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Discover the Best High School Writing Courses & Recommendations

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

When you are planning your child’s high school writing courses there are several things to consider. Also, look at my page Practical Homeschool Writing Curriculum from Pre-K To High School for more tips. 

Whether your child is college bound, or they will go the trade school route, having a strong grasp on writing, grammar, etc. will help them in life.

These skills will translate into being able to write great emails and reports and communicate clearly and quickly.

Discover the Best High School Writing Courses & Recommendations

Good writing will help your child excel with proposals and presentations, get thoughts out creatively and concisely, fill forms out correctly, and more.

The best writing program for your homeschooler is the one that meets their individual needs and helps them achieve their writing goals.

But there are things to consider when looking for a writing program.

4 THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN HIGH SCHOOL WRITING COURSES

  1. Student’s Learning Style: Consider whether your student learns best through visual, auditory, or kinesthetic methods. Choose a curriculum or platform that matches their learning style.
  2. Budget: Some curricula and platforms can be expensive, while others are free or low-cost. Consider your budget when choosing a writing program.
  3. Time Commitment: Some programs require significant time commitment, while others are more flexible. Consider your student’s schedule and your own availability when choosing a program.
  4. Level of Parental Involvement: Some programs require a high level of parental involvement, while others are more self-directed. Consider your own comfort level and availability when choosing a program.

Now that you have considered these things it is time to assess your student’s needs.

IDENTIFY YOUR STUDENT’S NEEDS IN A WRITING COURSE

Identifying student’s strengths and weaknesses: Consider their learning style, interests, and goals. Where do they need additional support?

Set Goals: Use the assessment of strengths and weaknesses to determine specific writing skills that you want your student to improve- technical, creative, etc. and set both long- and short-term goals for your child.

Research various options: Explore various curricula, platforms, and additional options. Read reviews, compare features, and consider your assessment criteria.

Use free trials and placement tests: Use free trials or sample lessons when available before you commit to a company.

Create a Writing Schedule: Establish a regular writing schedule that fits into your homeschooling routine.

Offer constructive criticism and encouragement. Celebrate your child’s successes and help them overcome challenges.

Supplement with Additional Resources: Use writing prompts, online resources, and other materials to supplement your chosen curriculum or platform. I found something like a Word a Day calendar is fun for building vocabulary.

Seek Outside Support: Consider joining a homeschool writing group, finding a writing coach or tutor, or enrolling your student in a dual-enrollment program.

Discover the Best High School Writing Courses & Recommendations

Some other sources that you can consider are local community colleges or coaches and tutors.

Writing Coaches and Tutors: Individualized instruction from a writing coach or tutor can be beneficial for students who need extra support or want to focus on specific writing skills.

Local Community Colleges: Many community colleges offer dual-enrollment programs that allow high school students to take college-level writing courses for credit.

Also, look at more homeschool writing curriculum and tips.

MORE HOMESCHOOL WRITING CURRICULUM & TIPS

Now let me share with you some of the best high school writing courses I have found focusing on a variety of needs and in different formats.

7 High School Writing Courses

Now let me share with you some of the best high school writing courses I have found focusing on a variety of needs and in different formats.

Elegant Essay Writing Lessons : Building Blocks for Analytical Writing

Institute forExcellence in Writing (IEW): IEW offers a structured approach to writing, focusing on
grammar, style, and different writing genres. It utilizes a "teacher-led" model with both online and print materials,  live online writing classes, online tools like IEW Gradebook, and printed materials like workbooks and DVD’s.

WriteShop I Student Workbook, an incremental writing program

WriteShop provides a comprehensive curriculum with step-by-step lessons, writing prompts, and detailed teacher's guides. It covers various genres and emphasizes the writing process, giving them a solid foundation in descriptive, informative, and narrative writing.

Photo Credit: bravewriter.com

Brave Writer | Writing programs and online classes

This program is a more relaxed and creative approach to writing, emphasizing the joy of self-expression. It offers various courses and resources for different ages and writing styles. You have options for individuals or families with students of different ages.

Word Roots Beginning: Learning The Building Blocks of Better Spelling and Vocabulary

This company offers a range of writing workbooks and software programs that focus on grammar, vocabulary, and writing skills.

