Heart of Dakota is a Christ-centered homeschool curriculum built around living books, short lessons, narration, notebooking, hands-on activities, Scripture, and gradually increasing student independence.

It combines elements of Charlotte Mason education, unit studies, and more traditional skill-based instruction. Each level is organized through a central teacher guide that lays out the family’s work in daily boxes, telling parents what to read, which pages to assign, and which activities to complete.

As a homeschooling dad, I can see why the program attracts families who want something more engaging than a stack of workbooks but more structured than designing their own literature-based curriculum.

Heart of Dakota gives parents:

• Detailed open-and-go lesson plans
• Strong Christian worldview integration
• Living books and biographies
• Shorter Charlotte Mason-style lessons
• History, Bible, science, art, poetry, and language arts
• Hands-on projects
• A gradual transition toward independent work
• Options for children from preschool through high school

However, Heart of Dakota can also become complicated and expensive.

The teacher guide is only the beginning. Most levels require several packages, student notebooks, read-alouds, science books, language arts resources, and math materials. Families teaching children at very different skill levels may need several separate guides running at the same time.

My overall conclusion is:

Heart of Dakota is an excellent Christian homeschool curriculum for families who want living books, biblical integration, and highly structured daily plans. It works best for involved parents and children who enjoy reading, narration, and varied activities, but it can become costly and difficult to combine across a wide age range.

Heart of Dakota Review: Quick Verdict

Heart of Dakota is especially suitable for:

• Christian homeschool families
• Parents who want detailed daily guidance
• Children who enjoy stories and biographies
• Families attracted to Charlotte Mason methods
• Students who benefit from variety
• Parents who want Bible integrated throughout the day
• Children who enjoy notebooking and hands-on projects
• Families wanting a long-term preschool-to-high-school sequence

It may be less suitable for:

• Secular families
• Parents wanting inexpensive digital downloads
• Children who prefer workbook-only instruction
• Families teaching many widely spaced ages
• Parents wanting highly independent early-elementary work
• Students who strongly dislike narration or writing
• Families that want one simple box containing every subject

What Is Heart of Dakota?

Heart of Dakota is a comprehensive Christian homeschool curriculum created by Carrie Austin.

Its curriculum currently extends from preschool through high school. The sequence begins with Little Hands to Heaven and progresses through elementary and middle-grade guides such as Little Hearts for His Glory, Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory, Bigger Hearts for His Glory, and Creation to Christ, before moving into four high-school guides.

The major guides include:

The company’s official site describes Heart of Dakota as an open-and-go Christian program using living books, hands-on activities, and God’s Word at the center.

Each main guide normally covers one school year and is divided into roughly 33 to 35 weekly units. Daily plans are printed in subject boxes so parents can see the assignments at a glance.

Is Heart of Dakota a Complete Curriculum?

Heart of Dakota can form the framework for a complete curriculum, but parents need to understand how its packages work.

The guide schedules core areas such as:

• Bible
• History
• Geography
• Science
• Literature
• Poetry
• Art
• Music
• Language arts
• Math

However, many of these subjects use separately purchased books or programs.

For example, a guide may schedule:

• A set of history books
• A science package
• A read-aloud package
• Student notebook pages
• Rod and Staff English
• A writing program
• Singapore Math or another math option
• Independent reading books

The parent can buy packages directly from Heart of Dakota or source some books independently.

This makes the program customizable, but it also means that the price of the guide alone does not represent the cost of a complete school year.

My Impression as a Homeschooling Dad

Heart of Dakota appeals to me because it solves one of the biggest problems with literature-based homeschooling: planning.

I may like the idea of teaching through stories, biographies, experiments, maps, poetry, and projects, but coordinating all those resources myself could take weeks.

Heart of Dakota does that work in advance.

The guide tells me:

• What to read
• How much to read
• Which Bible passage to discuss
• Which science activity to complete
• What the student should narrate
• Which notebook page to use
• What math or grammar lesson is scheduled
• Which project connects with the history topic

That structure can make a rich style of homeschooling practical.

The daily guide is generally divided between Learning Through History and Learning the Basics. History, Bible, geography, science, and related unit-study activities appear on one side, while mathematics, language arts, reading, and other skills appear on the other.

What concerns me is the number of moving parts.

