critical thinking curriculum homeschool

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Featured Critical Thinking & Logic Resource

The Bluedorn family, longtime promoters of Christian classical education, encountered content problems in most critical thinking and logic resources. So the Bluedorn brothers, Nathaniel and Hans, put their heads together and came up with this excellent introduction to practical logic from their conservative Christian homeschoolers’ perspective.

Read full review for The Fallacy Detective

Popular Reviews: Critical Thinking & Logic

Note: Publishers, authors, and service providers never pay to be reviewed. They do provide free review copies or online access to programs for review purposes.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guidelines Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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Critical Thinking Skills for Homeschoolers

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Critical thinking means evaluating an issue to form a judgment about it. A simple definition would be: thinking about the thinking behind something.  Critical Thinking means challenging assumptions, those of other people and those in your own mind.

Critical Thinking for Homeschoolers

It’s important to equip homeschoolers with the observational and critical thinking skills that will make them great thinkers because these skills will serve them in all arenas for the rest of their lives.

Sure, some academic learning requires the memorization of facts that must simply be spit back to prove mastery of the material. But many subjects like literature, history, science, and social sciences are exciting places to instead focus on the art and skill of critical thinking.

What is critical thinking?

The definition of critical thinking is: the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue or of information in order to form a judgment.

Critical thinking skills are so very important for homeschool high schoolers! They had some good role models in the past:

Socrates was a Greek philosopher who loved conversation with his students.  His idea of good teaching was to encourage his students to think for themselves rather than to simply repeat back what they had heard from him or any other teacher.  He would ask them questions, and more questions, and more questions, until they would come to a wise conclusion. Sounds like a good approach to me!

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin tried to help young America to develop critical thinking skills. He famously wrote: “It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority.”

Poor questions lead to poor critical thinking but good questions lead to good critical thinking

Counter-culture leader Timothy Leary later completely misused that idea in the late 1960’s in the United States. A Harvard professor, he questioned authority all the time while encouraging his students to experiment with drugs like LSD. Made sense to him but proved to be faulty critical thinking.

However, going back to Socrates, he probably provided the richest, most intelligent application of the healthy way of questioning authority a couple thousand years ago. It was the questioning leading to wisdom that made his questioning good. Questions that lead to wisdom are good questions that develop critical thinking for homeschoolers even today.

Give your teens an introduction to critical thinking with Socrates with  7Sisters literature study guide to accompany Books I and II of Plato’s Republic . Plato was a student of Socrates, and it is from his ancient writings that we have the most information about this wise and influential teacher. 

7Sisters Literature Study Guide for Plato’s Republic follows our no-busywork format. Like all our user-friendly guides, instead of attempting to examine every element of a book, Plato’s Republic study guide chooses a couple of respected literary devices and use them as a focal point of study (in this case:

• expository writing
• delves into the philosophical ideas debated
• evaluates Socratic method of instruction by dialogue

These lead to critical thinking skills development.

Like all our guides, The Republic of Plato contains information that makes it easy to adapt for use for teens with varying interests, abilities and needs:

• Average High School
• College Prep or
• Honors level

This product downloads as two separate PDF files. One file is intended for student use. This document contains fillable fields so students can type their answers directly into the guide. The other document is the answer key, intended for the parent.

Godly critical thinking for homeschoolers

I remember seeing graffiti once that said, “Question Authority.” Underneath, some other person with no respect for bathroom walls had written, “What will you do if Authority answers?” As a Christian, I want my children to grow up questioning authority in an appropriate way.  Before you decide I’m a heretic who is raising a generation of heretics, allow me to explain.

God loves conversation.  He is not made uncomfortable by questions. Over and over again in the Bible we see people who were eager to follow after God who dared to ask Him questions.  Our limited human minds, muddled by sin, lack the perfect understanding to always understand God’s wisdom.  God invites, even encourages us to question Him when we do not understand.  That questioning must be done in an attitude of humility, because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but it is not a sign of weak faith when we question Him because we TRULY DESIRE to hear His answer.

There are many earthly authorities, and none of them are right in EVERYthing they are saying.  My children are growing up with the internet.  Things that are published on the internet appear to speak with authority. They need the ability to discern truth from error regardless of the tone of authority in which something may be asserted.

By helping my students to observe and think critically about

• the literature they are reading
• the historical accounts they are studying
• the current events they are observing
• the scientific research they are examining

I can be much less afraid that their minds will be ruined by exposure to something contrary to God’s word.  As students grow in wisdom and approach adulthood, I can equip them for thinking critically about the many words that will be spoken to them with authority, genuine or feigned.

And as far as the bathroom graffiti goes, doesn’t it stand to reason that students who question authority in an appropriate manner will RECOGNIZE and RESPECT it when true Authority answers?  God loves to reveal truth to those who seek Him!

For a World History e-text full of encouragement for critical thinking, take a look at History and Philosophy of the Western World. This was my youngest son’s favorite History course in high school. Great stuff! Follow up the next year with Philosophy in 4 Questions (the basic how-to’s of philosophy for beginnings, believe it or not, this text makes it FUN). 

Want to get started with critical thinking for your homeschoolers? Read this fun post about textbook errors from our friend, Susan at The Sparrow’s Home.

Now you can start critical thinking for your homeschoolers! They will be better prepared for life!

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Sabrina Justison

Well, bless your heart. What we always say is: There’s not ONE right way to homeschool.

Some interesting explanations Too much emphasis on the socrates/plato foundation for learning

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Mastery-Based Homeschool Curriculum Programs and Packages

• January 4, 2023
• Homeschool Curriculum & Reviews

Homeschooling is becoming an increasingly popular option for families looking to provide their children with a quality education. For those who prefer a mastery-based approach, there are plenty of curriculum options that make it easier than ever to customize the learning experience. This article will provide an overview of 10 mastery-based homeschool curriculum options and outline their features, benefits, and drawbacks.

I hope you enjoy reading this blog post. If you want to do my course on how to homeschool, click here .

Affiliate links are used in this article. 

Let’s dive into it!

What is a Mastery Curriculum?

A mastery-based homeschool curriculum is an educational approach that focuses on students progressing through subject material at their own pace , with mastery of foundational skills being essential before advancing.

This type of curriculum offers students an opportunity to build a comprehensive understanding of topics and foster self-motivated learning habits .

It emphasizes customized instruction and the completion of material in line with individual capabilities and goals.

Is a Mastery-Based Homeschool Curricula the Same as a Self-Paced Homeschool Curriculum?

Yes, a self-paced curriculum is pretty much same as a mastery-based curriculum. Self-paced learning is used to help students master concepts in a mastery-based course.

A mastery-based curriculum contrasts with a spiral curriculum that uses a stepped approach to learning where a student circles back to a topic but keeps moving at the same pace as others in the class.

Each learning method has its pros and cons.

Spiral vs Mastery-Based Learning

Spiral learning is a method of instruction where a teacher introduces new concepts and then reviews them regularly as the student progresses, building on the previously learned material.

Mastery-based learning is an approach to teaching in which students must demonstrate their understanding of a concept before progressing to the next one.

Both spiral and mastery-based learning have various advantages for educators and learners.

