Searching for high school physics curriculum? Start with these ideas for a variety of styles & approaches for your homeschool.

By the time you get to 11th or 12th grade, you’ve picked out homeschool curriculum a time or two (x 100). You’ve figured out how to choose curricula that fit. You know your kid, and you know your process. Then physics comes along. Physics has a way of disrupting all of that — not just because it’s harder than what came before, but because the right program depends on things that rarely come up quite the same way in other subjects.

Yes, cost & rigor matter. A lot. But there are three other factors in choosing a physics program that are just as important: how much math your student is ready for, what level of science they need, and, honestly, how your kid feels about the subject going into the class. A student who already thinks they hate science needs a different kind of physics curriculum than one who’s math-confident and STEM-bound.

Not every family will land on something from this list. That’s not the goal. But the range of formats, rigor levels, and costs here should give you a clearer picture of what you’re looking for…and what you’re not!

Ready to choose the right homeschool physics curriculum?

Typical Pathway for High School Science

The traditional high school science sequence is determined by the math skills they need in each course. So the specific classes you choose & the order you do them will depend on those math skills, plus graduation requirements & your student’s interests.

Students should expect to take at least 3 high school science courses, at least 1 of which should be a lab science. If your kiddo has their eyes set on a competitive university or college major or wants to major in science, they might need even more.

• biology in 9th or 10th grade
• chemistry in 10th or 11th grade/concurrently enrolled in Algebra 2
• physics in 11th or 12th grade/finished Algebra 2

Heads up! Unless you have a highly gifted kiddo, none of the following programs are appropriate for middle school-age or elementary students. If you’re looking for a program at this age that will give them a solid foundation for high school, check out REAL Science Odyssey.

Physical Science vs Physics

If you’re not sure whether your student needs physical science or physics, join the club. With my oldest kiddo, I was so confused by this, and I couldn’t find a clear answer at the time. So, here are the distinctions I wish I could’ve read.

Physical science is a 7th-9th-grade class that provides a foundation of physics and chemistry. Key concepts will include Newton’s Laws, the periodic table, and states of matter. Minimal-to-no math will be included. After completion of physical science, students should have a solid understanding of the physical world. This class is for a middle school student or a 9th grader who isn’t yet ready for biology. Your student does not need it prior to taking physics.

Physics is a high school course. Unlike physical science, physics doesn’t teach chemistry — it assumes your student already has that foundation. Students will use algebra (or higher) to explain and understand concepts. A conceptual physics course will have little or no math because the focus is on concepts only. This class is for an upper-level high school student.

Conceptual Physics from Guest Hollow

Conceptual Physics from Guest Hollow stands out for its unique approach. First, it’s a math-free program, making it a solid choice for students who don’t enjoy or struggle with math. Next, the course is only tangentially designed around a textbook spine. The bulk of the teaching material comes from the other nonfiction books and videos. Last, it does not include traditional labs. Instead, it opts for short, hands-on activities & demonstrations that reinforce concepts.

While it is not a rigorous homeschool curriculum, your student will finish with a solid understanding of how physics concepts play out in everyday life. The book list is available prior to purchase. If cost is a concern, I’d suggest browsing their book list before purchasing the curriculum so you can check which books might be available through your library or secondhand.

(The list is also just a fun resource of books that you might want to add to a different physics curriculum, a TBR list for your teen, etc. What if?, Horrible Science, Edgar Allen Poe, and the science of superheroes & sci-fi — what a fun list.

Note: The suggested textbook spine is from a Young Earth Christian publisher. We opted to use OpenStax’s free high school physics text instead, which allowed us to go more in-depth. Keep reading for more information about OpenStax.

• Format: Nonfiction books + videos + hands-on demonstrations
• Price: $35 + books and supplies (sales run 2-3x a year)
• Teaching involvement: As Needed
• Planning/Prep: Low during the year, moderate set-up
• Grading: Parent-graded
• Prerequisite: None
• Notable: math-free, real-world application

If your teen loves to read or simply wants a math-free course, this is a solid option.

