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Free Homeschool Curriculum & Resources in North Dakota
One of homeschooling’s biggest financial advantages is access to free, world-class educational resources. North Dakota families don’t need to spend $1,500+ annually to provide a rigorous education. With strategic use of public libraries, open-source curricula, and online platforms, you can homeschool for under $500—or nearly free.
Key Takeaways
- Khan Academy, IXL, and LibreTexts provide free subject-level instruction for all grades
- North Dakota’s public library system and regional academic libraries offer unlimited ebooks, audiobooks, and databases
- Open-source curricula (Ambleside Online, Classical Core) provide complete K-12 learning structures at zero cost
- The ND Heritage Center and state museums offer free or low-cost educational materials
- Free doesn’t mean low-quality—most free resources rival paid curricula in rigor
Complete Free Curriculum Frameworks
Ambleside Online (K-12, FREE)
A complete Charlotte Mason-based curriculum using quality children’s literature, narration, and nature study. Fully mapped out year-by-year. Families purchase books from used markets or borrow via library. Estimated cost: $100-$300/year for books. Thousands of ND families use this successfully.
What you get: English, math, history, science, geography, art, music—all integrated. Requires strong reading ability and parental involvement.
Classical Core (K-12, FREE)
Free classical trivium curriculum outline with reading lists and lesson plans. Similar to Classical Conversations in structure but self-taught. Supplement with library books and free online courses.
What you get: Clear grade-level expectations, Roman history and literature focus, grammar-logic-rhetoric progression.
Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool (K-12, FREE)
Self-paced, online, secular. Daily lessons in all subjects. No cost. Includes special needs accommodations and special interest tracks (art, coding, engineering).
Best for: Hands-off families needing turnkey structure without paying subscription fees.
Free Comprehensive Subject Instruction
Math
- Khan Academy (free): Complete K-12 math with video lessons, practice, and progress tracking. ND families use this as primary or supplement.
- IXL Math (limited free tier): Interactive practice across all grade levels. Free version has daily limits.
- Art of Problem Solving OpenCourses (free): Deeper math for grades 6-12 wanting enrichment.
English Language Arts
- CommonLit (free): Short stories, poetry, articles, and lesson plans aligned to standards. Built-in comprehension questions.
- Project Gutenberg (free): 70,000+ public domain books. Pair with narration exercises or literature guides you create.
- Libby/Overdrive (free through ND library card): Unlimited ebooks and audiobooks. Search for classics, children’s books, and contemporary titles.
Science
- Khan Academy Science (free): Biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy from elementary through high school.
- LibreTexts (free): Open-source textbooks in all sciences. Peer-reviewed, rigorous, no paywalls.
- CrashCourse Kids (free YouTube): Fast-paced, engaging science videos for elementary and middle school.
- Homeschool Science Lab (free trials): Virtual experiments and STEM investigations.
Social Studies & History
- Crash Course World History (free YouTube): High school–level history in 40-50 minute units. Secular, engaging, comprehensive.
- ND Heritage Center curriculum materials (free): Downloadable lessons on ND history, Native American heritage, pioneer life, agriculture. Contact heritage@nd.gov.
- Library of Congress Primary Sources (free): Thousands of historical documents, photographs, maps, and audio recordings. Ideal for history projects and research.
- iCivics (free): Interactive government and civics games from former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. All students learn about voting, branches of government, and citizenship.
Physical Education & Electives
- YouTube fitness channels (free): Darebee, GoNoodle (lite version free), and other channels offer structured movement programs.
- edX and Coursera Free Courses (audit option): College-level electives in coding, art history, music theory. Free to audit; paid certificates optional.
