Notgrass History Review: An Honest Look for Christian Homeschool Families

If you’ve been in Christian homeschool circles for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard the name Notgrass. Notgrass History comes up in co-op conversations, Facebook groups, and curriculum fairs again and again — and for good reason. But is it actually the right fit for your family? This complete guide gives you everything you need to know about Notgrass History, including our own honest experience, who it suits best, how it compares to popular alternatives, and exactly how to get started.

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This Notgrass History review gives you an honest look — including our own experience with one of their products — so you can make a confident decision before you buy.

What Is Notgrass History? A Complete Overview

Notgrass History is a Christian homeschool curriculum created by Ray and Charlene Notgrass, veteran homeschoolers themselves. Their courses cover American history, world history, and geography from early elementary all the way through high school — all written from a Biblical worldview.

What sets Notgrass apart is the narrative style. Instead of dry textbook writing, lessons read more like a story. Scripture is woven throughout — not tacked on at the end of a chapter, but built into how history is taught. The goal is to help kids see that God is sovereign over all of history, not just Sunday mornings.

Their elementary line covers grades 1 through 4 and includes courses in U.S. history, U.S. geography, and world geography. It’s designed to be open-and-go, meaning parents don’t need to do a lot of prep work before each lesson. Each course includes a main text written directly to the student, a Student Workbook with activities and review questions, and a Parent Guide to keep teaching simple and clear.

The middle and high school lines are even more expansive. Courses like America the Beautiful, Exploring World History, and From Adam to Us integrate history, English literature, and Bible into a single, unified program. That means a high schooler can potentially earn credits in multiple subjects from one curriculum — a significant advantage when you’re building a transcript.

If you’re working through the high school years and wondering how all the pieces fit together, our homeschool high school guide walks you through the full picture of planning credits, transcripts, and graduation requirements.

Our Honest Notgrass History Experience

We want to be upfront with you: we haven’t used the full Notgrass History program. What we have used is their geography product — specifically their states curriculum, Our 50 States — with our daughter in first grade.

Here’s what happened.

The material itself is solid. It’s well-made, clearly Christian, and genuinely educational. But for our first grader, it was a lot. The lessons required more focused attention than she was ready to give at that age. It started to feel like a sticky point in our school day — the thing she resisted — and that resistance was starting to affect the rest of our lessons.

We made the call to pull it out of our rotation and find something lighter for that season. It wasn’t a failure — it was a fit issue.

Here’s what that taught us about Notgrass: it has real substance and structure. That’s actually a compliment. It’s not a fluffy, light curriculum. It expects something from your student. For a child who thrives on structure and is used to sitting and working, that’s a gift. For a child still building those habits, you may want to wait.

We fully plan to revisit Notgrass when our daughter is a few grades older and her school stamina has grown.

Who Is Notgrass History Best For?

Based on what we experienced and what we’ve heard from other homeschool families, Notgrass tends to be a great fit for:

Kids in grades 2 through 4 and up. Notgrass offers content for first grade, but many families find it works better once a child is more comfortable with the structure of formal learning. If your child is still learning how to do school, you may want to start with something lighter and come back.

Families who want strong Biblical integration. This isn’t a secular curriculum with a Bible verse sprinkled in. Scripture shapes how history is understood throughout every lesson. If that’s a priority for your family, Notgrass delivers.

Parents who want open-and-go. One of the most common things you’ll hear from Notgrass users is how little prep it requires. Lessons are laid out clearly. You don’t need to be a history expert to teach it well.

Kids who enjoy reading and listening. Notgrass uses a narrative approach — lots of story-driven content. Kids who love being read to, or who are strong independent readers, tend to thrive with this style.

High schoolers who need integrated credits. If you’re homeschooling through the high school years, the ability to combine history, literature, and Bible into one program is a practical and academic win. This is one of Notgrass’s strongest selling points for older students.

Families teaching multiple ages. Because each Notgrass course is self-contained, some families use the same course for two children at different levels by adjusting the workbook expectations. It’s not a formal multi-age program, but the narrative style lends itself to being read aloud together.

