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10 Popular High School Chemistry Homeschool Curriculum

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I’m sharing ten popular high school chemistry homeschool curriculum. Sorting through popular chemistry homeschool curriculum can be daunting. Check out my how to homeschool high school page for awesome tips.

However, a practical high school chemistry homeschool curriculum should be easy to understand.

Both a non-science oriented teen and strong science oriented teen can find a curriculum to match their interests.

10 Popular High School Chemistry Homeschool Curriculum

Also, I’ve included choices for homeschool chemistry curriculum whether your teen is on a college track or career track.

The beginning of teaching chemistry can seem scary; I’m not sure how a fear of teaching chemistry began.

I know, I felt that way at first too.

However, as a non-science mom and after three homeschooled grads, my love and education for chemistry has grown.

With the right choices of curriculum and ideas, you and your teen can really enjoy the study of chemistry.

Besides, we practice or use chemistry every day.

From the food we eat to watching lightning produce fire, chemistry can be a fun subject to learn.

Once I moved past thinking it was only for science majors, my teens and I could dive into learning even beyond the basics.

The point is chemistry can be fun and should always be hands-on.

And one of my favorite parts is that any science study can be tied to learning the history of it. Chemistry is no different.

5 Pointers Before Choosing High School Chemistry Curriculum

And as you sort through each one, here are a few points to be aware of:

  • A lot of the major providers suggest prerequisites like having completed Algebra 1 and/or Geometry before chemistry;
  • And some providers integrate physics and chemistry because they feel all science subjects are intertwined and best taught together;
  • Still other providers which integrate physics and chemistry don’t require complex math to encourage student curiosity;
  • Too, some courses are a honor course and still others are basic chemistry; and
  • Lastly, pay attention to the credits assigned, if any, and the worldview. Some are secular and some Christian.

High School Chemistry Homeschool Curriculum

Next, look at these ten popular high school chemistry homeschool curriculum.

1. BOB JONES CHEMISTRY

BJU Press offers Chemistry in the 11th grade. They recommend that students should be taking Algebra 2 and Chemistry at the same time. According to their site, students in Chemistry have already completed Algebra 1 and Geometry.

This set is an example of an all-in-one. The complete set has a student edition, teacher’s manual, lab manual, assessments, and answer key. And like their other courses at this level, it is a solid college prep course and strong Christian worldview.

2. DISCOVERING DESIGN WITH CHEMISTRY for non-science student

3. DISCOVERING DESIGN WITH CHEMISTRY, SUPPLEMENT 2 for science student

Then, Discovering Design With Chemistry series were designed for use in 10th grade and require Algebra 1 math level. Too, they have a strong Christian worldview.

Designed as an all-in-one, they also offer video on demand classes.

4. FOCUS ON HIGH SCHOOL CHEMISTRY

Another awesome option is Focus On High School Chemistry.

When Real Science 4 Kids came on the homeschooling scene homeschoolers swooned. They’re still swooning at the ease and options offered.

Focus On High School Chemistry is offered for grades 9 to 12. It introduces students to high school basic chemistry and some concepts found in college-level chemistry.

This curriculum goes into more depth than a lot of chemistry high school programs, but does not cover all topics.

You’ll love how the experiments are broken down and easy to implement.

This original series is a one-semester course and can count as half of a high school credit. One more note of detail is that this course has a secular slant.

If your student is wanting a basic overview of chemistry, is undecided about chemistry as a science major, or wants just an overview, this curriculum keeps all options open.

5.FRIENDLY CHEMISTRY

Further, there is a reason this next chemistry option is called Friendly Chemistry.

This high school chemistry curriculum uses friendly language and introduces chemistry in a fun way.

I’ve not looked at the current editions, but some of the first editions had several typos. To some this can diminish the weight of the content.

Although I don’t like typos, I know it happens. I have a higher standard for curriculum providers. But I do not think it is a reflection of the content and the way the chemistry is taught.

Many homeschoolers love using it because their teens can use it independently.

The same lessons are taught in like a traditional high school course.

Unlike some other courses, motivated junior high-aged children complete the lessons in Friendly Chemistry.

Because this is a high school level course, you can count it as a credit because it’s intended to be completed in a year.

6. CHEMEXPLAINED

Next, if your teen prefers to learn online and take a college-prep course, then ChemExplained may be a good option.

