Heart of Dakota is a Christian homeschooling curriculum created by sisters Carrie and Julie. It offers ready-to-use lesson plans across various subjects, emphasizing a Protestant worldview.
Most homeschool families report completing core academic subjects in 3-4 hours per day for elementary students, compared to the 6-7 hours typical of traditional schools, due to the one-on-one instruction and absence of classroom management overhead (NHERI, 2024).
What is Heart of Dakota?
Heart of Dakota is a complete Christian curriculum made by sisters Carrie and Julie over 20 years ago. It started as a literature program and grew into full grade-level packages. Each guide has daily lesson plans on easy-to-read two-page spreads. Parents can just open the guide and teach—no heavy prep needed. The curriculum mixes Bible study, history, science, language arts, and more, all around weekly themes. It follows Charlotte Mason principles like short lessons and living books, keeping a Protestant Christian viewpoint throughout.
What sets it apart
Heart of Dakota stands out for its simple, open-and-go setup. Unlike some programs that claim easy prep but still need you to find books or make schedules, HOD does all that for you. Each day's tasks are on facing pages—no flipping back and forth. Families can also group kids of different ages (within 3-4 years) into one guide, making it easier and cheaper for those with multiple children. Plus, the hands-on activities are great for kinesthetic learners who need to move while learning.
Pricing considerations
Heart of Dakota is a premium curriculum. Expect to pay more than for many other options—around $300-$600 for elementary and possibly over $1,500 for high school when buying all subjects and books. The guide itself is cheaper, but the required picture books and materials can add up. Families can save by buying used or waiting for sales (up to 25% off). Keep in mind, the week-based structure (34 weeks) may need extra work in states requiring 180 school days.
The bottom line
Heart of Dakota lives up to its promise of truly open-and-go homeschooling for Christian families. Its integrated, literature-focused approach makes connections across subjects, all while maintaining a biblical viewpoint. If you prefer structured daily plans and don’t want to piece together your own curriculum, HOD could be a great fit. Just remember, it's a premium product with a premium price tag.
