Curated guide

Best Homeschool History Curriculum

11 curricula in this guide

History can be the most engaging subject in a homeschool day — or the driest. The difference usually comes down to delivery. Literature-based history programs use living books and storytelling to make events come alive. Textbook-based programs offer thorough coverage and structure. Our top picks balance engagement with academic rigor across multiple worldviews.

Story of the World is a near-universal homeschool spine for ancient through modern history. Sonlight and BookShark wrap history in a full literature-based curriculum (Christian and secular respectively). Pick based on whether you want a standalone history program or an integrated multi-subject approach.

Editor's selection

Our picks

Story of the World

Well-Trained Mind Press

Featured

Narrative world history told chronologically across four volumes, designed for read-aloud family learning. The standard elementary history spine for classical and literature-based homeschoolers.

K–2 3–5 6–8

$20–$48

Sonlight

Sonlight Curriculum

Literature-based Christian curriculum built around parent-led read-alouds and high-quality living books. All-Subjects Packages provide a full year of instruction across multiple subjects.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$250–$700/year

BookShark

Secular literature-based curriculum adapted from the Sonlight model. One of the few non-religious, book-rich options for families who love reading together.

K–2 3–5 6–8

$500–$1045/year

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Compass Classroom

Streaming video classical Christian curriculum with engaging master teachers. Features Visual Latin (the flagship), history, writing, literature, science, and more.

3–5 6–8 9–12

$490–$890/year

Khan Academy

Featured

Free, nonprofit, mastery-based online learning platform spanning PreK through college. Short video lessons paired with adaptive practice and unit tests, especially strong in math and SAT prep.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Veritas Press

Featured

Rigorous classical Christian curriculum offering three learning models: parent-taught, self-paced online, and live online classes. Known for the Omnibus Great Books program at the upper levels.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$249–$749/year

Abeka

Pensacola Christian College

Highly structured traditional Christian curriculum with daily lesson plans, heavy drill and review, and optional filmed-classroom video instruction. One of the most comprehensive K4-12 programs available.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$450–$1884/year

Acellus Academy

International Academy of Science

Fully accredited online K-12 school with WASC accreditation, AP courses, NCAA-approved cores, and military Tier I status. Same video content as Power Homeschool but with diploma, transcripts, and teacher support.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$2000–$4500/year

BJU Press

Comprehensive traditional Christian curriculum with optional professional video instruction (Distance Learning). Rigorous academics with critical thinking emphasis across all subjects K4-12.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$600–$1500/year

BrainPOP

Animated explainer videos with Tim and Moby covering 800+ topics in science, social studies, ELA, math, and arts. Strong supplement for visual learners and topic intros.

K–2 3–5 6–8

$295–$430/year

Outschool

Marketplace of independent teachers offering 140,000+ live small-group video classes, 1:1 tutoring, and self-paced courses for ages 3-18. Supplemental enrichment, not a full curriculum.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$480–$2880/year

Power Homeschool

International Academy of Science

Self-paced video curriculum sharing identical content with Acellus Academy but without enrollment, accreditation, or teacher support. Significant 2025 price increase from ~$31/mo to $99/mo.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$948–$1188/year

Schoolhouse Teachers

The Old Schoolhouse

Christian all-access homeschool curriculum platform with 400+ courses, lesson plans, recordkeeping, and transcripts. One flat fee per family covers unlimited students.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$389–$476/year

Time4Learning

Secular self-paced PreK-12 full curriculum with animated lessons, automated grading, and recordkeeping. Most popular secular all-subjects digital subscription.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$335–$479/year

Common questions

Frequently asked

Should we teach history chronologically or by topic?

Chronological cycles are the most common homeschool approach: four years covering ancients through modern, repeated at increasing depth. It gives children a mental timeline to hang everything on. Topical or regional study works too, especially for older students, but a student who has never seen the sequence laid out tends to struggle to place events relative to each other.

How do I handle history that presents a particular viewpoint?

Read it with your student rather than around it. Every history curriculum has a perspective, including the ones that claim not to. The most useful habit you can build is asking who wrote this, what they emphasized, and what a different account might say. Pairing a spine text with primary sources does this naturally.

Does history count toward my state's required subjects?

In many states, yes, usually named as history, social studies, or civics. Some states also require specific units such as state history or the Constitution. Check your state's requirement, and log the hours if your state counts them.

Can history and literature be combined?

Yes, and literature-based programs do exactly this. Reading historical fiction and primary sources alongside a period makes the era stick far better than a textbook summary. If you combine them, decide up front how you will record it: most families log the time under both subjects or count it as a humanities block.

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