Notgrass History is a Christian homeschool history curriculum that combines narrative textbooks, original historical documents, literature, Bible study, geography, writing, timelines, maps, and optional hands-on activities.

The company offers American history, world history, government, economics, geography, and state-history materials for students from the elementary grades through high school.

As a homeschooling dad, I find the basic idea appealing.

History should be more than a list of wars, presidents, treaties, and dates. Children should meet the people who shaped events, read their words, understand the beliefs behind their actions, examine the culture of each period, and consider how historical decisions continue to affect the present.

Notgrass attempts to provide that broader experience.

Its courses often include:

• Narrative history lessons
• Primary-source documents
• Historical photographs
• Maps
• Timelines
• Literature
• Creative assignments
• Bible study
• Writing projects
• Review questions and tests

The high-school courses are particularly distinctive because one program can potentially provide credit in three subjects. For example, a student completing Exploring America as written may earn one credit each in American history, English, and Bible.

However, Notgrass History is not ideal for every family.

The courses are reading-heavy, explicitly Christian, and often written from a conservative Protestant perspective. Some children may find the narrative textbooks engaging, while others may feel that the lessons contain too much reading and not enough visual, interactive, or hands-on instruction.

My overall conclusion is:

Notgrass History is one of the strongest Christian history curricula for families wanting narrative lessons, literature, primary sources, and biblical integration without extensive parent preparation. It is especially valuable in middle and high school, but parents should add discussion, alternative perspectives, and selected hands-on work to prevent the program from becoming a reading-and-answer routine.

Notgrass History Review: Quick Verdict

Notgrass History is especially suitable for:

• Christian homeschool families
• Students who enjoy reading
• Parents wanting history, literature, and Bible combined
• Families seeking open-and-go lesson plans
• Older students ready for independent work
• Children who learn well through stories and biographies
• Parents wanting primary-source documents
• Families seeking a traditional chronological history sequence
• High-school students needing transcript-ready course structures
• Parents who prefer physical books over a screen-based curriculum

It may be less suitable for:

• Secular families
• Children who dislike reading
• Students needing daily video instruction
• Parents seeking an accredited online school
• Children who learn primarily through projects
• Families wanting politically or religiously neutral history
• Students needing extensive live discussion
• Parents wanting automatic grading
• Children who struggle with long written assignments

What Is Notgrass History?

Notgrass History is a family-run Christian homeschool curriculum company founded by veteran homeschool parents Ray and Charlene Notgrass.

The company describes its mission as producing materials centered in God’s Word that help parents educate children in heart, soul, and mind.

Its major curriculum lines include:

Elementary Courses

• Our Star-Spangled Story
• Our Great Big World
• America the Beautiful

Middle-School Courses

• From Adam to Us
• Uncle Sam and You
• Exploring World Geography

High-School Courses

• Exploring America
• Exploring World History
• Exploring World Geography
• Exploring Government
• Exploring Economics
• Exploring World War II
• Additional literature and social-studies resources

The exact recommended grade range varies by course.

For example:

• Our Star-Spangled Story is designed for Grades 1–4.
• From Adam to Us is designed for Grades 5–8.
• Exploring America and Exploring World History are high-school courses.

Notgrass does not offer a complete all-subject homeschool curriculum.

It focuses mainly on history and social studies, although its integrated literature, writing, geography, and Bible assignments can cover substantial portions of language arts and religious studies.

My Impression as a Homeschooling Dad

What I appreciate most about Notgrass is that the curriculum seems written for homeschool families rather than adapted awkwardly from a classroom textbook.

The lessons are already organized.

The student is usually told:

• What to read
• Which source document to examine
• Which literature chapter to complete
• What Bible passage to study
• Which map or timeline activity to finish
• What writing assignment or project to complete

That reduces the parent’s planning burden considerably.

The student can often work independently, particularly from middle school onward.

This does not mean the parent should disappear.

History becomes valuable when children discuss it.

I would regularly ask questions such as:

• Why did this person act that way?
• What other options were available?
• Which sources support this interpretation?
• How might another group describe the same event?
• What moral responsibility did the people involved have?
• How did religion influence the decision?
• What were the unintended consequences?