A family can end up managing:

• A thick guide
• Several history books
• Science resources
• Read-alouds
• Independent readers
• Notebook pages
• Math books
• Grammar books
• Writing books
• Scripture cards
• Audio material
• Art supplies

The curriculum is well organized, but the home still needs to organize the physical resources.

What Makes Heart of Dakota Different?

Daily Plans Are Extremely Specific

The main guide is one of Heart of Dakota’s strongest features.

Each subject is presented in a box with direct instructions. Parents do not need to create their own lesson sequence or decide how many pages to assign each day.

This provides the security of a structured curriculum while preserving a more varied learning experience than a conventional textbook package.

The main advantage is time saved in planning.

The limitation is that some parents may feel controlled by the boxes.

A guide can begin to feel like a list of obligations rather than a helpful framework, especially when the family falls behind.

Parents need to remember that a scheduled box is not a moral command. Activities can be shortened, skipped, or moved.

It Blends Charlotte Mason and Unit Studies

Heart of Dakota describes its approach as having a distinct Charlotte Mason influence combined with unit-study elements and a Christian worldview.

Charlotte Mason-inspired features include:

• Living books
• Narration
• Copywork
• Dictation
• Poetry
• Nature-related science
• Short lessons
• Picture study
• Composer study
• Increasing student independence

Unit-study elements appear when history connects with:

• Bible
• Science
• Art
• Geography
• Projects
• Literature

The program is not a pure Charlotte Mason curriculum.

It uses more structured workbooks, formal grammar programs, prepared notebook pages, and detailed daily schedules than many families associate with a strict Charlotte Mason method.

I would describe it as a structured eclectic program with strong Charlotte Mason influence.

Bible Is Woven Through the Curriculum

Heart of Dakota is explicitly Protestant Christian.

The Bible is not treated as a short devotional placed beside secular academics. Scripture, Christian history, character, missions, hymn study, and worldview are incorporated across the guides.

Depending on the level, students may:

• Read Bible stories
• Memorize Scripture
• Study the names of Jesus
• Learn hymns
• Read Christian biographies
• Examine church history
• Complete personal Bible study
• Connect faith with historical events
• Study Christian character

This is one of the program’s greatest strengths for families who share its beliefs.

It also means the curriculum will not suit secular families or parents looking for a religiously neutral academic program.

Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant families may also disagree with individual theological materials, so samples should be reviewed carefully.

Living Books Replace Many Traditional Textbooks

Heart of Dakota uses biographies, narrative histories, picture books, novels, and engaging nonfiction.

History is often presented through the lives of people rather than through a single dense textbook.

This can help children remember:

• Historical decisions
• Personal courage
• Inventions
• Conflicts
• Missionary work
• Cultural changes

The read-aloud selections are not merely optional bedtime books. They are used to teach genres, story elements, character, narration, and comprehension.

The disadvantage is that the program can become reading-heavy.

Parents of younger children will do much of the reading aloud, while older students are expected to take on increasingly substantial independent reading.

Independence Increases Gradually

One of the best features of the sequence is the gradual transfer of responsibility from parent to student.

Early guides are highly parent-led.

As children progress, they begin completing more:

• Independent reading
• Written narration
• Research
• Notebooking
• Map work
• Science assignments
• Bible study
• Projects

By the middle-grade guides, many boxes are designed for independent or semi-independent completion. Creation to Christ, for example, intentionally expands research, independent reading, self-study, written assignments, mapping, and projects.

This can help students develop the organizational habits needed for high school.

However, parents should not push a child into a higher guide merely because they want more independence. Placement must reflect reading, writing, maturity, and workload.

Heart of Dakota Placement

Heart of Dakota is organized by developmental ranges rather than simple grade labels.

The publisher encourages families to place students according to multiple skill areas, not merely age.

Important considerations include:

• Reading ability
• Writing stamina
• Grammar level
• Independence
• Math placement
• Maturity
• Ability to narrate
• Ability to follow written directions

This is important because the difference between two guides may involve much more than harder books.

A higher guide may expect the child to:

• Read independently
• Write longer narrations
• Complete several boxes alone
• Manage a notebook
• Conduct research
• Handle mature historical topics

Parents should resist the temptation to place a child too high because the age range appears more impressive.

A correctly placed child will usually develop more confidence and complete the program more successfully.

Heart of Dakota Preschool and Kindergarten Review

Little Hands to Heaven

Little Hands to Heaven is designed for approximately ages two to five.

