Notgrass History vs The Story of the World
The sharpest difference is faith content: Notgrass History is Integrated, The Story of the World is None. Six more come apart as well, so the two have little in common past the subject.
At a glance
Notgrass History
Grades 1-12
Owners report it suits
Independent workersThe Story of the World
Grades 1-8
Owners report it suits
Reluctant learnersBoth are reported to suit Multi-age families.
Skip to who fitsWhere they differ
| Attribute | Notgrass History | The Story of the World |
|---|---|---|
Parent involvement
?How much the parent is present and teaching. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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Prep load
?How much the parent prepares before a lesson. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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Independence
?How much the child can do alone. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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Time commitment
?How long a daily lesson takes the child. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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| Faith content | Integrated | None |
| Approach | Mastery | Blended |
| Used as | Spine | Spine or supplement |
| Best for Tags show where owners consistently report a good fit. They are not exclusions. | Independent workersMulti-age families | Multi-age familiesReluctant learners |
| Method | TraditionalCharlotte Mason | ClassicalCharlotte Mason |
| Grades | 1-12 | 1-8 |
Solid tags are unique to that program. Muted tags are carried by both.
Where they match
- Rigorboth on grade
- Screen timeboth fully offline
- Formatboth Textbook
How each one plays by grade
Notgrass History runs 4 grades further than The Story of the World. If you want one program to carry the subject for the long haul, plan on leaving The Story of the World around grade 8 and choosing again.
Notgrass History
Grades 1-12
Elementary covers US geography, world geography, and the early American story (grades 1-4). Middle school has America the Beautiful, From Adam to Us, and Uncle Sam and You (grades 5-8). High school has five Exploring courses: America and World History run a full year and earn history, English, and Bible credit; World Geography runs a full year and earns geography, English, and worldview; Government and Economics are one-semester courses earning half credits in the subject and English.
The Story of the World
Grades 1-8
The four volumes (Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern, Modern) map onto a four-year elementary history cycle, one volume per year, then repeat at a deeper level in later grades.
Cost
| Cost item | Notgrass History | The Story of the World |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$75-275 | $11-26/component |
| Consumable | Partial | Partial |
| Per child / year | ~$125 (curriculum package) up to ~$275 (full bundle), plus ~$20-40 consumables per added child | ~$40-75/volume (text plus activity guide), less if you reuse the text and go oral |
What parents report
Notgrass History
Consistently praised
- Reads like a story, not a dry textbook
- One course covers history, English, and Bible
- Older kids can run it independently
- Clear daily lesson layout
- Beautiful photos and primary sources
Reported as challenges
- Literature package is sold separately or borrowed
- Lots of daily reading, which some kids find heavy
- Elementary levels still need a parent alongside
- Distinctly Christian worldview won't suit secular families
The Story of the World
Consistently praised
- Kids beg for the next chapter
- Easy to stretch across several ages at once
- The activity guide does the planning for you
- Audiobooks are great for car rides
- Affordable and reusable
Reported as challenges
- Coverage skips around and isn't comprehensive
- Activities need supply-gathering and prep
- Some Catholic families edit the Reformation chapter
- Writing gets thin on non-Western regions
Who Notgrass History fits
Gentle but solid history that older students can carry themselves, folding in Bible and English for high school credit. Families wanting a hands-on, activity-driven, or secular program should look at Story of the World instead.
Read the full Notgrass History entry Check price Notgrass HistoryWho The Story of the World fits
Affordable, story-first world history to read aloud to several kids at once, expandable with hands-on projects. Families wanting a rigorous, comprehensive text or fully independent student work will find it thin.
Read the full The Story of the World entry Check price Well-Trained Mind PressSome links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes how a curriculum is described or scored.
Still deciding?
Notgrass History compared with
Descriptions aggregate what homeschool parents consistently report across public community sources together with each publisher's own materials. Prices and editions change over time. Both entries last reviewed August 2026.