Yes! Many Gather 'Round families use this curriculum on its own for all their children and all their subjects—right through high school! We have testimonies of many grad students who have successfully made the leap to college or university, fully equipped to think for themselves and read the subtext of what is being presented. That being said, we also have some families who choose to supplement based on their student's needs or because they have a curriculum that they just love and don't want to give up.While there are some reviews online that question whether we are enough, it is important to note that those were often done in the early years when we were still a startup. We have created many more resources to help close gaps, beef up our content, and find the elusive balance between "enough" and "too much". Our style is different, we focus on less quantity and more contextual learning—which can feel too simple especially if you are coming from a more traditional curriculum. However, many of our parents say that their students actually remember what they are learning and the results speak for themselves over time.

Choose a unit/topic that either interests you or meets a need (such as if you are working toward certain credits).Purchase either the digital full family bundle (which includes both the Teacher's Guide and all levels of student books), the one student bundle (which includes the Teacher's Guide and one level of your choice), or the printed books. If you decide to go with our beautiful, high-end printed books . . . you will need the Teacher's Guide and one book for each student.

What do I need to add?

The units cover all of your subjects but math. Our Modular Math program is available to cover K-grade 9 math, but high school math is not yet available on our site (though we do have plans to create it). Currently, you will need to get about 8 units per year along with about 8 math units per student in order to create a full curriculum year. Some families choose to add seatwork or our other Language Arts add-ons, fun holiday mini-units, and more . . . but these are not required.

How do I choose levels for multiple kids?

Our main units are designed to be used with the whole family. We have individual student books available in the following levels.Pre-Reader: recommended for younger students who are not ready to read/write (preschool/kindergarten age)Early Reader: recommended for emerging readers/writers (6-8 years old)Early Elementary: recommended for students who are comfortable using a word bank to write some of their answers (8-10 years old)Upper Elementary: recommended for students who are ready to write a sentence response (10-13 years old)Middle School: recommended for students who are ready for paragraph responses and more personal application/light research (13-16 years old)High School: prepares students to ask big questions, think for themselves, and apply topics to their own lives. This level is recommended for 16-18 years old and includes papers, essays, and more research.Some of our units are shorter or more simplified into levels 1, 2, and 3. For these, Level 3 is designed for Middle and High, level 2 for Early Elementary and Upper Elementary, and Level 1 for Pre-Reader and Early Reader.

How Long does it take?

Each unit is designed to take about a month—which means you will never get bored! You get to create your year based on your students' interests, covering all your subjects for all your grades, through one cohesive program that all points to Jesus! Each lesson is designed to take about 2-4 hours (depending on how many students you have, their ages, and whether you are completing the option rabbit trails or watching the resource videos available on our app). You will read the Teacher's Guide first to all students (which takes about 40 minutes to an hour depending on how many videos you show or the discussions you have) and then students will move to their student workbooks and complete their pages there. Units that have 20 lessons can be done 5 days a week and therefore being completed in 4 weeks. Or they can be done 4 days a week and take a bit longer. Because of this, most families work through about 8 units in a year with breaks and co-op days mixed in.

All of our units come with answer keys to help you mark your student's work. We have tried a bit of everything: including the answers in the Teacher's Guide, having them in the back of student notebooks, and eventually settling on including them in your downloads immediately after your order. You can use the answer key to help assign grades, but we recommend using a rubric for more accurate grading. To do this, you would assign points based on things like understanding (30%), completion (50%), effort (15%), and neatness (5%).

What is Modular Math?

Modular Math is our brand new math curriculum that covers K-grade 9 math—taking students all the way through Algebra 1. The units are topical and each step takes about 1 month. This means they can be used in either a mastery approach (staying on a topic and working on it through multiple levels) or spiral approach (completing one step of each topic throughout the year). This program was created with steps instead of grades, allowing you to custom-tailor the program to your student without discouraging them with where they are at. It can be used as a remedial program or for gifted students who want to move faster. Each day includes 2 pages. Day 1 teaches a new concept (and includes a devotional) and day 2 has practice that builds throughout the unit in a spiral approach. All you have to do is take a placement test on a topic and jump in! It is open and go with no teacher's guide, no manipulatives or resources required, and written directly to the student so that they can work independently. Yes, math can be this easy!

