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Free Homeschool Curriculum & Resources in Connecticut
Overview
One of the biggest myths about homeschooling is that it’s expensive. While quality curriculum can cost money, Connecticut offers a wealth of completely free educational resources that rival paid curricula in quality.
Between the state’s exceptional public library system, online platforms, museum partnerships, and digital collections, you can build a robust homeschool curriculum without spending a dime on curriculum purchases.
This guide maps Connecticut’s free homeschool resources—from online courses and interactive lessons to museum field trip discounts and community-based learning opportunities.
Free Online Curricula & Learning Platforms
Khan Academy
What It Is: Complete, free K-12 video instruction in math, science, English, history, and test prep.
Subjects: Mathematics (arithmetic through calculus), biology, chemistry, physics, US history, world history, economics, US government, English language arts
How It Works:
- Parents create free account for child
- Student progresses at own pace
- Detailed progress tracking for parents
- Videos range from 5–15 minutes each
- Practice problems with immediate feedback
Best For:
- Math instruction and practice
- Science concept review
- Working parents who need flexible, self-paced learning
- Supplementing other curricula
Cost: Completely free
Connecticut Advantage: No internet connection issues in Connecticut (unlike rural states). Accessible from any computer with broadband.
Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool
What It Is: Free, open-source, complete K-12 curriculum accessed online.
Subjects: Literature, history, science, math, art, music, health, character education
How It Works:
- All lessons organized by day (students complete daily assignments)
- Mix of video, reading, writing, projects
- Parental dashboard to track progress
- Community forums for support
- No textbooks needed
Grade Range: Pre-K through high school
Cost: Completely free (donations accepted; paid premium option available but not necessary)
Strengths:
- Structured daily schedule (helpful for families needing accountability)
- Includes literature, science, and social studies
- Low parent involvement required
- Works on any device with internet
Considerations:
- Less polished than paid curricula
- Less customizable
- Requires consistent daily work
Google Classroom & Google Educational Apps
What It Is: Free suite of Google apps designed for classroom use—accessible to homeschoolers.
Apps Included:
- Google Docs/Sheets (writing, data organization)
- Google Classroom (assignment management, grading)
- Google Forms (quizzes, surveys)
- YouTube Education
- Google Scholar (academic research)
Best For:
- High school students
- Organizing assignments and submissions
- Collaborative projects
- Document creation and sharing
Cost: Completely free with Google account
LibreOffice
What It Is: Free open-source alternative to Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Use Cases:
- Writing and editing documents
- Math and data spreadsheets
- Presentations
- All features of paid MS Office
Cost: Completely free
Connecticut Note: Available through Connecticut Public Libraries’ digital resources.
Connecticut Public Library System Resources
Connecticut’s public library system is one of the strongest in the nation—and most resources are free to Connecticut residents.
Free Databases for Homeschoolers
Learning Express (available through Connecticut Public Library)
- Interactive, animated lessons for K-5
- Subjects: Math, language arts, science, social studies
- Self-paced, engaging for younger learners
- Free with library card
Gale Courses (available through Connecticut libraries)
- Over 600 free online courses
- Subjects: Professional development, hobbies, academic subjects
- High school and adult learners
- Certificates available
- Free with library card
Britannica Online
- Comprehensive encyclopedia for research
- Age-appropriate explanations
- Reliable sources for reports and projects
- Free through Connecticut library systems
ProQuest K-12 Databases
- Scholarly articles, primary sources, ebooks
- Research support for projects and reports
- Access varies by library system
Digital Collections & E-Resources
OverDrive/Libby (Digital Lending)
- Free ebooks and audiobooks
- Educational content, fiction, reference
- Borrow up to 50 items at once
- Free library card access
Hoopla (Digital Collection)
- Streaming videos, documentaries
- Educational content (history, science, biographies)
- Unlimited borrowing (no wait lists)
- Free library card access
Kanopy Streaming Video
- Documentaries, educational films
- Films on science, history, nature, literature
- Free through many Connecticut libraries
Physical Homeschool Curriculum Collections
Many Connecticut public libraries maintain homeschool curriculum collections—textbooks, workbooks, and supplementary materials you can borrow for free.