The spiral approach allows for greater flexibility for teachers, providing the opportunity to review topics when needed or offer additional support if necessary.

It also helps keep lessons interesting by introducing new content regularly.

Mastery-based learning requires students to understand concepts thoroughly before they can successfully move onto more complex ideas, ensuring that they truly master what they learn rather than simply memorizing it temporarily.

You can learn more about spiral vs mastery-based learning here .

BEST Mastery-Based Homeschool Curriculum Programs and Packages

Look closely at some student-led homeschool curriculum options that might suit you below.

The Apologia curriculum is a Christian-based learning program designed to help students explore the world through education and faith.

The curriculum is based on the philosophy that all knowledge comes from God, and it emphasizes scientific exploration, Biblical truths, and hands-on activities to bring learning to life.

This Mastery-based homeschool curriculum provides comprehensive materials for elementary through high school, as well as college-level courses in science and math.

Parents can choose between traditional textbooks or digital versions of the same content, allowing them to tailor their instruction to their children’s specific needs.

The curriculum consists of modules that allow for flexibility in creating a customized plan for each student’s unique journey into higher learning.

Apologia also has a mastery math curriculum alongside their science subjects.

Check out Apologia more here .

Compass Classroom

The Compass Classroom is an online Mastery-based homeschool curriculum that is self-paced. The program teaches using a very strong classical flavor, running students through a solid Latin curriculum while also teaching using traditional trivium learning methods.

But, this program also includes a vibrant social life active through My Compass Classroom, a chat forum for parents and children taking this classical course.

Although the program is primarily classical, it also has a dash of Charlotte Mason influence which emerges in their how-to homeschool courses.

Compass Classroom has world-famous presenters like R.C. Sproul. The courses are very entertaining, and parents can do them with their children (I sit down with my kids and learn Latin with them as I find the program so entertaining!)

Compass Classroom is a very affordable program and can be used for the whole family! Check them out here .

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a secular homeschool curriculum that’s entirely free . Featuring a tracking tool and lots of engaging video lessons , it seems like the perfect mastery homeschool curriculum.

But, this program, while useful, is only recommended (by the company itself) to be used as a homeschool resource and a supplement for complete programs .

This is because it has large gaps in content. It’s also not accredited, so for parents wanting accreditation, this wouldn’t be for them.

For most homeschool parents, though, this won’t matter.

And that’s because it’s completely acceptable and legal to make your own homeschool transcript as the reigning principal in your educational institution.

Colleges accept transcripts parents have written. Read more about that here .

Generations Homeschool Curriculum

Generations Homeschool Curriculum emerges as one of the top contenders for the best curriculum for Mastery-based homeschool learning.

With its resolute dedication to cultivating a biblical worldview across all subjects , Generations helps students to master concepts and skills while fostering a deep understanding of how their faith intersects with their studies .

This curriculum embraces the principles of Mastery-based learning, encouraging students to progress at their own pace and ensuring they grasp each topic thoroughly before moving on.

Through hands-on activities and real-world applications, Generations ignites a genuine passion for learning, allowing students to achieve mastery in their studies .

Moreover, the curriculum’s affordability makes it an ideal choice for families seeking a high-quality , Mastery-based homeschool program that won’t break the bank.

At prices ranging from $150 to $250 for a mailable homeschool curriculum , Generations Homeschool Curriculum offers an exceptional value proposition, making it an excellent fit for families committed to Mastery-based learning and a faith-based education.

Check out a Generations homeschool curriculum review here .

All About Learning Press

All About Learning Press is a great option for homeschooling during the elementary years, providing reading and spelling programs focusing on mastery-based learning.

Their approach is designed to teach one concept at a time , making it easier for students to understand and retain information.

With just 20 minutes of daily teaching , the curriculum ensures focused learning without overwhelming students.

It incorporates engaging activities and uses multiple senses to enhance the learning experience .

The lessons are clear and direct, leaving no room for confusion. The curriculum follows a logical sequence, building upon previous knowledge and boosting students’ confidence .

Check Out All About Learning Press here .

The ACE Paces Homeschool Curriculum is an award-winning, student-led homeschool program to help students reach their academic goals. This popular curriculum allows parents to provide a quality Christian education for their children at home.

With the ACE Paces homeschool curriculum, students can take control of their own learning with an organized system that provides structure and support.

Each PACE (Packets of Accelerated Christian Education ) contains a workbook, answer booklet, tests, and other activities that make up one subject area of the curriculum. Parents can use these materials to create a custom learning experience tailored to the needs of each student.

Using this method, students work through the material at their own pace and receive recognition for mastery when they complete each level successfully.

The goal is to ensure that all learners are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in future studies.

ACE Paces is a cheap homeschool curriculum , so won’t hit the bank balance too hard! Check them out here .

Schoolhouse Teachers

Schoolhouse Teachers can be used as a Mastery-based homeschool curriculum.

This program offers you a HUGE range of electives alongside their open-and-go traditional school boxes.

If you want to use different homeschool methods, you can check out their Charlotte Mason, Classical, and Unit Studies Centers.

They offer you ALL grades for ALL children in your family for ONE price.

You can check out this amazing program (that I use with my own family) here .

How to Get This Curriculum for $1

If you want to try this curriculum but don’t want to commit until you know it’s right for you, you can try Schoolhouse Teachers for $1 by using the code ONEDOLLAR here . 

The LifePac homeschool curriculum is a Mastery-based, Christian-based program that has been helping homeschooling families since 1978.

LifePac, produced by Alpha Omega Publications, offers parents an array of educational choices and learning materials, including workbooks, tests, and teacher guides.

The curriculum is designed to meet the individual needs of each student, offering flexibility and customized plans of study.

LifePac allows students to progress at their own pace while still adhering to state guidelines for academic standards.

Each unit includes 10 or 11 workbooks which can be completed in 2 to 4 weeks depending on the student’s ability level and how much time they devote to their studies.

Parents are encouraged to use the built-in testing system as well as weekly exams for additional assessment opportunities throughout the course of study.

You can check out Lifepac here (and maybe find it on special).

Masterbooks

Masterbooks Homeschool curriculum is an exciting Mastery-based homeschool program that provides students of all ages with engaging educational materials to help them learn.

The program, which loosely uses the Charlotte Mason homeschooling method, includes a wide range of subjects, including math, science, history, and language arts.

Each subject has been designed to be easy to understand and provides engaging lessons that promote critical thinking skills and problem-solving strategies.

Students are given the freedom to learn at their own pace and have access to detailed teacher’s notes which help guide their learning journey.

Masterbooks is a relatively easy homeschool curriculum and will be a big hit for families who love gentle learning through literature.

You can check out Masterbooks here (and maybe find it on special).

Ambleside Online

Ambleside Online is a free homeschooling curriculum that provides a Charlotte Mason education for students from kindergarten to grade twelve.

It was created with the belief that children should be taught by being exposed to a rich feast of ideas through literature, poetry, and music (which is a Charlotte Mason concept).

The curriculum emphasizes teaching through living books (educational storybooks) and books by great authors  instead of textbooks.