It includes:

• Bible
• Letter sounds
• Numbers
• Shapes and colors
• Music
• Art
• Movement
• Fine-motor activities
• Early math
• Pre-reading skills

The activities are short, physical, and hands-on.

This can work well for parents who want a Christian preschool routine without pushing formal academics too early.

The drawback is that many activities require direct parental participation. It is not an independent workbook program.

Little Hearts for His Glory

Little Hearts for His Glory is designed around approximately ages five to seven.

It covers:

• Bible
• History
• Storytime
• Phonics
• Math
• Science
• Art
• Music
• Handwriting
• Fine- and gross-motor activities

The guide schedules separate phonics and math options rather than relying on one mandatory in-house program.

The early history coverage combines Bible history and introductory American history through colorful storybooks and related discussion.

Early-Level Strengths

• Short lessons
• Strong Bible integration
• Physical movement
• Living books
• Hands-on activities
• Detailed parent guidance
• Flexible phonics and math options

Early-Level Weaknesses

• Parent intensive
• Many separate books
• Not ideal for families wanting one student workbook
• Children may need more systematic phonics support
• Complete packages cost much more than the teacher guide alone

Heart of Dakota Elementary Review

Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory

Beyond Little Hearts adds:

• American history
• Geography
• Timeline work
• Science
• Poetry
• Grammar
• Spelling
• Copywork
• Literature
• Math
• Music

The program provides reading options for beginning, emerging, and independent readers, allowing families to adjust skill subjects separately.

This is useful because a child’s reading level may not match the history guide perfectly.

Bigger Hearts for His Glory

Bigger Hearts increases both workload and student responsibility.

It includes:

• American history
• Biblical character
• Geography
• Vocabulary
• Notebooking
• Science
• Poetry
• Art
• Grammar
• Spelling
• Literature
• Math

The student notebook pages are professionally designed and include map work, written activities, and graphic organizers. Each child needs a separate set.

The curriculum becomes more academically substantial at this point, but it also takes longer.

Cathy Duffy reports that the publisher estimates approximately 1.5 hours daily for Little Hearts, 2 to 2.75 hours for Beyond Little Hearts, and around 3.5 hours for Bigger Hearts when all scheduled work is completed.

Actual time depends on the child and the number of optional activities completed.

Preparing Hearts for His Glory

Preparing Hearts introduces more:

• Research
• Written narration
• Independent reading
• Vocabulary
• Timeline work
• Notebooking
• Science writing
• World history

The course moves from creation through modern history, using narrative resources, biographies, Bible, geography, and science.

Preparing Hearts is a transition program. It still involves substantial parental teaching, but students begin taking more responsibility.

Heart of Dakota Middle-School Review

The Hearts for Him Through Time sequence includes:

• Creation to Christ
• Resurrection to Reformation
• Revival to Revolution
• Missions to Modern Marvels

These guides move chronologically through biblical, church, world, and U.S. history.

Creation to Christ

Creation to Christ is designed primarily for ages nine to eleven, with extension work for older children.

It includes:

• Ancient and biblical history
• Geography
• Bible study
• Science
• Poetry and watercolor
• Literature
• Grammar
• Writing
• Math
• Notebooking
• Independent reading

The science is coordinated with daily assignments and includes reading, notebooking, experiments, and observation. Independent reviewer Cathy Duffy describes this level’s science as a particularly strong blend of attractive information, active learning, and written work.

Later Middle-Grade Guides

Resurrection to Reformation emphasizes church history and the medieval period.

Revival to Revolution focuses heavily on U.S., world, and church history from the eighteenth century onward.

Missions to Modern Marvels reaches the modern era and includes U.S. presidents, missions, modern history, chemistry, economics, speeches, and Christian worldview study.

These upper guides offer a rich education, but they are not light.

Students may have:

• Independent history reading
• Bible study
• Science
• Grammar
• Writing
• Literature
• Math
• Notebooking
• Projects
• Art or music

Families should avoid placing children too high merely to combine siblings.

Heart of Dakota High School Review

Heart of Dakota offers four high-school guides:

1. World Geography
2. World History
3. U.S. History I
4. U.S. History II

Each guide uses living books, textbooks, activities, written assignments, and biblical study to teach from a Christian worldview.

The high-school sequence includes combinations of:

• History
• Geography
• Bible
• Literature
• Composition
• Government
• Economics
• Science
• Math
• Electives

The U.S. History I guide, for example, provides 35 weeks of history and government study.

