Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) and Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) give parents the opportunity to shape and personalize their student’s education.

A growing number of states distribute ESA and EFA funds through marketplaces like Classwallet, Odyssey, or Step Up For Students. These marketplaces offer thousands of products, but sorting through them to find a great curriculum can be difficult.

That’s why we assembled this list of the 10 best US history curriculums for homeschool families that you can purchase with state grant dollars. We’ve included products that suit a variety of different ages, budgets, and teaching styles, so there’s a curriculum for every child.

Girl writing in a notebook.

1. Notgrass History: America the Beautiful

America the Beautiful is a full-year course for grades five through eight. It combines US history, literature, and geography into one program. The lessons move through American history in order, from the first colonies to modern times. Each week has five short lessons, so the pace stays steady and clear. The course includes two hardbound textbooks, a map workbook, and a timeline workbook. Families like this course because it needs little extra planning. Parents can add optional test booklets if they want to check progress.

2. Sonlight: American History Programs

Sonlight offers a full set of US history courses for many ages. Young children start with Exploring American History. Older students move through two-year US history sequences that use real books instead of dry textbooks. High schoolers can study American History 120, a deep course that covers the story of the nation from before Columbus through the 2000s. Sonlight’s method uses biographies, historical fiction, and primary texts. Students read real accounts instead of short summaries. Each grade level comes as a full box with all books and a full schedule included.

3. The Good and the Beautiful: History

This program covers world and US history together across a four-year cycle for grades three through eight. Each year includes a course book, a Big Book of History Stories, a Maps and Images book, and review cards. The course also gives audio recordings and a history game. Families like this course because lessons need little prep time. Kids listen, read, and play games that lock in facts about people and events. Younger siblings can join in with a separate activity book made for early grades.

4. Build Your Library: American History Levels

Build Your Library gives a secular, literature-based study of US history for grades five, six, and twelve. The program uses many diverse books, both fiction and nonfiction. Topics include Native American nations, early colonists, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights Movement. Each level also teaches a science subject alongside history, so parents save time on lesson planning. At the end of the year, students write a research report. This builds strong writing skills along with historical knowledge.

5. BookShark: American History Package

BookShark’s American History package covers the full story of the nation for students ages 13 to 15. The course moves in order from before Columbus to modern times. Students read about real people, like Sacajawea and Benedict Arnold, through vivid narrative books. The program studies both the good and the hard parts of American history, including slavery and civil rights struggles. Each package comes with a full set of books, a parent guide, and a daily four-day schedule. This structure helps busy parents stay on track without extra guesswork.

6. All American History by Bright Ideas Press

All American History spans two full years for grades six through twelve. Volume One covers exploration through the early 1800s. Volume Two covers the Civil War through recent history. Each week’s lesson has three parts: the atmosphere of the time, the main event, and its impact on the nation. The Student Activity Book adds maps, review questions, and hands-on projects. A junior version exists for younger children, so the whole family can study the same eras together at different levels.

7. Time Travelers by Home School in the Woods

Time Travelers is a hands-on US history study, best for grades three through eight. The series has seven units, from New World Explorers through World War II. Each unit gives short reading lessons paired with a large number of projects. Kids build lapbooks, make timelines, cook era recipes, and play file-folder games. This approach works well for hands-on learners. It also suits families that want to add crafts and projects to their history block. Each unit takes about six to ten weeks to finish.

8. Story of the World, Volumes 3 and 4

Story of the World is a widely used history series by Susan Wise Bauer. Volumes 3 and 4 cover early modern times through the 20th century, with strong US history content woven into world events. The books tell history through short, story-style chapters instead of dry facts. An Activity Book adds map work, review questions, and craft ideas for each chapter. This series suits younger students. It places US history in a wider global picture. The narrative style keeps kids engaged and asking for the next chapter.

9. Letterjoy: Historic Letters by Mail

Letterjoy is a supplement to your homeschool history curriculum that teaches your student using primary-source letters from famous historical figures, delivered weekly via snail mail. Letters come from figures like George Washington, Clara Barton, and Theodore Roosevelt. Each letter arrives with a “postscript” article that explains the background of the person and the event. This screen-free format gives kids a first-hand feel for history instead of a textbook summary. Letterjoy offers packages on many topics beyond US history, including science, military history, and great writers. Families can pick the collection that fits their child’s interests best. Letterjoy works well as a fun supplement alongside a core history curriculum, and it is available through Step Up For Students, ClassWallet, and Odyssey.

10. My Father’s World: US History Studies

My Father’s World builds US history studies around real books, maps, and hands-on projects for a range of grades. The program blends history with geography, Bible study, and life skills in one daily schedule. Lessons move through American history in a clear, step-by-step order. Parents get a full guide with daily plans, so little extra prep work is needed. This program suits families that want one complete curriculum. It covers several subjects at once, with US history as a central thread.

How to Choose the Right Curriculum

Every family has different needs. Think about these points before you pick a program:

  • Age and grade level. Match the reading level to your child’s current skills, not just their grade number.
  • Teaching style. Some programs use textbooks. Others use story-based books, hands-on projects, or short weekly letters.
  • Time and prep work. Busy parents may want a full box set with little extra planning required.
  • Budget and ESA rules. Check your state’s ESA or EFA rules for approved vendors and spending limits before you buy.
  • Learning goals. Decide if you want deep historical detail, a broad overview, or a fun supplement to add to your main curriculum.

Shop Smart on Your ESA or EFA Marketplace

Most ESA and EFA marketplaces, including ClassWallet and Odyssey, list approved vendors by subject. Search for “US history” or “American history” in the marketplace search bar. Read each vendor’s product page closely before you buy. Course length, grade range, and price can vary widely. Many homeschool programs, like Letterjoy, also appear directly in your state’s own vendor list, such as Florida’s Step Up For Students program. A little research now saves time and money later, and it helps you find the right fit for your child’s love of American history.