Five in a Row
Five in a Row is a set of literature-based unit studies built on picture books and, in the later volumes, chapter books. The parent reads the same book aloud on several days in a row, and each day the teacher's manual opens a new angle on it: social studies, language arts, art, applied math and science. Before Five in a Row serves preschoolers, and Volumes 1 to 8 run from early elementary into middle school.
Grades it covers
- PK
- K
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- Subjects
- All subjects: language arts, science and history and geography
- Grades
- Ages 2 to 12 and up: Before Five in a Row for preschoolers, Volumes 1 to 8 from early elementary into middle school source ↗
- Method
- Unit studies, Literature-based source ↗
- Format
- Books and workbooks source ↗
- Faith label
- Faith-based
- Cost a year
- No price on the publisher’s own site when we checked. Ask the publisher.
- Placement
- No placement test on the publisher’s site when we checked.
What it does well
- Lessons grow out of real picture books read aloud, so the day starts with a story the whole family shares.
- One book carries several subjects, which lets siblings of different ages work on the same unit.
- The volumes do not have to match a grade, so a family can pick books and units freely.
- A free sample is offered, and printed items can be returned within 30 days in like-new condition.
Watch for
- Math, phonics, spelling, handwriting and grammar are not taught, so you add your own programs.
- Each unit needs its own picture book or chapter book, which you borrow or buy.
- The parent reads every book aloud and leads each day's lesson.
- Digital purchases are final, and printed items do not ship outside the US.
It fits
A family with young children who love picture books and a parent who enjoys reading aloud and following a story into many subjects.
It doesn’t fit
A family that wants math and reading taught in the same package, or a child who will work alone from workbooks.
Compare Five in a Row
Other programs for the same subject and grades:
- Abeka Pre-K (K4) to 12th grade
- AmblesideOnline Year 0 (kindergarten) to Year 12
- Beyond the Page Age levels 4-5 to 12-14 (about pre-K to 8th grade), plus High School 1 for 9th or 10th grade
- BJU Press Homeschool K3 (preschool) to 12th grade
- BookShark Levels Pre-K to J plus high school levels, ages 4 to 18 (about pre-K to 12th grade)
- Bridgeway Academy Pre-K to 12th grade, with college options
- Build Your Library Level 0 (kindergarten) to Level 12 (12th grade)
- Classical Conversations Ages 4 to 18, about pre-K to 12th grade
Lists it is on
- Homeschool all-in-one curricula 32
- Faith-based homeschool curricula 29
- Literature-based homeschool curricula 15
- Unit study homeschool curricula 8
- Homeschool curricula for pre-K and kindergarten 73
- Homeschool curricula for middle school 83
- Print homeschool curricula 68
- Faith-based homeschool all-in-one curricula 20
- Faith-based literature-based homeschool curricula 7
- Faith-based unit study homeschool curricula 6
- Faith-based homeschool curricula for pre-K and kindergarten 25
- Faith-based print homeschool curricula 27
What we read, and how we label
Every fact on a card was read on the publisher's own website on the date shown, and the page it came from is linked. A fact we could not confirm there is left out. Costs are for one child and one year of the main package, as the publisher's page showed them that day; prices and sales change. Method and format are the publisher's own description where it gives one. The only thing we say about religion is one label, secular or faith-based, given by the rule above; where the publisher's pages don't settle it, the card has no label.
The publisher’s pages we read on October 31, 2026:
Something wrong or out of date? Publishers and parents can send a correction and we will fix it. Publishers can send corrections, never money. All programs compared · Find your homeschool style