Taught by a chemistry teacher, the videos are short and explanations are well.

Too, you’ll want to encourage your teen to take notes while learning.

Additionally, it’s hard to find faith-neutral curriculum.

A faith-neutral curriculum strives to leave religious or secular slants out of their curriculum. If you want to teach your own worldview, this is an option.

7. INTEGRATED PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY

Not to be overlooked is Integrated Physics and Chemistry by Paradigm Accelerated Curriculum. I’ve used several of their worktexts and my teens have loved the different courses.

Unlike other programs, the pacs are separate worktexts.

Encouraging the teen to learn independently with minimal supervision is the focus on their courses.

The course has twelve chapters of text and twelve companion student activities.

Whether your student chooses 9th or 10th grade to study Integrated Physics and Chemistry by Paradigm Accelerated Curriculum, it introduces students to the people, places and principles of physics and chemistry.

Also, it is a secular curriculum, but I found it easy to add faith-based ideas.

8. CONCEPTUAL CHEMISTRY

Then another solid choice is Conceptual Chemistry.

As the title of the textbook states there is emphasis on concepts, but with a fun conversational quality.

Non-science majors will love the practical part of the explanations in easy to learn language.

Introducing easy hands-on activities is another strength of this curriculum. With structure to encourage an independent learner, there is enough content to also foster critical thinking skills.

If your will teen will be a non-chemistry major or has a solid, but basic understanding of math, this is a great option. It can be used for any grade in high school.

9. Chemistry in the Kitchen

In addition, Chemistry in the Kitchen by Guest Hollow is a fun slant on chemistry.

Cooking their way through learning chemistry, teens in 9t to 12th grade don’t have to have higher levels of math.

Just a love of science and to learn in a different way are all that are required.

10. Homeschool Buyer’s Selection.

Finally, another popular option is the assortment which Homeschool Buyer’s Co-op offers each year. It’s popular because who doesn’t like to save money when you can.

Each year, Homeschool Buyer’s Co-op will list chemistry options and supplements. Be sure to check what is discounted there too.

10 Popular High School Chemistry Homeschool Curriculum

Be sure to look at my fun ideas for all ages to add to supplement your curriculum.

What do think? Are you feeling a little less intimidated about choosing a homeschool high school chemistry curriculum?

Chemistry Homeschool Ideas

If have some other chemistry homeschool ideas to help make teaching this subject fun like it should be.

21 Fun All-In-One Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

When it’s your first time, choosing an all-in-one kindergarten homeschool curriculum can be stressful. New ones are popping up all the time. You’ll love my other tips on kindergarten homeschool curriculum.

So, I’m sharing timeless tips on how to choose an all-in-one kindergarten homeschool curriculum. In addition, kindergarten is not about buying a bunch of worksheets.

21 Fun All-In-One Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

You need to know what skills should be learned; better yet you need to be equipped in how best to teach the skills.

Furthermore, drawing on my 25 years of experience, you’ll know what is important to teach now and what can wait.

All-In-One Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Definition

First, here is the definition of an all-in-one.

An all-in-one kindergarten homeschool curriculum or boxed curriculum means that all your core subjects like the 3 Rs – reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic are laid out. Too, content subjects like science and history are included in the program.

Today, all-in-one means online curriculum, physical curriculum, or a mix of both.

In summary, all the basic subjects are covered in a school year which can be anywhere from 160 to 180 lessons.

In addition, most all-in-one providers have teacher’s manuals or teacher notes along with suggested schedules on how to cover the material.

However, what is important at this age is to equally align academics with how a child at this age learns best.

Don’t make my mistake of being too formal because you’re afraid you’ll drop the ball on an important skill.

Why You Shouldn’t Buy Numerous Kindergarten Worksheets

The way children learn best in kindergarten is through play learning.

Conversation, movement, and exploring through personal experience are more ways children learn. Being outside and learning through nature is a natural and organic way to learn.

Not one point in my definition included worksheets.

I’m not saying I’m against the use of worksheets.

However, completing worksheets does not mean your child mastered Kindergarten.

And completing a curriculum does not mean your child fully understands all skills.

Also, look at my tips on my video What Is An All In One Homeschool Curriculum a k a Boxed Curriculum

At the Kindergarten level, you’re not looking for your child to master skills.

