Heart of Dakota (HOD) is an award-winning Christian homeschool curriculum spanning preschool through 12th grade. It features Charlotte Mason-inspired methods, pre-planned daily lessons, and integrated subjects centered on biblical teaching and living books.
What is Heart of Dakota?
Heart of Dakota is a comprehensive, all-in-one Christian curriculum created by sisters Carrie and Julie over 20 years ago. The program began as a literature initiative and expanded into complete grade-level packages. Each guide provides daily lesson plans laid out in clear two-page spreads—parents simply open and teach without extensive preparation. The curriculum integrates Bible, history, science, language arts, and more around weekly themes, drawing on Charlotte Mason principles like short lessons, narration, and living books while maintaining a distinctly Protestant Christian worldview throughout all subjects.
Key Takeaways
- Open-and-go daily plans eliminate preparation time for parents
- All subjects integrate around weekly themes with living books
- Charlotte Mason-inspired but not purely Charlotte Mason
- Guides can combine children within a 3-4 year age span
- Complete program from preschool through high school
Program Levels
What Sets It Apart
HOD distinguishes itself through genuine open-and-go simplicity. Where some curricula claim easy preparation but still require hunting for books or creating schedules, HOD provides everything pre-planned. The guides use a unique format where each day's work appears on facing pages—no flipping back and forth. Families can also combine children of different ages (within a 3-4 year span) into a single guide, reducing cost and complexity for multi-child households. The hands-on activities appeal particularly to kinesthetic learners who need movement integrated with academics.
Pricing Considerations
Heart of Dakota positions itself as a premium curriculum. Initial costs run higher than many alternatives—expect $300-$600 for elementary levels and potentially $1,500+ for high school when purchasing all subjects and required books. The curriculum guide itself costs less, but required picture books and materials add up quickly. Families can offset costs by purchasing used materials or waiting for periodic sales (up to 25% off). The week-based structure (34 weeks) may also require supplementation in states requiring 180 school days.
The Bottom Line
Heart of Dakota delivers on its promise of truly open-and-go homeschooling for Christian families. The integrated, literature-based approach creates meaningful connections across subjects while the biblical worldview permeates every lesson. If you value structured daily plans, prefer not to piece together your own curriculum, and align with its Protestant perspective, HOD offers an excellent solution. Just budget accordingly—this is a premium product that commands premium pricing.
