Homeschooling in South Carolina: A History Curriculum for Grades 1–4
A South Carolina homeschool has to teach social studies under every legal option, and the Elementary History Curriculum is one way to handle the history side for children in Grades 1–4. It holds all 20 of our elementary history units, planned lesson by lesson, for $169.99. On its own it does not satisfy the state's homeschool law; it is teaching material you fit into your own plan and records.
See the homeschool history setFor a South Carolina homeschool with children in Grades 1–4, the Elementary History Curriculum ($169.99) gives you all 20 Teach Lessons history units, from the Stone Age and ancient Egypt to Native Americans, Pilgrims, pioneers and then-and-now topics. Every sub-unit has a lesson plan, worksheet, activity, answer key and slides. It is history material for your social studies time, not a legal compliance package, and it contains no South Carolina history.
The resources
Elementary History Curriculum, Grades 1–4
20 resources in one download: $169.99 instead of $499.80 bought separately.
Start with the first resource; the others are optional add-ons. Open any cover for the full contents and price.
Elementary History Curriculum | All 20 History Units | Grades 1–4
Early American History Bundle | Native Americans, Explorers, Pilgrims & Pioneers | 8 Units | Grades 1–4
Ancient Civilizations Bundle | Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, Vikings & Stone Age | 8 Units | Grades 1–4
Complete Learning Books Bundle | 10 Units: Grammar, Math, Science, History, ESL, Art & Music | Grades 3–6
Teach-Life-Balance: The Complete Time-Saving Course for Teachers (incl. Planner, Guides & Templates)
The real problem
What South Carolina asks of a homeschooling parent
South Carolina gives families three legal routes, and each comes with its own paperwork. Under Option 1 (S.C. Code 59-65-40), the district board of trustees approves the homeschool; the family teaches 180 days of 4.5 hours, keeps a plan book or diary, a portfolio and an evaluation record, and the child takes the state's basic skills assessment each year. Option 2 (59-65-45) means joining the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS), which reports students to the district by January 30; 180 days still apply. Option 3 (59-65-47) runs through a homeschool association with at least 50 members, again with 180 days, a plan book or diary, a portfolio and a semiannual progress report. All three name the same subjects: reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies, with composition and literature added in Grades 7–12. The parent needs a high school diploma or GED, and Option 1 also accepts a bachelor's degree. This is only a short summary as of 2026; check current law with the state, your district or association, or a homeschool legal resource before you decide. Day to day, the harder part is planning: filling social studies with real lessons and producing work worth keeping.
Why it fits
How the history units fit a homeschool week
The units were written for classroom teachers, so at home the planning is already done.
- Step-by-step lesson plans tell a parent what to do in each sub-unit, start to finish.
- Finished worksheets and projects give you dated work samples to keep in a portfolio.
- Differentiated worksheets with word banks help siblings of different ages share one topic.
- Slides can be shown on whatever screen you already have at home.
- Timelines and historical sources units teach how we know about the past, as well as what happened.
- Answer keys let a parent check work quickly without researching every topic first.
Getting started
Putting history into a 180-day homeschool year
A sample approach, not a requirement. Pace it to your children and to the records your option asks for.
- Settle your legal option firstDecide on Option 1, 2 or 3 before you buy any curriculum, since the records you keep differ. Ask your district or association what they expect to see for social studies.
- Choose units by child, not by gradeLook through the 20 units and pick the ones that suit each child's reading level and interests. A younger child might start with the Stone Age, an older one with explorers or pioneers.
- Teach one sub-unit at a timeEach sub-unit holds a lesson plan, worksheet, activity, answer key and slides, so one sub-unit can fill a history session or two. Three sub-units per unit give your week a natural rhythm.
- File work as you goDate completed worksheets and photograph project activities, then add them to your portfolio or plan book entries. Doing it weekly saves a scramble before a semiannual report or an evaluation.
- Add South Carolina history yourselfNone of the units covers South Carolina. Pair history time with a visit to a local museum, historic site or state park, and note those outings in your records too.
What to buy
Choosing between the full set and a smaller bundle
The Elementary History Curriculum at $169.99 makes sense if you want history from one source across several years or several children: the 20 units cost $499.80 bought separately. If you mainly want early American topics, the Early American History Bundle ($99.99, parts $199.92) has eight units on Native Americans, explorers, Pilgrims, pioneers, timelines, sources and daily life then and now. For an ancient-world year, the Ancient Civilizations Bundle ($99.99, parts $199.92) is the narrower choice. Families with a child in Grades 3–6 who want several subjects in one purchase can look at the Complete Learning Books Bundle ($99.90), with 10 units across grammar, math, science, history, ESL, art and music.
Honest limits
What this does not cover
This curriculum does not make your homeschool legal and is not approved by any South Carolina district, SCAIHS or homeschool association. It covers history only, so reading, writing, mathematics and science still need their own plans, and it has no South Carolina history. It is not aligned to the state's social studies standards. You keep the plan book, portfolio and any reports your option requires. The licence covers your family's own teaching; a co-op that wants to share it should message Teach Lessons first. Within 7 days you can trade it for store credit of equal value if it is not a fit; cash refunds are not offered.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Does this curriculum meet South Carolina homeschool requirements?
No curriculum does that on its own, and this one makes no such claim. South Carolina names social studies as a required subject under all three options, and these units can be part of how you teach it, but the law is met through your chosen option, your 180 days and your records. Check current law with your district, your association or a homeschool legal resource.
Which option should our family choose?
That is your decision, and this page is not legal advice. In short, Option 1 runs through district approval and annual testing, Option 2 through SCAIHS membership, and Option 3 through an association with at least 50 members and a semiannual progress report. Each has its own record rules, so compare them with the state or a homeschool legal resource.
Can one set cover children in different grades?
Yes, within Grades 1–4. The units are written for that band, and the worksheets are differentiated, with reading passages and word banks. Siblings can study the same unit together, the younger child leaning on the word bank and the older one reading the passage alone. Above Grade 4, a middle school history resource is the better match.
Can we pay with a scholarship or education account?
Teach Lessons does not claim to be an approved vendor of any education savings account or scholarship program. If your family uses one, check its rules and vendor list before you buy, since what counts as an eligible expense differs from one program to the next and can change.
How soon can we start?
Right away. It is a digital download, so a link arrives by email after purchase and the files also stay in your customer account under Orders. Print the worksheets you need or use them on a screen. Materials for the project activities, such as paper or craft supplies, are not included and come from home.
What if it does not suit our family?
Within 7 days of purchase you can exchange it for store credit of equal value; there is no cash refund. Before buying, read the full unit list on the product page and compare it with what your children already know, so the set adds new history instead of repeating last year.
Look through the 20 units
The product page lists every unit and what each sub-unit contains, which makes it easier to plan both your year and your records.
See the homeschool history set