Photo Credit: apcentral.collegeboard.org

AP English Language and Composition

This course prepares students for the AP Language and Composition exam and focuses on analytical and
argumentative writing.

The Power in Your Hands: Writing Nonfiction in High School, 2nd Edition

Finally, your teens will write without dread! Have they almost given up on writing? Do they reach for the tissue box when you say, "Write an essay"? Do you worry they won't be ready for high school or college writing? Do they say they think of things to write but can't write them down? With THE POWER IN YOUR HANDS: WRITING NONFICTION IN HIGH SCHOOL, 2ND EDITION, they'll learn essay writing in a relaxed, nonthreatening atmosphere with a little humor thrown in.

Photo Credit: www.writeathome.com

WriteAtHome.com

Write at Home courses are very user-friendly and completely hands-off for the parents. They offer 8-week, semester, or year-long writing classes for students in high school.

How to Create a Creditworthy American History Course (& resources)

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

I’m showing you how to create a creditworthy American history course with resources. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool High School.

Whether you want to create a standalone creditworthy American history course for your teen or you want to enhance the interest level of your current American history curriculum, you’ll love these tips.

Here’s a seasoned veteran tip.

Use lower grade level resources to put important topics in a nutshell.

How to Create a Creditworthy American History Course (& resources)

To get a quick glimpse of major events, use what you have at the house or that you can get at a library to get a quick glimpse of major events.

Lower level resources can give you an easy starting point when teaching a new topic.

5 TIPS FOR CREATING A CREDITWORTHY HISTORY COURSE

Then, look at these 5 seasoned veteran tips that will make creating your own American History high school course easy.

1. KNOW YOUR STATE LAW.

Be familiar with your state homeschool laws so you can meet the requirements as you build an American history course.

A lot of states don’t have specific requirements, some do. Just be sure you know so that you can cover it.

2. TRACK YOUR TEEN’S TIME.

The rule of thumb is that one course credit is equal to 120 hours. Obviously one-half a credit is 60 hours.

What is not so obvious is deciding how to meet the hours requirement.

It also does not mean that all of the hours need to come from textbooks.

Also, look at my post Homeschool High School–How to Log Hours for High School to give yourself time to learn more about how to truly count hours.

3. FOLLOW YOUR TEEN’S INTEREST. THINK OUT OF THE PUBLIC-SCHOOL BOX STANDARDS.

Don’t hem in your teen’s creative expression on how to meet the hour requirement.

If you have the control in your state to determine how to fill the credit requirement, then think beyond what public school dictates as traditional learning.

Look at this list of ideas to add to your course and ways to meet the time requirement.

Mix and match these activities to meet the needs of an American history credit.

  • Read a textbook
  • Read living books
  • Essays
  • Hands-on projects
  • Prepare a speech
  • Review primary resources
  • Learn history through art
  • Learn history through geography
  • Learn about fashion of the period
  • Apprenticeships
  • Watch movies
  • Cook a period recipe
How to Create a Creditworthy American History Course (& resources). You'll love these EZ steps for creating your own curriculum @Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

The fun part begins when you and your teen decide if he will cover only history for the whole 120 hours or if you’ll mix and match with other subjects.

4. DETERMINE IF THE COURSE WILL BE HALF-CREDIT, FULL YEAR CREDIT OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN.

The beauty of homeschooling is that you can adjust a course to a teen’s likes and passions.

For example, if a teen is a writer, then he can focus on writing while learning history.

So history could be a .60 credit and creative writing about history a .60 credit.

Alternately, if you want to add a literature element, then history may be a full 1 credit and literature could be a one-half credit.

If your teen is a budding artist and doesn’t like history so much, then he can cover history while doing art. You and your teen determine how to divide up the hourly credit.

5. IF YOU BEGIN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL YOU CAN STILL COUNT IT AS HIGH SCHOOL AS LONG AS YOU USE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL RESOURCES.

By starting in middle school, your teen can go slower or take his time and dig deeper if there is a passion for history.

As long as the resource you’re using is high school level, then you can count the credit on the transcript.

American Homeschool History Outline

Although my teens had some say in the topics, they didn’t have the final say.