Your goal is to lay a strong foundation with purpose.

Because children are learning with every breath they take, you build a master learner by recognizing their development.

This means your teaching should align with your child’s development. Would you force a six-year-old to drive?

Ludicrous you say. I know, but that is the exact mindset of pushing beyond development that some parents have.

6 Reasons to Use An All-in-One Kindergarten Boxed Curriculum

With that being said, look at six reasons to use an all-in-one curriculum.

  1. Using a package gives you an idea of how you may or may not want to lay out your day.
  2. Especially when I had all younger children, my time to prep lessons plans was almost non-existent. A laid-out framework was sanity-saving for me.
  3. When it’s your first child, you may want the reassurance that you’re doing enough for the day.
  4. If you live in a state which requires record keeping, boxed curriculum can help you meet the requirements.
  5. On top of that, some all-in-one teacher’s manuals are exceptional with background information. Having teaching tips and background information at your fingertips saves time.
  6. Lastly, I learned from an all-in-one a pattern for teaching. A pattern is something you repeat over. Learning to follow a pattern when you’re new to homeschooling catapults your teaching experience.

Next, you also need to know how to NOT use an all-in-one curriculum.

Like any tool in the world, you need to know how to use an all-in-one kindergarten homeschool curriculum.

5 Ways How to NOT Use An All-In-One Homeschool Curriculum

  1. Do not use a curriculum which does not align with your goals. Like I mentioned at the outset, there is an explosion of public-school minded advocates entering the homeschool world. We welcome them, but the public-school approach and homeschool approach are two completely different approaches.
  2. Tweak EACH day’s lesson to fit YOUR child. If your child needs to move, stop and MOVE. Or better yet, stop the lesson and do something outside or play.
  3. Forcing your child to sit for long periods signals to me that a curriculum is trying to teach robots. Children learn in spurts and NOT all learning occurs while a child is sitting. The lesson plan should fit the age of the child.
  4. Another problem is thinking you must do EVERY lesson. You do not. There is NOTHING MIRACULOUS about forcing your child to complete everything. On the other hand, trust your intuition. Skip lessons as needed and remember ALL curriculum is a framework, not the exact.
  5. Choosing a teacher’s manual that is not comprehensive is another mistake. Any company can provide a glorified answer key. Narrow down your choices by asking questions on what kind of information is included in the teacher’s manual. Ask about teaching tips, schedule suggestions, and other ways their teacher’s manual is of value.
  6. Foremost, do NOT rely on the curriculum to teach. Curriculum doesn’t teach anything, you do. Through everyday conversations with you is how your child learns.

Equally important before you choose an all-in-one kindergarten curriculum is knowing the skills of math and language arts need consistent teaching.

Teach the Skills Subjects First Using Content Subjects

The fun subjects like science, history, geography, music, nature, and hands-on crafts are the vehicles used to learn math and language arts.

An example of how you mix living and learning without worksheets during the natural flow of your day is below:

Reading – You read aloud to your child or have them listen to an audio book.
Math – Bake cookies and learn measurements. Learn weights and understand dollars and cents while at the grocery store.
Geography – Understand what we do at the post office by visiting it and explain who are folks in the community we call for help.
History – Stories about famous Americans can be read together or build the pyramids made by ancient Egyptians.
Writing – Copy a beautiful poem for handwriting. Then, have your child dip his finger in chocolate paint and write on a cookie sheet. A bit of finger licking allowed.
Science – Any explosion is an awe factor of any kid. So, build a volcano and explode it. Take a simple nature walk or have your child explore his backyard to collect and identify his collection.
Art – Even the youngest child appreciates art. A trip to the museum fosters the love of beautiful art pieces. Or, a game like Professor Noggin’s History of Art Trivia Card Game piques interest in art in a fun way.

21 All-In-One Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

Finally, look at these twenty-one providers.

21 Fun All-In-One Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

Kindergarten Fun Supplements

Adding fun pages can be part of your program, but not the framework. I love books like

What do you think? Have any questions on some of these?

Here are some more posts you’ll like:

10 Key Benefits of Unit Study Curriculum (free printable)

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Unit study curriculum has ten key benefits. Today, I will identify what is unit study curriculum, how long a unit study should last, and what makes a good unit study curriculum.