Curriculum itself cannot be accredited, only schools can. Accreditation means a school with qualified teachers, reporting, and grading that is following the government requirements for each grade. That being said, Gather 'Round Homeschool curriculum can absolutely be used all the way through High School by you, the parent! Most schools use the Carnegie method to assign credits, this means that 120 hours of instruction in a topic = 1 credit. We've made it super easy to you by training our very own Gather bot! All of our units cover such a wide variety of subjects that you can use the bot to help figure out how many credits have been covered (or will be covered) based on the units you have done or are planning on. We also have access to full high school plans, transcripts, and unit credit breakdowns on our high school page here.

What is the Online Academy?

The Online Academy is our new online school. We have about 600 students who tune in online to watch a lesson being taught live—complete with live polls, comments, reactions, and resources. Replays are also available for families who miss a class. Homework is assigned and families complete their student notebooks together—we are even looking at adding in grading and report cards! There are currently three frequency options available (or three different levels of homeschool support): One day a week (join us every Tuesday at 10am EST)Two days a week (join us every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am EST)Four days a week (join us Monday-Thursday for every single lesson!)Currently, these lessons are being taught by the founder, Rebecca Spooner, though we hope to expand to hire more teachers and offer more class times and options in the future. Learn more

Can I use it in a group?

Gather 'Round is licensed for individual family use only (which means to a parent/guardian and the children they are legal guardians of). If you want to use this in a small group (with your sister, friend, or a few friends), you will need to make sure that each person owns their own materials, as file sharing and copying (or teaching to student's outside your home) is not allowed. If you want to use this in a co-op or hybrid model to a large group of students, we do require that you purchase print and sign an agreement stating that you will not photocopy or share. With this option, we also do have a group discount available. Learn more here.

Welcome to Minnesota

Grab a hotdish and join us at a good old-fashioned church social because the next stop on the Fifty States tour takes us to the North Star State. Tour the Twin Cities, the Mall of America, and Voyageurs National Park. Then fish for walleyes while spotting common loons and showy lady’s slippers. We will visit where the Mighty Mississippi begins and meet famous cartoonist Charles Schulz, creator of the comic-strip classic Peanuts. Then we will dive deep into the history of the Dakota and Ojibwe peoples, scope out the science of sticky tape gets so, well, sticky, and learn all about why hot ponds were so important to the timber industry. Minnesota’s history will teach us how logging, manufacturing, and bitterly cold winters created a place that values community, good food, and nonpartisan voting. Student Book activities include mapping, lesson summaries, a picture study of Grace by Eric Enstrom, and some fun with cartoons and frozen lakes.

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Subject Cards

Science

Learn about Minnesota’s coniferous and deciduous forests, loons, eagles, pink Sioux quartzite, and wildlife such as red foxes, gray wolves, meadowlarks, hawks, and thirteen-lined ground squirrels. Lessons also cover gravity and sediment in river water, cold fronts, frozen lakes, density, insulation, adhesives, and hands-on experiments related to these topics.

Geography

Study Minnesota’s location, borders, and major geographic features, including Lake Superior, the headwaters of the Mississippi River, Lake Itasca, and the Minnesota River. Explore places such as Voyageurs National Park, Fort Snelling State Park, Canal Park, the Duluth Ship Canal, Blue Mounds State Park, Bdote, the Tallgrass Aspen Parkland, and the Twin Cities while learning how glaciers shaped the landscape.

Language Arts

Build vocabulary connected to Minnesota while completing comprehension activities, summaries, letters, poems, riddles, news reports, comic strips, and a unit project. Students also learn about state symbols, industries, Minnesota’s people and government, and Charles Schulz through reading and writing assignments.

History

Trace Minnesota’s history from the Dakota and Ojibwe peoples through French exploration, Fort Snelling, statehood, immigration, and the US–Dakota War of 1862. Lessons also cover state symbols, the fur trade, logging, iron mining, manufacturing, hot ponds in the lumber industry, Charles Schulz, and Judy Garland.

Social Studies

Explore Minnesota’s state symbols, motto, nickname, population, Indigenous Peoples, and notable landmarks such as the Aerial Lift Bridge, Mall of America, and the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd. Additional topics include treaties, industries, goods and services, cost of living, cultural influences, festivals, sports teams, state government, current events, and unique state laws.