I wanted to be sure my teens were exposed to a wide variety of topics.

But it’s not necessary to cover all the events, people, or topics at the same depth.

I find that looking at the table of contents of any American History textbook can serve as a beginning point for an outline.

You can easily use it as a reference or make your own course outline.

AMERICAN HISTORY EVENTS AND PERIODS TO COVER

Look at one I created to get you started.

  • Columbus
  • The First People of America
  • The American Colonies
  • The American Revolution
  • Creating the Constitution
  • The Age of Jefferson
  • The Age of Jackson
  • Religion and Reform
  • Manifest Destiny
  • The Civil War
  • Reconstruction
  • Industrial Growth
  • The Gilded Age
  • World War I
  • The 1920s
  • The Great Depression
  • Truman and the Cold War
  • The Eisenhower Years
  • The 1960s and Vietnam
  • Present

5 American History Enhancements

As you can see you quickly can draft a diy American History course that your teen will be passionate about.

After doing American History several times with each of my grads, I mixed and match different resources.

Key to keeping it easy is to have a variety of resources at your fingertips.

Look at these 5 American history resources that you can use to enhance or flesh out your course. It’s not that hard, I promise.

I’ve listed living books, a hands-on history resource and even a book to us a spine in a story form which is how we prefer to learn.

5 History Resources for Teens

Laid out resources can help you put together an easy creditworthy American history course for teens.

America: Ready-To-Use Interdisciplinary Lessons & ActivitIes for Grades 5-12

Use this as a springboard for ideas. I loved this resource because it helped me to have ideas to include my younger kids while teaching my high school kid.

Too, I could expand an idea in the book to a high school level. Like it says, it’s a great big book of ideas to teach about American history.

A History of US: Eleven-Volume Set (A ^AHistory of US)

Whether it's standing on the podium in Seneca Falls with the Suffragettes or riding on the first subway car beneath New York City in 1907, the books in Joy Hakim's A History of US series weave together exciting stories that bring American history to life. Readers may want to start with War, Terrible War, the tragic and bloody account of the Civil War that has been hailed by critics as magnificent. Or All the People, brought fully up-to-date in this new edition with a thoughtful and engaging examination of our world after September 11th. No matter which book they read, young people will never think of American history as boring again. Joy Hakim's single, clear voice offers continuity and narrative drama as she shares with a young audience her love of and fascination with the people of the past.

The World of Captain John Smith

Genevieve Foster wrote this nearly fifty years ago. It resonates with perhaps more truth today. As a result of this clarion call we have sold many of her enduring "World" titles because of the timeless nature of her books. Her writing style is clear, concise and fluid with her greatest strength as a storyteller being her ability to bring her readers right into the minds and times of her characters.Abraham Lincoln's WorldGeorge Washington's WorldWorld of William PennWorld of Columbus and SonsWorld ofCaptain John Smith.

The Yanks are Coming: The United States in the First World War

Use living books which bring history to life.

One of my son’s favorite authors is Albert Marrin. His books make it easy to cover
topics using a story format and avoiding boring textbooks.

Look at all of the ones for American history.

A History of the American People

Paul Johnson’s History of the American People is like a history form of American History and covers major events and times. We used it like a spine or main resource. Then dig into further topics after that.

In addition, hands-on games bring a different element to the day and keep teens from taking all so seriously.

Add in hands-on games and fun if your kid loves hands-on.

Hands-on history is not just for the young.

If your teen learns best by hands-on then assign one or two projects as a grade.

I used Home School in the Woods projects to help me come up with ideas for my teens.

Include your younger kids too and the day can be fun while your teen gets his credit hours.

I love this format because if you have to teach American History a few times over, there is always room for a unique slant or perspective.

How to Create a Creditworthy American History Course (& resources). You'll love these EZ steps for creating your own curriculum @Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Avoid the boredom and blahs by using different resources.

What else do you like to include for your teen?

MORE CREDITWORTHY AMERICAN HISTORY COURSE ACTIVITIES

The Best Ninth Grade Homeschool Curriculum | Tips And Recommendations

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

Let’s look at some of the best ninth grade homeschool curriculum to help make this year your best one yet. Also, you’ll love my page Homeschool Curriculum for more ideas and grade level curriculum and my page How to Homeschool High School.