High-School Strengths

• Strong daily structure
• Increasing independence
• Christian worldview
• Living books
• Integrated history and literature
• Detailed assignments
• Four-year sequence
• Good preparation for managing substantial work

High-School Weaknesses

• Expensive when every package is purchased
• Heavy reading and writing load
• Parents remain responsible for transcripts and grades
• Math and science choices add complexity
• Students entering late may need time to learn the format
• Not an accredited school

Heart of Dakota Math and Language Arts

Heart of Dakota does not use one single proprietary math or grammar sequence across all levels.

Depending on the guide, recommended options can include:

• Singapore Math
• Math with Confidence
• Apologia Math
• Mastering Essential Math Skills
• Rod and Staff English
• Writing and Rhetoric
• Drawn into the Heart of Reading
• Other writing and grammar resources

The guides provide schedules for selected options, while parents may substitute their preferred program.

Advantages

• Parents can select the right level.
• Children are not forced into one math method.
• Established specialist programs are used.
• Schedules reduce planning.
• Families can keep a math curriculum that is already working.

Disadvantages

• Purchasing becomes more complicated.
• Different children may need different programs.
• The total price rises.
• Math and grammar may feel less connected with the unit-study subjects.
• Parents must confirm that the chosen edition matches the schedule.

Heart of Dakota Pricing in 2026

Heart of Dakota pricing is more complicated than the cost of a single boxed curriculum.

Most levels are divided into several purchases, such as:

• The main guide
• Economy package
• Basic package
• Science add-on
• Read-aloud package
• Extension package
• Student notebook pages
• Math
• Grammar
• Writing
• Independent readers

The company’s live product pages did not consistently expose complete package totals in search results when this review was checked, so buyers should use the official package builder or curriculum pages for exact 2026 pricing.

A realistic expectation is:

These are planning estimates rather than fixed official package prices. Independent pricing summaries similarly place elementary packages in the several-hundred-dollar range and note that high-school totals can rise substantially when all required subjects are purchased.

Hidden Costs

Parents should also budget for:

• Student notebook pages
• Consumable workbooks
• Math materials
• Grammar and writing books
• Science kits
• Art supplies
• Audio resources
• Shipping
• Replacement editions
• Extension books
• Additional readers

Can Heart of Dakota Be Reused?

Many materials can be reused with younger siblings:

• Teacher guides
• History books
• Science books
• Read-alouds
• Audio resources
• Grammar teacher materials
• Nonconsumable math texts

Families normally need new:

• Student notebook pages
• Math workbooks
• Grammar workbooks
• Writing workbooks
• Consumable science pages

The program becomes more affordable when several children reuse the core books over time.

Is Heart of Dakota Accredited?

No.

Heart of Dakota is a curriculum publisher, not an accredited school.

Purchasing a guide or full package does not provide:

• School enrollment
• Official report cards
• Institutional transcripts
• Accredited credits
• A school-issued diploma

Parents remain responsible for:

• Homeschool legal compliance
• Attendance
• Grading
• Records
• High-school credits
• Transcripts
• Graduation requirements

This is normal for independent homeschooling, but families needing an accredited online academy should consider a separate school or umbrella program.

Heart of Dakota Pros and Cons

Pros

• Strong Christian worldview
• Detailed open-and-go guides
• Living books and biographies
• Charlotte Mason-inspired methods
• Hands-on activities
• Shorter lessons in younger guides
• Narration and notebooking
• History taught chronologically
• Science experiments and observation
• Strong progression toward independence
• Preschool-through-high-school continuity
• Flexible math and language arts choices
• Extension options for older siblings

Cons

• Complete packages can be expensive
• Many separate books and components
• Parent intensive in younger years
• Difficult to combine children who place in different guides
• Heavy reading in upper levels
• Notebook pages must be repurchased
• Strong Protestant perspective
• Some activities may feel overly scripted
• Falling behind can become stressful
• Exact package selection can be confusing
• No accreditation
• Requires substantial shelf space

Heart of Dakota vs. My Father’s World

My Father’s World is generally easier when a family’s priority is teaching several children the same history and science.

Heart of Dakota may provide a better developmental fit when each child works through a guide designed for a narrower age and skill range.

Heart of Dakota vs. Sonlight

Sonlight is more purely literature driven.

Heart of Dakota uses a wider combination of reading, notebooking, projects, experiments, poetry, art, and formal skill subjects.