The curriculum includes all subjects taught in elementary school, including math, language arts, science, and history, and additional subjects such as Latin, art appreciation, and nature study. ( It’s important to understand that when we say the curriculum includes these programs, we must understand that the curriculum points to resources, some of which we have to buy and others of which are free .)

Every year students read and study several classic literary works from around the world with age-appropriate adaptations.

Ambleside Online has a schedule, but most people use this course fairly flexibly and make it into their own mastery-based homeschool curriculum.

Monarch Mastery-Based Curriculum

Monarch is a student-led, self-paced mastery-based homeschool curriculum for Grade 3-12.

This program, which Alpha Omega Publications produce , is delivered entirely online, meaning you can get the program straight away and do it without the use of paper and pencil.

Monarch is available on a monthly or annual subscription and can be a great choice if you want a program that is online and doesn’t require a lot of time in put from parents.

Mastery-Based Math Programs

Beast academy (mastery-based math program).

Beast Academy is an advanced Mastery homeschool math curriculum for children ages 7-13.

This award-winning program provides interactive learning experiences through bestial animations that are both fun and educational, making it the perfect choice for young learners who want to build strong problem-solving skills.

Developed by mathematicians at the University of Texas Austin, Beast Academy takes students on an exciting journey of mathematical discovery using comics, puzzles, and stories to promote critical thinking and logical reasoning.

The curriculum is divided into three levels – elementary (grades 2-4), middle school (grades 5-6) and upper school (grades 7-8). Each level helps kids develop fundamental concepts in arithmetic, algebra, geometry and more through engaging digital resources such as online games and animated videos. The content has been carefully crafted to ensure that kids can learn at their own pace while having fun along the way.

You can get this program as an online program or offline books .

The Math-U-See Curriculum is a mastery-based homeschool math curriculum that covers kindergarten through 12th grade.

It focuses on developing a deep understanding of fundamental concepts and skills before progressing to new topics.

Each level concentrates on specific skills while continuously reviewing and integrating concepts from previous levels. The curriculum employs various tools such as videos, manipulatives, and additional resources to cater to different learning styles and environments.

Students are encouraged to learn at their own pace, allowing for individualized instruction. The curriculum provides resources to meet individual learning needs, including supplemental practice and enrichment activities.

For placement, Math-U-See offers an interactive placement tool with yes/no questions and example problems to determine the proper level for each student. Classroom placement tests are also available to establish initial placement and support data-driven assessment and progress monitoring.

Singapore Math

Singapore Math is an approach to math education that has achieved widespread success in Singapore and continues to gain traction among educators around the world.

This method of teaching math places a greater emphasis on problem-solving, critical thinking, and real-world applications of mathematics.

Developed by the Singapore Ministry of Education in 1982, the Singapore Math curriculum has been adapted for use in many countries due to its focus on building strong foundational skills and helping students understand concepts rather than just memorizing formulas.

The Singapore Math approach uses concrete examples with visual tools such as diagrams or objects to help children understand mathematical problems before moving onto abstract equations. It also encourages students to explore various solutions instead of focusing on one correct answer.

You can check out this mastery homeschool math curriculum here .

Mastery-Based Reading Programs

There are also a mastery-based reading programs.

Comprendi Reading (by Dr. Marion)

Comprendi ™ emerges as a standout choice for mastery-based homeschooling, earning its place among the best curriculum picks.

Notably, the program is free until 20265 (then low-cost ) , offering an economically sound option for homeschooling families.

Tailored for mastery-based learning in grades 4-6, Comprendi™ uniquely blends engaging narratives, captivating graphics, and specialized instructional approaches.

Its distinctive NarrEx™ feature seamlessly integrates storytelling with complex information , promoting effective and enjoyable learning.

Whether you’re a newcomer to homeschooling or seeking to refine your mastery-based approach, Comprendi™ proves to be an invaluable and cost-effective selection for cultivating reading mastery.

Advantages of a Mastery-Based Homeschool Curriculum

Mastery-based homeschooling provides several advantages, giving parents and students more control over the learning experience and allowing them to customize their education based on individual needs .

First, with mastery-based homeschooling, the student can work at their own pace and adjust the level of difficulty depending on how quickly or slowly they master a lesson or topic.

This allows for a personalized approach to learning, where each student can focus on areas that are pertinent for their future plans, whether it be college preparation or career readiness.

Additionally, since mastering a subject is necessary before progressing further in the curriculum, this provides an extra layer of assurance that all material has been fully understood before moving forward.

Possible Disadvantages of a Mastery-Based Curriculum

While I love a mastery-based curriculum, some people think there are some drawbacks to this type of educational curriculum.

Firstly, implementing a mastery-based curriculum may require additional time and resources devoted to each student’s individual learning needs.

Secondly, sometimes, the focus is on understanding rather than memorizing or completing tasks (and this may be a drawback if you want it memorized as well as understood).

Therefore more effort must be put into creating lessons that meet this goal since they may contain more complex activities and require greater levels of engagement from students.

Finally, some students may find it challenging to keep up with the higher expectations set out by such an approach due to their individual academic capabilities or lack thereof.

In conclusion, mastery-based homeschool curriculum programs have much to offer families seeking to create a personalized learning experience for their children. With the right program, parents can ensure that their children are learning appropriately and mastering material before advancing. The list of programs provided here offers a great starting point for families looking into this type of homeschooling approach. It is essential to thoroughly research each program to find the one that best fits the needs of the student and family.

Rebecca Devitt

Most adults don't particularly want to relive their schooling experience on a daily basis. They would gladly move on to a new life devoid of homework and teachers. Very, very few adults will passionately blog about their schooling some 15 years after graduating. This makes Rebecca Devitt somewhat unique. As it happens, she was homeschooled. And she loved it. Still does. And she wishes every kid could get a taste of homeschooling at its very best. Her website How Do I Homeschool , is a springboard for parents to see what a life of homeschooling could be for both them & their children. When she's not blogging Rebecca is still homeschooling her-adult-self by learning Latin, growing weird vegetables and most importantly looking after her two children Luke & Penny. She has a husband Tristan and is a participant at Wollongong Baptist Church. She's also written a book about why parents should homeschool called 'Why on Earth Homeschool' .

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Critical Thinking Reviews

Resource description.

According to publisher’s materials, "Critical thinking is the identification and evaluation of evidence to guide decision making. A critical thinker uses broad in-depth analysis of evidence to make decisions and communicate his/her beliefs clearly and accurately." The resources are designed to help students develop analytical thinking processes. The various curricula including Grade Level Solutions in Math, Language Arts, Science and Reasoning sell for less than $40 each.

Website: Critical Thinking

( 7 Reviews )

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I would recommend for Preschool and first grade, especially.

We used Organizational Thinking in Elementary school. In junior high grades, we bought and used Riddle Spiders.

We bought a Science critical thinking book, but did not use. It was too involved a study for us with other curriculum we were using.

I have used several of their CDROM's as extra fun practice for my kids. I have not used them as a complete curriculum, only because we love what we are doing now 🙂 It has been a great add on to our current studies and my kids often ask for more.

It is hard for my children to stop working in these books and move on to other subjects. One page isn't enough. They really enjoy these.

