Tips for Choosing a History Curriculum You Won’t Regret

We took a spontaneous trip to this museum last week!

One of my favorite subjects as a child was history. I was a super serious little historian with a deep love of foreign cultures and ancient Near Eastern civilizations. On my bucket list, around age 13 or 14, was becoming an Egyptologist. While that dream didn’t pan out, it sparked within me a lifelong love of learning about Egypt, Babylon, and Ur.

I devoured translations of ancient texts, practiced deciphering hieroglyphics, and read everything I could get my hands on. To this day, I still have three serious books about mummification on my office shelf—books I’ve owned for over 20 years and read cover to cover multiple times.

When done well, the study of history is not only fascinating—it’s vital to understanding humanity and how the world works. Children especially need a sense of global identity. They need to know that not everyone looks like us, thinks like us, or lives like us—and that human history is a long, complex story filled with change, innovation, resilience, and painful mistakes. The good is just as important as the bad.

So how do you choose a history curriculum that honors this complexity and doesn’t leave you with regret?

Here are my top tips:

1. It Can Be Simple

Don’t overcomplicate it. We often get caught up in how a curriculum is implemented and forget its actual value. Studying history doesn’t have to mean quizzes, tests, and worksheets. Many curricula include a beautifully written book that can be read during morning time once or twice a week, followed by meaningful conversation. That alone can be enough to spark lasting interest.

2. Understand Its Bias

We all have personal biases. Historians do too. It's important to recognize the perspective a curriculum is written from and whether it’s pushing a particular agenda. Some materials try to fit historical events into a specific narrative—one that may not be entirely accurate.

I’ve read through many homeschool history programs. While some do their best to present an unfiltered account, others clearly aim to steer you toward a certain worldview. Do your research. Look into who created the curriculum and what they stand for—not just for history, but for every subject. An hour of digging can reveal a lot.

3. Don’t Skip the Hands-On

This might be an unpopular opinion, but hands-on activities in history can be just as impactful as science experiments in science. Whether it’s making a cave painting, copying the Declaration of Independence on tea-stained paper, or turning an old bedsheet into a toga—projects help kids retain what they’ve learned and connect emotionally to the time period. Many curricula offer activity guides. You don’t need to do a project every week, but sprinkling them in creates fun and memorable learning moments.

4. Learn Alongside Your Kids

If you find history boring, your kids probably will too. But if you approach it with genuine curiosity, they’ll pick up on that. Consider diving into some research or reading on your own—independent of your curriculum. Find your own spark before trying to ignite one in your children.

5. Try a Multisensory Approach

If you’re not into sensory activities, feel free to skip this one—but we’ve had such fun with it that I have to include it.

One of our favorite projects this year has been creating themed sensory bins to match the time periods we’re studying. My kindergartener has loved learning about Ancient Egypt and Greece through imaginative play, and it’s brought his older sisters into the fun too. Every few weeks, we throw together a new sensory experience filled with textures, mini figures, and cultural references. It’s a playful way to absorb facts and get kids thinking about daily life in different times and places.

6. Beautiful Picture Books Are for Everyone

Hear me out—beautiful picture books aren’t just for little kids. Every child (and adult!) can benefit from engaging, visually rich storytelling. There are countless picture book biographies and history titles that are far more engaging than most textbooks.

Before committing to a curriculum, look at its booklist. A solid list of well-chosen living books is a great sign. In fact, you could build an entire year of history study just using the booklists from some of the best curricula. If a program doesn’t offer any book recommendations... that may be a red flag.

7. Avoid Outdated or Unrevised Textbooks

With so many fantastic options available today, there’s no reason to settle for a dry, outdated textbook. I won’t name names, but there’s a particularly popular history program that hasn’t changed its cover art—or its content—in over 50 years. That should be a concern.

Historical understanding evolves. New discoveries are made. Our interpretations shift. You want a curriculum that keeps up with the times, reflects current scholarship, and offers a well-rounded, accurate perspective.

One Last (Personal) Note

I’m picky about history curricula because far too many of them come with a heavy-handed agenda. As someone who has spent decades learning about different cultures, I find it incredibly disheartening to see how many programs whitewash painful historical events in order to support a certain narrative.

You can find a curriculum to support just about any bias. I recently saw someone searching for a science program that supported a flat earth perspective. That’s the danger: if you're only looking for something that confirms what you already believe, you’re not really learning history.

Instead, consider choosing a curriculum that makes you a little uncomfortable. Let it challenge you. Let it challenge your kids. That discomfort can spark powerful conversations and open the door to deeper understanding.

Many of the darkest moments in history happened because people blindly followed ideologies or agendas. If we want our children to do better, we have to give them the tools to think critically—and that means telling them the whole story, not just the convenient one.

So Tell Me—What Are Your Favorite Ways to Study History?

I'd love to hear how others approach this subject. Are there resources or techniques that have worked beautifully in your home or classroom? Let’s learn from each other.