Out-of-the-Box History Resources We Actually Used (& Loved!)

Some of the best history learning in our homeschool hasn’t come from textbooks or curriculum. Instead, it’s come from resources that were a bit out of the box but blended seamlessly into our days.

One of my favorite history “assignments” we’ve ever used doesn’t look like history at all.

(Keep reading to find out what it was.)

What started as a simple resource turned into one that led to all sorts of discussions and changed how I engage with history & develop history studies.

That’s the kind of resource I’m always looking for — not curriculum, but tools and supplements that make history feel connected, human, and worth talking about.

Keep reading for some of the history resources we’ve used and loved over the years.

Free Black History Month

free download

This resource grew out of reader requests for something they could use during Black History Month alongside the rest of their curriculum. I’ve been intentional about incorporating diverse views in our history, but I had never done anything specifically for this month. I know it can be hard to fit one more thing into your teens’ days, so I wanted something that didn’t feel like busy work, didn’t take up much time, and was flexible enough to do as a family or individually.

Each day features one person or event that honors Black Americans. A mixture of videos & readings, teens can work through it on their own, & families with kiddos in upper elementary & middle school can do learn together. Some days include optional links if you want to dig deeper. While it was created for February, it works just as well spread out over the year.

• Best for grades 8 & up (adaptable for grades 4-7)
• Time: 10-20 minutes/day for 28 days
• Cost: free

NPR 100 Best Songs of the 20th Century (Audio)

Music + Reading

I first found NPR’s 100 Best Songs of the 20th Century playlist years ago while designing U.S. history for my daughter. She’s a slow reader, so I was looking for supplements that didn’t add to her reading load. Digging around in the dark recesses of the internet, I stumbled across the articles & playlist, published at the dawn of the new millennium. My daughter was just starting to explore new genres of music, and I knew immediately it would be a good fit.

Music may seem like a strange addition to history, but think about it. Musicians tell the stories of war & protests, of societal angst, of change. Songs like We Didn’t Start the Fire, The Times They Are A-Changin’, and We Shall Overcome helped define their eras. Each song on the playlist was chosen because it captured the mood of its time, represented a breakthrough for an artist, or introduced something new.

Because it’s audio-based and self-directed, it works especially well for teens who are reluctant readers or who resist traditional learning. I have my teens listen to a handful of songs each week, read one or two of the accompanying articles, and then choose two or three songs to share with me. Since the articles were originally heard on the radio, many of them can be listened to, as well.

And then, my favorite part, I have them choose 2-3 songs to share with me each week. I don’t give any guidance, I just ask why. Those conversations, along with their reactions to the rest of the playlist, has given me such a glimpse into who they are right now, our relationship, and how they see the world.

• Best for teens
• Time: flexible
• Cost: free

Mission US

free game

We have always included technology in our homeschool, but never without purpose. I’m even more selective about computer games & apps because far too many claim to be educational, but are little more than edutainment. So when we first came across Mission US games years ago, I was skeptical. That skepticism didn’t last long & these quickly became part of our homeschool, both in history & as a free-time activity.

In each game, the student plays a young teen navigating a real historical event. There’s no winning or losing; instead, players make choices to move through the story & play out the path of those choices. Think of it more like the Choose Your Own Adventure books. These are a great addition for US history, educational screen time, loading onto a tablet before a road trip, etc.

Currently, there are eight games available (three are available in your app store). A few of the games are For Crown or Colony? (1770 American Revolution), A Cheyenne Odyssey (1866 Westward Expansion), Up From the Dust (1929 Dust Bowl), and City of Immigrants (1907 Immigration).

• Best for grades 5-8
• Cost: Free
• Teacher guide + extension activities available

History: Watch-Next Guide

At the beginning of our homeschool journey, I had a lot of ideas about what a “good” homeschool should look like. One that I bought into? No technology at all. (2009 was a very different tech world than 2026!) That stance didn’t last long for so many reasons.

Those boring documentaries we watched in elementary school? That’s now what you find today.

As I incorporated more educational shows into our days, I ran into a problem: too many choices. The overwhelm when it was just Netflix and DVDs from the library grew exponentially as more platforms and titles came online.

That’s why I created the Watch Next Guides. In the history guide, I’ve sorted through shows & documentaries by time period across the major streaming platforms, so you don’t have to hunt them down yourself. Download the guide, pick shows that will fit into your current studies (or something that sparks your kiddo’s interest), and press play.

• Best for upper elementary through high school
• Cost: paid

Check out the growing selection of Watch Next Guides.

History by Mail (Hands-on)

Hands-on Subscription

A few years ago, History by Mail asked if I would share their product (video below!). The idea of the product intrigued me & I wasn’t disappointed. Inside our first package, we received copies of several historical documents including a letter from Annie Oakley to President McKinley, Eisenhower’s D-Day orders, and the police report and bus diagram from Rosa Parks’ arrest were three of the items. They also came with a guide that provided contextual information.

We read about events like D-Day, but when you hold a copy of the orders, knowing what they knew and facing the weight of the outcome? That puts history in a new light.

Each month, you’ll receive replicas of famous maps, letters, and other artifacts, with one theme explored over four months. I wish you could choose by specific themes, so it would be easier to match up to your history. The lack of choice, though, does have a benefit: it makes it easier to just enjoy what you receive without the temptation of making it into something more. No prep or follow-up is needed. Explore the replicas alone or add to it with the context guides. If something sparks their interest, of course you can extend the learning, but don’t feel pressured to make it more than it is.

History by Mail now offers a variety of subscriptions & one-off purchases.

• Best for: upper elementary through middle school (but flexible up or down)
• Cost: Varies by subscription choice Save 10% with code BREAKROOM10

I received the initial mail for free, but I paid for additional ones. I receive no compensation if you use that coupon code.

This is your reminder that history doesn’t have to look a certain way to count.