1
Build Strong Foundations
New skills build upon earlier ones. Students begin with fundamental concepts and progress toward increasingly complex ideas as they are ready.
The OpenBook Curriculum
Build knowledge. Inspire curiosity.
OpenBook Homeschooling is being built around a carefully organized learning path that helps students develop strong academic foundations, practice what they learn and progress with confidence from one lesson to the next.
Our Approach
A curriculum should do more than provide information.
Good learning builds understanding step by step. OpenBook is designed around progression, practice and meaningful assessment rather than simply presenting students with pages to read.
2
Encourage Understanding
The goal is not simply memorizing an answer. Lessons are designed to help students understand why something works and how knowledge can be applied.
3
Check Progress
Practice, assignments and assessments provide feedback so families can recognize achievement and identify areas that may benefit from additional review.
Core Learning Areas
Four subjects. One connected learning journey.
The OpenBook core curriculum begins with Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies, with content adapted to each student's grade level.
Language Arts
Reading • Writing • CommunicationLanguage Arts develops the skills students need to read with understanding, express ideas clearly and communicate effectively. Early grades begin with letters, sounds, vocabulary and emerging reading skills, while later grades will progress into literature, composition and critical analysis.
- Letter recognition
- Phonics
- Vocabulary
- Reading comprehension
- Grammar
- Writing
- Literature
- Communication
Mathematics
Numbers • Reasoning • Problem SolvingMathematics begins with understanding numbers and patterns and gradually develops into increasingly advanced mathematical reasoning. Students practice skills, explore how numbers relate to the real world and learn to approach problems logically.
- Number sense
- Counting
- Addition & subtraction
- Measurement
- Shapes & geometry
- Patterns
- Mathematical reasoning
- Problem solving
Science
Observe • Question • DiscoverScience encourages students to look closely at the world around them, ask questions, recognize patterns and explore how nature works. Early science begins with familiar experiences and develops toward more advanced scientific concepts.
- Living things
- Plants & animals
- Earth & weather
- Matter
- Motion & energy
- The human body
- Scientific observation
- Experiments
Social Studies
People • Places • Communities • HistorySocial Studies helps students understand themselves, their communities and the larger world. Students gradually explore geography, history, citizenship, cultures and the ways people live and work together.
- Families
- Communities
- Maps & geography
- Citizenship
- American history
- World history
- Cultures
- Government & society
Lesson Design
Learn it. Practice it. Use it.
A strong curriculum shouldn't leave a student wondering whether they understood the lesson. OpenBook lessons can combine instruction, examples, practice, activities and assessment into a logical sequence.
Not every lesson needs every element. The format can change according to the student's age, subject and material being taught.
Example Lesson Structure
Kindergarten Mathematics
1
Discover
Introduce the concept using
age-appropriate explanations,
examples and visuals.
2
Learn
Work through examples that show
how the new idea works.
3
Practice
Give the student opportunities
to try the skill independently.
4
Apply
Use an activity or assignment
to connect the concept with
meaningful situations.
5
Check Understanding
Use questions or an assessment
when appropriate to see whether
the concept has been mastered.
★ First OpenBook Grade
Kindergarten
Every long journey begins somewhere. OpenBook is beginning with Kindergarten, where children build the foundational skills that will support everything they learn afterward.
Kindergarten lessons will be designed to be colorful, encouraging and easy to navigate, with short learning activities appropriate for young students.
📖
Early reading skills
🔢
Foundational mathematics
🔬
Early science discovery
🌎
Families & communities
🎨
Visual learning
⭐
Positive encouragement
Kindergarten Learning Areas
The first OpenBook curriculum is being organized around four core learning areas.
Language Arts
Letters, sounds, words and early reading
CORE
Mathematics
Numbers, counting, shapes and patterns
CORE
Science
Nature, observation and discovery
CORE
Social Studies
Home, community, people and places
CORE
The OpenBook Roadmap
Beginning with Kindergarten. Growing toward Grade 12.
Rather than rushing to publish an incomplete K–12 program, OpenBook is being developed one grade at a time so each level can receive the attention it deserves.
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FIRST GRADE
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What We Want Learning To Be
Clear enough to follow. Interesting enough to remember.
As the OpenBook curriculum grows, these principles will guide the way lessons and learning experiences are developed.
Purposeful
Every lesson should have a clear learning objective rather than simply filling time.
Understandable
New concepts should be explained in ways appropriate to the student's age and experience.
Progressive
Skills should grow naturally from foundational concepts toward more advanced learning.
Engaging
Learning should encourage curiosity, exploration and the desire to discover what comes next.
Curriculum & Homeschool Requirements
Homeschool requirements vary by state and may change over time. Parents and guardians are responsible for understanding the homeschool laws, required subjects, assessments, recordkeeping and other requirements that apply where they live. OpenBook Homeschooling is being developed as an educational curriculum and learning resource and does not represent itself as an accredited school unless such accreditation is specifically obtained and stated.
The first chapter begins with Kindergarten.
Explore the first OpenBook grade and see how Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies can come together in one organized homeschool learning experience.
Explore Kindergarten →