A student can complete every assigned page and still develop only a shallow understanding if nobody challenges him to think beyond the lesson.

Notgrass provides the material.

The parent helps turn that material into judgment.

How Notgrass History Works

Most Notgrass courses follow a predictable weekly structure.

A typical week includes five lessons built around a common theme or historical period.

Depending on the course, the student may complete:

• Four narrative history lessons
• One lesson based on a primary source, biography, landmark, or cultural topic
• Bible assignments
• Literature readings
• Map work
• Timeline entries
• Vocabulary
• Writing assignments
• Creative projects
• Unit quizzes or tests

The exact structure varies across elementary, middle-school, and high-school programs.

The curriculum packages usually contain the main history books and supporting resources. Literature packages, review materials, workbooks, and consumable student books may be sold separately or included in larger bundles.

This purchasing structure gives families flexibility, but it can initially be confusing.

Before ordering, parents should determine whether they need:

• Only the narrative curriculum
• The literature package
• Student-review questions
• Quizzes and exams
• A student workbook
• An answer key
• Additional consumables for siblings

Notgrass History’s Christian Worldview

Notgrass History is explicitly Christian.

The Bible is not added as a decorative paragraph at the end of an otherwise secular course. Scripture, Christian belief, church history, morality, providence, missions, religious liberty, and the influence of faith appear throughout the lessons.

The company states that its curricula are centered in God’s Word.

Christian families may appreciate that the curriculum:

• Treats faith as historically significant
• Includes Bible study
• Discusses missionaries and church movements
• Examines the moral consequences of historical decisions
• Encourages students to consider their duties before God
• Presents history as part of a larger spiritual story

However, “Christian” does not mean the curriculum will perfectly match every Christian family.

Catholic, Orthodox, Reformed, Baptist, Pentecostal, Anabaptist, and other families may differ over:

• Church history
• Theology
• Political participation
• War
• Christian nationalism
• Economics
• Social issues
• Interpretation of American history

Parents should review samples and discuss disagreements rather than assuming that any publisher can replace family teaching.

Secular families will probably find the worldview too central to remove easily.

Notgrass Elementary History Review

Our Star-Spangled Story

Our Star-Spangled Story is a one-year American history course for Grades 1–4.

The course includes 90 narrative lessons divided into two primary volumes. The first volume covers life in America before European arrival through the late 1800s, while the second continues from the late 1800s into modern history.

The curriculum package includes:

• Two history volumes
• Star-Spangled Rhythms and Rhymes
• A timeline
• An answer key and literature guide

The supplementary rhythms-and-rhymes volume contains 60 songs, poems, and dances connected with the historical lessons.

Families can also add:

• Eight assigned works of literature
• A consumable student workbook
• Drawing and writing activities
• Review pages

The literature list includes books such as Farmer Boy, Freedom Crossing, and The Year of Miss Agnes.

Elementary Strengths

• Colorful presentation
• Shorter narrative lessons
• Strong American-history overview
• Songs, poems, and stories
• Literature integration
• Timeline work
• Minimal parent planning
• Christian worldview
• Suitable for siblings close in age

Elementary Weaknesses

• Still requires significant reading aloud
• Some young children may need more movement
• Student workbook is optional rather than fully integrated
• Historical complexity is naturally simplified
• Families may want more Indigenous and minority perspectives
• Literature and workbook increase the total cost

As a dad, I would not expect a first grader and fourth grader to complete identical written work.

The younger child could listen, narrate orally, color, and join the songs.

The older student could write short summaries, complete map work, and discuss more difficult questions.

America the Beautiful

America the Beautiful is generally used in upper elementary school and provides a more detailed American-history and geography experience.

It combines narrative history with:

• Geography
• Literature
• Creative assignments
• Primary sources
• Landmarks
• Biographies
• Maps
• Timeline work

This course may work particularly well for a child who has outgrown a simple picture-book history program but is not ready for the independent reading load of the middle-school sequence.

Notgrass Middle-School Review

The middle-school years are where Notgrass becomes particularly useful for families wanting greater student independence.

