See what secular first grade homeschool curriculum we loved best!
It can be nice to see what other homeschoolers are using for curriculum. As a former first grade teacher, I’ve seen and used lots of different first grade curriculum. As a former homeschooler, I know how hard my mom had to work to find secular materials. Here’s the short list of what we used for our secular first grade homeschool curriculum.
Homeschool Curriculum We Use and Love:
✔️ Language Arts: Blossom and Root
✔️ History: The Curiosity Chronicles (5% off code: HOMEGRAD)
✔️ Hands-On Elem. Human Bio: Doc Robin’s School of Pre-Med
✔️ All Level Science: REAL Science Odyssey
First Grade Homeschool Curriculum
These are the subjects we covered in first grade:
• Math
• Language Arts
• Science
• History
• Rotating music/PE/art
Depending on where you live, you may need to include other subjects as well. Be sure to check your area’s requirements before you get started.
It’s also a good idea to keep a journal and jot down notes about your homeschool year.
Non Religious Homeschool Curriculum
Our family’s homeschooling method is both secular and eclectic, meaning that we use a variety of non-religious materials picked from many sources. One-size-fits-all curriculum doesn’t work for us!
It can be tough looking for non religious homeschool curriculum. Back when I was hoemschooled, my mom said there was almost nothing secular. She would spend literal weeks looking for non religious homeschool curriculum. Now, there are tons of resources for those of us who are not religious.
First Grade Homeschool Language Arts
| Product | Description |
| Blossom and Root | Flexible, affordable, literary based, created by an experienced educator |
| Oak Meadow | All-in-one first grade package including reading and math. Easily purchase the required reading off their site, too. (Least affordable option on the list). |
| Torchlight Curriculum | Super affordable all-in-one resource that includes literature, history, science, art & music. No reading, writing, or math included. |
| Build Your Library | Affordable, literature based all-in-one program with a heavy emphasis on mythology and ancient history in the first grade. Does not include math. |
| Wild Reading | Multi-sensory approach to the Science of Reading created by an experienced (and highly degreed) special educator. |
1st Grade Language Arts Curriculum
We ended up choosing Blossom and Root because it truly fit our family’s needs. As a mom with ADHD, I don’t love highly structured and inflexible boxed curriculum. Blossom and Root was a great alternative and fit our neurodiverse family well.
Plus, I am a huge fan of fairy tales and fables which is the literary basis for the first grade program, “The Stories We Tell”.
I really liked their selection of recommended read-alouds and the variety of cultures represented in the reading. Some of the recommended books were hard to find online so we chose one of the other options. In some cases, I purchased 2-3 of the recommended books for the same topic because they looked so good!
You’re given several printing licenses so you can reprint the notebook for your younger children when they reach 1st grade.
Reasons why Blossom and Root worked for us:
• Flexible
• Literature based
• Inclusive and progressive book list
• Affordable
• Low-stress supply list
• Open-and-go with minimal prep
❌ Needs supplemental phonics instruction
Blossom and Root worked well for our neurodivergent family. ➡️ Check prices of Blossom and Roots’ materials here.
Supplementing Language Arts Curriculum
After the first semester I realized that my daughter needed more support in spelling, so we supplemented by using the research backed app, Reading Eggs.
I recommend using at least one language arts piece that explicitly teaches phonics. The term “Science of Reading” is a great clue that the material comprehensively teaches your child how to read without leaving any gaps.
If you choose a program that does not have explicit phonics or spelling instruction, you will probably want to invest in an app. That’s what I did, because I find teaching phonics exhausting (I did it for years in the classroom).
If you’d like to purchase a language arts curriculum that is already based on the Science of Reading, then I highly recommend Wild Reading. The creator is a degreed and experienced special educator. Had I heard of Wild Reading before my daughter’s first grade year, I would have gone this route.
➡️ Choose Wild Reading if you want to include phonics and spelling in your language arts program.
First Grade Homeschool Phonics
Many homeschool parents wonder if they should be explicitly teaching their child phonics or just letting them learn to read through exposure to books.
The pro of teaching phonics is that your child will truly learn the mechanics of reading and not just memorize a lot of sight words. The cons are… It can be super overwhelming to teach phonics, even if you’re a trained teacher, like me!
That’s why I unloaded some of my teaching responsibilities by choosing a great reading app.
- Product: Reading Eggs Online Program + App
- Price: $9.99 Monthly
- They offer a 30 day free trial.
