Friendly Chemistry, 4th Edition
This approachable, full-credit chemistry course builds college-level understanding through clear instruction, clever analogies, and hands-on manipulatives—designed for independent teens and parents who’d rather not reteach the periodic table.
$79.95
Quantity:
In a Curriculum Kit
Multiple Grades
Nonreligious
Spiral Learning
Please note: The video license is designed to accompany the course text, and is not a stand-alone curriculum. The audio and video portions of this course are non-refundable.
2026 Tenth-Grade Curriculum Kit
Friendly Chemistry
Chemistry has a reputation for being one of the most challenging high school sciences. Friendly Chemistry was designed to make it approachable without watering down the content, giving teens a solid introduction to chemistry through clear explanations, hands-on activities, and a highly structured format.
The two-volume Teacher Edition serves as the heart of the program. Each of the 32 lessons includes a detailed game plan, instructional content, worksheets, activities, tests, and complete answer keys. The step-by-step organization helps teens work more independently while giving parents a clear framework for the year.
The course covers the major topics found in a traditional high school chemistry class, including atomic theory, quantum mechanics, chemical bonding, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, and gas laws. Throughout the program, analogies, activities, and optional games help reinforce difficult concepts and make abstract ideas easier to understand. For teens who prefer a more traditional approach, worksheets cover the same material without requiring participation in the games.
The optional manipulatives set adds a hands-on component through flashcards, interactive games, and activities that allow teens to build compounds, model reactions, and explore chemistry concepts in a more concrete way. Laboratory activities use practical materials and household supplies whenever possible, making them easier to implement at home.
Unlike many science programs, Friendly Chemistry does not require a separate student edition for individual learners. Worksheets, activities, tests, and answer keys are already included in the Teacher Edition. Families teaching multiple students may wish to add materials for each student.
Friendly Chemistry is commonly counted as one high school chemistry credit and has been used successfully in homeschool, private school, charter school, and classroom settings for many years. Its combination of clear instruction, structured lessons, and hands-on reinforcement has helped countless teens build confidence in a subject that often feels intimidating.
Want to make the course even more independent? The optional Friendly Chemistry Video License allows author Joey Hajda to teach the material directly while your teen follows along in the text. The publisher describes the videos as the "teacher" and the textbook as the "classroom book," making the video license a valuable support for families balancing multiple students or teens who benefit from direct instruction. Please note that the video license is designed to accompany the curriculum and is not a stand-alone course.
See some sample pages from this series and browse all that it has to offer.
How to Use Friendly Chemistry
- Start by handing your teen the Teacher Edition. Despite the name, it contains the lessons, worksheets, activities, tests, answer keys, and pacing guidance needed for a single student to complete the course. Additional student materials are only necessary if you're teaching multiple learners.
- Plan on completing one lesson each week. With 32 lessons total, you'll finish the course with several weeks to spare for review, makeup work, or unexpected interruptions.
- Begin each lesson with the included game plan. These guides explain the lesson objectives, outline the required activities, and help your teen know exactly what to do next.
- As concepts are introduced, your teen can reinforce them through either the hands-on games and activities or the worksheet-based review. Both approaches cover the same material, allowing students to learn in the way that works best for them.
- If you're using the optional manipulatives set, encourage your teen to incorporate it throughout the course. Building compounds, modeling reactions, and working with physical representations can make abstract chemistry concepts much easier to understand.
- Most labs use common household materials. A few activities require an adult to prepare "mystery" solutions ahead of time, but otherwise the course is designed for a high degree of student independence.
- Have your teen complete the tests as they appear and use the included answer keys for review and correction. The goal is not simply to finish the assignments, but to develop a solid understanding of the concepts before moving on.
By the end of the course, your teen will have completed a full high school chemistry credit while building a foundation in the principles that govern matter, energy, and chemical change.
In the 2026 kits this course earns high school credit:
1 credit of Chemistry
Science · 10th grade · Classic and Non-Religious kits
- Teacher's Edition Volume 1
- Teacher's Edition Volume 2
- Annotated Solutions
- Manipulative Set
Extra Student Set
- Teacher's Edition Volume 1
- Teacher's Edition Volume 2
- Manipulative Set
Needed additional materials: Annotated Solutions.
Student Edition
- Student Edition Only - this includes text and worksheets
Needed additional materials: Teacher's Editions Volume 1 and Volume 2, Manipulatives, Annotated Solutions.
Student Workbook
- Student Workbook Only - these are blank worksheets only; no text
Needed additional materials: Teacher's Editions Volume 1 and Volume 2, separate Text (if desired), Manipulatives, Annotated Solutions.