Besides identifying what a unit study means, you need to know how to use unit study curriculum with your multiple aged children.

And knowing how to identify what is not a unit study or unit study curriculum keeps you from wasting your time.

First, knowing what is unit study curriculum will help you to see the benefits of it.

Unit Study Curriculum

Unit study curriculum takes one topic and includes as many subjects as possible. It builds an entire curriculum around the topic covering subjects like language arts, math, reading, art, history, science, and geography with hands-on application.

Also, unit study curriculum can build lesson plans around a piece of literature, a famous author or person.

10 Key Benefits of Unit Study Curriculum (free printable)

For a history slant, a unit study can be created using an event or learn about a famous person. Regarding science, a unit study can use topics from past or current events, inventions, or focus on a scientist.

Studying character traits is another way to build unit study curriculum. On top of that art can tie in history, science, crafts, and math when art is the main topic.

Extensive Unit Study Curriculum

Next, identifying the differences in extensive versus limited unit studies will help you to make a better choice.

Extensive unit study curriculum can include lesson plans or lesson plan ideas, language arts and maybe math. Math is the only component for both extensive and limited unit study that is normally purchased separately as well as including some aspect of it in daily learning.

In addition, it should include components of hands-on activities and project ideas.

As you can see the topics can be endless which is a huge appeal to learners of all ages.

A few choices I like for extensive unit study curriculum are:

  • Five in a Row which now includes ages up to middle school and is based on beautiful literature;
  • Konos is another extensive curriculum and is for learners all the way to high school and is based on character traits;
  • Gather Round Homeschool is fairly new to the homeschool world and is for learners to high school and takes more of a Charlotte Mason approach;
  • Tapestry of Grace is another favorite of mine built around the main topic of history, but also has a classical approach intertwined. It too is geared for all ages up to high school;
  • Christian Cottage blends history time periods with science and lots of hands-on activities. Like KONOS and Five in a Row, it has been around for years. Although initially it was up to middle school, it is aimed for use up to high school and is still a wonderful resource; and
  • Trail Guide to Learning blends another favorite subject of ours which is geography with language arts and science. When it launched back in the day it was aimed for middle school and still is a great fit for middle school learners.

Limited Unit Study Curriculum

Next, don’t think because a unit study curriculum is limited that it won’t be of value.

The ideas or content may be excellent starting points or give extensive background knowledge. Perhaps limited unit study curriculum just gives an idea for the day versus a daily lesson plan.

Furthermore, the focus of some of unit studies are narrow; that is a huge benefit when too much information is overwhelming.

Not everyone wants day to day hand holding especially if you have an eager learner. You may just want a framework of knowledge on the topic. There are many ways to use limited unit study curriculum.

A few of the ones I like are below;

Our Journey Westward

In my 25 years of homeschooling, I’ve seen an explosion of unit studies. Some welcomed by me, others not so much.

What is NOT Unit Study Curriculum

What is not a homeschool unit study is busy work and it’s not an approach you do alongside another approach.

Because there are no rules, you can be as detailed or loose in your planning as you desire. There is no one way to do a unit study.

Additionally, because it’s an integrated thematic study, prepared laid our boxed curriculum doesn’t usually align with this approach. You need less all-in-one curriculum and more topical or thematic guides and books.

What Makes Good Unit Study Curriculum

With that being said, what makes a good unit study curriculum is one that makes your job easier. Too, it should give you support to create a richer education for your children while saving you time and stress.

How Long Should a Unit Study Last

Then, depending on the ages of your children and their interests, your unit study could last anywhere from two weeks to several months.

A few topics my children wanted to study longer, I wanted to move on to cover other topics for the year. Just know that sometimes you’re the one that wants to move on.

However, I’ve had topics planned to do for a month which only lasted two weeks.

A good rule of thumb is to plan for at least two unit studies a month. That way if your children lose interest in one topic which you had planned to do longer, you can easily move on to your next topic.

Another tip for you is to use unit studies with all your children. Having these solid tips will show you how to use unit study curriculum with all your children.