Check Your Local Library:
- Ask librarian about homeschool curriculum materials
- Borrow Saxon Math textbooks, Abeka materials, other curricula
- Test before buying
- Many libraries allow 3–4 week checkout periods
Library Programs & Events
Homeschool Book Clubs
- Many Connecticut libraries offer homeschool-specific book clubs
- Monthly meetings (usually free or low-cost)
- Build community while reading
Homeschool Story Hours
- Some Connecticut libraries offer special morning story hours for homeschool groups
- Free or $1–2 per child
- Great for younger learners
Museum Passes
- Many Connecticut library systems offer free or discounted passes to local museums
- Participating museums: Connecticut Science Center, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, Mystic Aquarium, Yale museums, and more
- Typically 1–2 free visits per year per library card holder
Summer Reading Programs
- Free summer programming for homeschoolers
- Badges, prizes, reading logs
- Community engagement and book discovery
STEM Programs
- Robotics clubs, coding workshops
- Science demonstrations
- Often free for library patrons
Free Field Trip Destinations & Museum Resources
Educational Field Trips (Free or Low-Cost)
Connecticut Science Center (Hartford)
- Admission: $18 (but free passes available through libraries in some cases)
- Planetarium shows, interactive STEM exhibits
- Homeschool group discounts available
- Website: ctsciencecenter.org
Submarine Force Museum (Groton)
- COMPLETELY FREE ADMISSION
- USS Nautilus, naval history, interactive exhibits
- One of Connecticut’s best free educational resources
- Website: submarinemuseum.org
Connecticut Museum of Culture and History (Hartford)
- Exhibits on colonial Connecticut, Native American history, immigration
- Free admission hours sometimes available
- Homeschool programming
- Website: cultureandhistory.org
Mark Twain House & Museum (Hartford)
- Historic home, literary history
- Homeschool-specific tour packages (discounted)
- Website: marktwainhouse.org
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center (Hartford)
- Historic home of abolitionist author
- Educational programs on social justice history
- Free or pay-what-you-wish hours (check website)
- Website: harrietbeecherstowecenter.org
Yale University Museums (New Haven)
- Yale University Art Gallery: FREE ADMISSION
- Peabody Museum of Natural History: $14 (free hours some evenings)
- Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library: Free
- Website: yale.edu/museums
Mystic Seaport Museum
- Largest maritime museum in US
- Homeschool discounts available
- Website: mysticseaport.org
Connecticut Historical Society (Hartford)
- State history, primary documents, artifacts
- Research collections (free to use)
- Website: connecticuthistory.org
Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center (Mashantucket)
- Native American history, Pequot culture
- Homeschool group rates available
- Website: pequotmuseum.org
Florence Griswold Museum (Old Lyme)
- American Impressionism art education
- Nature trails (free to walk)
- Website: florencegriswoldmuseum.org
Free or Low-Cost Nature-Based Learning
Connecticut State Parks
- Free or minimal parking fees ($5–7)
- Hiking trails, nature study opportunities
- Popular parks: Sleeping Giant State Park, Cockaponset State Forest, Pachaug State Forest
- Website: ct.gov/deep/parks
Connecticut Audubon Society
- Free and low-cost nature walks and programs
- Environmental education resources
- Website: ctaudubon.org
River Advocacy Groups
- Connecticut River Watershed Council offers free education materials
- Website: ctriver.org
Free Online Courses & Learning Platforms
Coursera
What It Is: Free courses from universities (with optional paid certificate).
Subjects: Science, history, mathematics, computer science, programming
Format: Video lectures, readings, quizzes
Cost: Completely free to audit; paid certificates optional
Good For: High school students or advanced learners exploring college-level material
edX
What It Is: Free courses from MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and other universities.
Subjects: K-12 support through advanced university-level courses
Cost: Free to audit courses; paid certificates optional
Good For: College prep, subject exploration, advanced learners
Crash Course (YouTube)
What It Is: High-quality, fast-paced educational videos on YouTube.
Subjects: US History, World History, Biology, Chemistry, Literature, European History, Anatomy & Physiology
Format: 10–15 minute videos organized by topic
Cost: Completely free on YouTube
Good For: High school students and older learners
Connecticut Use: Excellent supplement to history and science curricula
TED-Ed
What It Is: Short, animated educational videos designed for learners.
Subjects: Science, history, economics, psychology, literature, social studies
Format: 4–10 minute videos with discussion questions
Cost: Completely free
Good For: Quick concept explanations, enrichment
Project SIFT (Smithsonian)
What It Is: Free online resources from Smithsonian Institution.