North Dakota–Specific Free Resources
ND Heritage Center (Bismarck)
- Free curriculum units on Native American history, Lewis and Clark Expedition, settler history
- Free virtual tours and online exhibits
- Download photographs, maps, and primary documents for unit studies
- Contact: (701) 328-2666 or heritage@nd.gov
ND Museum of Art (Bismarck)
- Free admission for school groups with 48-hour notice
- Virtual exhibition tours (free online)
- Curriculum guides available for download
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (Medora)
- Park entrance passes good for annual vehicle access: $30/car
- Free digital educational resources for junior ranger programs and history units
- Walking trails, scenic drives, and hands-on geology observations
Knife River Indian Villages (Stanton)
- Free admission to visitor center
- Educational programs on Hidatsa, Mandan, and Arikara cultures
- Living history demonstrations (seasonal)
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park (Mandan)
- Minimal day-use fees ($5-$10)
- Hands-on history of cavalry, Native American life, and settlement
- Seasonal living history programs
Free Online Learning Platforms for Electives
- Outschool (free class trials): Teachers often offer free intro sessions. Great for enrichment and specialized interests.
- MasterClass Free Courses (occasional offerings): High-quality instruction from experts.
- Skillshare (free with ads): Creativity-focused classes in writing, art, music production.
- freeCodeCamp (free): Full coding and web development curriculum. Excellent for high school STEM.
- YouTube Channels: Vlogbrothers (educational content), Veritasium (physics), Kurzgesagt (science overview videos).
Library Resources: Your Free Curriculum Goldmine
North Dakota Public Library System
Every ND resident has access to:
- Unlimited ebooks and audiobooks through Libby/Overdrive
- Magazine databases (EBSCO, Gale)
- Academic journals (for research and high school projects)
- Learning databases (many libraries offer access to IXL, Learning Express, or other platforms)
- Interlibrary loan for books not in your local branch
Pro tip: Get cards at your local library AND the state library system. Access multiplies your digital and physical collections.
Online Library Resources
- OverDrive/Libby (free through ND libraries): 5-10 ebook/audiobook checkouts simultaneously
- Hoopla (free through many ND libraries): Streaming movies, music, comics, educational videos
- Gale Courses (free through many ND library systems): College-level free courses in business, technology, and academics
Budget Scenario: Building a $500/Year Education
Base curriculum (free):
- Ambleside Online structure
- Khan Academy (math and science)
- Khan Academy for social studies supplement or library books for history narrative
Supplements ($100-$200):
- Library fines and replacement costs
- Used books from thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, or homeschool Facebook groups
- Printing/shipping costs for free materials
Enrichment ($200-$300):
- Field trips (ND parks have minimal admission)
- One or two online classes or tutoring sessions
- Science or art supplies not already at home
- Museum memberships or annual park passes
Total: $500 or less.
Building Your Free Curriculum Plan
- Choose a framework: Ambleside Online (Charlotte Mason), Classical Core (classical), or Easy Peasy (eclectic online)
- Supplement core subjects: Khan Academy for math and science; CommonLit for reading
- Add North Dakota history: Heritage Center materials + local field trips
- Enrich with library resources: Overdrive for audiobooks, Gale for research databases
- Add one paid curriculum module (optional): If you want a structured writing program or advanced math ($100-$300), add it to the free base
Realistic Expectations: What Free Actually Means
Free or low-cost doesn’t mean low-quality. Khan Academy, LibreTexts, and Ambleside Online rival paid curricula in rigor. The tradeoff: You spend more time planning and curating. You’ll assemble resources rather than unbox a complete curriculum.
Families who succeed with free resources:
- Read voraciously (or don’t mind finding audiobooks)
- Have time to plan and organize
- Are flexible with pacing
- Use community support (homeschool groups, libraries, co-ops)
Families who struggle with only-free resources:
- Need high structure and clear daily assignments
- Benefit from professional curriculum organization
- Want expert answer keys and assessment built in
The honest take: Most successful ND homeschoolers use a hybrid: a free or low-cost foundational curriculum ($200-$400) plus strategic paid supplements ($300-$800) to total $500-$1,200.
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Related Resources
- Best homeschool curriculum north dakota
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More homeschooling resources: Homeschooling by State (All 50 States) | Complete North Dakota Homeschooling Guide