Ninth grade aka freshman year is the kickoff to the high school years.

And it is a pretty big jump from middle school, but is also filled with exciting milestones like getting a driver’s license.

The Best Ninth Grade Homeschool Curriculum | Tips And Recommendations

Technology will likely play a big part in your child’s education by this time from using online calculators to classes, music appreciation, language apps, and more.

It is a time of growing independence and branching out into more electives or at least learning more adult life skills.

If they are not mostly independent in their daily work already, they will be able to take on more of their own work load whether their school takes place online, in books, or even in the woods.

Homeschool 9th Grade Tips and Recommendations

College and Career-This is the optimal time to start thinking about a career track for your student, leaning heavily into extra classes, maybe even dual enrollment to be sure that they have all the things that they need.

That is not to say college is the only, or even the best option for your child. They may intend to go into cosmetology, guess what?

They can start learning that skill now through online tutorials, friends, and even on the job training.

 Do you have a Marine Biologist on your hands? Be sure to load up on science classes and incorporate field trips that teach and feed that interest.

Flexible Scheduling-If your child has a job now make sure that you adjust their school schedule to accommodate work hours. Flexible doesn’t have to mean you cut way back on schooling at all, it might just mean that they do math in the evening instead of the morning or double up biology on the weekend.

Field Trips-As new interests will be developing at this level, long standing ones might increase or fade away all together.

Field trips, while they will look different than that early visit to a local farm, they are a wonderful way to support their interests and possible career choices.

Additionally, field trips can be a visit to a location for their career field of choice like the state capital building, behind the scenes at a hair salon or law office.

The Best Ninth Grade Homeschool Curriculum | Tips And Recommendations

You could visit a local pottery studio or glass blowing studio, watch a Broadway theater performance, or they could be in the form of take your child to work day in the office.

More Ninth Grade Homeschool Curriculum Tips

Best Homeschool Curriculum For All Grades

9th Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Lastly, look at some recommendations and tips.

9th Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Add these fun curriculum recommendations to your 9th grader's homeschool day.

Math-U-See Algebra 1 Student Pack

Graphing, simultaneous equations, exponents, polynomials, unit multipliers, and more. The Algebra 1 Student Pack contains the Student Workbook with lesson-by-lesson worksheets, review pages, and honors pages. It also includes the Algebra 1 Tests.

Workman Publishing Ace Pre-Algebra and Algebra I in One Big Fat Notebook (Big Fat Notebooks)

The series Everything You Need to Ace Pre Algebra and Algebra In One Big FatNotebook is fantastic as a reference book when they need a reminder for certain operations or is a good guide for those that prefer to just learn independently.

12 Human Body Games For Middle School & High School

Unless your child is heading for a heavy science based field like doctor, pharmacist, or Marine Biologist you can still get a good deal of their science lessons from games, and  simple courses of interest.

Here is a list of 12Human Body Games For Middle School & High School ideal for fun anatomy lessons.

Mark Twain Forensic Investigations Workbook, Using Science to Solve High Crimes Middle School Books, Critical Thinking for Kids, DNA and Handwriting Analysis Labs

Use this time to start diving into specific areas of science interest like Forensic Science.

Exploring Creation with Physical Science, 2nd Edition

Apologia has long been a go to standard for science and one of the common 9th grade sciences is Physical Science. You can choose from physical books and ebooks, get a concise teacher manual,
audiobooks, test pages,

LIFEPAC 9th Grade History & Geography Box Set

Lifepac has been a go to for many subjects, but I really enjoy the pace and scope of their History & Geography. The 9th grade level includes lessons on the fundamentals of United States heritage, federal, state,and local government, career planning, citizenship, and the study of geography.  Lifepac is designed to be smaller workbooks rather than one huge textbook that helps take some of the stress off.

Photo Credit: www.youtube.com

CrashCourse

 Crash Course World History on Youtube covers quite a few history topics and make for a good solid lesson or even review of previously covered topics.