Art

Create projects inspired by Minnesota, including designing a mall, designing a state symbol, studying Grace by Eric Enstrom, and drawing cartoon characters or comic strips.

Bible

Reflect on passages about letting your light shine before others, being made in God’s image, the river that makes glad the city of God, seasons and times appointed by God, working for the Lord, and asking God to teach His paths.

Resources

Access helpful materials, guides, and downloads that support your learning journey with Gather ’Round. Explore our growing library of resources designed to make teaching simple and engaging.

Explore Resources

Resources

Access helpful materials, guides, and downloads that support your learning journey with Gather ’Round. Explore our growing library of resources designed to make teaching simple and engaging.

Explore Resources

Booklist

Meet Minnesota

I Spy with My Little Eye: Minnesota

by Kathy-jo and Ed Wargin

Paul Bunyan (On My Own Folklore)

by Stephen Krensky

North Country: The Making of Minnesota

by Mary Lethert Wingerd

Nature and Weather

Loons! (A My Incredible World Picture Book)

by Hope Aicher

Wind: Discovering Air in Motion

by Olga Fadeeva and Lena Traer

The View from Split Rock: A Lighthouse Keeper's Life

by Lee Radzak and Curt Brown

Industry and Economy

The Busy Beaver

by Nicholas Oldland

Timber!: A Northwoods Story of Lumberjacks, Logging, and the Land

by Susan Apps-Bodilly and Jerry Apps

Dead Man's Rapids

by Corey Bonnema and Jerilyn Veldof

People and Governance

Stevie Wonder (Little People, BIG DREAMS)

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Who Was Charles Schulz?

by Joan Holub

Minnesota Nice? A Transplant's Guide to Surviving and Thriving in Minnesota

by Corey Bonnema and Jerilyn Veldof

Supplies

Meet Minnesota

Teacher's Guide

Hands-on Activity

a nearby body of water or a bowl, baking dish, or pot filled with water

Student Notebooks

Science + Geography: Extension Activity (Page 2)

1 baking sheet
water
1 dropper or syringe
1 towel

Science + Geography: Extension Activity (Page 2)

1 baking sheet
water
1 dropper or syringe
1 towel
2 sheets of aluminum foil

Science + Geography: The Mighty Mississippi (Page 2)

1 clear 2-liter bottle or glass jar
2 cups of "river mix" (dirt, sand, and fine silt or clay)
water
1 stopwatch or timer

Nature And Weather

Student Notebooks

Science: Wild Weather (Page 2)

4 glasses
enough hot water to fill two of the glasses
enough cold water to fill two of the glasses
blue and green food coloring
2 thin, sturdy pieces of cardstock

Industry and Economy

Student Notebooks

Science: The Science of Sticky (Page 2)

tape
1 piece of paper
1 piece of plastic wrap
1 piece of fabric

Science: The Science of Sticky (Page 2)

tape
1 piece of paper
1 piece of plastic wrap
1 piece of fabric
1 cotton ball

Science: The Science of Sticky (Page 2)

1 roll of scotch tape
1 roll of duct tape
1 roll of masking tape
ziplock bags
loose change (preferably quarters but only one type)
three types of materials, such as plastic wrap, cotton, fabric, etc.

People and Governance

Student Notebooks

Science: Frozen Lakes (Page 2)

several ice cubes
a few small containers such as bowls, jars, or cardboard boxes
insulating materials such as cotton balls, bubble wrap, foil

Science: Frozen Lakes (Page 2)

several ice cubes
a few small containers such as bowls, jars, or cardboard boxes
insulating materials such as cotton balls, bubble wrap, foil
1 clear plastic cup
enough water to fill the cup halfway
1 marker

Science: Frozen Lakes — Extension Activity (Page 2)

2 glasses
2 eggs
5 tablespoons of salt
insulating materials such as cotton balls, bubble wrap, and foil
some containers
distilled water

Scope and Sequence

Check out the scope and sequence for this unit.