- Atomic Theory
- Trends of the Periodic Table of Elements
- Quantum Mechanics
- Ion Formation
- Compound Formation
- Avogadro's Number and the Mole
- Formula Weights
- Percent Composition
- Empirical Formulas
- Chemical Reactions
- Balancing Chemical Equations
- Stoichiometry (Predicting Quantity of Product from a Reaction)
- Ideal Gas Laws
- Element Flashcards
- Doo-wop Mania card game
- Doo-wop Board, a unique tool to teach electron orbital arrangements and ionization.
- Compound Intensity cards to accompany Compound Intensity Board Game found in the Friendly Chemistry teacher's edition
- Ion Flashcards, multi-sized cards to teach ion symbol and charge, and how compounds form.
Publisher: Friendly Chemistry & Create Space
Author: Dr. Joey Hajda - DVM MEd & Lisa B. Hajda - MEd
Edition: 4th Edition
Age Recommendation: 14+
Grade Recommendation: 9th+
Faith-Based: No
Consumable: Student Workbook, Friendly Chemistry Manipulative Set: Yes.
Lessons: 36
Format: Softcover
Made in: USA
Student Edition
Consumable: Yes
Pages: 316
ISBN: 9781456511364
Copyright: 2012
Teacher Edition Volume 1
Consumable: If you have your student work independently in the Teacher Editions: Teacher Editions are consumable. If you have your student write their work separately in a Student Workbook: Teacher Editions are non-consumable.
Pages: 260
ISBN: 9781456357221
Copyright: 2016
Teacher Edition Volume 2
Consumable: If you have your student work independently in the Teacher Editions: Teacher Editions are consumable. If you have your student write their work separately in a Student Workbook: Teacher Editions are non-consumable.
Pages: 306
ISBN: 9781456507244
Copyright: 2016
Friendly Chemistry Manipulative Set
Consumable: Yes
Pages: 74
ISBN: 9781456542214
Student Workbook
Consumable: Yes
Pages: 246
ISBN: 9781469990675
Video License:
Access: Unlimited viewing via online portal with no expiration date. An internet connection must be available for viewing.
License Covers: Current student and younger family members. Co-op licenses are available from the publisher.
Audiobook:
Access: Text read verbatim by author, Joey Hajda, accessed via online listening portal.
Click here to see the Table of Contents
Click here to see the Course Introduction (pdf)
Click here to see Lesson 1 (pdf)
Click here to see Lesson 3 (pdf)
Download Friendly Chemistry List of Lab Supplies PDF
Teachers: Click here to view the Teaching Library, where you can find videos on how to utilize all the games and labs in Friendly Chemistry.
Note: These videos are intended for viewing by a teacher or parent who is teaching the course. They are not meant to be a substitute for actual instruction.
Preview Friendly Chemistry: Lesson 1 Video Instruction
Preview Friendly Chemistry: Lesson 4 Applying Quantum Mechanics
Listen to an Audiobook Sample of Friendly Chemistry.
Link for errata for Friendly Chemistry, 4th Edition.
“The bottom line: Friendly Chemistry delivers! It is thorough, well-paced, and user-friendly.”
Read the ReviewFind answers to the most frequently asked questions about this product below:
Yes, the Friendly courses will be adequate. However, if your student will be going into a science-intensive major and career, they may benefit from (and enjoy) a more intensive science course.
Typically counted as 1 high school credit.
No, you need the text to accompany the video course. The publisher likes to consider the video to be like the "teacher" and the textbook to be like your required classroom book.
- February 23, 2026
Chemistry that is truly friendly
Steph H.
As a homeschool mom, I am quite thankful for this curriculum. Chemistry was not necessarily my strong suit, so I am glad that my son has this resource to learn from. The text is straightforward and easy to follow. The concepts are clearly explained, and the experiments are great because we have most, if not all, of the required components on hand at any given time. The DVDs are a great accompaniment as well.
- September 13, 2023
Comprehensive curriculum
Camille C.
This is a great comprehensive curriculum. That helps make chemistry easier to learn. My student is understanding and comprehending the lessons and the writers try to include a way to help your student better understand the curriculum
- September 19, 2021
At-home easy to find products
Emily A.
My son loves this curriculum, he loves doing the experiments and it's easy on the wallet since most things are found in our kitchen or medicine cabinets anyway. This is definitely a gem!
- July 29, 2020
Best chemistry program we've used
Janine C.
This program was advertised as "no tears chemistry" when I first became aware of it, and that is absolutely true. After subjecting our oldest to a very thorough but miserable chemistry program, I was desperate to find something else that wouldn't be so painful for our other 3 kids. This met all of my expectations, and then some. And, best of all, the creators of the program were extremely responsive to my inquiries when I reached out to them with a question. I struggled with chemistry in high school, but was able to teach this course to my daughter and a neighbor with confidence and zero frustration. We have since used their biology program (also excellent), and I am purchasing their physical science program to use this year. I'm so grateful to have found this program, as it has made our upper level science studies significantly more pleasant.