From Adam to Us

From Adam to Us is a one-year world-history and literature course for Grades 5–8.

The lessons are written in a narrative style and include:

• World history
• Geography
• Historical photographs
• Maps
• Primary sources
• Literature
• Timelines
• Hands-on activities
• Bible study

The course moves from biblical creation and ancient civilizations through modern history.

The complete bundle includes:

• The curriculum package
• Ten literature books
• A student workbook
• A lesson-review book

The bundle was listed at $246 in July 2026.

Middle-School Strengths

• Broad chronological world-history sequence
• Strong narrative style
• Student can work independently
• Literature is connected with history
• Geography is integrated
• Primary-source exposure
• Hands-on options
• Bible study
• Attractive photographs and maps

Middle-School Weaknesses

• Substantial daily reading
• Christian interpretation is central
• Full bundle is relatively expensive
• Some students may find workbook review repetitive
• Families may need broader non-Western perspectives
• Written assignments can accumulate quickly

I would not necessarily require both the student workbook and lesson-review book for every child.

A student who learns well through narration and discussion may not need every written review exercise.

A child who needs accountability and test preparation may benefit from using both.

Uncle Sam and You

Uncle Sam and You focuses on civics and government.

It can help middle-school students understand:

• Local government
• State government
• Federal government
• Citizenship
• Elections
• The Constitution
• Public service
• The responsibilities of citizens

This kind of course is valuable because government is often postponed until high school.

Children already encounter political claims, campaigns, laws, and civic arguments. They should understand the institutions being discussed.

Exploring World Geography

Notgrass also offers a middle-school world-geography course.

A strong geography curriculum should do more than ask students to memorize capitals.

Students should learn about:

• Physical geography
• Human geography
• Religion
• Culture
• Population
• Economics
• Government
• Historical development
• Regional differences

Parents should add current maps and demographic information when using any printed geography course because political boundaries and statistics change.

Notgrass High-School Review

Notgrass high-school courses are designed to become largely student directed.

They generally include 150 daily lessons, arranged as five lessons per week over 30 weeks.

The courses often combine history with literature, composition, and Bible.

Exploring America

Exploring America is a one-year high-school American-history course.

The fifth edition was published in 2026 and is not compatible with earlier editions. Its core package contains:

• Exploring America Part 1
• Exploring America Part 2
• American Voices, a collection of original documents, speeches, poems, stories, and hymns

The curriculum package costs $125. The complete bundle, including the literature package and student-review materials, costs $275.

The course can provide:

• One credit in American history
• One credit in English
• One credit in Bible

when completed as written.

The literature package contains 12 works of American literature.

Exploring America Strengths

• History, literature, and Bible integration
• Primary-source collection
• Clear independent schedule
• Three potential credits
• Physical books
• New 2026 edition
• Substantial writing and critical thinking
• Lower cost than purchasing three separate curricula

Exploring America Weaknesses

• Heavy workload when earning all three credits
• Students may read several sources each day
• Literature assignments need discussion
• Parent must evaluate essays
• Strong Christian and conservative framing
• Not every child needs every assignment
• New and old editions cannot be mixed

Parents should be realistic about the “three credits” claim.

The student only earns three credible credits if he completes sufficient work in all three areas.

Simply reading the history volumes does not automatically justify history, English, and Bible credits.

For English credit, I would expect:

• The assigned literature
• Composition
• Vocabulary
• Literary response
• Research or analytical writing
• Revision

For Bible credit, the student should complete the assigned readings and substantive study rather than treating them as optional extras.

Exploring World History

Exploring World History combines history, literature, Bible study, writing, and critical thinking.

The third edition is divided into two main volumes:

• Creation through the Middle Ages
• The Renaissance through the present

The first volume contains 75 lessons, making it the first semester of the 150-lesson course.

Like Exploring America, the complete course can potentially provide credits in:

• World history
• English
• Bible

The bundle includes the curriculum package, literature package, and student-review materials.

