Homeschool history and geography curricula, compared

What this list holds

History curricula for homeschool are often built on read-alouds and books rather than one textbook, and many go through history in order over four or more years, starting again at a deeper level.

This list holds programs sold for history and geography on their own. Full curricula that teach it along with every other subject are on homeschool all-in-one curricula.

At a glance

• All 8 show a price on the publisher's site. For one child and one year of the main package they run from free to $255.95, and 1 is free.
• How the child works: 7 books and workbooks, 1 on screen.
• 5 of the 8 have a placement test or level guide on the publisher's site, linked on each card.
• Grades: 5 reach pre-K or kindergarten, all reach the elementary grades, all reach middle school and 6 reach high school.

Each program in a line

• Beautiful Feet Books: A family that wants to teach history and geography through real books read aloud together, with discussion rather than worksheets, across several grades at once.
• The Good and the Beautiful: A family that wants low-cost, open-and-go printed lessons and likes teaching science and history to several children at once.
• History Quest: A family with several elementary children who wants history told as a story, with a weekly mix of crafts, mapping and writing.
• Khan Academy: A family that wants free, self-paced practice in math and other core subjects, with a parent who is happy to choose the courses and check progress on a dashboard.
• The Mystery of History: A family with children of different ages who wants one world history read together in time order, with a choice of activities at each child's level.
• Notgrass History: A family that wants an open-and-go history course with real novels and primary sources, used with one child or several together.
• The Story of the World: A family that wants world history told as one story in time order, read aloud together, with narration, mapping and projects for children of several ages.
• Tapestry of Grace: A family with children of several ages who wants one shared history and literature plan built on living books and discussion, and is willing to plan each week.

Before you buy

Check which books you have to buy or borrow beyond the guide, and how the program fits more than one child at once. Map and timeline work is common, and some programs fold geography and literature into history.

Most publishers post samples and a placement test; each card links the placement test where the publisher has one.

Side by side

• The Story of the World vs The Mystery of History
• The Story of the World vs History Quest
• Notgrass History vs Beautiful Feet Books
• Tapestry of Grace vs The Mystery of History

Related lists

• Print homeschool history and geography curricula 7
• Homeschool history and geography curricula for high school 6
• Faith-based homeschool history and geography curricula 5
• Homeschool history and geography curricula for pre-K and kindergarten 5
• Homeschool history and geography curricula under $100 a year 3
• Literature-based homeschool history and geography curricula 3
• Every program, with a filter for any combination

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.

No affiliate links, no sponsored places, no ranking. Something wrong or out of date? Send a correction; publishers can send corrections, never money.