What Reviewers Say

Reviewers consistently describe the OER Project as a flexible world history resource that emphasizes critical thinking over rote memorization. Rabbit Hole Learning highlights its focus on big-picture thinking and historical reasoning, while Clever notes the curriculum's strength as a skills-based resource that allows parents to mix and match materials. For students who struggle with reading, Well-Trained Mind Forums points out that the readings offer adjustable Lexile levels and helpful graphics. Making Everyday Magic appreciates the nuanced approach to scientific topics like evolution, making it a viable choice for secular families. Additionally, Learning Liftoff observes that the program engages students who typically dislike history by connecting the subject to personal self-knowledge. The Organized Homeschooler emphasizes that the teacher support, including webinars and guides, is exceptional for a free program. However, Rabbit Hole Learning cautions that the classroom-style pacing may require adaptation for use in a home setting.

How It Works

A typical week begins with the parent logging into the online teacher dashboard to select a unit and choose which activities to adapt for a single student, as many were originally designed for classrooms. The child spends 45 to 60 minutes daily on the platform, watching professional videos featuring experts like John Green and practicing the 'Three Close Reads' method to analyze historical articles. Most learning happens at the computer, but parents often print out 'Claim Testing' worksheets where the student must decide if a historical statement is reliable based on evidence. By the end of the week, the child usually completes a writing assignment or a 'Data Exploration' activity that connects historical events to scientific data, such as population growth or climate changes.

Switching to This?

The OER Project does not provide formal placement tests; instead, the community recommendation is to choose the 'Big History Project' for middle school (grades 6-8) and the 'World History Project' for high school (grades 9-12). Families can easily start mid-year because the curriculum is modular, allowing you to jump into a specific era like '1750 to the Present' without completing previous units. If you are switching from a traditional textbook program, expect a significant shift away from memorizing names and dates toward analyzing global patterns and 'Big Pictures.' Parents should be aware that the transition requires more active facilitation to modify group-based projects into solo assignments that work in a home setting.

Curriculum Details

Price

$0

All OER Project curricula (Big History Project and World History Project) are completely free to use for teachers and homeschoolers.

Grades

6 - 12

Available As

Digital Video Internet required

Coverage

Single subject

Subjects

History/Social Studies Science

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Pacing

Self-paced

Parent Time

20-45 min/day

Student Independence

Semi-independent

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Academic Level

Advanced

Worldview

Secular

Engaging for Reluctant Learners

Yes

Parent Role:

Parents act as facilitators, guiding students through digital readings and videos, and leading discussions on complex inquiry-based questions.

Videos

Reviews We Consulted

Updated: March 2026

How This Compares

Compared to Story of the World, which uses a narrative, storytelling approach for younger children, the OER Project is a strictly academic and secular program that treats history as a rigorous social science. When weighed against Pandia Press (History Odyssey), OER Project offers much higher production value with its integrated video library, whereas History Odyssey relies more on external living books and encyclopedias. Parents choosing between OER Project and Khan Academy will find that OER provides much deeper inquiry-based activities and writing coaching, while Khan Academy is better for a self-paced, multiple-choice survey of facts. Compared to Notgrass History, OER Project is a 'hidden gem' for secular families seeking an evidence-based perspective, as Notgrass is deeply rooted in a Christian worldview and includes Bible study. Finally, unlike Sora Schools or other virtual programs, the OER Project is a resource library rather than a full school, meaning the parent remains the primary teacher and administrator rather than an outside instructor.

Getting Started