Using Unit Study Curriculum with Multiple Aged Children

  1. Aim for a resource which targets the age of your middle child or most mature learner. Tweaking assignments to meet the needs of younger learners is easier than crafting ideas for older learners. Especially if you’re new to unit studies, this sanity-saving tip will help.
  2. Doing unit studies together does not mean you have to be on the same subtopic. For example, your family may be studying about sharks. An older learner could write a research paper, your middle learner could practice his reading on a book he or she has selected, and your kindergartner may be coloring a picture or crafting a shark. Different activities while you’re on the same topic is the sanity-saving secret. All doing the same lesson plan is not.
  3. Let each younger learner stop when he or she is immersed. The unit study approach is immersion into the topic. Like everything else, your youngest learner has limits when interest has piqued. Keep going with your older learners until their interest is piqued as well. Chances are you’ll cover the topic again later in your journey and the younger ones will pick up where they left off.

10 Benefits of Unit Study Curriculum

Lastly, the best part of unit studies and unit study curriculum are the benefits.

  1. Including all of your children together with each working at their individual levels, maximizes time.
  2. Children are immersed in a topic which they chose or better known as delight-directed studies.
  3. Willing participants in learning instead of forced learning nurtures independent learning.
  4. Moving at your family’s pace allows each child to be masters of their material. They are working individually for mastering not in comparison to other children their age.
  5. Through hands-on activities and living books, learning sticks. Retention is higher because children are doing and not just reading about the topic.
  6. Instead of learning bits and pieces about topics, children stay on a topic long enough to connect their knowledge to the greater body of knowledge.
  7. Separated curriculum with various topics have no unifying effect unlike the unit study approach.
  8. One giant reference book which spans many ages can be used with your multiple children saving a budget strain. In addition, the books can be used for several years unlike grade level curriculum.
  9. Learning is a privilege and should not be rushed to stay in step with scope and sequence. Using the unit study approach makes the approach fit your family, not keep up with a curriculum schedule.
  10. My favorite benefit is that the whole family is together with a relaxed pace and fostering sibling togetherness. The focus is on maximizing the time and your kids can easily lose track of the time spent learning. Fabulous!

Ultimate Unit Study Planner

I would love to give you a copy of one of my pages from my Ultimate Unit Study Planner! It is a page I start with when I call bubble planning. I plan my thoughts and possible subjects around the main theme. You can see a sample of it here How to Create a Homeschool Unit Study – Step 2: Separation.

10 Key Benefits of Unit Study Curriculum (free printable)

ID: 15102

Free Unit Study Planner Printable Page

10 Key Benefits of Unit Study Curriculum (free printable)

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Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

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10 Key Benefits of Unit Study Curriculum (free printable)

What do you think? Are you ready to give unit study curriculum a try?

Here are some more unit study helps:

Best High School Homeschool Curriculum Packages (Accredited and Not Accredited)

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

With the explosion of homeschooling, more families need access to high school homeschool curriculum packages. Check out my how to homeschool high school page for awesome tips.

If a student chooses to do a boxed or all-in-one homeschool program, there is still enough room in lesson planning to make it uniquely yours.

Best High School Homeschool Curriculum Packages (Accredited and Not Accredited)

Let’s face it, life can throw you a curve ball like it did me and I needed the help of laid out plans for my teen.

Besides, using a high school curriculum package doesn’t mean you have to use it exactly the way it’s laid out. That is unless you are using an accredited school.

First, let’s sort out this mystery about the term accredited.

High School Homeschool Curriculum Packages

Back in the day when I coached families whose student wanted to go to the military they had to have a diploma from an accredited school.

That has now changed.

Accredited has NOTHING to do with curriculum. The term accredited applies to a school which voluntarily decided to meet learning standards with certain agencies.

However, if you choose an accredited high school, your teen has to complete and have graded by the school certain parts of the courses.

This is the only way for the school to maintain their accredited status.

Accredited is a way that some parents know that a certain standard is being maintained.

Whether it’s teaching to excellence, credentialed teachers, or higher critical thinking ability, some families are of the opinion that accreditation is a higher standard.

More Homeschool High School Teen Elective Resources

It’s up to you to determine if that standard is high or as high as a private school which is not accredited.

In my 25 years of homeschooling, I’ve seen accredited schools which have too much busy work for my standard.

More Creative Solutions for High School Posts

The same can be said about a parent who has busy work for a teen that is not using an accredited school. A parent may feel that more is best and try to push a kid to be an overachiever.