My son has worked through most of the Critical Thinking, Book 1 and is ready to start Book 2. He uses these books in conjunction with an online class. Looking them over, it would be difficult to use with one student. The class discussion he does is highly valuable and with one student and one teacher, would be lost.

He is learning a great deal about propoganda, reasoning techniques, and how to think through ideas logically. He really enjoys the challenge of identifying different theories in what he reads and hears both in the book, and in real life, mostly with TV commericals and info-mercials. By the time he completes the second book, he will have a very good handle on the subject which will carry him through high school and beyond.

One of my biggest goals is to teach my children to think. These books are great for that. You can get the best value if you put them in clear protective pockets to reuse over and over. We recently installed the Word Builder CD rom. It is great for vocabulary skills.

My preschooler loves it! My 3rd grader has been using the program since preschool and thinks it's great. He does the core books for school and other books for fun (they are on his Christmas list). This is my 7th graders first year homeschooling and she hates the program. She says she just doesn't get it and it is a struggle for her. I don't know if it because it is her first year with critical thinking or the program.

These are addicting. My children can't do just one page; they love to keep working in these books. The younger children look at them like fun activity books, while the older ones look at them like mysteries to solve.

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Homeschool Hacks: How to Incorporate Critical Thinking Skills in your Curriculum

February 27, 2018 by Evan-Moor | 1 Comment

Critical thinking is an essential life skill, and Evan-Moor has created an engaging resource to help kids practice thinking skills.

If you have read my previous post on the Skill Sharpeners series , you know there are many benefits to using the Skill Sharpeners series in your homeschooling.

What we like about Skill Sharpeners: Critical Thinking :

• The full-color pages are bright and cheerful, which instantly draws in kids’ attention.
• Each unit is based on a high-interest topic for kids.
• The activities are based on a variety of subject areas (reading, math, writing, science, art, etc.).
• There are several types of thinking skills used in the activities, so the kids stay engaged (see specifics below).
• Each unit in Skill Sharpeners: Critical Thinking has a great balance of sharing some new information and inviting kids to use critical thinking skills in the activities.
• There is an answer key for each unit.
• No prep required!!

• Each unit begins with a checklist, so you and your child can decide and track which activities your child should complete.
• Reading activities to learn how to visualize, describe, give your opinion, rank, predict, and compute
• Writing activities to explain, justify, compose, infer, deduce, and determine
• Drawing activities to illustrate, show, and describe
• Math word problems to analyze, plan, solve, and specify
• Puzzles to practice the ability to rearrange, reconstruct, diagram, and specify
• Themed activities to classify and create
• Graphs to analyze, infer, compute, and compare
• Art activities to plan, create, illustrate, and show

My kids really enjoy the Skill Sharpeners: Critical Thinking units. I recently asked my daughter to preview one of the units for next week. I came back 5 minutes later, and she had already completed two pages! She just couldn’t help but jump right in.

How will you use Skill Sharpeners: Critical Thinking in your homeschooling?

For more ideas on using Skill Sharpeners: Critical Thinking in your homeschooling, see my post 7 Ways to Use Skill Sharpener Activity Books .

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Critical Thinking and Logic in Your Homeschool

Critical thinking and logic aren’t quite the same things, although we often treat them as if they are. They are related. Think of how correlation and causation are related. Don’t run away in fear; this isn’t too academic although I could totally nerd out on this stuff.

Critical thinking hinges around questioning information and data. Logic is more of the art (or science) of reasoning. Logic is used to evaluate the answers to the questions you asked.

In science, we talk about evidence-based protocols. The evidence is evaluated through a lens of reasoning. You’ve probably come across terms like deductive and inductive reasoning before. (Maybe on Baker Street- for you Sherlock Holmes fans) In fact, there is a whole area of science education focused on the claim-evidence-reasoning cycle.

Basically, when we are trying to build critical thinking skills, we are doing it by building our kids’ logic muscles.

Just to let you know, this post may contain affiliate links.

Help Kids Become Better Critical Thinkers

So…this depends on age. What we expect of a 5-year-old and what we expect of a 10-year-old are going to be quite different. The same is true for all of the stages. One thing to keep in mind is that many of the skills we think of as essential to critical thinking don’t fully develop until a person is in their early to mid-twenties.

This is also a reason that having mixed ages groups, like our typical homeschool families and groups, can be so beneficial. Younger kids are always seeing how older kids are reasoning out bigger problems and can begin to mirror that back at relatively young ages. If you’ve ever had your child repeat something you wished they hadn’t, you know all too well about the ability of little kids to mimic.

So, with that being said, the best way to create critical thinkers is to create an atmosphere that supports problem-solving. This can be done organically with chores around the house, in our academic lessons, and in various games that use strategy as a central component.

Critical Thinking and Logic Around the House

Chores always seem to create a perfect environment for the creation of problems. It doesn’t matter how many chore lists and job charts you make, a problem can always be created, I mean found . Our go-to in these numerous situations with four kids is, figure it out . Emphasis intended.

It is easy to see problems. That is the first step, but now we ask our kids to figure out solutions. You can’t reach it? Get a stool. You don’t know where it goes? Create a basket or pile and put things that you don’t know where they go there while you continue to do everything else. Toilet clogged? Well, that is a different thing, but you see the point.

Evaluating and problem-solving are essential to the development of critical thinking and logic skills.

Academic Lessons & Critical Thinking

Everyone loves a good mystery. It can turn boring academic lessons into something exciting, and when our brains are excited we are learning more. Win=Win. I like to include both logic puzzles and academic escape rooms in our homeschool. Leading questions can even start the ball rolling. Remember again to keep the kids’ ages in mind. Logic is a skill that develops over time to create strong critical thinkers.

Critical Thinking Games

We are a game household and immediately began embracing gameplay to help strengthen the executive function and critical thinking skills of our family. Our favorites include games like Sherlock, Ticket to Ride (they have Junior and Older editions), Forbidden Island (cooperative, yes), and Catan. All of these games include components of metacognition (thinking about thinking) that help build that logic muscle. 

How do you increase critical thinking and logic in your kids? Share with us below! We’d love to know what you do!

About the author

Kim is writer and owner of The Learning Hypothesis.  She is a “retired” professor and K-12 educator that now homeschools her own children.  She has a passion for the sciences and wants to help ignite that passion in kids.  Her goal is to provide support to parents, teachers, homeschoolers, and community educators so that they can create enriching and engaging science experiences. 

Related Posts @media (min-width: 300px){.tve-theme-28930 .content-section [data-css="tve-u-178215a38ea"].tcb-post-list #post-30115 [data-css="tve-u-178215a38f0"]{background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(0, 143, 255, 0.08), rgba(0, 143, 255, 0.08)), url("https://assets.ihomeschoolnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/24101441/How-to-Supplement-Your-Homeschool-to-Keep-it-Interesting-Ftr.jpg") !important;}.tve-theme-28930 .content-section [data-css="tve-u-178215a38ea"].tcb-post-list #post-30115 [data-css="tve-u-178215a38ef"]:hover [data-css="tve-u-178215a38f0"]{background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(0, 143, 255, 0.08), rgba(0, 143, 255, 0.08)), url("https://assets.ihomeschoolnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/24101441/How-to-Supplement-Your-Homeschool-to-Keep-it-Interesting-Ftr.jpg") !important;}} 5 Ways to Supplement Your Homeschooling to Keep Things Interesting

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Teaching Critical Thinking Skills In Your Homeschool: Logic Made Easy

How can we foster critical thinking at home? Teaching critical thinking skills in your homeschool can be a lot of fun! Teaching logic to our homeschoolers is important because it’s the best way we can help our kids learn to be problem-solvers who make sound judgments.

