Are you looking for ways to make your homeschooling experience more exciting, especially when it comes to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)? You want your child to grow and learn through hands-on experiences, meaningful content, and engaging challenges, but it can be tough to find resources that check all these boxes. The good news is that there are plenty of amazing online STEM courses available for homeschoolers. These courses can provide the structured learning your child needs, while also letting them explore their curiosity at their own pace.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into some of the best online STEM courses for homeschoolers. From coding to engineering to virtual science labs, these resources can help keep learning fun, engaging, and educational. Many of these options also feature products and kits that you can easily find on Amazon. Ready to explore? Let’s get started!
1. Outschool
Outschool is a versatile online learning platform that offers a variety of live, interactive classes for kids of all ages. The platform features small group classes taught by enthusiastic teachers who bring hands-on experiments and exciting challenges to your child’s education. STEM classes on Outschool cover a wide range of topics like coding, robotics, chemistry, and more.
Whether your child is curious about how coding works or loves exploring space, Outschool offers tailored classes that can meet your needs. These courses are especially beneficial if your homeschooler enjoys a more personalized experience and benefits from direct interaction with an instructor.
Recommended Product: If you’re diving into coding classes, you might want to purchase Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Electronics Exploration Kit. This highly-rated product on Amazon is perfect for hands-on projects that align with what your child might be learning in Outschool’s engineering or electricity courses.
2. Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a well-known, free online learning platform that offers in-depth courses in math and science. The lessons cover a range of subjects, from elementary-level math to advanced calculus and physics. Khan Academy makes learning visual, accessible, and easy to understand with video lessons, exercises, and quizzes.
One of the biggest benefits of Khan Academy is that it allows students to learn at their own pace. There are no strict deadlines or rigid schedules, which makes it an ideal choice for homeschoolers. Additionally, the platform offers progress tracking tools for parents, so you can easily see your child’s growth.
Recommended Product: Consider pairing Khan Academy’s science courses with the National Geographic Earth Science Kit. This Amazon bestseller will give your child hands-on experiments in rock identification, crystal growing, and volcano eruptions, reinforcing the core geology lessons available on Khan Academy.
3. Brilliant.org
Brilliant.org is an interactive platform designed to help students develop their problem-solving skills, particularly in math and science. With a focus on active learning, Brilliant offers interactive quizzes and problem sets that require critical thinking. It covers topics such as algebra, statistics, logic, chemistry, and computer science.
What makes Brilliant stand out is its unique learning approach. Rather than focusing solely on memorization, Brilliant’s lessons encourage your homeschooler to think analytically and creatively. This can be great for children who need an extra push to develop a deep understanding of STEM concepts in a more engaging manner.
Recommended Product: To reinforce math and logic skills, you could also get ThinkFun Gravity Maze Marble Run Brain Game and STEM Toy from Amazon. It’s a fun logic game that challenges your homeschooler to think critically and solve engineering puzzles.
4. Code.org
If your child is interested in coding, then Code.org is an excellent place to begin. Code.org offers coding courses for kids of all ages, starting with basic block programming and eventually moving on to JavaScript and other languages. The platform features games and projects that help your child learn by doing, making it an exciting way to dive into computer science.
For homeschoolers who love working with their hands, Code.org can be paired with physical coding toys like the Wonder Workshop Dash Coding Robot. This toy, available on Amazon, will bring programming lessons to life and help your child connect digital skills with the physical world.
5. Mystery Science
Mystery Science is an excellent online resource for homeschoolers looking to make science learning fun and engaging. The platform offers complete lessons for K-5 students, focusing on answering big science questions through hands-on activities and exploration. Each lesson includes a video explanation and step-by-step activities that you can do at home with simple materials.
If you’re looking for engaging science lessons that fit your homeschooling curriculum, Mystery Science provides a perfect balance between watching, learning, and experimenting. The guided lessons make it easy for parents to stay on track with each experiment, and the step-by-step instructions are easy for kids to follow.
Recommended Product: To maximize your Mystery Science experience, you could purchase Elmer’s Liquid School Glue and Baking Soda on Amazon—both are staples for various DIY experiments and activities. They are cost-effective, and your child can use them for many of the hands-on projects on Mystery Science.
6. Tynker
Tynker is an online learning platform focused on coding, game design, and robotics. The platform offers an engaging visual coding experience and is designed for younger children, especially those aged 5-12. Tynker provides a gradual progression through coding concepts, making it easy for kids to advance from block-based coding to more complex projects like Minecraft modding and drone programming.
This program is great for homeschoolers who enjoy creating games or animations, and the Tynker community also offers opportunities for kids to see what their peers are creating, which can spark creativity.