Accredited and Not Accredited High Schools

On the other hand, I’ve also seen families who do not use accredited schools and their children entered college on full scholarships. As well, teens can enter 4 year universities without accreditation.

Homeschoolers who use accredited schools normally have particular reasons.

  • Because record keeping is done, you may need to show records to an ex-spouse.
  • Some families want to maintain certain standards between schools.
  • In addition, some homeschoolers have had problems getting into technical schools because they didn’t use an accredited school. Although, it’s not required, some technical schools are not informed and want diplomas only from an accredited school. Your best bet is to ask ahead of time if your teen pursues this track.
  • Also, some teens want the accountability with teachers, grading, and deadlines.

Next, let’s dive right into homeschool high school curriculum packages.

High School Curriculum Packages By Schools Not Accredited

The list below are high school packages from companies or a school which is not accredited.

A few more things to know is that with online or print curriculum companies you remain the teacher to guide your students. With accredited schools you use their teachers and adjust to the school’s schedule.

Granted, online schools have added in more flexibility, but again the pace is set to the online accredited school.

In addition, some homeschool companies have set up an online school which is accredited so that they could offer their curriculum through it.

Option for Either Accredited or Not Accredited

Look below at some of the companies who have set up online schools so that their curriculum can be used in the accredited schools. You have choices when you visit the sites.

Your teen can do an independent type of study using their packages.

Or choose a company’s online schools which are accredited.

Accredited High Schools

Then, below are online accredited high schools. There are packages where your child makes a choice for electives.

Each school is different when they offer high school curriculum packages. Some allow you to choose a language arts portion and math portion; other schools have guidelines for what they consider the essentials.

Too, I know some families including myself used an online school when tragedy hit my family. Even so I added in my own subjects too. It was a way for us to pursue what my teen’s goals were at the time, but to have guidance as well.

Best High School Homeschool Curriculum Packages (Accredited and Not Accredited)

Look at the total credits to graduate when selecting a school; choose a school with lower number of credits to graduate if you want to add in your own credits.

This will keep it a doable load for you and your teen.

As you can see there are many paths in high school. Exploring options is key to fulfilling what a successful high school homeschool curriculum package looks like for each of your grads.

You love these other tips and resources:

How to Build High School Curriculum Directly From Amazon

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Knowing how to build high school curriculum directly from Amazon is a valuable skill set when you want to know how to homeschool well. Check out my how to Homeschool High School page for awesome tips.

You may not think so in the beginning, but you soon realize there is NO one right way to homeschool high school. So you need flexibility and options to change midstream.

How to Build High School Curriculum Directly From Amazon

Quickly, you can build a high school homeschool curriculum package which suits your teen.

Today, I’m showing you what is important to know right away and what you can decide later.

However, before I go on, here are my super helpful posts for How to Build Elementary Homeschool Curriculum Directly From Amazon and How to Build Middle School Curriculum Directly From Amazon.

Many states are flexible meaning you don’t have many requirements to fill for high school according to the law.

5 Steps to Build High School Homeschool Curriculum

Step 1.
Meet Your State Law.

State law is your first starting point.

Know exactly what requirements you need to meet.
Don’t make this harder than it has to be by using a measuring stick that is unbending. Simply, meet the state law. Your own measuring stick is different.

If you’re having trouble knowing or finding your local law, shoot me an email or post here. I’ll help you to be sure that you’re in the absolute know.

Step 2.
Determine Credits by Choosing a Path – Career or College.

Next, don’t get sideways like I did when my first teen told me he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do.

If your teen knows right away that he’ll choose a career or college track, then that is your perfect starting points for subjects to fill.

Ask the college about subjects if your teen is college bound; this is not as hard as it appears.

Most colleges maintain a website for admission. Right away you can see the number of credits they require for each subject. Boom – done.

If your teen doesn’t know what he wants to do like a majority of adults today, then try to give him what I call a traditional high school experience.

This keeps all doors open for whatever direction your teen chooses.