Critical thinking skills don’t come naturally, but I’ll admit that adding another thing to our homeschool day wasn’t appealing to me in the beginning. Thankfully, there are lots of quick and fun ways to incorporate logic and build critical thinking skills with your homeschoolers.

Check out all our favorite critical thinking resources, games, and activities to get some great ideas for your homeschoolers. These fun activities will make it easy to practice logic in your homeschool this year.

Can Critical Thinking Skills Be Taught?

Being able to think critically is a skill that I assumed just came naturally. It definitely does not come naturally though. It is a skill that needs to be exercised, frequently.

Teaching our homeschoolers to use logic will help them to develop critical thinking skills they can depend on throughout life. Critical thinking skills help us to solve problems and make good decisions.

You can teach critical thinking skills in your homeschool in all sorts of creative ways. We like to use games to help sharpen our critical thinking skills here at the Waldock Way. Believe it or not, video games are great for teaching logic too.

Video games present players with complex problems and a variety of outcomes. Solving these on-screen dilemmas helps kids learn to formulate solutions, consider viable alternatives, and make good decisions.

How We Foster Critical Thinking At Home

There are lots of ways we can help foster critical thinking at home with our family. Playing games is a fun way to learn all sorts of things and logic is no different. You can read more about how we use gameschooling for other subjects in our Guide to Gameschooling .

You can foster critical thinking in your homeschool in all kinds of ways! Check out some of my favorite simple ways to teach logic at home:

Debate Everything

If your kids love to argue, channel that energy into teaching them how to debate effectively. Debate helps homeschoolers look at alternate explanations and outcomes. Plus, it’s an excellent way to develop communication skills.

Read Diverse Material

Another way to help kids learn to consider lots of possibilities is to provide them with lots of diverse reading material. Look for books from different perspectives. Twisted Fairytales , classic fairytales written from the villain’s perspective, are a great way to do this with elementary homeschoolers. 

Learn From Everything

As homeschoolers, we naturally seek out learning opportunities in every scenario. Helping our kids see that learning is a mindset is an important first step to teaching them to approach things critically. 

We can learn from time spent in nature, great conversations, fun games, and observing the world around us. Teach your homeschoolers to consider what they see and experience and provide supporting evidence for their claims.

Playing games is one of our favorite ways to learn everything! We love learning through games and discovering ThinkFun games was a lifesaver for us.

Develop Critical Thinking Skills With Games

ThinkFun is the world’s leader in addictively fun games that stretch and sharpen your mind. They have a large variety of games but some of our absolute favorites for logic are the single-player games because Emily can play them independently. When you’re homeschooling an only child , independent activities are really important.

I can leave a ThinkFun game out for Emily to play alone or we can take turns playing the game. It’s fun to challenge each other to “level up” each time we play. We call it leveling up because the cards are labeled from easiest to hardest. 

Adding these games to our homeschool days has been such an easy way to incorporate logic lessons and build critical thinking skills. We don’t play them every day, but I try to make sure we are playing one of them once or twice each week. Check out our favorites:

Hoppers – Hoppers is a peg solitaire jumping game – set the frogs on the pond, then jump frogs until only one is left standing.

Shape by Shape – Shape By Shape is an advanced tangram-style pattern game, made more difficult because you also fill in the frame around each shape you make.

IZZI – This pattern matching puzzle consists of 64 square tiles, each printed with a black and white geometric pattern. Your goal is to assemble the tiles into an 8×8 square following the IZZI rule: In order to place two tiles adjacent to one another, their colored edges must match up precisely.

Rush Hour – You have to battle the gridlock as you slide the blocking vehicles out of the way for the red car to exit. For younger children, there is Rush Hour Jr. and for older children who finish the included challenges, you can buy additional challenge cards .

Gravity Maze – Gravity Maze is a gravity-powered logic maze game that builds reasoning skills and visual perception. Dropping the marble and watching it go through the maze successfully is so satisfying.

Laser Maze – Laser Maze requires you to use mirrors, beam-splitters, a little science, and brainpower to direct the laser through a series of mind-challenging mazes and light up the target.

Roller Coaster Challenge – With this game, you get to build your very own roller coaster. Choose a challenge card and set up the beginning pieces, then add the missing ones to complete the coaster.

Balance Beans – Balance Beans is a logic game and math game all in one. Set up the Red Beans according to the Challenge Card. Then carefully place the colorful Beans on the Seesaw to keep it from teetering.

Cat or Dog Crimes – Use your problem-solving skills to figure out where each animal was at the time of the crime. These games are equally amazing and the gameplay is very similar. I suggest buying based on which you like more cats or dogs.

Chocolate Fix – Using the clues, fill the tray with all nine chocolate pieces in their correct positions. Similar to Sudoku, you must examine all clues on the challenge card before making a move.

ThinkFun also has fun downloadable logic games and brainteasers that you can use in your homeschool today for free. How do you teach logic in your homeschool? 

Share your favorite ways to build critical thinking skills at home in the comments. I can’t wait to read them!

Related Blog Posts:

• Homeschool Strewing Made Me A Better Mom
• The Best Single Player Games for Your Homeschool
• A Simple Homeschool Challenge: A Book + A Game Each Day Of The Month

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We love these types of games! Before our little was born they were recommended to me for brain injury recover to help rebuild some of those vital logic skills! We really do appreciate what they can do for your mind!

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Out of This World Homeschool Logic

I’m a big believer in homeschool logic and critical thinking here at Our Journey Westward. It’s been such a fun and important addition to our homeschool!

When I come across new (to me) resources that are really good, I love sharing them with you. Finding logic and critical thinking resources isn’t as easy as finding curricula for the more typical homeschooling subjects. And sadly, not all logic activities are worth the money. The series I’m sharing with you today is definitely worth the money!

This post contains affiliate links.

Homeschool Logic is More Than Matrix Puzzles

In many instances, the homeschool logic materials my family enjoys the most are full of matrix puzzles. Matrix puzzles are challenging and require lots of exciting concentration. While they ARE awesome tools for logic, there is more to logic and critical thinking than just matrix puzzles.

Other logic and critical thinking skills include:

• Sequences order things.
• Analogies make relationship comparisons.
• Logical Notation uses symbols to represent variables.
• Truth Values determine the truth of logical thoughts.
• Logic Diagrams use pictures to determine logical conclusions.
• Syllogisms are a series of statements that form an argument and draw a reasonable conclusion.
• Deductions make determinations based on clues. (Matrix puzzles fit into this category.)
• Inferences draw conclusions based on evidence and reasoning.
• Illogical Reasoning leads to fallacies, otherwise known as poor reasoning.