Recommended Product: For a hands-on robotics experience, consider purchasing LEGO BOOST Creative Toolbox 17101 Fun Robot Building Set on Amazon. This kit is an ideal addition to Tynker courses, allowing your homeschooler to apply coding lessons in building and programming their own robots.
7. eScience Labs
For middle and high school homeschoolers, eScience Labs provides more advanced online science courses. It offers virtual and physical lab kits, which are perfect if your child wants to learn chemistry, biology, or physics at a deeper level. These kits include real lab materials, which allow your child to explore scientific concepts in a structured and controlled environment.
eScience Labs provides interactive lessons and exercises, as well as virtual lab experiences that can be used in tandem with the physical kits. This resource is ideal for homeschoolers who need more in-depth science exposure, but without the hassle of sourcing materials separately.
Recommended Product: The AmScope Kids Beginner Microscope STEM Kit is a great addition for budding biologists. Available on Amazon, this highly-rated product allows your child to explore the microscopic world in real-time, enhancing their learning experience from eScience Labs.
8. Adventure Academy
Adventure Academy is an online learning platform that combines STEM topics with adventure-style gameplay. Developed by the creators of ABCmouse, Adventure Academy is designed for children aged 8-13. The platform offers an interactive learning experience where kids can explore science, math, reading, and social studies while engaging in quests and challenges.
Adventure Academy features lessons in areas like geometry, basic chemistry, physics concepts, and more, all presented in a colorful and game-like format. The immersive experience helps children stay motivated and makes learning feel like an adventure rather than a chore.
Recommended Product: Consider pairing Adventure Academy with the Osmo – Genius Starter Kit for iPad. The hands-on play and learning approach of Osmo games, available on Amazon, complements Adventure Academy’s virtual learning with engaging, real-world activities.
9. Coursera
If you’re homeschooling a high schooler and want to offer more advanced STEM topics, Coursera has numerous courses from well-known universities, including Stanford, Yale, and the University of Michigan. Topics range from advanced mathematics to biology, physics, and even data science.
Coursera’s courses are ideal for high school students who want to take on challenging subjects and potentially earn certifications. Courses are taught by university professors, and your homeschooler can learn alongside students from all over the world.
Recommended Product: To help your homeschooler stay organized and take notes efficiently, consider purchasing the Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook from Amazon. This reusable notebook is great for taking notes during Coursera classes, and it also allows for easy digital conversion.
10. EdX
EdX is another great platform for high school homeschoolers who want to explore university-level STEM courses. With free and paid options, EdX partners with top universities and offers courses that cover subjects like robotics, artificial intelligence, programming, and more.
EdX is perfect if your high schooler is ready for advanced learning, and many courses even offer certification that can help your child stand out in the future when applying for college or internships.
Recommended Product: If your homeschooler is taking a programming course, you could invest in Arduino Starter Kit [K000007] available on Amazon. Arduino kits are excellent for students who want to learn about programming and circuit design while creating real, functional projects.
11. Mel Science
Mel Science offers monthly subscription boxes that are perfect for hands-on learning and exploring chemistry. Each box includes all the materials needed for your child to conduct different science experiments, accompanied by virtual lessons that teach them the underlying scientific concepts.
The subscription also includes access to an augmented reality app, which allows kids to visualize molecules and chemical reactions in 3D. Mel Science is a fun way to enhance the homeschool science experience with hands-on experimentation that brings the concepts to life.
Recommended Product: To keep your homeschool organized, you could also get the IRIS USA 6-Drawer Craft Storage Organizer on Amazon. This handy storage unit will help you keep all your Mel Science experiment supplies in one place.
12. FutureLearn
FutureLearn offers courses similar to Coursera and EdX but with a more flexible schedule. It provides courses from leading institutions worldwide and includes numerous STEM topics like data science, medical science, and engineering basics. The platform’s bite-sized videos and quizzes help your homeschooler grasp even complex concepts with ease.
FutureLearn courses are especially valuable if your child is interested in gaining practical skills for a future career in STEM. Many of the classes also offer certifications that can help them build a portfolio of work.
Recommended Product: To help with studying, consider the Blue Light Blocking Glasses from Amazon. They can help protect your homeschooler’s eyes from strain during long study sessions in front of the computer.
Final Thoughts
Homeschooling can be incredibly rewarding, especially when it comes to diving into STEM subjects. There are so many online resources available, each offering unique and effective ways to explore science, technology, engineering, and math. Whether your homeschooler is just starting out or is ready for more advanced concepts, these online STEM courses offer interactive, engaging learning experiences that are designed to suit every age and interest level.
Remember that pairing online courses with hands-on products can make all the difference in a child’s learning journey. Whether you choose Snap Circuits, LEGO BOOST, or a Mel Science subscription, the added physical experience will help your homeschooler gain a deeper understanding of the STEM concepts they’re studying. So take some time to explore these options, and start building a learning path that works best for your child.