Both our 6 year old and our 3 year old are able to create separate accounts and have a customized learning path. It’s highly game based and comprehensive.
A subscription also gives you access to their program called “Math Seeds” that the kids like, too.
>> Edit: Although we used Reading Eggs when my daughter was in first grade, I’ve since found “Nessy Learning” and like that one a lot more. It’s based on best practices for children with learning disabilities like dyslexia and has been very effective at teaching my kids spelling rules.
Secular First Grade Homeschool Math
You have tons of options when it comes to finding math for your first grade homeschooler.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be as vigilant when selecting secular curriculum because all but the most hard-core religious homeschool curriculum will be secular in nature.
After teaching first grade in the classroom for several years, I’m a big fan of hands-on math curriculum. Math should be fun! It’s my daughter’s second favorite subject, right after science.
Here are a couple of the math curricula we considered before going with Beast Academy.
| Product | Description |
| Beast Academy | Beast Academy is a unique math curriculum, presented in a comic book format with engaging cartoon characters. It offers a comprehensive and challenging approach to math, emphasizing reasoning, problem-solving, and deep conceptual understanding, often going beyond Common Core State Standards. |
| Dimensions Math | Dimensions Math is a comprehensive curriculum inspired by the renowned Singapore Math approach. The curriculum emphasizes a deep understanding of math concepts, using a concrete-pictorial-abstract approach, and integrates hands-on activities and games to reinforce skills and concepts. |
| Singapore Math | Singapore Math is an advanced curriculum that emphasizes deep conceptual understanding through a concrete, pictorial, and abstract learning process. It teaches students not just mechanics but the foundational principles of mathematical problem-solving. |
| Moving Beyond the Page | Moving Beyond the Page (MBTP) Math aligns with Common Core State Standards and emphasizing hands-on, interactive learning. The curriculum integrates concrete, visual, and abstract methods, using manipulatives, real-life applications, storybooks, and online quizzes, ensuring a deep conceptual understanding and making math engaging for students. |
First Grade Math Curriculum Homeschool
We used Beast Academy level 1A-D for our daughter’s first grade homeschool math curriculum.
Update: Now in second grade, we’re still using Beast Academy and are totally obsessed with it. My husband is a 7/8th grade math teacher and he was flabbergasted at some of the concepts she’s tackling with ease as a 2nd grader.
✅ What we like most about Beast Academy is the problem solving, puzzle-like nature of the work.
✅ We also like that’s it told in story format (like a graphic novel). I’m always trying to sneak in more reading comprehension!
Check the price of Beast Academy’s level 1 books on Amazon here.
First Grade Secular Homeschool Science
Finding secular homeschool science curriculum is always the biggest challenge as secular homeschoolers. It’s because there are so many religious resources out there and they don’t align with a secular ideology.
On top of that, there are some science products out there that claim they don’t have an agenda, but then exclude topics like evolution and the Big Bang Theory. Tricky, tricky!
I’ve seen crazy stuff, like homeschool science that says dinosaurs got left off the ark. That’s not for us! Nope, we want fact-based, well researched science curriculum that is also hands-on, interactive, and fun.
| Product | Description |
| Doc Robin’s School of Pre-Med | Engaging human biology for younger students taught by a board certified family practitioner and homeschool mom. Learn about body systems and even watch dissection videos! Live get-togethers are included with a membership. And now, Doc Robin has released a human reproduction unit! |
| REAL Science Odyssey | A comprehensive science curriculum that includes hands-on labs. First graders can choose from Earth & Environment, Astronomy, or Life science. |
Are you considering homeschooling, but need help withdrawing your child, sending a letter of intent, and more?
➡️ Click here to see how I can help you 1-on-1.
Homeschool Science First Grade
We used Doc Robin’s School of Pre-Med for our daughter’s first grade year and was super happy with it. (Now in second grade, we’re using Astronomy and Chemistry from REAL Science Odyssey).
Doc Robin’s human biology curriculum is completely unique, highly interactive, and goes leagues beyond any science curriculum for kids we’ve ever seen (and we’ve both taught science!) It was perfect for first grade.
We highly recommend Doc Robin, especially now since she has a unit on the reproductive system. She is extremely talented and very friendly!
See what you get with Doc Robin’s human bio curriculum here.
First Grade Homeschool History
History is another subject where secular families will want to be more selective. I prefer history resources that use Common Era over BC/AD and only mention religion as it pertains to culture or historical events.
