Homeschool prep: 5 Great history programs for Catholic kids

The end of summer is in sight, and many of us are beginning our preparations for the new school year. 

It can be challenging to find a good history program for kids, one that’s engaging and well-written as well as being balanced and wholesome. These five below come highly recommended from other Catholic parents. 

Whether you’re a classroom teacher or a homeschool parent looking for a solid history curriculum, hopefully one of these fits the bill!

The history offered in many secular -- and even academic -- books for children is not Catholic in outlook. 

When we look at history through the lens of faith and through the men and women who said “Yes” to Jesus over the centuries, we see the central role of the Holy Spirit, alive and active in our Church since Pentecost. 

“Go back to the early Church and you will find the faithful at Holy Mass, venerating the Eucharist, praying through the intercession of the saints, and looking to the bishop of Rome for leadership,” said Nancy Bandzuch of Catholic Sprouts.

Bandzuch worked for two years to create The History of the Catholic Church Told through the Lives of the Saints, building a wonderful resource for Catholic schools and families.

Don’t take my endorsement: Take that of my kids, who greatly enjoy this series. We haven’t yet found time to do the accompanying workbooks, but just from listening to the audiobooks, my kids have gained an incredible amount of knowledge about history. 

Described as “Catholic, Chronological, Classical, and Literature-based,” Connecting with History helps each child recognize their own role in salvation history and God's purpose for their lives. 

Homeschool parents will love that this program works for the whole family at the same time. Children in the same stage share books and work together, operating on a four-year cycle that makes sure all areas are covered while reinforcing learning through later repetition in greater depth. 

Connecting with History puts the events of history into proper perspective and engages kids with a variety of sources. This program pulls together resources from History, Geography, Bible Studies, Church History, Literature, Composition, Arts & Crafts, and more.

Catholic Textbook Project aims to bring history to life, using a narrative format to engage student interest and invite them into the story of history. 

These textbooks present the story of history proceeding from the insight that mankind and history are transformed irrevocably by Christ and his Church. Students will enjoy the custom maps and full-color reproductions of beautiful art, and they offer a line of science books as well.

While not a Catholic but a Christian program, Beautiful Feet Books deserves a mention for its delightful and engaging presentation. Their literature-based curriculum uses the power of story to teach children history, geography, and science.

Parents will love that there’s no prep work: It can be hard to find a great open-and-go curriculum! Curated literature packs make it easy to help kids enter fully into the stories of history.