What to Know Before You Buy Notgrass History

A few things worth knowing as you consider Notgrass:

The elementary line covers grades 1–4. Courses include U.S. history, U.S. geography, and world geography. You can use them in any order, and you can switch to Notgrass from another curriculum without needing to start at the beginning — each course is designed to stand on its own.

High school courses are more comprehensive. If you’re looking ahead, the high school courses integrate history, English literature, and Bible into a single program — potentially earning students credits in all three subjects. That’s a significant value when you’re building a homeschool transcript.

Pricing is mid-range. Notgrass is not the most expensive option on the market, but it’s also not free. Elementary packages are reasonably priced for a full-year curriculum, and the high school packages offer strong value given the multi-subject integration. Check the Notgrass website directly for current pricing, as it can vary by course and bundle.

It’s not a DVD or app-based program. Notgrass is a reading and discussion-based curriculum. If your child needs videos or interactive digital elements to stay engaged, you’d want to supplement or consider a different fit.

Supplementing is easy. Because the lessons are story-driven and discussion-friendly, Notgrass pairs well with documentaries, map work, living books, and field trips. Many families add in picture books or library reads on the same topic without any disruption to the program. For more ideas on how to bring history to life at home, see our guide on how to teach history at home.

The curriculum is purchased directly. Notgrass sells through their own website and does not distribute exclusively through Amazon or third-party retailers. This means you order directly from Notgrass, which also gives you access to their customer support if you have questions about placement or course selection.

Notgrass History Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Genuine Biblical integration throughout every lesson, not just added on
• Narrative writing style that holds attention better than a traditional textbook
• Open-and-go design that requires minimal teacher prep
• Covers a wide age range from early elementary through high school
• High school courses can count for multiple credits simultaneously
• Each course stands alone, so you can start at any point
• Well-organized parent guides make teaching straightforward

Cons:

• May be too structured for very young learners or children still building school stamina
• No video or digital component, which some children need for engagement
• Purchased directly from Notgrass rather than widely available through retailers
• Strong focus on reading means struggling readers may need additional support
• Not designed as a formal multi-age program, so teaching multiple grades simultaneously takes some creativity

How Notgrass History Compares to Popular Alternatives

If you’re deciding between Notgrass and other popular options, here’s an honest comparison:

Notgrass vs. Story of the World — Story of the World uses a pure storytelling approach and is a strong choice for early elementary, especially younger children. Notgrass has more structure and Biblical depth. Many families use Story of the World in the early years and move to Notgrass in the upper elementary or middle school grades. If your child is a very young learner, Story of the World may be the gentler starting point.

Notgrass vs. Mystery of History — Both are Christian and content-rich. Mystery of History covers world history chronologically across multiple volumes and works well for multi-age families. Notgrass offers more grade-specific courses and an easier open-and-go experience. If teaching multiple ages simultaneously is your primary goal, Mystery of History may have a slight edge; if ease of implementation matters most, Notgrass wins.

Notgrass vs. Masterbooks — Masterbooks is another solid Christian option with a strong creationist worldview emphasis. Notgrass tends to have a more narrative, literary feel, while Masterbooks leans more structured and academic. Both are excellent choices; the decision often comes down to your child’s learning style.

Notgrass vs. Sonlight — Sonlight is a literature-based program built around read-alouds and living books. It requires more parent-led time and curation. Notgrass is more self-contained and open-and-go. Families who love books and don’t mind doing some reading-aloud together often love Sonlight; families who want structure without a lot of moving parts often prefer Notgrass. You can read our full Sonlight curriculum review to compare in more detail.

Notgrass vs. Heart of Dakota — Heart of Dakota is a thorough, multi-subject program that weaves history through a full daily schedule. It’s more of an all-in-one box curriculum, while Notgrass focuses specifically on history, geography, and literature. If you want Notgrass to anchor your history and then build other subjects around it yourself, that’s an easy approach. If you’d rather have a full daily schedule handed to you, Heart of Dakota is worth exploring.