There are tons of resources out there for Christian families, but not so much for secular families. Luckily, you’ve got two great options for first grade.
| Product | Description |
| History Quest: Early Times | This is a chapter book that delves into ancient civilizations through engaging narratives, illustrations, and special “History Hop!” sections. Each chapter concludes with a “History Hop!” reading, transporting readers on an imaginative journey to interact with historical figures and settings. |
| Curiosity Chronicles: Ancient History | This text uses an engaging dialogue format between characters Ted and Mona to explore the evolution of human civilization up to 550 CE, presenting diverse perspectives and breaking down complex historical concepts. Each chapter links historical events to other subjects like math and science, and offers suggestions for deeper exploration through “Want to know more?” sections. |
First Grade History Curriculum
We liked the chapter book style of History Quest because my daughter loves being read aloud to and can sit for long enough to hear short chapters. Sometimes we split longer chapters in half and read over two sittings.
The tagline “Hygge History” appealed to me because reading about history shouldn’t be a chore. It’s honestly my favorite subject.
>> If your child does not enjoy sitting and listening to chapter books being read aloud to them, I would suggest choosing Curiosity Chronicles over History Quest. You can always flip-flop next year (that’s what we did).
Initially I was just going to buy a hard copy of the text, but we listened to the sample and loved the narrator’s voice. I ended up purchasing both the hard copy and the audiobook. We like having both the audiobook and the hard copy of the text to switch between. I think it’s a good idea to give my daughter a taste of someone else reading, and it gives me a break to listen, too!
Update: in second grade we went with Curiosity Chronicles. I love that my daughter will have two years of Ancient History and will be more familiar with the subject the second time around. We will probably rotate History Quest and Curiosity Chronicles every year from here on out.
➡️ View History Quest materials when you click here.
First Grade Homeschool PE
We are worldschoolers and spend a ton of time outside. In fact, most of our travels are organized around how many outdoor activities the destination offers.
Here is a list of our PE resources:
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Beach walks
- Playing on my parent’s farm
- Cosmic Kids Yoga on Youtube
- Karate classes in the summer time
To combat whiney-ness on a long walk, we bought our kids their own smart watches. We now have family step competitions!
First Grade Homeschool Music
Growing up homeschooled, my three siblings and I took piano lessons every week. But as a homeschool parent, I haven’t enrolled my children in any organized music classes. Partly because we’re worldschoolers, partly because I haven’t devoted any thought to it!
Instead, each day our daughter listens to music on her headphones and grows her own Spotify list. Usually once a week she hosts a dance performance for the family that she’s set to one of her favorite songs. She enjoys Kidz Bop.
She’s expressed a wish to learn piano, so we will probably head in that direction in the near future.
First Grade Homeschool Art
Both of my kids will spend hours doodling. It’s great for developing writing skills. For our homeschool, we try to begin each day with a laid back art center. It is very disorganized, a little chaotic, and extremely therapeutic!
I don’t spend any time planning this period- we just use our art supplies to doodle while listening to calming music on Youtube. We blow our budget on new markers and coloring books every chance we get.
Tips for Saving Money on Homeschool Curriculum
Purchasing curriculum doesn’t have to be an enormous expense.
To help us save money, we staggered purchasing items across several months in the spring time.
Another way we saved money was to wait for the publishers to have a sale. I’ll definitely be watching out for these sales each year!
Affordable Homeschool Books
Supplemental homeschool books can be a huge additional expense. We choose to purchase all of our books used on Amazon or Half Price Books because we world school and can’t always go to a library.
We also stagger purchasing books throughout the spring and summer to save money.
If you have access to a library, be sure to download the Chrome Extension called "Library Extension". It tells you if a book you're about to put in your Amazon cart is available at your local library!
In Review: Secular First Grade Homeschool Curriculum
I am so excited to use the materials we picked out this fall with my daughter. It takes a lot of effort to put together an eclectic curriculum, and I’m very pleased with what we’ve come up with!
As we get into the year, we may change, drop, or add materials. There’s no shame in adapting to fit your child’s needs!
Homeschool Curriculum We Use and Love:
✔️ Language Arts: Blossom and Root
✔️ History: The Curiosity Chronicles (5% off code: HOMEGRAD)
✔️ Hands-On Elem. Human Bio: Doc Robin’s School of Pre-Med
✔️ All Level Science: REAL Science Odyssey
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