CAN THESE BE USED FOR HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS? ABSOLUTELY! IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE!
You can use these units to cover all core subjects (except math) or as an extracurricular or single-subject study. Here’s how:
Use ~8 units per year and list the following on your high school transcript:
- ELA
- 1 credit
- 1 credit
- Science (physics, chemistry, biology, etc.) *
- 1 credit
- 1 credit
- History/Social Studies/Geography**
- 1 credit
- 1 credit
- Elective/job shadowing
- 1/2 credit
- 1/2 credit
- Ethics
- 1/2 credit
- Bible
- 1/2 credit
*Our units cover chemistry, biology, physics, earth science, and more. See our CAMPFIRE BROCHURE for details.
**Our units cover various sciences and history in an interdisciplinary way!
HOW IT WORKS (CARNEGIE UNIT METHOD)
High school credits are based on total time spent in a subject:
- 1 full credit in a subject = ~120 hours (some states require ~150—check your state’s rules!)
- ½ credit = ~60–75 hours
- ¼ credit = ~30+ hours
This is why public school classes are ~45 minutes and 180 days a year:
45 min/day × 180 days = ~135 hours = 1 credit (With a little extra time for fun holiday parties, of course! )
METHOD BEHIND THE MADNESS
The Carnegie Unit Method is the standard system for calculating high school credits in the U.S. (and many other countries)–whether homeschooled, public schooled, or otherwise. It’s all about TIME.
Most families complete 6–10 full Campfire units per year within the allotted school days (~180 days), but you get to decide how much time you spend on each unit. Think of it like a workout routine, where you are supposed to complete an hour of cardiovascular each day.
- Some people might run 5 miles in that hour
- Some might hike a mile in that hour
- Either way, an hour is an hour, and the time is what matters.
Likewise:
- Some people take 3 weeks to complete a Campfire unit, moving quickly and efficiently.
- Others stretch it out over 6+ weeks, diving deep into projects, field trips, and more.
More time spent = more credit hours earned.
So, how many units will you complete in a year? That depends on your pace! If you go through them quickly, you’ll do more units within those 180 school days. If you take your time, you’ll do fewer units in the same time. Either way, you’ll still meet the credit requirements because what matters most is the total time spent learning—not the number of units completed.
For you, it’s really just a matter of making sure you do the right number of school days, and the rest is easy as pie, falling into place perfectly.
It’s similar to public school when teachers might say, “We’re going to skip this chapter in the textbook because I want to spend more time on the following chapter or working on our final projects.” They are still spending the designated amount of time each day on the school subject with their students. Just track your time (roughly—no need for a stopwatch! ), and you’re good to go.
If you want more help with the details and record-keeping, keep reading!
HOW A UNIT MIGHT LOOK IN YOUR HOME:
Example Unit: History’s Mysteries
- History or Social Studies & Geography – ~45–60 min per lesson
- Science (Physics, Chemistry, etc.) – ~45–60 min per lesson (includes the hands-on applications and experiments via Core Connections)
- Language Arts/English – ~45–60 min per lesson (includes the reading, writing, discussion, and analysis via Core Connections)
- Ethics (Think Tank prompts, discussion, critical thinking) – ~30 min per lesson (including debate, discussion, etc.)
- Bible – ~30 min per lesson
Complete different units throughout the school year of ~180 days, and you’ll earn 1 credit per subject (except math).
One School Subject or Extracurricular Credit
The Quick Answer:
1 full unit = ¼ credit toward ONE subject or extracurricular.
If you’re using Campfire for just one subject (example: Health or Volcanology), each unit = ¼+ credit in that subject. Two units = ½+ credit. Our larger units will extend beyond this.
How Does This Work?
In public school, a history paper in English class counts as ONLY English, not history. However, in homeschool, we get flexibility. That paper can count as either English OR history (one or the other, not both).
If you desire to use the entire Volcanology unit for ONLY science (instead of splitting it between different core subjects), then:
- The written paper counts toward science (not language arts)
- The history of volcanoes counts toward science (not history)
- ALL work is counted as science because you are opting for such
Each unit can be ~36 – 75 hours of focused study in one subject when done this way, which is why 1 unit = 1/4 – 1/2 credit in ONE subject alone.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Most homeschoolers don’t count every minute of their school day (because that would be exhausting! ). Instead, they set a consistent schedule of school days and trust the balance of learning. Some days you might have more history; other days you might have science. It all works together in the end. Stick to your homeschool routine, and you’re golden. No one’s watching with a stopwatch!
And remember: Learning isn’t just reading for 45 minutes (not even in public or private school). It’s discussion, projects, writing, reading, interaction, and hands-on activities. That’s exactly how Campfire Curriculums is designed!
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