High School & Unit Studies

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Common Misconception – High School and Unit Studies:

1. 1.  Common Question: I have high school students who plan to go to college!  Are unit studies as core going to be “enough?  Is homeschool going to be enough?”
   2.  Common Statement: You can use unit studies, but it depends on what you want for your child and what their aspirations are (inferred meaning: only if they’re not going to college).

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The Real Answer:

​We get it. Traditional education is built around textbooks—subject by subject, chapter by chapter.  It’s also just like public school: all kids are squeezed together based on age.  That’s what many of us grew up with, and it feels safe. But have you ever stopped to think about why we separate subjects or ages like this?  Why is public school or “traditional” homeschool laid out this way?  It’s certainly not how the real world works.

Take science, for example. A high school textbook might have a focus on chemistry, then a separate class for biology, then another for physics.  History and language arts are going on separately, as well.  But if you were to step into the shoes of, say, a meteorologist or a volcanologist, you’d see that they don’t just use one subject at a time. Meteorologists need chemistry (for air composition), physics (for wind patterns), and biology (for ecosystem impacts)—all at once.  Volcanologists can’t do their jobs without understanding the intertwined history of the regions they are in.  It’s interdisciplinary and cross-curricular.

Even Ivy League schools are beginning to structure learning in this innovative way! The best education isn’t about memorizing isolated facts from different subjects; it’s about understanding how they connect.  That’s why we also designed our unit studies the way we did. We didn’t just make them “good enough” for high school—we made them better.

• Go HERE for more info on Ivy league colleges. We highly encourage it!

Why People Question Unit Studies:

Not all unit studies are created equal (not any more than all books are created equal). Not all homeschool setups are created equal.  MANY unit studies only scratch the surface, which led to a misconception about “unit studies” overall. Many give a light overview of a topic but don’t provide the depth needed for a full high school education. We noticed this problem, too.

That’s why Campfire Curriculums takes a different approach. Our units don’t just introduce topics—they immerse students in them. Every unit is designed to meet or exceed academic standards, covering multiple disciplines while maintaining the rigor of traditional education.

This approach mirrors real-world applications.

Not all Unit Studies are created equal!

Ivy League universities do this, as well, and it is considered a superior form of education…

Break it Down:

Let’s break this down with a real-world example. Below is the table of contents from a well-known and widely respected 10th-grade high school science textbook. Take a moment to skim through the topics:

10th Grade Science Textbook Table of Contents:

1. The Flowering Seed Plants (study of living things, observing seeds, etc.)
2. Structure and Functions of Leaves (external structure of a leaf, photosynthesis, fall coloration, wilting)
3. Flowers, Fruits, and Seeds (structure, development, fruits, seeds)
4. Stems & Roots (woody stems, herbaceous stems, anchors)
5. Plant Varieties
6. Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
7. Bones & Muscles
8. Nervous System (brain, neurological health, senses, and sense organs)
9. Nutrition and Digestion
10. Circulation and Respiration
11. Endocrine and Reproductive Systems
12. Disease and Immune System
13. Natural History & Scientific Investigation
14. Evolution vs. Science
15. Introduction to Ecology
16. Mammals
17. Birds
18. Reptiles
19. Fish
20. Arthropods
21. Invertebrates
22. Design and Function of Cells
23. Heredity
24. DNA

BUT HERE’S THE THING…

Parents often assume that a textbook’s chapter order follows a strict scientific logic—but in reality, it’s just the preference of the author.

One biology textbook might structure topics like this:
 Plants first →  Human anatomy next →  Animal science later →  Heredity at the end

Another textbook might reverse it entirely, starting with human anatomy, moving into heredity, then ecology, and wrapping up with plants.

With Campfire Curriculums, you get to choose your own order.  And yes, it still builds on itself in a spiral and mastery way.  For more on how this can work, go HERE.

THE TAKEAWAY…

Here’s the problem with many traditional curricula and textbooks:
Read the textbook → Fill in the blanks → Take the test → ❌ Forget most of it.

That can be a waste of time and doesn’t prepare students for higher education or real careers.

Campfire takes a different approach:
✅ Active learning – Students don’t just read; they take notes, analyze, and engage.
✅ Hands-on applications – Instead of worksheets, students apply what they learn in real-world scenarios.
✅ Multi-sensory experiences – They don’t just memorize; they do, ensuring retention for life.

Some curricula prioritize heavy memorization. Others lean on repetitive worksheets. Every curriculum is different—whether it’s a textbook or a unit study.  We aren’t here to tell parents which is best for their situation.  We are here to explain why we, personally, believe this approach is the best approach (and why we structure our curriculum as we do).

Campfire integrates real-world learning with college-level concepts. We collaborate with professionals, gather industry knowledge, and embed higher-education insights into our units—exposing students to expert-level information beyond what’s found in standard textbooks.

And that’s what sets Campfire apart.

Want to see the difference? Explore our unit studies and get free samples here.

 

WHAT WILL WORK FOR YOUR FAMILY, THOUGH?