Homeschool Chemistry - High School Plans
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High School Chemistry - Looking for More Than Apologia Chemistry
Our family approached chemistry with some trepidation. Our family loves science but planning high school chemistry for some reason seemed to be a little intimidating with all the choices we had put before us. We couldn't find a text that we liked so we pulled together quite a few resources to make a taylor fit high school chemistry course.
There is a little of everything in the modules below and I hope you find something that will either make your chemistry program better or give you some ideas for components of a great high school chemistry program.
Whether you want to stick to a textbook approach, use real lab equipment and experiments, research the periodic table or do a combination of all the above, you will find wonderful links to get you started here on this page. Planning is the first step to a great high school chemistry experience.
Contents at a Glance
Homeschool Chemistry Plans
Resources and Ideas
We schedule four hours a week for our chemistry course.
Planning Chemistry
*Reading a text and responding in some way.
*Completing meaningful and information labs and demonstrations.
*Reading supplementary books to add interest.
*Learning more about the periodic table of elements.
*Applying what we learn to everyday life.
*Keeping good records and lab books.
Planning Chemistry
We have no opportunity for an outside course in chemistry so I have tried to make this as meaningful a course as I can on my own.
We use a mix of approaches to chemistry.
1. Teaching Company High School Chemistry DVD series.
2. The Joy of Chemistry for easy to pull together labs.
3. The Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry - more complicated labs every few weeks.
4. The Elements-Visual Guide to the Periodic Table - reading, researching, and recording information on each element.
5. The Disappearing Spoon - free reading.
6. Apologia Chemistry text - supplement the DVD series with a few modules.
7. The Story of Science: Einstein Adds a New Dimension- read and keep notes.
Pre-made notebooking pages help gather your notes and labs together.
Our Chemistry Schedule
One day = Lab work with write-ups from either of the lab books listed.
One day = One or two chapters from the Story of Science and 3 or 4 elements from the Periodic Table of Elements (both include writing up summaries and/or notebook pages)
One day = Extra research, reading in the Apologia text, or another lab.
Home Chemistry Experiments
"All Lab, No Lecture"
We are going to have a hard time to fit in even a fraction of these labs but my boys are in heaven when this book gets pulled out for their chemistry time. It has loads of safety information, lists of sources for chemicals you will need, and complete step by step instructions.
Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture (DIY Science)
Amazon Price: $17.22 (as of 05/30/2012)
Amazon. says:
(since I cannot word it any better)
With plenty of full-color illustrations and photos, Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments offers introductory level sessions suitable for a middle school or first-year high school chemistry laboratory course, and more advanced sessions suitable for students who intend to take the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry exam. A student who completes all of the laboratories in this book will have done the equivalent of two full years of high school chemistry lab work or a first-year college general chemistry laboratory course.
This hands-on introduction to real chemistry -- using real equipment, real chemicals, and real quantitative experiments -- is ideal for the many thousands of young people and adults who want to experience the magic of chemistry.
Sources for Chemistry Lab Equipment and Materials
You can purchase all the great stuff you need easily online!
- Home Science Tools
- This is aimed at homeschoolers so you will find many of the science lab materials you will need for high school chemistry. I have found the prices to be very competitive and the lab equipment is a good quality. They also have small amounts of chemicals you can purchase for labwork.
- Carolina Biological Supply
- This is another great source for your labs, both equipment and chemicals. They also have videos.
- Science Kit
- Another very good source for your chemistry needs. We ordered from this company when we were part of a co-op.
Photos from Our Chemistry Year
We use a combination of lab demonstrations, notebooking techniques, and lab sheets for our high school chemistry work.
The Elements
Our Favorite Book of the Year!
The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe
Amazon Price: $13.21 (as of 05/30/2012)
There is so much to this book, more than just a picture book and yet still a visual feast. My boys are assigned three elements a week out of this book to read about, investigate further, and then write about on a notebook page. They love researching more about each element and how it is used today.
The Joy of Chemistry
Another Great Choice for Labs
The Joy of Chemistry: The Amazing Science of Familiar Things
Amazon Price: $10.79 (as of 05/30/2012)
We have worked our way through this book one demonstration at a time. I like that it uses mostly household items for the labs but yet it still keeps the demonstration at a high school level.