Structure and Style for Students: Year 1 Level C Basic Plus [Forever Streaming]

Join Andrew Pudewa as he leads students on a 24-week writing journey using IEW’s Structure and Style approach. Students reading at 9th grade level or higher who are new to IEW will take delight in Mr. Pudewa’s humorous, incremental, and effective writing lessons.

Windows to the World: An Introduction to Literary Analysis Student Book

Why do certain literary works have the power to move us? With step-by-step instructions, Windows to the World teaches students how to analyze elements of literature. This reference also gives numerous examples and suggestions for helping students develop Christian discernment skills. The accompanying Teacher’s Manual is suitable for both new and experienced teachers.

Must Know High School Vocabulary

The 500 words you must know before college!

Must Know High School Vocabulary is more than just a vocabulary workbook. It gives you the edge you’ll need now―from improving your reading comprehension for high school and future college course work to scoring higher on AP and college entrance exams. Its user-friendly approach presents challenging aspects of the topics, exceptions to any rules, and clear answer explanations that will all help you build vocabulary quickly and easily. It’s like a lightning bolt to the brain!

Romeo and Juliet (No Fear Shakespeare Graphic Novels) (Volume 3) (No Fear Shakespeare Illustrated)

No Fear Shakespeare Graphic Novel- Even the most reluctant of Raiders will enjoy these graphic novel adaptations of Shakespeare's Classics like Romeo and Juliet.

Road Signs Flash Cards with Detailed Explanations and Safe Driving Tips - Stocking Stuffers for Teens

One of the most exciting aspects of 9th grade year is of course driving!

6 Resources for Making Homeschool High School Science Easy

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

I have 6 resources for making homeschool high school science easy. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool High School.

Science has been a subject that we have always tried to add naturally into our day.

Too, I folded it into our unit studies even at the high school level.

However, we do love spending our time reading about history and geography.

So, I wanted to be sure as the boys entered high school that they received more formal training in science.

6 Resources for Making Homeschool High School Science Easy

It didn’t mean we had to give up our hands-on things we were doing with our unit studies, but I wanted to be sure our activities were high school level because I wanted our transcript to reflect that.

Like history, science is a subject that you and your teen need to determine how in depth to cover it.

Though my boys loved science, like me, they had a bent toward history and geography so that did affect their choice as to curriculum.

If you’re a science minded family, its important which science track your teens takes.

Even if your teen is not choosing a career in science, the advantages of covering science at the high school level go far beyond just college or career.

5 Questions Before Purchasing A High School Science Program

Before I mention those advantages for us, look at these things to mull over before you pull the trigger on a high school science program.

  • Do you want to only cover the  major sciences like biology, chemistry and physics?
  • Do you want to cover subjects outside the traditional subjects, like astronomy or botany? Having homeschooled from the beginning, this is what appealed to my sons. They could feed their minds on subjects they were passionate about. So not only does science stir up a deep appreciation for creation, but the logical thought process that science teaches sticks with your child lifelong.
  • Does a Christian or secular view matter?
  • Is any teacher prep involved?
  • What kind of costs are involved for hands-on and lab? We stuck to curriculum that just used items we could find around the house and purchased a few other things like microscopes and lab things, but for the most part, we just used what we had.

Mr. Senior 2013, enjoyed the textbook approach of Apologia during his junior years but when it came to high school, he wanted a change.

He was pursuing some electives like public speaking that he wanted to focus on and writing.

But first, look at some of these how to homeschool high school books.

How to Homeschool High School Books & Resources

How to homeschool high school can be daunting at first. With a little help and these great resources, you’ll be a homeschool pro in no time.

Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers: When You Don't Know Where to Begin

Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is a real eye-opener on homeschooling. It will alleviate a lot of the anxieties about getting started homeschooling. Reading each chapter’s highlights will give you encouragement, knowledge, guidance, and peace of mind to homeschool with confidence. The best part is that you’ll be educating the person who loves your kids the most in this world--YOU! Armed with the knowledge to make better choices in curriculum will empower you to continue the path of home education. Unlike many books based on one family’s experience, Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is also based on Tina’s many years of mentoring hundreds and hundreds of new homeschoolers at live workshops. When you don’t know where to begin Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers equips you to successfully homeschool your children.

