homeschool labs

Complete Homeschool Labs for High School Science

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One of the most intimidating parts of the high school years is figuring out how to complete high school science with your kids. Kids not only need an excellent science curriculum, but they also need a certain number of hours of labs as well. Thankfully, there’s a great way to give your kids the needed homeschool labs without losing your mind!

homeschool science classes and labs

Disclosure: I was compensated for my time in creating this review of Greg Landry’s Homeschool Science. All opinions are mine.

Homeschool Labs

Just so we’re on the same page, homeschool science labs is just a different term for science experiments. Teenagers need to have about 30 or 35 hours working on science experiments, writing up a formal lab report, and getting hands-on experience with the scientific method at the high school level.

Homeschool science labs are critical to a high school student’s education. The labs extend students’ understanding of scientific concepts and give them a chance to see how the concepts work in the real world. This hands-on experience builds a love of science.

And labs aren’t something you can just skip. Colleges and universities look for science lab credits on the high school transcript.

Why Do Students Need Homeschool Labs?

The labs give students a chance to experiment, explore, and play with the concepts being taught. The hands-on experience helps to cement the ideas being taught while teaching children the critical thinking skills they need to work through problems they run into during lab work. 

Plus, as I mentioned before, colleges and universities expect to see science lab credits on the high school transcript.

Homeschool Science Lab Requirements

The general rule of thumb is that your child will need about 30 hours per course to complete the homeschool lab requirement expected by most colleges. The 30 hours do include the experiments, lab write-ups, and lab reports.

Usually, you don’t need a lab credit for every science class your teenager takes in high school. Many colleges and universities expect to see two science classes that include labs on the transcript. 

Each school has different requirements, so check the schools your child may be interested in attending after high school when your child is starting the 9th grade. This will prevent a nasty surprise senior year.

While you’ll want to check to see how schools in your area list science labs, I’ve always simply listed the course and lab on the transcript as follows:

  • Biology + lab
  • Chemistry + lab
  • Physics + lab

Doesn’t Completing a Science Textbook Count?

I wish it were otherwise because coming up with all the lab supplies has been challenging, to say the least. But just completing the science textbook isn’t enough. Your homeschool students need the lab component for their science classes. 

The experiments are fun ways to cement a kid’s understanding of scientific terms, concepts, and theorems. After taking lab classes, children understand and appreciate science at a far deeper level than if they read a book, answer questions, and go on with their day.

No amount of reading takes the place of seeing how science works in the real world!

What’s the easiest way to complete science labs at home?

You can complete homeschool science labs through group classes at homeschool co-ops or in-person classes at a community college. 

I picked up science kits for my children’s high school biology labs that included microscope slides, Petri dishes, and dissection specimens. For chemistry labs, I invested in test tubes and lab equipment. While the lab materials allowed a hands-on approach, it wasn’t easy or cheap. 

I will admit it was exciting, especially the time we misadjusted the alcohol burner and had flames reaching up to the ceiling!

Eventually, I discovered the easiest way to complete a lab science course is through virtual online labs combined with online classes. Greg Landry’s Homeschool Science programs are a great example of virtual science labs combined with online classes. 

You can also check out Greg Landry’s Science Membership program that my kids and I enjoyed last year. It’s an incredible resource with awesome benefits for homeschool families!

Greg Landry Homeschool Science

Greg Landry’s Homeschool Science offers the only virtual labs for biology/anatomy & physiology, chemistry, and physics that are created specifically for homeschooling families… and students love them! 

The science lab intensives are a great resource that allows you to complete lab science requirements without interrupting your school year.

Who Is Greg Landry?

Greg Landry is a homeschool dad and a former college professor. And he has over 20 years of experience teaching science students. His goal is to give homeschooled students the chance to take science classes that focus on teaching kids scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and more. 

He offers a series of online science and math classes for homeschooled kids between the 4th and 12th grades. You have two options: in-person classes and self-paced courses. 

In-person classes are fabulous when you can make the class time fits into your schedule and you can commit to completing the work each week. But if you’re moving in the middle of the school year, expecting a baby, or have an irregular schedule, then an in-person class might not be the best choice. 

Although, I’ve found that in-person classes are easier to complete because you’re meeting with a live instructor each week.

Self-paced courses are much easier to fit into your schedule. You can work on them in the morning, afternoon, evening, or even at 1 am in the morning if that’s what works best. I love the flexibility to fit the science and lab course into our fluctuating schedule each week!

Greg Landry’s Family Science Membership is another great option as well, especially if you have several children taking science and math classes!

Self-Paced Homeschool Science Classes

The self-paced homeschool science classes offered by Greg Landry’s Homeschool Science are well-organized and easy to follow. A weekly schedule is available to help you plan out the year. The weekly schedule makes planning so much easier, as I can rest assured that I’m not giving my middle school or high school student too much work.

Greg Landry also includes tips on notetaking to help older and younger children get more out of the classes.

All the self-paced homeschool science classes include access to the course for one year, video lessons, and a PDF of the textbook. Plus, Professor Landry is available through email to answer any questions you may have!

Greg Landry's Homeschool Science

Life Prep Biology 

The Life Prep Biology Course is a full-year science class for kids between 8th and 12 grade. It’s best completed by a high schooler who doesn’t expect to go into a science field or be a science major in college.

The dashboard is well organized. It’s easy to find the PDF chapters of the textbook along with each class recording. I love downloading and printing the PDF files since space is included for note-taking. It allows my kids to interact with the course rather than simply sitting down and watching the video.

The Life Prep Biology Course doesn’t include experiments or lab sessions, so I also picked up the Virtual Biology/Anotomy & Physiology Lab.

homeschool labs

Virtual Biology / Anatomy & Physiology Lab

The Virtual Biology /Anatomy & Physiology Lab includes two components. You have the virtual lab for your kids to enter and complete the hands-on activities. Plus, you have a recording for the kids to watch before completing the experiment. 

The virtual lab is amazing! You want into the lab and turn on the lights. Then you put on your lab coat and goggles before starting the experiment. 

​Items are located in drawers, and you have work areas on which to place items. I love it! 

My kids and I had a blast fiddling around with the various components and interacting within the lab setting!

More Awesome Resources to Check Out

Greg Landry also offers some incredible resources for homeschool parents. You can order a free magnet or sticker, download some science freebies, or listen to his podcast to learn more about

Homeschool Labs and Science Curriculum

If you’re looking for an excellent science curriculum for your kids, check out Greg Landry’s Homeschool Science courses. The classes are well-organized, thorough, and created for homeschool families. And your kids will love them!

​Check out Greg Landry’s Homeschool Science Classes today!