Exploring World History Strengths

• Full chronological overview
• Literature from historical periods
• Bible integration
• Primary sources
• Independent daily structure
• Three-credit potential
• Strong physical-book format
• Writing and critical-thinking assignments

Exploring World History Weaknesses

• Enormous chronological scope
• Some civilizations receive less attention
• Heavy reading load
• Christian interpretation may dominate some topics
• Literature list may need broader cultural representation
• Parents must grade writing
• Completing every component can create long school days

No one-year world-history curriculum can cover every civilization deeply.

I would add selected resources on:

• India
• China
• Africa
• Indigenous civilizations
• Islamic history
• Southeast Asia
• Latin America

depending on areas that receive limited treatment.

Exploring Government and Economics

Notgrass provides separate high-school government and economics courses.

These can help students understand:

• The Constitution
• The branches of government
• Federalism
• Elections
• Civil liberties
• Citizenship
• Markets
• Labor
• Money
• Banking
• Government economic policy
• Personal responsibility

Because these subjects involve disputed ideas, parents should encourage students to compare different schools of thought.

A Christian curriculum should help students reason morally and factually—not merely memorize the publisher’s preferred conclusions.

Notgrass Literature Review

Literature is an important part of many Notgrass courses.

The assigned novels, memoirs, biographies, plays, and historical works are chosen to help students encounter the era through individual lives.

This can make history more memorable.

A textbook may tell students that slavery divided families.

A novel or memoir can help them feel the human reality of that fact.

Literature Strengths

• Full-length books
• Historical context
• Emotional connection
• Reading is coordinated with lessons
• High-school English credit is possible
• Families receive a ready-made book list

Literature Weaknesses

• Some books may be difficult for reluctant readers
• Parent discussion is still needed
• Literary analysis may be lighter than in a specialized English course
• Book selection reflects the publisher’s worldview
• Additional writing instruction may be necessary
• Buying the entire package raises the price

For a strong high-school English course, I would add explicit instruction in:

• Thesis writing
• Paragraph structure
• Evidence
• Literary terminology
• Citation
• Revision
• Research methods

Notgrass schedules writing, but students who need detailed composition teaching may benefit from a separate writing program.

Primary Sources and Historical Documents

One of Notgrass History’s greatest strengths is its use of original material.

The high-school courses include sourcebooks containing:

• Speeches
• Letters
• Government documents
• Poems
• Hymns
• Stories
• Personal accounts
• Political writings

American Voices, included in the fifth-edition Exploring America package, contains original documents, speeches, poems, stories, and hymns connected with American history.

Primary sources help students see that history is constructed from evidence.

However, a source does not explain itself.

Students should ask:

• Who wrote it?
• Why was it created?
• Who was the intended audience?
• What information might be omitted?
• Is the author reliable?
• How does it compare with other accounts?
• What historical context is required?

Simply reading a famous speech is not the same as analyzing it.

How Much Parent Involvement Is Required?

Parent involvement varies by age.

Elementary School

Parents will generally:

• Read lessons aloud
• Discuss material
• Help with crafts
• Guide timeline work
• Read literature
• Check workbook pages

Middle School

Students can complete more work independently, but parents should:

• Discuss lessons
• Check review work
• Monitor reading
• Evaluate projects
• Help with difficult writing

High School

High-school students can usually follow the daily assignments independently.

Parents still need to:

• Grade essays
• Check quizzes and exams
• Monitor credit completion
• Discuss worldview and interpretation
• Maintain transcripts
• Ensure literature and Bible work are completed

Notgrass is relatively low preparation.

It is not zero involvement.

Notgrass History Pricing in 2026

Notgrass History prices vary according to grade, course, and whether the family buys the core curriculum or complete bundle.

Current Pricing Examples

The full From Adam to Us digital consumables package costs $46, but it does not include the primary narrative history volumes. Digital purchases are nonrefundable.

Hidden Costs

Families may also pay for:

• Additional student workbooks
• Consumable review books
• Literature
• Shipping
• Printing
• Art supplies
• Project materials
• Map and timeline materials
• Essay-grading support
• Audiobooks

Can Notgrass History Be Reused?