Next, a traditional high school experience will include these subjects below with 4 years being closer to what colleges want for a college bound teen and 2 to 3 years for subjects for a teen who is not college bound:

  • 2 to 4 years of Math. Intro to Algebra is now considered middle school, but in our parents time it started in high school. If a teen is pursuing a science or math major, then intro to Algebra begins in middle school and Algebra 1, 2 and Geometry and another higher course will be needed.
  • 3 to 4 years for English or I like the term Language Arts which we have used up to this time. English doesn’t just mean covering grammar or composition. It can be any theme or subject your teen likes that has to do with writing or speaking. For example, poetry, British or American authors, literature analysis, public speaking, world literature, vocabulary study, and etc.
  • 2 to 4 Sciences and with Lab. Typically Biology, Chemistry and Physics are what I call the main three areas to study. I have two sciences listed because kids that are not science majors may choose to do only two sciences; kids who are college bound will need more.
  • 2 to 4 Social Studies. Again, I don’t like this term but it’s the one used in colleges. I prefer the terms history, geography, social science, American government, world geography, etc. In addition, I again list only two years if your child is not college bound. If your child is college bound or you’re wanting to leave the door open for college, then stick closer to 3 or 4 years.
  • 1 to 4 Foreign Languages. Again what is accepted in one college may not be in another. Too, ASL is considered the study of a foreign language with some colleges. If your child is not college bound and there are no requirements for foreign language in your state, then you and your teen decide how many years.
  • 4 to 5 Electives. Electives are subjects that are subjective. This means you have much room to either add them to your teens load or focus more on core subjects like math, language arts, science and social studies.
  • 1 – 3 Fine Arts and Physical Education. Normally a few years to study fine arts is a good rule of thumb and like one credit for physical education unless of course these topics are your child’s college majors.

Build High School Curriculum

Step 3.
Determine a 2 – 5 year Graduation Plan.

Next, determine how long your teen will be in high school.

Some teens do a two year study and align the other years with an apprenticeship. Some teens prefer dual enrollment and still others need another year to mature.

Four years is not always the magic number for graduating; it’s a good guide. Moreover, grab my high school planning pages too and fill in as you go.

How to Build High School Curriculum Directly From Amazon

Download the High School Planning Page below.

High-School-Planning.pdf (6283 downloads )

Too, read Free Homeschool High School Planning Sheet (and pssst help for high school too) if you need more help on planning and then also grab the Editable High School Transcript.

Step 4.
Choose Core Subjects First, The Other Subjects Can Wait

Then, narrow down the overwhelm more by selecting first the books and courses need to fill the core subjects.

When homeschoolers use the word core it can mean various things. Some states divide subjects by core and non-core.

For example, some states require math, language arts, history and science as the core subjects.

When I talk about core, I mean the skill subjects which are the three Rs – reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic. They have been your child’s 3 legged stool for an excellent education up to this time and they continue to be important in high school.

How to Build High School Curriculum Directly From Amazon

The point is unless your state requires other subjects, use your hard earned dollars for the skill subjects first. Unless social studies and science are required immediately, you can purchase those items in increments to give your budget a rest.

Step 5.
Choose Curriculum from Amazon by mixing and matching resource type.

Finally, you now have a big picture of the resources you need from Amazon.

In addition, to help you choose resources wisely, I have divided resources by topic or subject. Do not forget that many kids today learn well by videos and hands-on activities.

So don’t limit your choices to just textbooks or books. Look at the choices below for each subject.

Math High School Homeschool Curriculum From Amazon

Science High School Homeschool Curriculum From Amazon

Science Lab Component High School From Amazon

History and Social Studies High School Homeschool Curriculum From Amazon

Language Arts High School Homeschool Curriculum From Amazon

MORE Language Arts High School Homeschool Curriculum From Amazon

High School Graduation and College Readiness Curriculum From Amazon

Electives High School Homeschool Curriculum From Amazon

Also, do not forget to visit my store on Amazon. 
I have Lists created by subjects so you can see more choices.

High School Homeschool Curriculum Packages

Last but not least, I have listed all-in-one programs below. Sometimes you just need to start with a framework. I’ve listed curriculum packages below.

Remember that you can always tweak them to suit your student’s needs. You don’t have to use all-in-one programs as it. I firmly believe all of them are to be tweaked even if just a bit to suit your teen’s schedule, needs, and goals.

All-In-One Programs

Also, grab these other tips below to help flesh out any interests your teen may have:

I know you can give your child a solid education when you build the curriculum yourself. Did this give you a starting point?