Social studies help kids understand history, geography, cultures, and how societies function. Whether you’re exploring ancient civilizations, world geography, government, or economics, we’ve gathered free lesson plans, worksheets, and activities to make learning engaging and meaningful in your homeschool!
Full Curriculum
Core Knowledge – filter by History/Geography and/or by grade (K-8)
Georgia Virtual Learning – K-12, choose age group and then grade and then social studies. For highschool it includes AP classes
Michigan Open Book Project – K-12 downloadable texts
Open Social Studies – US based K-6 and 5-7
The Student’s Friend – two history texts can be downloaded or viewed online. Prehistory-1500 or 1500-present
Oak National Academy – UK based, see chart at side if needed, click on key stage and then subject
PASS – designed for special needs, downloadable (History, Economics and American Government)
Big History Project – full history course online grades 6-12
World History Courses – from same people as above, grades 9-12
General History
BBC Bitesize History – UK based, KS1-Higher Learning, use chart on right to find the right section
CK-12 – click on subject drop down to find history or world history and find digital textbooks and more resources
C-SPAN Classroom – resources for US social studies teachers
PBS Learning Media – videos, interactives, audio, image, documents etc, choose social studies, US history or World history
Library of Congress Resources – a few of them are history related
California History-Social Science – lessons for K-12
Ducksters History – website for kids to find history information
Edsitement – lessons for social studies and humanities. Use filters to find what you want
Google Arts & Culture History – tons of information on different parts of history
World History
World History Highschool Textbook – from Michigan Open Book Project NEW
Ancient World History (7th Grade) Textbook – from Michigan Open Book Project NEW
Canadian History
Canadian Mysteries – choose from 10+ real Canadian mysteries and follow along while learning about them with original documents and more.
That Canadian Teacher History Resources – google doc with links to activities, slideshows and more for 20th century NEW
US History
American Historical Association Resource Library – booklets, essays, toolkits, videos and more
The American YAWP – online open source American History textbook
GetWorksheets – free PDF worksheets on US history topics (and other subjects)
United States History Highschool Textbook – from Michigan Open Book Project NEW
United States History 8th Grade Textbook – from Michigan Open Book Project NEW
United States History 5th Grade Textbook – from Michigan Open Book Project NEW
United States Studies 4th Grade Textbook – from Michigan Open Book Project NEW
Cultural History
Black Past – a HUGE online encyclopedia of Black History, there is even an educator resources section
California Indian Education for All – tons of resources on American Indigenous people including a section on Thanksgiving
First Nations Education Steering Committee – British Columbia First Nations resources
Native Knowledge 360 – educational resources from National Museum of the American Indian
Central American Stories – stories and resources for children growing up during Central American civil wars
Field Museum World Cultures – resources for different cultures, not sure if it changes?
General Geography
BBC Bitesize Geography – UK based, KS1-Higher Learning, use chart on right to find the right section
CK-12 – click on subject drop down to find geography and find digital textbooks and more resources
C-SPAN Classroom – resources for US social studies teachers
PBS Learning Media – videos, interactives, audio, image, documents etc
The World Factbook – from CIA, resources for 250+ world entities (countries etc)
Geographic Big Ideas – online textbook about world geography, can be used in any order
Google Arts & Culture Expeditions – virtual field trips click on geography or history topics to see options
Geography Textbooks – by Caitie Finlayson, World Regional Geography, Intro to Human Geography and Human Geography a Connected Approach
National Geographic Kids – an online encyclopedia for kids about different countries
Seterra – online mapwork games, you don’t have to sign up but if you do you can save your progress and try to improve
Library of Congress Resources – a few of them are geography related
Ducksters Geography – websites for kids to find geography information
Edsitement – lessons for social studies and humanities. Use filters to find what you want
GetWorksheets – free PDF worksheets on geography (and other subjects)
World Geography
World Regional Geography Textbook – from Atlantic OER, you can read online or download for free
6th Grade World Geography Textbook – from Michigan Open Book Project
Canadian Geography
none yet
US Geography
Freedom: a History of US – webisodes about US history, no longer maintained so might not work
US Government/Civics
CK-12 – click on subject drop down to find government and find digital textbooks and more resources
C-SPAN Classroom – resources for US social studies teachers
iCivics Education – teacher resources and games for kids
KidCitizen – interactive episodes for K-5 about congress and civic engagement
PBS Learning Media – videos, interactives, audio, image, documents etc
State Studies – WeeFolkArt’s 50 state studies, all downloadable materials
Ben’s Guide to the US Government – learning webpage for kids
Civic Life Highschool Textbook – from Michigan Open Book Project NEW
Canadian Civics NEW
Civics Education Guide – A guide with activities from Historica Canada NEW
Democracy in Canada – Just basic info from Government of Canada NEW
Everyone in: Why Civics is Power – Youtube Video (long) but very educational NEW
Civics from Canadian Encyclopedia – tons of articles and such on Canadian Civics NEW
Learn About Parliament – Website dedicated to learning about parliament NEW
Democracy Skills Civics and Citizenship Course – PDF lessons from the Democracy Education Network NEW
Civics Resources – from OHASSTA including a full Grade 10 Civics Course NEW
Teacher’s Corner – Government of Canada website NEW
Elections Canada – download or request by mail the stuff for lessons on elections and related subjects NEW
Economics
CK-12 – click on subject drop down to find economics and find digital textbooks and more resources
C-SPAN Classroom – resources for US social studies teachers
PBS Learning Media – videos, interactives, audio, image, documents etc
EconEdLink – resources for K-college
Federal Reserve Education – K-college teacher resources + highschool economics curriculum
Economics and You Textbook – from Michigan Open Book Project, highschool level NEW
Photo by Vika Glitter