4 Free Homeschool Resources You’ll Actually Use

(Curriculum & Lesson Plans We’ve Used for Years)

Homeschooling doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective.

Over the years, I’ve tried many different resources with my kids, and some of the ones we’ve used the most consistently are completely free. These aren’t random printables I downloaded once and forgot about — these are the four free homeschool resources we’ve returned to again and again.

Plus 2 free unit studies at the end

If you’re homeschooling on a budget, new to homeschooling, or just need something simple that actually works, this list is for you.

The Measured Mom (recently changed to Reach All Readers)

She has an entire section of her website dedicated to free, printable resources, especially for:

• phonics
• reading
• early literacy
• learning games

What I love most is how well thought out her worksheets are. They aren’t busywork — they’re intentional, clear, and engaging. My kids especially enjoy the learning games, which makes it much easier to reinforce skills without constant resistance.

She also has some free math resources available, and everything is categorized clearly, so it’s easy to find what you need.

👉 This is a great option if you want strong phonics support without buying a full curriculum plus all of her content is based on the science of reading.

The Good and the Beautiful (Free Complete Curriculum)

I wanted to include The Good and the Beautiful because it’s one of the few places you can find a complete homeschool curriculum for free.

They offer:

• English
• Math
• Science
• and a few additional electives

All of the curriculum is available as free PDF downloads. You can print the lessons, hole-punch them, and place them into a binder — which makes it very accessible for families just getting started.

The lessons are:

• visually appealing
• colorful
• activity-based
• easy to follow

There are little hands-on elements built into the lessons that help keep kids engaged, especially in the younger grades.

👉 If you’re looking for a structured, open-and-go option without the cost, this is a great place to start.

Little Bins for Little Hands

Another free resource I’ve really enjoyed using focuses on science, STEM, and art-based learning.

There is a lot available for free on this website, including:

• hands-on activities
• lesson ideas
• creative projects

While some content is behind a paywall, there is still a generous amount of free lessons and activities that are easy to use and fun to implement.

👉 This is a great option if your kids learn best through projects and hands-on exploration.

Science Buddies (Free Science Lesson Plans by Topic or Grade)

For science specifically, Science Buddies has been a very helpful resource for us.

What I appreciate most is how organized the site is. You can:

• browse by topic
• browse by grade level
• follow complete lesson plans step by step

Each lesson clearly lists:

• materials needed
• required equipment
• instructions for teaching the lesson

This makes it especially helpful if you don’t want to plan everything from scratch.

👉 These lessons are also easy to get approved with ESA funding, which is a big plus for many homeschooling families.

Bonus Free Resource #1: United States Symbols Unit Study

One of our favorite unit studies was a United States Symbols packet that I made and we completed together.

We had so much fun working through this unit, and it worked well across multiple ages thanks to all of the fun crafts. I’ve also shared a video showing exactly how we completed this unit as a family, which I’ll link below so you can see it in action.

👉 This is a great option if you’re looking for a simple, meaningful social studies unit you can complete as a group, without extra cost and is printer friendly!

Bonus Free Resource #2: Free Ocean Unit Study

Another unit study I created that was a hit was our ocean unit study.

This one included:

• hands-on projects and crafts
• simple science lessons
• memory match game

I also created a video walking through how we completed this unit together and sharing project ideas that worked well for us.

👉 If you’re looking for an engaging, themed unit study that doesn’t require purchasing a curriculum, this is a great option. Just print and go.

Final Thoughts

Homeschooling doesn’t require expensive curriculum to be effective.

Some of the most meaningful learning experiences we’ve had came from free resources that were thoughtfully designed and easy to adapt to our family’s needs.

If you’re in a season where:

• you need to simplify
• you’re homeschooling on a budget
• you’re just overwhelmed and need something easy
• or just need something to fill in a summer gap

I hope one of these resources helps lighten the load.

If you know of another great free homeschool resource, feel free to share it in the comments, I’d love to create a free database for all homeschoolers.

Check out the free resources walkthrough here:

follow along as I walk through the top 4 free resources I have found for homeschooling

Find my homeschool essentials here.