How to Get Started With Notgrass History

If you’re ready to give Notgrass a try, here’s how to approach it confidently:

Step 1: Decide on your starting course. For elementary students, look at the subject options — U.S. history, U.S. geography, or world geography — and choose based on what you plan to cover this school year. There’s no required sequence, so follow your own plan.

Step 2: Consider your child’s readiness. As our experience showed, the structure of Notgrass requires a child who can sit and engage with a lesson. If your child is in early first grade and still getting used to formal schoolwork, consider starting with something lighter and saving Notgrass for second grade or later.

Step 3: Order directly from Notgrass. Visit the Notgrass website to browse current courses, see sample pages, and place your order. They offer a generous sample download so you can preview the writing style and lesson format before committing.

Step 4: Plan your weekly rhythm. Notgrass lessons are designed to be completed a few times per week. Look at how many lessons are in the course and divide them across your school year to make sure you finish comfortably without rushing.

Step 5: Supplement as you go. Add library books, documentaries, or map activities alongside lessons to deepen your child’s engagement. Notgrass doesn’t require you to do this, but it makes the lessons even richer.

If you’re looking for an affordable way to round out your curriculum beyond history, SchoolhouseTeachers.com is an online Christian homeschool membership from The Old Schoolhouse with courses across many subjects and grade levels — a helpful complement if you want more than history covered under one membership.

Frequently Asked Questions About Notgrass History

Is Notgrass History only for Christian families?

Notgrass History is written explicitly from a Biblical worldview. Scripture is integrated throughout the lessons, not just included as an optional add-on. It is designed for Christian families and will feel most natural in a home where faith is central to education. Families with a secular approach would likely find the Christian content pervasive rather than optional.

What grades does Notgrass History cover?

Notgrass offers elementary courses for grades 1 through 4, covering U.S. history, U.S. geography, and world geography. They also offer middle school and high school courses that cover American history and world history in much greater depth. The high school courses are among their most popular because they integrate history, literature, and Bible for potential multi-subject credit.

Do I need to buy anything extra to use Notgrass?

Each Notgrass course typically comes as a set that includes a student text, a student workbook, and a parent guide. That’s generally all you need to get started. Some families choose to add supplemental library books or map activities, but those are optional enrichments, not requirements.

Is Notgrass History good for a child who struggles with reading?

Because Notgrass relies heavily on reading — either independently or read aloud by the parent — a child who struggles with reading will likely need the parent to read most or all of the lessons aloud. That’s absolutely doable, and many families use it that way. Just know that the curriculum is text-driven, so it does require that reading be part of your daily school time in some form.

Can I use Notgrass History with more than one child at the same time?

Notgrass is not marketed as a formal multi-age program, but many families do use it across age ranges by reading the lessons aloud together and adjusting the workbook expectations for each child. Because each course is self-contained and narrative-driven, it lends itself well to being a family read-aloud that everyone participates in at their own level.

How does Notgrass History compare to what public schools teach?

Notgrass covers many of the same historical events and time periods you would find in a standard school curriculum, but it frames everything through a Biblical lens. God’s sovereignty, the role of faith in history, and a respect for the Biblical account of origins are woven throughout. Families who want their children to understand history from a Christian perspective, rather than a secular or neutral one, will find that Notgrass fills that need well.

Our Verdict on Notgrass History

Notgrass History is a well-made, genuinely Christian curriculum with real substance. It’s not trying to be the flashiest thing on the shelf — it’s trying to give your children a meaningful understanding of history through the lens of Scripture. And it does that well.

If you’re also looking for a dedicated Bible curriculum to pair with it, we have a full guide on the best Bible curriculum for homeschoolers. That combination can give your kids a strong foundation in both history and faith.

Is it the right fit right now for every family? Not necessarily. If you have a young child still building school habits, you may find the structure is more than they’re ready for — that was our experience. But if you have a child in second grade or older who is ready to dig in, Notgrass History is absolutely worth a serious look.

We’ll be revisiting it in our own home in the coming years. That’s the best endorsement we can give.

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Some content in this review reflects research and community insights alongside our personal experience with one Notgrass product. AI tools were used in the preparation of this content.