Each of these logical skills not only stretches the brain but enhances critical thinking in all areas of life. Not to mention, mastery of logical skills can specifically improve performance in subjects like math, science, and reading comprehension!

Homeschool Logic That’s Out of This World

All of this may sound complex, but it doesn’t have to be! In fact, you can practice all the logic skills above easily with children as young as 3rd grade! How? By using an “out-of-this-world” serie s by Bonnie Risby that includes three titles:

Logic Countdown

Logic Liftoff

Orbiting with Logic

Logic Countdown is for 3rd and 4th graders, Logic Liftoff is for 4th through 6th graders, and Orbiting with Logic is for 5th through 7th graders. Each book practices the various types of logic in several quick worksheet activities. 

While the workbooks build upon each other, it isn’t necessary to start with Logic Countdown if your child is already older. However, there is no harm in starting with Logic Countdown no matter how old your children are.

Logic Worksheets for Kids

Take a peek at the jam-packed, but not overwhelming worksheets. They keep the attention of my kids! Each book contains at least 50 worksheets and an answer key. We typically complete between one and three worksheets per lesson.

I’m not always a fan of worksheets, but these are worthwhile. They include clear directions and meaningful activities that train children to think logically in everything from sequencing and analogies to deductions and inferences. They are challenging, but engaging – the perfect combination.

Are you looking for more logic and critical thinking ideas?

Products You Might Like

Hi! Thanks for sharing this series, and your favorite logic resources as well. I will be looking into these soon. Would you say these are your preferred over the other ones?? I would like to try them all, but I don’t think we would be able to so I’ll need to pick and choose. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again!

GC, they are really good and are my top choice for the logical skills I mentioned. Really, they are some of the only books for elementary and middle school ages I’ve found to even include those skills. If you’re looking for logic matrix puzzles, my top pick is the Mind Benders series. If you could afford one book of each series, that would probably be best.

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CTC: Novel Thinking

Seamlessly add your Novel Thinking curriculum from The Critical Thinking Company to your homeschool schedule with these lesson plans for use with your Homeschool Planet subscription. Novel Thinking curriculum helps students actively engage in the reading process by focusing on those skills that lead to better comprehension, higher test scores, and a greater love of reading. The engaging chapter-by-chapter activities focus on true comprehension—not just word searches that measure surface comprehension

• What You Get

What You Get:

• The publisher-recommended course of study
• 1 school year lesson plan, covering all the assignments for your Novel Thinking curriculum.
• Checkboxes for your students to check off as they complete their assignments, providing them with a sense of accomplishment and a permanent record of their achievement.
• Novel Thinking Lesson Plan Bundle includes all 5 lesson plans!
• Automatic lesson plan updates as needed, with enhancements, link updates, etc. Note: You decide whether to apply the updates.

Please note: Curriculum is not included with your lesson plan and should be purchased separately. Select the "More Info" link located in each lesson plan option below for a description of the curriculum and an affiliate link to purchase the curriculum. These lesson plans are subject to copyright laws and cannot be used beyond those in your household. By “household” we mean a person or persons sharing the same single family housing unit such as a home, apartment, mobile home or condominium. You may reach us with any questions at [email protected] .

• Automatic rescheduling of assignments when “life happens”
• “Daily Digest” email reminders to help you and your child stay on track
• Grade your student’s work to recognize or reward completion.
• Track attendance for states where this is required.
• Generate reports, reminders, and much more!

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Are Your Kids Exceeding State And Federal Standards?

Homeschool Curriculum

May 16, 2005, by The Critical Thinking Co. Staff

Homeschooling has become an increasingly popular option for parents as the public school system in the US has steadily declined. Though someday--hopefully--that downward trend will be reversed, parents needing immediate results often turn to homeschooling rather than paying expensive, private school tuition. These parents then come up against the problem facing professional educators, making certain that students meet or exceed state and federal standards.

The Critical Thinking Co. provides both core-curriculum and supplemental homeschool solutions that meet federally mandated standards as well as many state standards. The Critical Thinking Co. books and software go even further, though, to produce students who perform beyond what the government expects through curricula that focus on critical thinking, reasoning, and problem solving in all subjects.

Logic and reasoning obviously apply to math and science, but their application to other subjects like history, language, and social studies is just as important. The Critical Thinking Co. products teach children the facts and fundamentals, but they also encourage students to ask questions and to formulate answers based on those fundamentals. Whether for a Pre-K head start or for college preparation, The Critical Thinking Co. helps students learn to think for themselves.

The Critical Thinking Co. has been producing products and curricula for homeschool and gifted programs for 50 years. Unlike many other products, The Critical Thinking Co. guarantees better grades or your money back.

• Homeschool Den

Making Homeschooling Hands-On, Engaging, Meaningful & Memorable! Be inspired by all the possibilities!! Check out our unit studies, packets and printables!

Category: Critical Thinking Activities

• Critical Thinking Activities

March 5, 2019

 by Liesl - Homeschool Den · Published March 5, 2019 · Last modified March 3, 2021

Creative Thinking Activities

I just created a new page with a couple of really fun free printables that challenge kids to think critically. Creative Thinking Questions: The first set includes some creative thinking questions I once compiled.  I thought it would be fun to start off the day with something a little different for the kids… some off-the-wall creative thinking questions. The kids had fun with this and I know some other homeschooling...

Critical Thinking Activities / Homeschool: Random Thoughts / Math General Posts

January 22, 2018

 by Liesl - Homeschool Den · Published January 22, 2018 · Last modified January 21, 2018

Math and the Brain – Mindset, Mistakes and More

The biggest mistake you can make is to be afraid to make one! I often love books about the brain and the latest on brain research. You probably already know about the link between exercise and learning.  There are studies that show that after just twenty minutes of exercise, the brain is fired up! Read all about it in the fitness.gov article, Learning is a Moving Experience. Check out the composite...

Critical Thinking Activities / Homeschool Den / Science / Science Experiments / Science: Electricity and Circuits Unit

October 24, 2016

 by Liesl - Homeschool Den · Published October 24, 2016 · Last modified March 19, 2023

STEM! Paper Circuits (and More!)

In this part of our Electricity and Circuits units, we had a lot of fun with Paper Circuits!! If you’ve been a reader for a while, you know how much we *LOVE* hands-on science and engineering!  We have been having such a great time with our electricity and circuits unit that I just had to come on briefly to share a snippet of what we’ve been doing.  (Normally, I wait...

Critical Thinking Activities / Games for Thinking and Learning / Homeschool Den

April 28, 2016

 by Liesl - Homeschool Den · Published April 28, 2016

Critical Thinking Activities – Analogies, Logic & More

With our yearly testing behind us, we are going to spend some time on another side of math — analogies, logical reasoning, and math puzzles. These help kids develop logical thinking, analytical abilities, and mathematical reasoning. I thought I’d share some of the resources we use in our homeschool. My kids were SO, SO excited to get back to these activities!!  With life as busy as it has been, I can’t...

