Heart of Dakota
Christ-centered homeschool curriculum for preschool through high school that blends Charlotte Mason living books with hands-on, unit-study style activities. Each guide lays out every day on a two-page spread and gradually moves students toward independent work.
What is Heart of Dakota?
Heart of Dakota is a Christian homeschool curriculum that runs from preschool through high school. It combines three things: Charlotte Mason style living books and narration, hands-on activities with a unit-study flair, and character training from Scripture. Its guides are known for being truly open-and-go.
The program is organized in three series. "Little Hearts" covers preschool and the early elementary years, "Hearts for Him Through Time" covers the middle years, and "Hearts for Him Through High School" covers grades 9–12.
How it works
Each teacher's guide puts one day on a two-page spread. The left side is "Learning Through History," and the right side is "Learning the Basics." Every subject sits in its own box, marked T for teacher-directed, S for semi-independent or I for independent. You can do the boxes in any order.
The guides list exact page numbers and audio tracks for outside books, which Cathy Duffy calls a huge time saver. Early guides are parent-led and full of movement. Starting around Preparing Hearts, students begin research and written narrations. By Creation to Christ and Resurrection to Reformation, much of the day is self-directed.
Math and language arts are scheduled but chosen by you. In Creation to Christ, for example, you pick from Singapore Math, Math with Confidence or Apologia's math, and from two grammar options plus a writing series.
What it covers
| Guide | Ages | Days a week | Daily time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Hands to Heaven | 2–5 | 5 | About 30 minutes |
| Little Hearts for His Glory | 5–7 | 5 | 1.5–2 hours |
| Beyond Little Hearts | 6–8 | 5 | 2–2.5 hours |
| Bigger Hearts for His Glory | 7–9 | 5 | 3–3.5 hours |
| Preparing Hearts for His Glory | 8–10 | 4 | About 4 hours |
| Creation to Christ | 9–11 | 4 | 4–4.5 hours |
| Resurrection to Reformation | 10–12 | 4 | 4–4.5 hours |
| Revival to Revolution | 11–13 | 4 | About 4.5 hours |
| Missions to Modern Marvels | 12–14 | 4 | 4.5–5 hours |
The four high school guides cover World Geography, World History and two years of U.S. History. Heart of Dakota says each includes everything needed for a full year of credits.
Who it's best for
Heart of Dakota fits Christian families who want detailed plans, living books and kids who learn to manage their own work. It is a good match for children who like projects and stories, and for parents who want to pick their own math.
It is not for secular families or for those who want short school days in the upper grades. If you want a lighter family-style approach, compare Simply Charlotte Mason or Gather 'Round.
Pricing at a glance
Each guide is sold in steps. As of October 2026, the Creation to Christ Economy Package was $392.02, down from $435.57. Science, language arts, math, read-alouds and notebooks are separate. You can also buy just the teacher's guide and borrow books.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Often, as curriculum. Arizona's ESA law allows "curricula and supplementary materials," and Florida's PEP handbook lists curriculum as eligible. Bible-only items may be treated differently, so check your program first. Our ESA and scholarship guide and the Arizona and Florida pages explain the details.
Save Heart of Dakota to your wishlist on Edulist, then apply once to programs that may cover it.
How it compares
- My Father's World also blends Charlotte Mason and unit studies, with a missionary emphasis and more shared family work.
- Sonlight is more literature-heavy and read-aloud focused.
- Simply Charlotte Mason is lighter, with shorter lessons and more family-style subjects.
Explore more Charlotte Mason curriculum, open-and-go curriculum and Christian homeschool curriculum, or see the best homeschool curriculum.
