MADE FOR FAMILIES TEACHING AT HOME
Physics homeschool curriculum, planned for your family
Tell Kuraplan your children's ages and what you are studying. It builds the physics lessons, worksheets and answer keys, sized for each child.
Homeschool physics curriculum
Homeschool physics curriculum: the math you need, the labs you can do, the programs that work
Physics is the third science most homeschoolers take and the one most often skipped, usually because the parent is worried about the math. The worry is half right: physics is math applied to the world. But a standard high-school physics course needs algebra and a little trigonometry, not calculus, and the labs are mostly things rolling, swinging and falling in the living room.
This guide covers readiness, the content of a physics year, how to do meaningful labs with everyday objects, and the programs families use for both conceptual and calculation-heavy routes.
Scope by age
What physics looks like at each stage
Use this as a checklist, not a schedule. Children move through it at their own pace, and a strong year can cover two stages.
Readiness
Before starting- Algebra 1 complete; Algebra 2 concurrent or complete; basic trigonometry (sine, cosine, tangent) helps from the start.
- Comfort with graphs, units and scientific notation.
- Curiosity about how things move. That is most of the battle.
The physics year (usually grade 11 or 12)
Ages 16–18- Units: motion in one and two dimensions, forces and Newton's laws, energy and work, momentum, circular motion and gravity, waves and sound, light and optics, electricity and circuits, magnetism, and an introduction to modern physics.
- Labs: measuring g with a dropped object and a phone, pendulum period, friction on ramps, Hooke's law with springs, conservation of momentum with carts or balls, wave speed on a string, lenses, simple circuits with a multimeter.
- Ten to twelve documented labs, a lab notebook and formal reports; about 150 hours for the credit.
Options
Ages 16–18- Conceptual physics (little math) for a non-STEM student, or a calculation-based course for a STEM-bound one.
- AP Physics 1 for algebra-based college credit; AP Physics C only with calculus.
- Dual enrollment for a real lab and college credit.
A weekly rhythm that gets done
Homeschool physics does not need a school timetable. This is what a sustainable week looks like for most families.
- How often
- 4–5 days a week
- How long
- 50–60 min
Concept, then problems, then more problems, then a lab. Physics is learned at the desk with a pencil, and confirmed on the floor with a ball.
Honest comparison
Physics programs homeschool families actually finish
Prices are approximate and change; check the publisher. We note worldview because it matters to families on both sides, not to recommend one.
| Program | Approach | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apologia Exploring Creation with Physics Well structured for self-study. Requires algebra 1 and geometry; introduces the needed trig. | Faith-based | About $100–$150 | A complete Christian algebra-based course with home labs |
| Conceptual Physics (Paul Hewitt) The classic conceptual text, widely loved. Pair with Hewitt's free videos and simple demonstrations. | Secular | About $30–$100 used | Understanding physics with minimal math, for non-STEM students |
| Physics: Principles with Applications (Giancoli) or Holt Physics Standard high-school and intro-college texts. Pair with Khan Academy and Flipping Physics videos. | Secular | About $30–$100 used | A rigorous algebra-based course for STEM-bound students |
| Khan Academy, Flipping Physics and The Physics Classroom The Physics Classroom's tutorials and problem sets are a complete free course; Flipping Physics matches AP Physics 1. | Secular | Free | Free video instruction, practice and explanations for every topic |
| Derek Owens Physics (online) Video lessons, homework graded by the teacher, and a transcript-ready grade. Popular with homeschoolers. | Neutral | About $60–$100 per month | A taught online course with graded work for the parent who does not want to teach physics |
Avoid these
Mistakes that make physics harder than it needs to be
- Starting without algebra 2 or trig. Vectors need trig; a student who has not met sine and cosine will stall in the second unit.
- Reading instead of solving. Physics is problems. Eight to ten a day.
- Thinking labs need equipment. A phone, a ruler, string, a spring, a ramp and some balls cover most of the year.
- Skipping physics altogether. Three lab sciences is the norm for college-bound students; conceptual physics counts.
- Getting units wrong. Insist on units in every answer from day one; most physics errors are unit errors.
Plan it with Kuraplan
How families use Kuraplan for physics
You choose the program and the pace. Kuraplan makes the lessons, worksheets and answer keys that fit around it, for every child in the house.
Problem sets with worked solutions
Any topic, at conceptual or calculation level, with full worked solutions so the method can be checked.
Labs from household objects
Tell Kuraplan what you have (a ramp, marbles, string, a phone) and it writes a lab with a method, a data table and analysis questions.
Explanations that use pictures
Ask for a diagram-led explanation of vectors, circuits or refraction when the text is not landing.
One lesson. All your kids.
$49/yr flat, no per-child fees
Write one family lesson, then adjust the reading level, the practice and the response format for each child without rebuilding the day.
Physics homeschool FAQ
What math is needed for homeschool physics?
Algebra 1 complete, Algebra 2 at least concurrent, and basic trigonometry for vectors. Calculus is only needed for AP Physics C or a college-level course.
What is the best homeschool physics curriculum?
Apologia for a complete Christian course. Hewitt's Conceptual Physics for a low-math route. Giancoli or Holt with Khan Academy and Flipping Physics for a rigorous secular course. Derek Owens if you want it taught and graded for you.
Can you do physics labs at home?
Yes, and better than most schools. Motion, forces, energy, momentum, pendulums, springs, waves, optics and simple circuits can all be measured with household objects, a phone and a cheap multimeter.
Do homeschoolers need physics to get into college?
Most colleges want three lab sciences; physics is the usual third. Conceptual physics satisfies the requirement for non-STEM applicants. STEM applicants should take the algebra-based or AP course.
Which grade should physics be taken in?
Grade 11 or 12, after chemistry and once Algebra 2 is underway. Some families teach physics first (the 'physics first' sequence) with a conceptual course in grade 9.
Program details and prices change. Verify with the publisher before buying, and check your state's guide for what is required.
Your physics year, in one place
Plan lessons, make printables and keep each child's finished work together for the records you choose to keep.
Plan with Kuraplan