June 17, 2015

 by Liesl - Homeschool Den · Published June 17, 2015 · Last modified April 25, 2016

Free Sudoku Puzzles and Mazes for Kids

Whether you are going on a long trip or writing the kids a letter at camp, these printables might come in handy this summer!!  We have been using Krazy Dad’s website for years and I wanted to highlight them again since just recently I pulled out some of the printables we made again. I love that his materials are so varied. So, while ED is working on the harder 4×4...

Critical Thinking Activities / Games for Thinking and Learning

April 6, 2015

 by Liesl - Homeschool Den · Published April 6, 2015 · Last modified April 5, 2015

10 Creative Thinking Questions for Kids – Free Printable

I have something a little different to share with you today! This past week, we’ve been doing some major re-organization of the homeschool room. I came across an old printout with some creative thinking questions I once compiled.  I thought it would be fun to start off the day with something a little different for the kids… some off-the-wall creative thinking questions. I really hope the kids have fun with...

Critical Thinking Activities / Math General Posts

January 16, 2015

 by Liesl - Homeschool Den · Published January 16, 2015

I laughed so hard…

Today during math circles we had this mind bender:  Cut this magic carpet into three pieces and sew it back together to make a 6×6 carpet. DD and LD got it WAAaaaayy before ED and I did.  ED was sad that she hadn’t gotten it yet, so LD said Well, you are young and your mind is just developing. Mom’s mind is old and her mind is rotting! That had...

Critical Thinking Activities / Homeschool Den / Math General Posts

January 12, 2015

 by Liesl - Homeschool Den · Published January 12, 2015 · Last modified January 2, 2020

Critical Thinking Activities – Math Circles

A few days ago, I mentioned that we started back into homeschooling with Math Circles rather than jumping into our “normal” math curriculum. What are math circles? From what I understand, they started in Russia where they hosted math contests.  Students competed to answer various word problems. The contest itself was designed to get students intrigued and excited about mathematics. There’s something similar here in the US called the Math Olympiad....

Critical Thinking Activities / Games for Thinking and Learning / Summer Activities

July 16, 2014

 by Liesl - Homeschool Den · Published July 16, 2014 · Last modified June 24, 2015

Strategy Game: Quoridor (ages 6+)

I don’t know about you, but there are times when the kids complain about being bored and not having anything to do.  We’ve been trying to bring out some board games that don’t get much use during the school year. A couple weeks ago, I wrote about a game called Quarto. Another quick strategy game we’ve been playing this summer is called Quoridor. (affiliate link) The goal of this game is...

July 3, 2014

 by Liesl - Homeschool Den · Published July 3, 2014 · Last modified June 24, 2015

Quarto Strategy Game

This summer, we’re trying to bring out some of the board games that are often ignored during the school year. Board games and strategy games can foster the ability to think, focus, and problem solve. Games require players to plan ahead and can help develop more sophisticated thinking skills. Games are beneficial because they foster social interaction and social skills. Everyone practices taking turns and following the rules.  Games also help...

April 5, 2014

 by Liesl - Homeschool Den · Published April 5, 2014 · Last modified April 25, 2016

Free Sudoku Puzzles for Kids

I’ve been trying to get some planning and printing done this afternoon for our homeschool next week.  We’re going to add some critical thinking activities back into our schedule and I often pull out Sudoku puzzles for the kids to work on while I’m gathering materials (that down time while I’m trying to get my act together!). The kids LOVE these puzzles. Krazy Dad has hundreds and hundreds of Sudoku...

Critical Thinking Activities / Family Meeting / Games for Thinking and Learning / Homeschool Den

November 23, 2013

 by Liesl - Homeschool Den · Published November 23, 2013 · Last modified April 10, 2016

Family Games Night (A Review of Several Games)

It has been WAAaay too long since we had a family games night. For a while we did really well holding a family meeting once a month or so (see this post-Holding a Family Meeting) and this post (Our Monthly Family Meeting).  Last weekend, though, everyone was home (no sleep-overs, no sporting events!) and so we gathered together to play a bunch of games! Fun! This was the first time we...

Critical Thinking Activities / Games for Thinking and Learning / Homeschool Den / Math General Posts / Must Read

October 24, 2012

 by Liesl - Homeschool Den · Published October 24, 2012

Math Dice Game: Mmm Brains

With Halloween right around the corner it seems only fitting that I bring up this game, Mmm Brains. It sounds gruesome, but it’s really just a dice game which requires addition and multiplication.  It brings the kids running, so you can’t beat that, right?! This game has five dice with the numbers 1-5 and a brain on each side.  Then there are lots of counters (red brains=5 and white brains=1)....

Ages 2-6: Preschool (Age 4) / Critical Thinking Activities / Games for Thinking and Learning / Must Read

October 10, 2012

 by Liesl - Homeschool Den · Published October 10, 2012 · Last modified October 31, 2017

Games for Thinking and Learning: Blink

This is a series about the logic and critical thinking games we play in our homeschool.  We have a table in our homeschool room and I rotate in new games a couple of times a week. These are all games we’ve acquired for schooling and/or for fun (I haven’t received them to review). Today I’m going to highlight a card game called Blink that is a great game for preschoolers on...

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Hi i’m liesl.

Do you believe education can be exciting, inspiring, and full of joy? We do too! I love the quote by William Butler Yeats, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." It's about getting the kids involved, engaged, and fired up about learning (while juggling the rest of life too!)

A bit about me: I have my Master's from Brown University. I have more than 20 years of teaching experience. I was a high school teacher for many years both in the U.S. and internationally and also taught for the University of Maryland before leaving to homeschool my 3 wonderful kids. To read more about us CLICK HERE .

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how do I start homeschooling

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History Units

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Science Units and Packets

What science topics could I teach my 5-7 year old - Homeschool Science Curriculum

• Science Units

Click on the image above to see the Science Units we covered in our homeschool from elementary through middle school (and beyond!).