Subjects: Science, history, nature, culture
Format: Videos, articles, interactive tools
Cost: Completely free
Website: si.edu
Free Creative & Enrichment Resources
Free Music Instruction
- OpenMusicTheory: Free music theory instruction
- YouTube Music Teachers: Quality free piano, guitar, voice lessons
- MusicTheory.net: Interactive music theory lessons
Free Art Resources
- Khan Academy Art: Free art history and technique videos
- Museum Online Collections: Most major museums (including Connecticut institutions) offer free digital collections
- Creative Commons: Free images, music, and materials for educational projects
Free Writing & Language Arts
- NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program: Free writing community for students (November)
- Story Wars: Free creative writing challenges
- LibriVox: Free public domain audiobooks (literature education)
Free Coding & Computer Science
- Code.org: Free coding lessons from beginner to advanced
- Scratch: Free visual programming platform for students
- MIT App Inventor: Free app building tool
- CodePen: Free code sharing and learning community
Free Connecticut History Resources
Connecticut-Specific Educational Materials
Connecticut Historical Society
- Free digital collections and primary documents
- Educational lesson plans
- Website: connecticuthistory.org
Connecticut History Center
- Connecticut history resources
- Document collections
- Website: cthumanities.org
Library of Congress: Connecticut Collections
- Historic photographs and documents
- Free research materials
- Website: loc.gov
Primary Source Documents
- Founding documents (Fundamental Orders of 1639)
- Colonial records
- Constitutional Convention materials
- All available free online
Free Homeschool Support & Community
Connecticut Homeschool Network (CHN)
- Free membership with perks
- Free webinars and workshops
- Free access to teaching resource library
- Free monthly meetups by region
- Website: cthomeschoolnetwork.org
Facebook Groups (Free Community)
- Connecticut Homeschool Network (10,000+ members)
- CT Homeschoolers Inclusive
- CT Progressive Homeschoolers
- Unschooling CT
- Free peer support and resource sharing
Free Homeschool Blogs & Websites
- Homeschool Share: Free curriculum guides, literature unit studies
- Charlotte Mason Series: Free CM-aligned resources
- Conventional Wisdom (Connecticut-based): Free articles and resources
Print Resources & Books (Free from Libraries)
Build Your Library Collection for Free
- Borrow heavily: Connecticut libraries allow 3–4 week borrowing periods
- Interlibrary loan: Access books from libraries statewide
- eBooks: Borrow digital copies with no physical travel
- Audiobooks: Strengthen listening comprehension through library audiobooks
Research Materials (Free)
- Connecticut libraries provide access to scholarly databases
- Academic journals and articles
- Primary source collections
- All available free to library patrons
Money-Saving Strategies with Free Resources
Budget Homeschool Year ($650/year or less)
| Category | Cost | Resources | |———-|——|———–| | Core Curriculum | $0 | Easy Peasy, Khan Academy | | Math Practice | $0 | Khan Academy, worksheets (free online) | | Science | $0 | Khan Academy, YouTube documentaries | | History | $0 | Library books, online primary sources | | Literature | $0 | Library books, LibriVox audiobooks | | Field Trips | $100–$150 | Free museum passes (library), state parks | | Supplies | $100 | Paper, pencils, basic materials | | Total | $200–$250 | — |
Complementary Budget Year ($1,000/year)
Use free core curriculum + minimal paid supplements:
- Easy Peasy All-in-One (free)
- Khan Academy (free)
- Saxon Math textbook (used, $50–80)
- One paid online class (Outschool, $80–120/month)
- Field trips and supplies ($200)
- Co-op membership ($100–200)
How to Access Free Connecticut Library Resources
Step 1: Get a Library Card
- Visit nearest Connecticut public library branch
- Bring proof of residency (utility bill, lease, ID)
- Instant free card
- Includes cardholders in entire family
Step 2: Access Digital Resources
- Log into library website
- Browse digital collections and databases
- Install Libby, OverDrive, Hoopla apps
- Access from home, anytime
Step 3: Ask About Homeschool Collections
- Tell your librarian you homeschool
- Ask about curriculum lending collections
- Ask about homeschool programs
- Ask about museum passes
Step 4: Join Online Communities
- Connecticut Homeschool Network Facebook group
- CT Homeschoolers Inclusive
- Ask other families for resource recommendations
Key Takeaways
- You can build a complete homeschool curriculum for free using Easy Peasy, Khan Academy, library resources, and online platforms.
- Connecticut’s public library system is exceptional. Use it strategically: databases, books, ebooks, audiobooks, museum passes, and programs.
- Free field trip destinations are abundant: Submarine Museum is completely free; Yale museums are free; state parks have minimal fees.
- Community is free: Connecticut Homeschool Network offers free membership with significant perks, plus free Facebook groups and meetups.
- Quality matters: Free resources like Khan Academy and Crash Course rival many paid curricula in quality—don’t assume free means inferior.
- Budget flexibility: Whether you can spend $200 or $2,000, Connecticut’s free resources stretch your dollars significantly.
Next Steps
- Get a Connecticut library card today if you don’t have one
- Explore 2–3 digital databases (Learning Express, Gale Courses, OverDrive)
- Set up Khan Academy accounts for your children
- Join Connecticut Homeschool Network (free membership)
- Plan a trip to Submarine Force Museum (free!)
- Ask your librarian about homeschool resources specific to your library branch
Connecticut homeschoolers have access to world-class free resources. Use them strategically, and you can provide an exceptional education without breaking the budget.