History Curriculum

12 curricula compared. Filter to the fit for your family, then read the full write-up.

Grade
Faith content
Approach
Format
Used as
Best for
Filter by score
Rigor
gentle, below gradeadvanced
Parent involvement
hands-offparent-taught
Prep load
open-and-goheavy
Screen time
fully offlinefully digital
Independence
adult-ledfully independent
Time commitment
under 15 min60+ min

Beautiful Feet Books
Beautiful Feet Books · Grades K-12
Light Spiral Textbook Spine
Rigor 3on grade
Parent involvement 3shared
Prep load 2minimal
Screen time 1fully offline
Independence 3semi-independent
Time commitment 325 to 40 min
Fits Charlotte Mason, classical, or eclectic families with willing readers who value narration and discussion over worksheets, especially those teaching several ages together.
BookShark Reading with History
BookShark · Grades PreK-10
None Spiral Textbook Spine
Rigor 3on grade
Parent involvement 4leading
Prep load 2minimal
Screen time 1fully offline
Independence 2guided
Time commitment 440 to 60 min
The literature-based, story-driven feel of Sonlight without the Bible, for secular families combining kids across grades.
Build Your Library
Build Your Library · Grades K-12
None Mastery Textbook Spine
Rigor 4demanding
Parent involvement 4leading
Prep load 2minimal
Screen time 1fully offline
Independence 3semi-independent
Time commitment 440 to 60 min
Fits secular, book-loving families who want a Charlotte Mason-style literature spine tying history, literature, science, and art together for mixed ages.
Curiosity Chronicles
Curiosity Chronicles · Grades 1-10
None Mastery Textbook Spine
Rigor 3on grade
Parent involvement 3shared
Prep load 2minimal
Screen time 1fully offline
Independence 3semi-independent
Time commitment 325 to 40 min
Colorful, globally-minded history that works for neurodivergent and multi-age learners, with audio and Minecraft options, and it's written secular.
Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum
Hillsdale College · Grades K-12
None Spiral Textbook Spine
Rigor 4demanding
Parent involvement 3shared
Prep load 4involved
Screen time 2mostly offline
Independence 3semi-independent
Time commitment 325 to 40 min
Rigorous, primary-source American history and civics at no cost, for families who don't mind adapting classroom lesson plans, especially in middle and high school.
History Quest
Pandia Press · Grades 1-6
None Blended Textbook Spine
Rigor 3on grade
Parent involvement 3shared
Prep load 2minimal
Screen time 1fully offline
Independence 2guided
Time commitment 325 to 40 min
Secular families who liked the Story of the World format but want more content and a fully secular voice, taught to a mix of ages.
Notgrass History
Notgrass History · Grades 1-12
Integrated Mastery Textbook Spine
Rigor 3on grade
Parent involvement 2light
Prep load 2minimal
Screen time 1fully offline
Independence 4mostly independent
Time commitment 325 to 40 min
Gentle but solid history that older students can carry themselves, folding in Bible and English for high school credit.
Sonlight History, Bible, and Literature
Sonlight Curriculum · Grades K-12
Integrated Spiral Textbook Spine
Rigor 3on grade
Parent involvement 4leading
Prep load 2minimal
Screen time 1fully offline
Independence 2guided
Time commitment 440 to 60 min
Fits families who love reading aloud together, want history and Bible woven into one plan, and are combining kids across a few grades.
Tapestry of Grace
Lampstand Press · Grades K-12
Integrated Spiral Textbook Spine
Rigor 4demanding
Parent involvement 4leading
Prep load 5heavy
Screen time 2mostly offline
Independence 3semi-independent
Time commitment 440 to 60 min
One rigorous, worldview-rich humanities plan from kindergarten through high school, for organized, hands-on Christian parents teaching several ages at once.
The Mystery of History
Bright Ideas Press · Grades K-12
Integrated Mastery Textbook Spine
Rigor 3on grade
Parent involvement 3shared
Prep load 3moderate
Screen time 1fully offline
Independence 2guided
Time commitment 325 to 40 min
Chronological, Bible-centered world history to read aloud and adapt, built for Christian families teaching multiple ages together.
The Story of the World
Well-Trained Mind Press · Grades 1-8
None Blended Textbook Spine or supplement
Rigor 3on grade
Parent involvement 3shared
Prep load 3moderate
Screen time 1fully offline
Independence 2guided
Time commitment 215 to 25 min
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.
Veritas Press History
Veritas Press · Grades 2-6
Integrated Blended Online Spine
Rigor 3on grade
Parent involvement 2light
Prep load 1open-and-go
Screen time 4mostly digital
Independence 4mostly independent
Time commitment 325 to 40 min
Classical history a child can run independently on the computer, which frees Christian parents from teaching and grading it.