Most major books can be reused with younger siblings, including:

• Narrative history volumes
• Sourcebooks
• Literature
• Timeline books
• Maps
• Teacher answer keys

Families may need new copies of:

• Student workbooks
• Lesson-review books
• Quiz and exam books
• Other consumable materials

This can make the curriculum considerably more economical for larger families.

Is Notgrass History Accredited?

No.

Notgrass History is a curriculum publisher, not an accredited school.

The materials do not provide:

• School enrollment
• Official transcripts
• Institutional credits
• A diploma
• Teacher-issued grades
• Legal homeschool administration

Parents remain responsible for:

• Meeting homeschool law
• Assigning grades
• Keeping attendance
• Awarding high-school credit
• Creating transcripts
• Issuing a homeschool diploma where permitted

The publisher’s credit recommendations can help parents structure a high-school transcript, but the parent remains the school administrator.

Notgrass History Pros and Cons

Pros

• Explicit Christian worldview
• Narrative writing style
• Strong primary-source content
• Literature integration
• Bible study
• Geography and timelines
• Minimal parent preparation
• Attractive physical books
• Independent middle- and high-school structure
• Complete elementary-through-high-school sequence
• High-school courses can provide multiple credits
• Student-review materials available
• Reusable nonconsumable books
• Chronological organization
• Lower screen dependence

Cons

• Reading heavy
• Strong religious and political perspective
• Not accredited
• Parent must grade essays
• Complete bundles can be expensive
• Full three-credit high-school courses require substantial work
• Some students may find the narrative textbooks dry
• Limited video or interactive instruction
• Global perspectives may need supplementation
• Projects are optional enough to be easily skipped
• Literature analysis may need additional instruction
• Review questions can become repetitive

Notgrass History vs. Sonlight

Sonlight is more thoroughly literature driven.

Notgrass provides a clearer narrative-history spine and tends to be easier for older students to use independently.

Notgrass History vs. Abeka History

Abeka is more traditional and test driven.

Notgrass is more narrative, source based, and literature oriented.

Notgrass History vs. BookShark

BookShark offers a much larger library experience.

Notgrass is simpler, more affordable, and easier for an older student to manage independently.

Is Notgrass History Academically Rigorous?

It can be.

The rigor depends on which components the student completes.

A high-school course becomes academically substantial when the student completes:

• All narrative lessons
• Primary-source readings
• Assigned literature
• Essays
• Projects
• Bible study
• Quizzes
• Exams
• Research assignments

If the student only reads the textbook and skips the rest, the course becomes much lighter.

Parents should not confuse a thick book with rigor.

Real rigor includes:

• Understanding
• Evidence
• Writing
• Analysis
• Comparison
• Discussion
• Retention

Notgrass can support those goals, but the family must use the assignments seriously.

Is Notgrass History Politically Biased?

Notgrass History teaches from an explicitly Christian viewpoint, and its courses inevitably reflect the authors’ values and interpretations.

No history curriculum is completely neutral.

Authors decide:

• Which events to include
• Which people to emphasize
• Which documents to quote
• Which causes matter
• Which actions deserve praise or criticism

Families should evaluate whether the course:

• Distinguishes fact from interpretation
• Represents opponents accurately
• Uses credible evidence
• Acknowledges national failures
• Gives sufficient voice to minority experiences
• Avoids treating patriotism as historical proof
• Encourages genuine moral analysis

I would add books and sources representing different perspectives, not because Christianity must be removed, but because students should learn to test arguments rather than merely inherit them.

Is Notgrass History Good for ADHD, Dyslexia, or Reluctant Readers?

The answer depends on the child.

Potential Advantages

• Predictable daily structure
• Color photographs
• Narrative writing
• Shorter individual lessons
• Audiobooks or parent reading can be added
• Literature gives variety
• Optional creative assignments

Potential Difficulties

• Large amount of reading
• Long high-school lessons
• Several simultaneous books
• Written review questions
• Essays
• Limited built-in video teaching

For dyslexia, families can use:

• Audiobooks
• Text-to-speech
• Shared reading
• Oral narration
• Reduced copying
• A separate writing accommodation

For ADHD, parents can:

• Divide lessons
• Use a checklist
• Alternate reading and map work
• Complete some questions orally
• Add movement
• Use more projects

A reluctant reader may prefer a video-based history program such as Compass Classroom or BJU Press Online.

