. 

SUCCESS STORIES ABOUT STEP 4 SCIENCE STUDIES!
This is the first Step 4 grade level science course you should use when starting this excellent curriculum. It teaches what science is and gives an excellent overview of the scientific method, the branches of science, and why we do science in the first place. I highly recommend this course and this curriculum!  K. B., Homeschool Mom
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For years I had been trying to find a science curriculum that would "fit" our family. I was at my wits end when I stumbled upon Steps. My daughter recently finished the Science Basics. The material is written directly to the student in an easy to understand way. The writing style is so pleasing, that initially I was afraid that my daughter would not be learning enough. However, when I looked at the tests provided with the course, I was pleasantly surprised to see how much material was covered. Somehow I guess I had been indoctrinated with the thought that learning had to be painful. We look forward to continuing with the rest of Step 4 Science. I'm so happy that I don't have to put the time and effort into making our own science program. Thank you!  D. W., Home Educator
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Just wanted to say thanks once again! My DS14 has gone from 'hating' school science to now being fascinated and actually considering aiming for a career in zoology eventually! For a kid who had no goals at all as far as further education he's now excited when he talks about working with animals in the future. Your science curriculum has shown him that science doesn't need to be boring and dry. We now have big long discussions about all kinds of scientific theories and chemical reactions.

He was just in his bedroom doing his creative writing and all I could hear were chuckles. It's so exciting to see him enjoying learning! I never thought I'd ever see this. He wrote a 1400 word essay the other day because he just didn't want to stop!   A.R., Homeschool Mom
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Before I didn't really like doing science, so I was falling behind.  Now I love science and it is so much fun.  I get a lot done and I will be one of the first to finish!  This curriculum is so awesome, you get so much more out of it than you would with anything else.  J.C., 15 year-old student
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Science Basics taught me about different types of science.  I learned about cause and effect and the steps to figuring out something - how things work.  I learned about applied science and pure science.  I learned that many scientists don't agree on things.  They each have their own theories.  I learned about the major branches of science, the differences between them, and how they all become applied sciences.  C.M., age 16
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I really learned a lot on this course.  I also had fun on it.  I especially started winning at this course toward the end where I learned more about science than i ever could have in public school.  This is a great course and I can't wait to start the next one!  C.G., age 12