Fifity States: Minnesota

Level 1

Geography

Bordered by Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Canada
Lake Superior
Headwater of the Mississippi River
Melting glaciers carved the landscape
Tallgrass Aspen Parkland
Voyageurs National Park
Canal Park
Duluth Ship Canal
Itasca State Park
Lake Itasca
Fort Snelling State Park
Minnesota River
Snelling Lake
Pike Island
Twin Cities
Blue Mounds State Park
Label a map of Minnesota with places learned about
Bdote
Prairie grassland

Science

Coniferous forests: pines, spruce, fur trees
Deciduous forests: oaks, maples, basswood trees
Loons
Eagles
Pink Sioux quartzite
How gravity pulls water downstream
Mississippi River experiment
Red fox
Thirteen-lined ground squirrel
Hawk
Meadowlark
Gray wolf
Tri-wind crossroads
Answer questions about state symbols
Cold fronts
Experiment to see the density difference between cold and warm
How adhesives work
Experiment with the stickiness of tape
Frozen lakes
Insulation experiment

Language Arts

Vocabulary: stand, boardwalk
Start working on the unit project banner, including a flag, facts, and favorite place in Minnesota
Vocabulary: motto, kit
Trace the names of state symbols
Solve riddles and add to unit project
Vocabulary: refine, brand
Comprehension questions about industries
Write a letter
Word study: economy
Add industries to the unit project
Vocabulary: homey, conservation
Comprehension questions about Minnesota's people
Write a breaking news report
Create a cartoon character personality
Add a spotlight on Charles Schulz to the unit project

History

French explorers arrive in search of furs (1600s)
Swedish, Norwegian, and German immigrants bring their own traditions to the land (late 1800s)
Achieved statehood (1858)
Fort Snelling military post established (early 1800s)
Dakota and Ojibwe people
State bird: common loon
State fish: walleye
State flower: showy lady's slipper
State tree: red (Norway) pine
Fur trade was the first industry in the state
The logging industry emerged
Iron mines and manufacturing became major forces
How hot ponds changed the lumber industry
Charles Schulz created Peanuts comic strip (1950)
Judy Garland

Social Studies

Quick facts: state motto, nickname, size, population
State symbols: flag, seal
Indigenous Peoples: Dakota and Ojibwe
Aerial Lift Bridge
Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd
Fun facts
Mall of America
The Mall of America impacts economy
Industries in Minnesota
Differences between goods and services
Being a part of your economy
Favorite food of the state: hotdish and Juicy Lucy
Cultural influences: Scandinavian and German
Festivals: Minnesota State Fair and Ely Blueberry Arts Festival
Sports and outdoor life
Professional sports teams: Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Lynx, Wild
Weird laws
Current events in the state

Art

Design your own mall
Picture study: Grace by Eric Enstrom
Design your own state symbol
Draw a cartoon character

Bible

Matthew 5:16
Let your light shine before others
Genesis 1:27
We are made in God's image
Psalm 46:4
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God
Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is a season for everything
1 Corinthians 3:23
Work hardily as for the Lord
Psalm 25:4
Teach us your paths

Level 2

Geography

Bordered by Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Canada
Lake Superior
Headwater of the Mississippi River
Melting glaciers carved the landscape
Tallgrass Aspen Parkland
Northwest Angle: northernmost point in contiguous United States
Voyageurs National Park
Canal Park
Duluth Ship Canal
Itasca State Park
Lake Itasca
Fort Snelling State Park
Minnesota River
Snelling Lake
Pike Island
Twin Cities
Blue Mounds State Park
Label a map of Minnesota with places learned about
Bdote
Prairie grassland
Lake Superior

Science

Coniferous forests: pines, spruce, fur trees
Deciduous forests: oaks, maples, basswood trees
Loons
Eagles
Pink Sioux quartzite
How gravity pulls water downstream
Mississippi River experiment
Red fox
Thirteen-lined ground squirrel
Hawk
Meadowlark
Gray wolf
Tri-wind crossroads
Answer questions about state symbols
Cold fronts
Experiment to see the density difference between cold and warm
How adhesives work
Experiment with the stickiness of tape
Frozen lakes
Density
Insulation experiment

Language Arts

Vocabulary: intertwine, biome
Start working on the unit project banner, including a flag, facts, and favorite place in Minnesota
Vocabulary: clumsy, angler
Label state symbols
Solve riddles and add to unit project
Vocabulary: essential, practical
Comprehension questions about industries
Write a letter
Word study: economy
Add industries to the unit project
Vocabulary: heritage, qualification
Comprehension questions about Minnesota's people and government
Write a breaking news report
Write a comic strip
Add a spotlight on Charles Schulz to the unit project