Who Should Use Notgrass History?

Notgrass is a strong fit for:

• Christian homeschool families
• Students who enjoy narrative history
• Strong readers
• Parents wanting minimal planning
• Families seeking integrated literature
• Middle- and high-school independent learners
• Parents wanting primary sources
• Students needing structured high-school credits
• Families preferring physical books
• Parents willing to discuss historical interpretation

Who Should Choose Another History Curriculum?

Another program may be better for:

• Secular families
• Children who strongly dislike reading
• Students needing daily video teachers
• Parents wanting automatic grading
• Families seeking an accredited school
• Children who learn mainly through projects
• Students requiring extensive special-education support
• Families wanting politically neutral presentation
• Parents who do not want Bible integrated with history
• Children overwhelmed by several books at once

Final Verdict: Is Notgrass History Worth It?

Notgrass History is worth considering because it provides a clear, organized way to combine several valuable elements:

• Narrative history
• Primary sources
• Literature
• Geography
• Bible
• Writing
• Timelines
• Independent study

As a homeschooling dad, I would be especially interested in the middle- and high-school programs.

They allow older students to take ownership of their work without forcing parents to build an entire history course from separate books and websites.

The high-school programs can also provide excellent value.

A complete Exploring America bundle costs $275 and can potentially support credits in American history, English, and Bible when the student completes the full program.

However, I would not use Notgrass passively.

I would:

• Discuss lessons regularly
• Add alternative perspectives
• Require thoughtful essays
• Use primary sources analytically
• Adapt repetitive review
• Add documentaries or museum resources
• Verify current geographic and political information
• Make sure literature is genuinely read and discussed

My final judgment is:

Notgrass History is one of the best Christian homeschool history curricula for families seeking narrative lessons, primary sources, literature, and independent study. Its middle- and high-school courses offer particularly strong value, but parents should supplement perspective, discussion, and writing instruction so that history becomes more than reading assignments followed by review questions.

Notgrass History Rating

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Notgrass History?

Notgrass History is a Christian homeschool curriculum publisher offering American history, world history, geography, government, economics, literature, and related social-studies courses for Grades 1–12.

Is Notgrass History a Complete Curriculum?

It is complete for history and may also cover literature, composition, Bible, and geography depending on the course. Families still need mathematics, science, and other subjects.

Is Notgrass History Christian?

Yes. The company’s materials are explicitly centered in God’s Word and integrate Christian belief, Scripture, church history, and moral discussion.

Is Notgrass History Accredited?

No. Notgrass is a curriculum publisher rather than a school. Parents remain responsible for grades, credits, transcripts, diplomas, and homeschool compliance.

How Much Does Notgrass History Cost?

Elementary packages typically cost around $95–$150. The From Adam to Us middle-school bundle costs $246, while the complete fifth-edition Exploring America high-school bundle costs $275.

Can Exploring America Provide Three Credits?

Yes. Notgrass states that students who complete the course as written can earn one credit each in American history, English, and Bible. Parents should make sure the student completes the corresponding literature, writing, and Bible assignments.

What Is New in Exploring America Fifth Edition?

The fifth edition was published in 2026. It includes two narrative volumes and the American Voices primary-source collection. Its components are not compatible with earlier editions.

Is Notgrass History Good for Independent Learners?

Yes. Middle- and high-school courses are written so students can generally follow the daily assignments independently, although parents still need to grade, discuss, and monitor progress.

Does Notgrass Include Literature?

Yes. Many courses have coordinated literature packages. Our Star-Spangled Story assigns eight books, From Adam to Us assigns ten, and the fifth-edition Exploring America literature package contains 12 works.

Is Notgrass History Good for High School?

Yes. Its high-school courses provide structured lessons, primary sources, literature, writing, Bible study, quizzes, exams, and suggested credit values. They are especially useful for independent Christian homeschool students.