Cure the Fear of Homeschooling High School: A Step-by-Step Handbook for Research & Planning

Are you afraid of homeschooling high school? Do you think you’ll ruin your teen’s life? Are you afraid you’ll miss an important requirement for getting into college? Are you confused about credits and coursework? Or are you just downright overwhelmed and don’t even know where to start?

This book will take you step-by-step through the process of planning your child’s high school coursework all the way through to graduation, in such a way that you will KNOW that you are not missing anything! You truly can feel absolutely confident that you are doing the best thing for your child and your family. You can make informed decisions knowing you have done the correct research to do so. You can be FEARLESS!

Planning High School Courses: Charting the Course Toward Homeschool Graduation

Experienced hikers know to never begin a demanding journey without a good map and a strong plan. For homeschooling parents, it’s even more important to establish a solid homeschool plans toward high school graduation.

So, What Are Your Homeschool Plans?

  • Do you know how to homeschool high school?
  • Do you know how to prepare for college?
  • Do you know the high school courses essential to preparing for graduation, college and career?

Essential Electives for Homeschooling High School: How to Craft Courses That Exceed College Expectations

Homeschool Electives are the Secret Sauce for College Admission and Scholarships!

Learn How Homeschool Electives Can Make Teens, Parents, and Colleges Happy!

Homeschool electives are fun! Teens love them because electives involve a lot of what they want to do anyway. Parents love them because a happy teen makes for a happy family! Colleges love them because it helps them understand your teen so they can make good admission and scholarship decisions.

Lee Binz, The HomeScholar, shares the joy of homeschool electives. You will learn strategies to help you choose elective homeschool high school curriculum and document electives colleges will value. Don't put your homeschool in a box. Use electives and let your homeschool soar!

Graduate Your Homeschooler in Style: Make Your Homeschool Graduation Memorable

You’ve worked hard homeschooling your child, and now you’re near the goal line... homeschool graduation. Your plan your graduation takes forethought, not just for the culminating graduation ceremony, but also to ensure your child has accomplished everything you want them to before
leaving the nest.

Too, Apologia had advanced courses like Advanced Physics that I knew we could come back to later if he wanted to pursue science in more depth.

So after reading about the interactive content Switched-on Schoolhouse used, he decided to use SOS Integrated Physics & Chemistry.He enjoyed the video clips, animations and games.

He ended up really liking their courses because they had courses that were outside of the traditional approach and kept science fun for him.

That program was discontinued but I find that 1) Glencoe Science Integrated Physics and Chemistry was similar and used with my second son.

Too, courses like 2) family consumer science are offered. Such practical courses in preparation for adulthood are sometimes not easy to find.

So, my next son didn’t follow a traditional approach either.

Random Efforts Can Pay Off

He liked more of a simplified approach to science and wanted to study only subjects that interested him like the stars.

So we used 3) Lift Up Your Eyes On High: Understanding the Stars (Christian Liberty Press High School Curriculum) .

And he also liked 4) Biology: A Search For Order in Complexity, 2nd Edition.

Too, Christian Liberty Press borrows some of their books from A Beka and Bob Jones.

Then for Mr. Awesome 2015 we also used part of 5) Biology by Bob Jones and then back to Christian Liberty Press for part of Chemistry or it was really by Bob Jones.

Lastly, we loved the straightforward approach of 6) Lifepacs. They are like worktexts which are good for independent learners. We loved Lifepac Biology.

Mr. Senior 2015 stayed on just one or two science providers.

Mr. Awesome 2015 was all over the place on subjects but liked the combinations.

Too, the process of scientific investigation is critical to higher thinking skills and logical thinking ability is a lost art not just among teens, but among adults too.

These are skill sets my boys should have.

So we didn’t follow a traditional approach by a family that would be pursuing a science career.

But we enjoyed having the variety of topics that fed my sons’ curiosity at the high school level,

However, it kept their passion for science.

What has worked for your family or what are you mulling over?

More High School Science Tips

6 Resources for Making Homeschool High School Science Easy @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

7 Fun Geometry Hands On Activities For High School

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

Fun geometry hands-on activities for high school can mean the difference in just getting by and really getting engaged in lessons. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool High School for more ideas.