The book is set up with a demonstration of a scientific principle and then a chapter to read afterward that explains what you saw in the demonstration.
This is a fine addition to any chemistry course even if you are using another text. You can easily match up the labs with the chapters by topic.
High School Chemistry - Teaching Company DVD Course
High School Chemistry: The Teaching Company DVD Lectures
Amazon Price: $65.00 (as of 05/30/2012)
This is well done by an interesting instructor and can be used with any Chemistry text you have by matching the topics in the table of contents. The instructor makes things very easy to understand, especially the math part of chemistry.
Read more on the Teaching Company website High School Chemistry.
Periodic Table Videos For Each Element
Here is a sample featuring the element Hydrogen.
You can see the link to the website below.
Perfect Companion for The Study of Chemistry
Make chemistry come alive with the stories of great scientists and their discoveries.
The Story of Science: Einstein Adds a New Dimension
Amazon Price: $14.44 (as of 05/30/2012)
My boys are thoroughly enjoying this book as a supplement to their chemistry study. This book gives more background to the scientists and the discoveries of the 20th Century. They read a chapter a week and keep notes to share at our Friday meetings.
Chemistry for Beginners
Cartoon Style
n addition, here is a fun unit for beginners and younger students: LEGO Chemical Reactions. It would be fun to extend this lesson for high schoolers. Free printables and lesson plans included.
The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry
Amazon Price: $7.61 (as of 05/30/2012)
Introductory information in an easy to understand format. You would use this book as a teaser and not as the meat of your high school chemistry program.
YouTube Video Introductions to Some of the Books I Suggest
Watch and decide for yourself!
Additional Books We Read
Apologia Chemistry-Text and Supplements
If you absolutely want a more traditional approach to chemistry.
My younger two boys are only using some of the modules in this text and matching them up with The Teaching Company videos.
I will list the resources here in case you want to check them out for your family.
- Aplogia Chemistry Lapbook Kit
- These lapbooks make a great way to record the written work for the text.
- YouTube Video for Learning More about Apologia Science in General
- See more about how the Apologia Science program works for high school.
- Apologia Chemistry Science Kit for Experiments
- Purchase this kit and have everything at your fingertips when you need it.
- Donna Young's Apologia Chemistry Page
- As usual Donna Young has some great helps for your Apologia Chemistry course. Free schedules, booksmarks, lab sheets, and helpful links.
Please leave a comment!
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DianaHarper Apr 3, 2012 @ 2:02 pm | delete
- I read your blog first - about changing your methods for chem ed. It was as though you read my mind. I was at a what next stage, and your blog (and this lens) helped tremendously. Pinned, Liked and Blessed by a Squid Angel.
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Janiece Jan 12, 2012 @ 10:38 pm | delete
- I'm starting to think about what we'll do for science next year. Thank you so much for sharing how you're doing chemistry with your boys! Blessed, again, by a Squid Angel!
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waldenthree.net
Nov 12, 2011 @ 1:05 pm | delete
- Love your lens on Chemistry. Most valuable. I just did one on a subtopic, the periodic table. Will visit with you again soon. Thanks .
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Kathy
Sep 15, 2011 @ 12:02 pm | delete
- Thank you so much for these. I've seen your nature study lenses but not these. While Apologia is not for us, I can easily find a substitute and use your other suggestions.
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- Thanks for sharing your chemistry plans with us! Blessed by a Squid Angel!
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About Me-Harmony Art Mom
by HarmonyArtMom
Mom of four, fourteen years of homeschooling, passionate about art, music, and nature study. See Harmony Fine Arts and my Squidoo Bio for more about me... more »
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A Visual Feast
The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe
Amazon Price: $13.21 (as of 05/30/2012)
This books is visually appealing and informative. My high school age boys are devouring this book and the accompanying website.
Thorough High School and AP Lab Manual
All Lab, No Lecture
Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture (DIY Science)
Amazon Price: $17.22 (as of 05/30/2012)
This is the lab book if you are looking to pump up your homeschool chemistry course. It includes plans for making this an AP Chemistry course as well. Check out the video at the bottom of this lens.