Science Supplies

Topics We’ve Covered

• 20th Century History
• Active Math Games
• Ages 2-6: Apple Unit
• Ages 2-6: Bird Unit
• Ages 2-6: Clocks – Telling Time
• Ages 2-6: Fairy Tale Unit
• Ages 2-6: Fall Theme
• Ages 2-6: Fire Safety
• Ages 2-6: Flower Unit
• Ages 2-6: Penguin Unit
• Ages 2-6: Pete the Cat Unit
• Ages 2-6: Preschool (Age 4)
• Ages 2-6: Preschool and Toddler Activities
• Ages 2-6: Preschool at Home
• Ages 2-6: Preschool for ED – Fall 2011 (age 3 1/2)
• Ages 2-6: Theme Time (age 2-4)
• Ages 2-6: Toddler/Preschool Activities
• All About Homeschooling!
• Ancient World History
• Art History – Modern Art
• Arts and Crafts
• Asthma and Allergies
• Australia – Geography and Animals
• Botany Unit
• Copywork Pages (Free)
• Death and Dying
• Ear Surgery
• electricity and circuits unit
• Elem-Children's Music 1 (6 yr old)
• Energy Pyrmaid
• Engineering – STEM Activities
• Engineering Challenges
• Facebook – Homeschool Den
• Family Meeting
• Food in America (concerns)
• Free Calendar Planning Pages
• Free Curriculum Resource Guides
• Free Homeschool Planner
• Games for Thinking and Learning
• hands-on science
• High School Math
• Highlighting Past Posts
• History and World Cultures Units
• History: Africa Unit
• History: Age of Exploration
• History: American Colonies
• History: American History
• History: American West Unit
• History: Ancient Aztecs, Incas and Mayans
• History: Ancient Egypt
• History: Ancient Greece Unit
• History: China Unit
• History: Civics, Government and Economics
• History: Civil Rights Movement
• History: Geography Activities
• History: Geologic Timeline (Montessori)
• History: India Unit
• History: Japan Unit
• History: Middle Ages
• History: Native American Indians Unit
• History: Rensaissance and Reformation
• History: Slavery and the Civil War
• History: This is the United States-Unit Study (grade 1)
• History: World Religions
• Holiday: Christmas Activities
• Holiday: Earth Day
• Holiday: Easter
• Holiday: Father's Day
• Holiday: Halloween
• Holiday: Labor Day
• Holiday: Memorial Day
• Holiday: Mother's Day
• Holiday: New Years
• Holiday: Olympics
• Holiday: St. Patrick's Day
• Holiday: Thanksgiving
• Holiday: Valentine's Day
• Homeschool Encouragement
• Homeschool High School
• Homeschool Mastermind Group
• Homeschool: Interviews with other Homeschoolers
• Homeschool: Month in Review
• Homeschool: Organizing and Cleaning
• Homeschool: Our Homeschool (what our day is like, curriculum choices, etc.)
• Homeschool: Planning and Preparation
• Homeschool: Random Thoughts
• Homeschool: Useful Resources (websites books etc)
• Homeschooling in the News
• How to Start Homeschooling
• Kindergarten
• Kindergarten Math
• Language Arts – Grammar Spelling Reading Writing Categories
• Language Arts – Grammar Worksheets
• Language Arts: Books: Children's Literature
• Language Arts: Reading
• Language Arts: Spelling
• Language Arts: Writing
• Math – Algebra
• Math – Percents Fractions and Decimals
• Math General Posts
• Math–Addition
• Math–Division
• Math–Fractions
• Math–Geometry
• Math–Multiplication
• Math-Roman Numerals
• Math: Pre-Algebra
• Math: Preschool Math
• Mom Stories
• Montessori (general info)
• Online Homeschool Classes
• Outdoor Fun
• Outdoor: Fossils
• Preparing for College
• Science Experiments
• Science: Animal Characteristics
• Science: Astronomy Unit
• Science: Biology Unit
• Science: Biomes; Animal Habitats
• Science: Cell Unit
• Science: Chemistry Unit
• Science: Digestive System
• Science: Dinosaurs Unit
• Science: Earth Science Unit
• Science: Electricity and Circuits Unit
• Science: Energy Unit
• Science: Food Chains
• Science: Garden Science
• Science: Hibernation
• Science: Human Body Unit
• Science: Magnets
• Science: Natural Disasters Unit and Activities
• Science: Nature Studies
• Science: Ocean Unit
• Science: Physics Unit
• Science: Plant Unit
• Science: Rain Forests
• Science: Rocks and Minerals
• Science: Simple Machines Unit
• Science: States of Matter Unit
• Science: Taxonomy Scientific Classification
• Science: The 5 Senses
• Science: Vertebrates – Invertebrates
• Science: Water Unit
• Science: Weather Unit
• Science: Whale Unit
• Sign Language
• Starting to Homeschool
• Story of the World
• Summer Activities
• Trips We've Taken
• U.S. Presidents
• Uncategorized
• Where We Used to Live (Australia posts)
• Winter Unit
• World Animals
• World War I

Homeschool Resources and Books

A list of the books we've used most in history, science, math, language arts, etc.

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Packets Available:

Earth Science Bundle

Click the image to check out our packets on Earth Science, Rocks and Minerals, the Atmosphere, Weather, Energy and More!

Units are also sold separately.

Earth Science Packet

This is one of our most popular units. It covers the Layers of the Earth, Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, Volcanoes and More! It is included in the Earth Science Bundle (see the picture/link above).

Biology BUNDLE

Click the image to see our Biology Units on Animal and Plant Cells; the Biology Unit on Biomes, Food Chains, Symbiosis; Scientific Classification & Taxonomy (Domain/Kingdom/Phylum/Class, etc.); Botany - Plant Kingdom and Oceans and Oceanography.

Big Animal Bundle

Click on the image to see our Animal Bundle - including the Animal Unit, Life Cycles, the Rainforest, Winter (Polar Animals) & Hibernation, Chameleons, Wolves, Cicadas and more!

Human Body Systems Bundle

The Human Body Systems, Skeletal, Digestive, Circulatory, Muscular, Nervous, Endocrine Systems and More (with lots of hands-on activity ideas)! We usually study a different body system each year.

Digestive System Packet and Activities (100+ pages)

Chemistry Bundle

Click on the image to see our units on the States of matter, Properties of Matter, Electricity & Circuits, and the Chemistry Unit (Get to know the Periodic Table in a fun way!)

Free Science Checklist – Elementary and Middle School

This is a free checklist I put together of the various science units I hope to cover in the elementary and middle school years.

Civics & Government Unit

American Revolution Packet

World Facts Packet

Do your kids know the 4 largest countries? Which countries have the most people? The longest river? This packet covers basic world and U.S. facts and also covers geographic features and land forms.

Geographic Features & Landforms (also in the World Facts Packet)

Ancient Egypt Packet

Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses

Middle Ages – Feudalism Packet

Slavery and the Civil War Packet

World War I Unit

Click on the image to check out our 100-page unit on World War I.

World War II Unit

Long A Sound Activities

ow-ou-oy-oi-aw-au Word Sort Activities

The spelling program we use:

We have used AAS for 6 years! AAS is an affiliate link.

er-sound Word Sort & Game

Find out why we like AAS in this post:

Language Arts Homeschool Curriculum

Free Apostrophe QuotationMark Underlining-Worksheets

Dozens of posts about how to create a homeschool writing workshop.

Montessori Addition Sheets with Regrouping (Free)

Dragon Math Packet

Click on the image to check out all of our fun K-2 Math Packets.

Multiplication Packets

This is one of the best values we have... more than 20 PDFs with games, activities and worksheets to learn/practice the multiplication facts ($7.00).

Homeschool Resources

Click on the image to discover some of the pages, posts and homeschool resources within our blog that might be the most useful for you including a long list of our freebies!

Rocks and Minerals Unit

Click on the image to check out our 100+page Rocks and Minerals Unit.

Simple Machines Unit

This is a fun, hands-on unit for early elementary students!

Human Body Systems Worksheet Packet

How the body is organized from cells to tissues... organs to body systems

Five Senses Unit

Skeleton Worksheets and Lapbook Packet

Spanish Store

Click on the image to check out some of the Spanish worksheet bundles we have available!

Ancient China Packet (Free)

German Store

Click on the image above to check out our German worksheets.

Free-Homeschool Planner (100+ Pages)

Click on the image to find out more about our units and packets.