Just because your child is in high school does not mean that they’ve set aside their love for Lego.

A fantastic way to incorporate Lego into lessons is to use them to create examples and identify angles.

7 Fun Geometry Hands On Activities For High School

We have done Lego math in the past. But you can even use it for high school manipulatives for learning geometry.

First let’s talk about what geometry is.

Geometry is the part of mathematics that we use for calculating the distance around a circle, the angles that make up a triangle, or the amount of room inside of a cube.

We use it daily in art, navigation, in construction, sports, and even simple household tasks like measuring a surface area for wallpaper.

So, you can see why it is a necessary skill for your teen to learn.

7 Fun Geometry Hands On Activities For High School

Next, look at some of these activities.

These activities are a wonderful way to create a break in the typical textbook, worksheet lesson of high school geometry and can help make complicated lessons more understandable.

  1. Look at this LEGO for geometry idea Pythagorean Theorem Lego Proof.
  2. This Geometry Roller Coaster Project is a large scale lesson in engineering and problem solving. Although it’s written for a classroom, it can be used for one or two students.
  3. Using Hands-On Inquiry in High School Geometry gives you ideas for creating some hands-on geometry lessons that include their observations and geometry tools.
  4. Play the Simplyfun Shape Whiz game for an enjoyable lesson to reinforce some basic geometry shape information.
  5. Bonus, this one post includes 5 Geometry Projects for Middle and High School that are fun while
  6. Grab your deck of uno cards and try Using Uno as an Intro to Teaching Proofs for an advanced geometry lesson.
  7. While Geometric Art For Kids is geared to younger kids I still really think it has value and appeal for the high school bunch as well.
7 Fun Geometry Hands On Activities For High School

Also, look at my post Ancient Greece Unit Study Play Stomachion Like Archimedes {Explore Geometry} to add a math element to your favorite unit study.

The resource Everything You Need to Ace Geometry in One Big Fat Notebook is a fantastic supplement to any curriculum.

In addition, it can be used for independent study and worked well to use with my LEGO activity I have for you today.

Teaching Geometry With LEGO Activities For High School

You will need:

  • LEGO
  • LEGO Baseplate
  • cardstock
  • Pen
7 Fun Geometry Hands On Activities For High School

Single row, long LEGO bricks work best for these activities.

And if you need a good basic set of LEGO because you don’t already have them lying around the house this is a fantastic option.

Two ways we discovered to practice basic geometry are through learning terms and identifying examples of them as well as identifying different angles.

The first way I have to practice geometry is a way to introduce or reinforce geometry terms.

Geometry Vocabulary

  • Point- Indicates a location.
  • Line-a straight path that extends infinitely in both directions.
  • Line segment –Part of a line with two endpoints.
  • Ray- Part of a line that starts at a point and extends infinitely in one direction.
  • Vertex  –The point of intersection of two or more line segments.
  • Triangle – A shape with 3 sides and 3 vertices.
  • Angle- is formed of two rays with the same endpoint, vertex.
  • Parallel lines- Two lines in the same plane that are at equal distance from each other and never meet.
  • Perpendicular lines– Lines that intersect at a 90 degrees angle.

Write each of these terms onto cardstock and cut them into small strips to create labels.

7 Fun Geometry Hands On Activities For High School

You can carry out the activity in one of two ways, either create examples of the terms using various LEGO pieces or lay down the terms onto the base plate and have your highschooler create an example by building it with LEGO bricks.

7 Fun Geometry Hands On Activities For High School

Get creative with using single row bricks to create the examples, use single studs for your points, and make arrows at the end of rays with smaller pieces.

7 Fun Geometry Hands On Activities For High School

In the same way, create labels for acute, right, and obtuse angles and make examples for your student to match or let them create an example of each using random LEGO pieces.

7 Fun Geometry Hands On Activities For High School

Because LEGOs are meant to snap together at right angles and not obtuse or acute you will need a little help. Place your long skinny bricks on single studs to lift them above the base plate

7 Fun Geometry Hands On Activities For High School

You will then be able to swing them around freely to create different angles.

7 Fun Geometry Hands On Activities For High School