What other subjects will I need to add?

The three essential subjects to add are Reading Instruction, Handwriting, and Math.

Choose levels that fit your own child's needs. The nature science (through literature, videos, and activities) will be plenty for most kindergarten-age children, but if you have a child who is especially interested in science, you could also opt to add in a science curriculum.

What books do I need to buy?

There are a LOT of books scheduled in this literature-rich program. You can find the complete booklist in the sample. You do not need to purchase all of these titles, although if you are in a season of life where you are looking to build up your home library with good children's books, these are great titles to choose from. If you have good library access, many of these titles are widely available at libraries. If you do not, the vast majority of the weekly picture books have Youtube read-alouds that are linked on the course webpage so that you can still listen to the book. A physical copy is preferred, of course, but Youtube read-aloud videos come in handy in a pinch.

Most of the picture books are scheduled for use in just one week. The two books used all year long are:

The Kingdom of God - Old Testament by Lithos Kids (use my affiliate code RACHEL10 for 10% off at LithosKids.com)

The Llama Who Had No Pajama by Mary Ann Hoberman

Books used for a few weeks include 6 books from the Over And Under series by Kate Messner (each is used for 5 weeks) as well as the chapter books--some of which are scheduled for a few weeks, with longer chapter books (The Very, Very Far North by Dan Bar-el, and The Trumpet of the Swan and Charlotte's Web by E.B. White) scheduled for a 5-week segment.

For your convenience, I have created a shoppable Amazon storefront list with all of the books required for The Curious Kinder. Find that page here. We receive commissions from Amazon affiliate links at no extra cost to you.

Is this Like Purely Preschool?

The Curious Kinder was created in response for those asking for the “next level” after Purely Preschool and Alphabet Adventures. In my “ideal” plan, I would use Purely Preschool with a 3 year old, Alphabet Adventures with a 4 year old, and The Curious Kinder with a 5 year old. In reality, what happens in homeschool is often more complex and doesn’t quite fit such a “neat” plan, but do note that if you enjoyed the themed units of Purely Preschool, this brings the exact same approach to the kindergarten level.

What are the Themes?

The Curious Kinder is composed of a series of six 5-week segments, each of which aligns with a theme. The overall theme of the year is focused on understanding basic world geography and major biomes & seasons. The themes of the six segments are as follows: Oceans, Rainforests, Sunny Places, Snowy Places, Pond & Forest, and Farm & Garden. These are not heavily-themed units in which every single element is tied to one theme, because we prioritize things that are useful to learn and valuable to experience over purity of theme. However, when working through these weeks, the connections between readings and activities will become apparent.

How is Bible integrated?

The Old Testament Kingdom of God Bible storybook (published by Lithos Kids) is scheduled throughout the program. Use my affiliate code RACHEL10 for 10% off your purchase on the Lithos Kids website. In addition, each week your child will practice putting event sequencing cards in order, so that they can build an understanding of the big picture storyline of the Old Testament--what happened when?

Each week, you're prompted to practice a variety of "Love Skills." These are written with the idea of encouraging your young child to grow in their curiosity about the way their actions impact others and awareness of the skills involved in loving their family and friends.

Want to know more? Check out the detailed flip-through video below for a look inside the curriculum.