Is Heart of Dakota Too Much Work?

It can be.

The program becomes overwhelming when parents try to:

• Complete every box perfectly
• Combine children who do not truly place together
• Use every extension
• Add too many outside subjects
• Require polished written work every day
• Maintain the publisher’s pace despite illness or family disruptions

Parents can reduce the burden by:

• Skipping occasional activities
• Completing some narrations orally
• Using fewer extensions
• Shortening repetitive assignments
• Spreading a guide over more than one year
• Choosing a simpler math or grammar option
• Prioritizing the most important boxes

The program itself acknowledges that skipping an occasional subject, particularly in early guides, does not create lasting harm.

Who Should Use Heart of Dakota?

Heart of Dakota is an excellent fit for:

• Protestant Christian families
• Parents wanting detailed plans
• Children who like stories
• Families attracted to Charlotte Mason education
• Students who enjoy hands-on projects
• Parents wanting Bible woven through academics
• Children comfortable with narration
• Families wanting a long-term curriculum sequence
• Parents willing to teach actively
• Students ready to grow into independent work

Who Should Choose Another Curriculum?

Another option may be better for:

• Secular families
• Parents wanting a cheap PDF program
• Children who strongly dislike reading
• Families wanting all children in one history cycle
• Students who prefer workbooks
• Parents needing fully independent early grades
• Families with limited book storage
• Parents who dislike managing multiple packages
• Students needing extensive online teaching
• Families seeking accreditation

Final Verdict: Is Heart of Dakota Worth It?

Heart of Dakota is worth considering because it offers a rare combination of richness and structure.

Many highly structured curricula rely on conventional textbooks and worksheets.

Many literature-rich curricula require substantial parent planning.

Heart of Dakota attempts to provide both:

• Engaging books
• Christian worldview
• Hands-on learning
• Detailed daily direction
• Academic progression
• Gradual independence

As a homeschooling dad, I would appreciate having a guide that tells me exactly what to do while still giving my child stories, experiments, art, poetry, and meaningful discussion.

I would be careful about placement and cost.

I would not try to force several children into one guide merely for convenience. I would also calculate the price of every required package before committing, rather than looking only at the cost of the teacher guide.

My final judgment is:

Heart of Dakota is one of the strongest structured Christian homeschool curricula for families who want living books, biblical integration, and varied learning activities. It is particularly good for parents who want detailed guidance without using a conventional school-at-home program, but it works best when the workload is adapted and children are placed carefully.

Heart of Dakota Rating

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Heart of Dakota a Complete Curriculum?

It can provide a full curriculum framework from preschool through high school, covering Bible, history, science, literature, language arts, math, art, and other subjects. Many required resources are purchased separately from the main guide.

Is Heart of Dakota Christian?

Yes. It is an explicitly Protestant Christian curriculum with Scripture and biblical worldview integrated across subjects.

Is Heart of Dakota Charlotte Mason?

It is strongly Charlotte Mason-inspired but also combines unit studies, hands-on learning, workbooks, and traditional skill instruction.

Is Heart of Dakota Accredited?

No. Heart of Dakota is a curriculum publisher rather than a school. Parents remain responsible for grades, records, transcripts, and legal compliance.

How Much Does Heart of Dakota Cost?

The cost varies considerably because guides, book packages, notebooks, math, and language arts may be purchased separately. Early levels may total a few hundred dollars, while complete middle- and high-school programs can cost much more.

Can Heart of Dakota Be Used With Multiple Children?

Yes, particularly when children place in the same guide or when an older child uses the scheduled extension materials. It is less naturally family-style than My Father’s World.

How Long Does Heart of Dakota Take Each Day?

Publisher estimates reported by Cathy Duffy range from about 1.5 hours for Little Hearts to 2–2.75 hours for Beyond Little Hearts and around 3.5 hours for Bigger Hearts. Upper levels take longer and vary based on student independence and subject choices.

Does Heart of Dakota Include Math?

The guides schedule selected external math programs, including Singapore Math and other options. Parents may also substitute a different math curriculum.

Is Heart of Dakota Good for ADHD?

It may suit children who benefit from short lessons, variety, movement, projects, and clearly divided daily boxes. Students who struggle with transitions between subjects may need a simplified schedule.

Is Heart of Dakota Good for High School?

Yes. It offers a four-year high-school sequence covering World Geography, World History, and two years of U.S. History with integrated Christian studies and related subjects.