Physics by OpenStax

OpenStax is a free textbook program out of Rice University. Their high school physics program is a traditional approach in both the subject & the format. Each chapter includes clear instructions, the readings, questions, vocabulary, etc. Free online resources are also available, including reading checks, an instructor’s manual, and a lab activity guide.

It lacks videos, but Crash Course physics videos can be paired with many of the chapters. The Great Courses also has choices you could pair for video-based instruction.

• Format: textbook + optional additional online resources (including answer keys and lab sheets)
• Price: free online or as a downloaded copy PDF/$60 for the printed text
• Teaching involvement: As Needed
• Planning/Prep: Parent-created schedule + lab prep
• Grading: Parent-graded
• Prerequisite: Algebra 1 + Geometry
• Notable: free, AP & university-level texts are also available

This course is algebra-based, making it a strong homeschool physics curriculum for students preparing for college science.

Conceptual Academy by Paul Hewitt

Conceptual Physics by Paul Hewitt is one of the most well-known conceptual physics courses. This text, along with others in the LearnScience conceptual science series, is often used in classrooms as an introduction to physics. Rather than focusing on learning to understand and explain physics through equations, the text explains physics through real-world examples.

Unlike Guest Hollow’s conceptual physics, math is included, but it is not the main focus. It’s a more rigorous course than GH physics, but not highly challenging.

Labs are not included in the textbook itself, though they do offer demonstration activities. In the instructor’s guide, you’ll also find other lab activities & simulations. One additional idea — the Well-Trained Mind Academy offers lab-only science classes. We used their physics lab as a supplement to this course.

• Format: Textbook or textbook + videos
• Price: Varies based on edition, and whether you self-study or do the videos
• Teaching involvement: As Needed
• Planning/Prep: Minimal planning, prep for labs
• Grading: Varies
• Prerequisite: Algebra 1 + Geometry
• Notable: Conceptual approach, flexible, honors level available

Students who are decent at math and/or are not STEM-bound after high school could find this course an excellent choice.

Oak Meadow’s Fundamentals of Physics

Oak Meadow is a well-established curriculum company, but it’s not as well-known to newer homeschool families. Fundamentals of Physics aims to teach kids first in a conceptual way, then builds their knowledge with the math & analysis. Then students can apply their knowledge through a lab experience or a hands-on project. Math is included but not heavily emphasized, making it more approachable for some students.

The course guide is written for the student. At the start of each lesson, there is a clear assignment checklist for students. The remainder of the lesson includes readings, instructions, problem sets, and conceptual questions.

A weekly schedule, materials list, and sample papers are included in the student’s course guide.

• Format: textbook + student course guide
• Price: $687 for the curriculum + lab kit (at-home supplies additional)
• Teaching involvement: As Needed
• Planning/Prep: Low planning, low-to-moderate lab prep
• Grading: Parent-graded
• Prerequisite: Geometry + Algebra 2
• Notable: The textbook is a printed version of OpenStax (mentioned above). Download the PDF version to save a bit of money.

This works well for students who want a guided, traditional course that contains math but isn’t a heavy component.

Physics from Math Without Borders

If a self-paced, video-based course might work for your student, Physics from Math Without Borders is a strong choice. The downloadable video lectures teach the concepts, while the workbook reinforces them and includes the problem sets. Unlike conceptual programs, this is a math-intensive physics course. The instructor is a passionate teacher who tries to apply real-world applications to his math & physics courses. He’s infinitely curious, and that comes out through his teachings.

Hands-on experiments come in the form of projects. A list of lab components is available prior to purchasing the course.

• Format: workbook + videos
• Price: $129 + workbook + supplies
• Teaching involvement: As Needed
• Planning/Prep: Low-to-moderate
• Grading: Parent-graded
• Prerequisite: Algebra 2, concurrent enrollment with pre-calc preferred
• Notable: Algebra-based

This is a solid option for a straightforward, traditional course for a student who doesn’t need deadlines from an outside instructor.

tl;dr

Physics can be a hard one to plan. Perhaps more than the prior sciences, the right choice depends on long-term goals & confidence in math.

• Physical science is a middle school course; physics is an upper-level high school course.
• Do you want a traditional textbook? Look at OpenStax.
• Conceptual ≠ easy — it’s just different.