Free High School World History Curriculum with OER Project

The OER Project’s history courses is one of my favorite free resources for high school level material. It’s comprehensive, adaptable, and designed with inquiry-based learning in mind. It also happens to be free (the best price for my family). In July, OER Project released an updated version of the Origins course, so I’ve updated my own curriculum guide to match.

I use Origins through the end of Unit 6, which takes us up to the year 1750. This forms the backbone of my World History I curriculum, whether you’re teaching at home, in a co-op, or in a virtual setting.

Why I Love OER Project’s Origins (and One Area That Needs a Change)

While the OER Project is excellent overall, I want to acknowledge one place where I’ve made an intentional change. Lesson 6.8 briefly covers Christopher Columbus. While factually correct, this lesson does not fully address the atrocities he committed against Indigenous peoples.

In my updated guide, I recommend adding this TedED video for a better representation of Columbus. I also have my students research Columbus on their own and then decide what they would have added or changed in OER’s Project’s article.

This small step ensures students get a fuller, more accurate understanding of Columbus’s impact.

What’s in My Updated Guide

The updated resource includes:

• Two pacing options:
  • 36-week plan – includes review weeks, scheduled unit projects, and a final capstone project.
  • 30-week plan – streamlined for a faster pace without losing depth. This schedule is more ideal for co-ops who generally work on a condensed schedule.
• Optional enrichment:
  • Alignment chart linking each lesson to OpenStax textbook readings, Crash Course, and TED-Ed videos.
  • Some linked videos may contain content not suitable for every learner—please pre-watch or watch with your student.
• Project-based learning:
  • Optional unit projects for Units 1–6.
  • Final end of class project ideas scheduled into both the 30 and 36-week plans.

How to Use This Resource

This curriculum works well for:

• Independent homeschool high school students
• Co-op groups looking for a shared structure
• Virtual history classes with interactive components
• Anyone who wants a chronological, global approach to early world history

You can choose the pacing guide that fits your schedule and mix in the optional readings and videos to suit your student’s learning style.

What Makes This Curriculum Different

• Free and Accessible: OER Project’s Origins course is completely free, making it ideal for homeschoolers, co-ops, and virtual classrooms.
• Chronological and Global: Students follow a clear, structured timeline from prehistory through 1750, seeing how events, ideas, and cultures connect worldwide.
• Inquiry-Based Learning: Lessons are designed to encourage critical thinking, discussion, and analysis rather than rote memorization.
• Flexible Pacing: Two options—36-week or 30-week plans—allow you to adapt to your schedule without losing depth.
• Enrichment Opportunities: Includes optional readings, multimedia, and Rabbit Hole Learning projects to deepen understanding.

This combination of free access, structured guidance, and enrichment options makes the curriculum both approachable and robust for high school learners.

Check Out the Course Here