History

French explorers arrive in search of furs (1600s)
Swedish, Norwegian, and German immigrants bring their own traditions to the land (late 1800s)
US–Dakota War of 1862
Achieved statehood (1858)
Treaty of Paris (1783)
Dakota and Ojibwe people
State bird: common loon
State fish: walleye
State flower: showy lady slipper
State tree: red (Norway) pine
Fur trade was the first industry in the state
The logging industry emerged
Iron mines and manufacturing became major forces
Major companies and industry are still active today
How hot ponds changed the lumber industry
Charles Schulz created Peanuts comic strip (1950)
Judy Garland

Social Studies

Quick facts: state motto, nickname, size, population
State symbols: flag, seal
Indigenous Peoples: Dakota and Ojibwe
Leaders signed treaties reshaping the land and determining where people lived
Aerial Lift Bridge
Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd
Fun facts
Mall of America
Minnesota's cost of living
Industries in Minnesota
Differences between goods and services
Being a part of your economy
Favorite food of the state: hotdish and Juicy Lucy
Cultural influences: Scandinavian and German
Festivals: Minnesota State Fair and Ely Blueberry Arts Festival
Sports and outdoor life
Professional sports teams: Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Lynx, and Wild
State government
Weird Laws
Current events in the state

Art

Design your own mall
Picture study: Grace by Eric Enstrom
Design your own state symbol
Draw a comic strip

Bible

Matthew 5:16
Let your light shine before others
Genesis 1:27
We are made in God's image
Psalm 46:4
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God
Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is a season for everything
1 Corinthians 3:23
Work hardily as for the Lord
Psalm 25:4
Teach us your paths

Level 3

Geography

Bordered by Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Canada
Lake Superior
Headwater of the Mississippi River
Melting glaciers carved the landscape
Tallgrass Aspen Parkland
Northwest Angle: northernmost point in contiguous United States
Voyageurs National Park
Canal Park
Duluth Ship Canal
Itasca State Park
Lake Itasca
Fort Snelling State Park
Minnesota River
Snelling Lake
Pike Island
Twin Cities
Blue Mounds State Park
Label a map of Minnesota with places learned about
Bdote
Prairie grassland
Lake Superior

Science

Coniferous forests: pines, spruce, fur trees
Deciduous forests: oaks, maples, basswood trees
Loons
Eagles
Pink Sioux quartzite
Sediment in river water
How gravity pulls water downstream
Mississippi River experiment
Red fox
Thirteen-lined ground squirrel
Hawk
Meadowlark
Gray wolf
Tri-wind crossroads
Cold fronts
Experiment to see the density difference between cold and warm
How adhesives work
Experiment with the strength of different tapes
Frozen lakes
Density
Insulation experiment

Language Arts

Vocabulary: diplomacy, contiguous
Start planning a unit project presentation
Vocabulary: convergence, turbulent
Answer comprehension questions about the lesson
Write a summary paragraph of the lesson
Write riddles about the state symbols
Write a poem using state symbols
Vocabulary: manufacturing, headquarter
Comprehension questions about industries
Write a summary of the lesson
Research hot ponds
Write a letter
Word study: economy
Write about which industry has been most impactful to Minnesota and add it to your unit project
Vocabulary: misdemeanor, syndicate
Answer comprehension questions about the lesson
Write a summary of the lesson
Write a comic strip
Complete the unit project and grade it using the rubric

History

French explorers arrive in search of furs (1600s)
Swedish, Norwegian, and German immigrants bring their own traditions to the land (late 1800s)
US–Dakota War of 1862
Achieved statehood (1858)
Treaty of Paris (1783)
Dakota and Ojibwe people
State bird: common loon
State fish: walleye
State flower: showy lady slipper
State tree: red (Norway) pine
Fur trade was the first industry in the state
The logging industry emerged
Iron mines and manufacturing became major forces
Major companies and industry are still active today
How hot ponds changed the lumber industry
Charles Schulz created Peanuts comic strip (1950)
Judy Garland