What Reviewers Say

Reviewers consistently praise Smarthistory for its expert-led, immersive approach that makes high-level art scholarship accessible to the home environment. According to "The Homeschool Mom," the platform is highly effective as a visual supplement, particularly for capturing student interest in ancient civilizations through virtual tours. Bethany Ishee highlights the "college-level academic framework" it provides, noting that its partnership with Khan Academy offers a structured, chronological path ideal for high schoolers. Furthermore, "Homeschool Naturally" identifies it as a premier secular resource that democratizes art history by collaborating with hundreds of curators and historians. A common trade-off noted by users is the density of the information; because it is used for AP and college prep, it can be overwhelming without the structure of a syllabus. However, the consensus is that for a free resource, the quality of its "conversational" videos recorded on-location is unsurpassed by traditional publishers.

How It Works

A typical week involves the student following a chronological path (such as the "Reframing Art History" syllabus or the Khan Academy course) and engaging with 3-5 specific works of art. The student spends 30-45 minutes per day watching conversational videos recorded on-site at museums and reading scholarly essays that provide cultural context. The parent reviews the "sample discussion questions" provided on the site to facilitate a weekly check-in. No specialized materials are needed beyond a computer or tablet, though some families choose to print the PDF guides for offline reading.

Switching to This?

There is no placement test, as the content is modular and topical. The community rule of thumb is to start high schoolers with the "Introduction to Art History" or "AP Art History" syllabus to ensure a foundational understanding of terminology. Families can easily start mid-year by jumping into specific historical eras (e.g., The Renaissance or Ancient Egypt). When switching from a standard history textbook, parents should expect a shift from memorizing dates to analyzing visual culture and "learning how to look."

Curriculum Details

Price

$0

Free art-history essays and videos from art historians; strong for high school and up.

Grades

9 - 12

Available As

Digital

Coverage

Supplement

Subjects

Art History/Social Studies

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Pacing

Self-paced

Parent Time

30-60 min/day

Student Independence

Fully independent

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Academic Level

Advanced

Worldview

Secular

Teach Multiple Ages

Yes

Engaging for Reluctant Learners

Yes

Parent Role:

The parent acts as a facilitator or co-learner. Because the content is expert-led via video and essay, the parent's primary role is assigning specific modules or discussing the conversational prompts provided in the "Reframing Art History" guide.

Videos

Reviews We Consulted

Updated: July 2026 by Claude (v2 research)

How This Compares

Khan Academy: Smarthistory provides the actual content and videos used in Khan Academy's Art History courses, but Smarthistory's own site offers more deep-dive essays and specialized "pathways." - Art History Kids: Art History Kids is designed for younger elementary children with a focus on hands-on art projects, whereas Smarthistory is academic and intended for high school and college levels. - The Garden of Francis: Unlike the secular and global focus of Smarthistory, this is a Catholic-specific curriculum that follows a Charlotte Mason approach. - The Story of the World: This is a narrative history for elementary students, while Smarthistory serves as a high-level visual and cultural supplement for older students.

Getting Started