Who Heart of Dakota is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Christian families who want detailed, open-and-go daily plans
- Parents who want kids to grow into independent learners
- Children who enjoy living books plus hands-on projects
- Families who like choosing their own math program
Look elsewhere if
- Secular families
- Families wanting light, short school days in the upper grades
- Parents who want one simple all-inclusive box
Heart of Dakota pros and cons
Pros
- Every day fits on one two-page spread with page and track numbers
- Built-in progression from parent-led to independent work
- Strong, hands-on science, praised by Cathy Duffy
- Extensions let older siblings share a younger guide
- Minimal parent prep
Cons
- Many outside books and add-on packages to purchase
- Upper guides take about 4–5 hours a day
- Package options get complicated at higher levels
- Each child needs their own notebook from Bigger Hearts up
What’s included
- Open-and-go teacher's guides with each day on a two-page spread
- Subject boxes marked teacher-directed, semi-independent or independent
- Charlotte Mason living books, narration and studied dictation
- Hands-on history and science activities with a unit-study flair
- Extension packages so older siblings can use a younger guide
- Choice of scheduled math and language arts programs
- Free placement charts and phone help
Heart of Dakota levels
| Level | Grades | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Little Hands to Heaven | Pre-K | Ages 2–5. 33 units, five days a week, about 30 minutes a day. |
| Little Hearts for His Glory | K–1 | Ages 5–7. 34 units, five days a week, about 1.5–2 hours a day. History survey from Creation to the present; choose your phonics and math. |
| Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory | 1–2 | Ages 6–8. 34 units, five days a week, about 2–2.5 hours. American history 1565–1865. |
| Bigger Hearts for His Glory | 2–4 | Ages 7–9, stretching to 10–11. 34 units, about 3–3.5 hours a day. American history from the 1500s to the 1970s. |
| Preparing Hearts for His Glory | 3–5 | Ages 8–10, with extensions to 11–12. 35 units, four days a week, about 4 hours. World history from Creation to modern times. |
| Creation to Christ | 4–6 | Ages 9–11, extending to 12–13. 35 units, four days a week, about 4–4.5 hours. Ancient and biblical history. |
| Resurrection to Reformation | 5–7 | Ages 10–12, extending to 13–14. The early church through the Reformation and Age of Exploration. |
| Revival to Revolution | 6–8 | Ages 11–13, extending to 14–15. The Great Awakening through the Civil War and Industrial Revolution. |
| Missions to Modern Marvels | 7–9 | Ages 12–14, extending to 15–16. The 1890s to modern times, about 4.5–5 hours a day. |
| Hearts for Him Through High School | 9–12 | World Geography, World History, U.S. History I and U.S. History II. Each guide is built to earn a full year of high school credits. |
Heart of Dakota's placement page has a Program Selection Chart with suggested ages for each guide and downloadable placement charts for each series. Families can also call for placement help.
Official Heart of Dakota placement test ↗How much does Heart of Dakota cost?
Heart of Dakota sells each guide in steps. For Creation to Christ, the Economy Package (Teacher's Guide plus history, geography, Bible and poetry resources) was $392.02, reduced from $435.57, as of October 2026. Science, language arts, composition, math, music, read-alouds, extensions, consumables and literature are separate steps. You can also buy just the guide and gather books yourself.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creation to Christ Economy Package (sale) | $392.02 | One-time | — |
| Creation to Christ Economy Package (list) | $435.57 | One-time | — |
| Paint Like a Poet painting supplies kit | $58.18 | One-time | — |
Free trial: No trial. Guide samples and placement charts are free on the website.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
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View wishlistWhat parents say
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
Cathy Duffy's review praises Heart of Dakota's easy-to-follow daily layout, strong science and steady progression toward independence, and lists it among her Top Picks. Her cautions are the number of outside resources, rising daily time and complex package options.
Common praise
- Daily plans list exact pages and tracks, a big time saver
- Strong, in-depth science with experiments
- Builds independent study skills step by step
Common complaints
- Many outside resources required
- Daily time increases a lot in upper levels
- Purchase options become complicated
Heart of Dakota family reviews
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Heart of Dakota FAQs
Is Heart of Dakota Christian?
Yes. Heart of Dakota calls itself a Christ-centered curriculum with Godly character training from God's Word. Cathy Duffy describes it as Protestant, with that outlook shaping history and science as well as Bible.
Is Heart of Dakota Charlotte Mason?
It is Charlotte Mason style, using living books, narration and studied dictation, combined with hands-on activities that have a unit-study flair. It is more structured than a pure Charlotte Mason approach.
Which Heart of Dakota guide should I start with?
Use the placement page and Program Selection Chart, which give suggested ages for each guide. Placement depends on reading and writing skills as well as age, and many guides have extensions for older siblings.
Does Heart of Dakota include math?
Math is a choice you make. Guides schedule options such as Singapore Math, Math with Confidence or Apologia's math, or you can use your own program.
How long does Heart of Dakota take each day?
It ranges from about 30 minutes in Little Hands to Heaven to roughly 4.5 to 5 hours in Missions to Modern Marvels. The middle guides run four days a week, which leaves a fifth day free.
Can siblings share a Heart of Dakota guide?
Yes. Most guides list an extended age range, and optional extension packages add harder books for older children. Student notebooks from Bigger Hearts up cannot be copied, so each child needs a set.
Can I use ESA funds for Heart of Dakota?
Curriculum is commonly allowed, including under Arizona's ESA law and Florida's PEP rules, but each program decides and may treat Bible materials differently. Save Heart of Dakota to your Edulist wishlist and check programs in your state.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources:
- heartofdakota.com
- heartofdakota.com · placement
- heartofdakota.com · little hands to heaven
- heartofdakota.com · little hearts for his glory
- heartofdakota.com · beyond little hearts for his glory
- heartofdakota.com · bigger hearts for his glory
- heartofdakota.com · preparing hearts for his glory
- heartofdakota.com · creation to christ
- heartofdakota.com · resurrection to reformation
- heartofdakota.com · revival to revolution
- heartofdakota.com · missions to modern marvels
- heartofdakota.com · creation to christ
- heartofdakota.com · creation to christ economy package
- cathyduffyreviews.com · heart of dakota program
- azleg.gov · 02402.htm
- stepupforstudents.org · pep family handbook