Chemistry
High School Chemistry 1 & 2 is a two-semester online course for homeschool students that covers the fundamentals of chemistry as well as introducing students to the evidence of intelligent design in chemistry. Space is limited, so register early! To make the course as flexible as possible, three options are offered:
- Tier 1 — Online Course + Live Teacher: A full online course led by a qualified science teacher. Includes pre-recorded video lectures, graded assignments, virtual and hands-on labs, weekly interactive Zoom sessions. (Now Closed)
- Tier 2 — Online Course + Drop-In Session: A self-directed online course to be completed at the student’s own pace. Includes pre-recorded video lectures, non-graded assignments, virtual and hands-on labs, and a weekly, optional Zoom drop-in session with a teacher for questions. (Tuition: $550)
- Tier 3 — Online Course Only: A self-directed online course to be completed at the student’s own pace. Includes pre-recorded video lectures, non-graded assignments, and virtual and hands-on labs. No Zoom drop-in session. (Tuition: $350)
- Dates: September 8, 2026 – June 4, 2027
- Meeting Times:
Tier 2: optional drop-in session Th @ 1:00 – 2:00 pm (PT) - Textbook: Pearson Chemistry 2017 (may also be branded Savvas Chemistry)
- Instructor: Kristin Marais
- Course Preview (You will need to create a free account with DiscoveryU to view).
- Syllabus
- Course Agreement
- Registration & Tuition: Registration and tuition are due before Monday, August 24, 2026. Through July 30, we are offering a discount code for $50 off tuition. (Code: chem50).
Meet Your Instructor
Kristin Marais has roughly 15 years of educational experience spanning the traditional building classroom, online classroom, curriculum development, and tutoring. She graduated from the University of California Riverside with a BS in biochemistry and then completed a MS in Teaching through Western Washington University. Kristin is a Washington state certified teacher with endorsements in chemistry, biology, and general science. She has 10 years of teaching experience within public school districts, and 7 of those years were as an online instructor. She is passionate about chemistry as a subject, well-versed in online instruction, and dedicated to her students.
Learn More about Kristin
Kristin’s teaching experience began informally and without teaching credentials of any kind when she served at a small mission school for a year in the Micronesian Islands, teaching 4th grade students. After obtaining her teaching certificate, Kristin’s work with students with IEPs (individualized education plans) within a conceptual physics course was recognized by both parents/guardians of these students and their special education teachers in a “SEPAC award.” Kristin spearheaded her 9th grade science team by developing standards for their new curriculum and adapting this curriculum to a one-to-one program where all students would have laptops for the first time.
Later, during her 7 years as an online instructor for a fully online public school, Kristin had extensive experience developing and teaching online curriculum including biology, chemistry, physical science, and an integrated chemistry-earth science course. She developed supplemental handouts, simulations, labs, and projects, hosted 1:1 Zoom sessions with students, provided detailed student feedback, and monthly communicated student progress to parents/guardians. Kristin adapted and piloted a standards-based model for online assessment, experimented with various grade-pathways for at-risk students, and shared ideas and approaches for online labs with her science colleagues. Throughout, she was committed to developing science courses which were engaging and relevant while tirelessly assisting struggling students, often employing outside-of-the-box strategies to support students individually.
Outside of teaching, Kristin spent 4.5 years in South Africa and founded a small nonprofit she continues to chair called “FALSA” (Free-a-Life-South Africa) that sponsors addicts in Johannesburg through a 3-step program including detox, rehab, and post-rehab. She also enjoys coffee, hiking, camping, travel, and mentoring teens.