Tapestry of Grace is a classical Christian homeschool curriculum from Lampstand Press that uses a four-year historical cycle to integrate history, literature, writing, Bible, and fine arts for the whole family, kindergarten through twelfth grade.
What is Tapestry of Grace?
Created by Marcia Francks and published by Lampstand Press, Tapestry of Grace (TOG) takes a classical Christian approach to education with Charlotte Mason and unit study influences. The curriculum organizes learning around a four-year history cycle—ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern periods—with students cycling through multiple times at increasing depth. Children of different ages study the same historical period simultaneously but at age-appropriate academic levels, making it efficient for families with multiple children while building shared context for dinner table discussions.
Key Takeaways
- Four-year cycle covers ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern history
- Integrates history, literature, writing, Bible, geography, and fine arts
- Does NOT include math, science, phonics, grammar, or foreign languages
- Designed for multi-age families—all children study same period at different levels
- Requires significant parent preparation time (approximately 50 pages of lesson plans weekly)
How the Four-Year Rotation Works
Students progress through history chronologically over four years: Year 1 covers ancient civilizations, Year 2 spans medieval through Renaissance, Year 3 addresses Reformation through early modern era, and Year 4 brings students to the modern world. A child starting in first grade would cycle through this rotation two to three times by graduation, encountering the same historical periods at the Grammar, Dialectic, and Rhetoric stages of classical education. Each cycle builds deeper understanding—a sixth grader studying ancient Rome engages differently than they did as a second grader covering the same period.
What's Included (and What's Not)
The Preparation Reality
Reviews consistently mention preparation demands. Expect roughly 50 pages of lesson plans per week requiring parent review before teaching. Summer planning sessions help families organize the coming year's materials. You'll need access to public libraries, a growing home library, and internet resources to gather the living books TOG recommends. Many parents report learning alongside their children—which can be a feature or a bug depending on your perspective. If you prefer pre-packaged, open-and-go curriculum, TOG's flexibility may feel more like a burden than a benefit.
Who Should Consider TOG
Tapestry of Grace works best for families with multiple children (the shared cycle creates efficiencies), parents who enjoy learning and don't mind substantial prep work, and those committed to a classical Christian educational philosophy. Literature-loving families appreciate the emphasis on living books over textbooks. If you want a curriculum that makes decisions for you—exactly which books, precisely how long on each topic—TOG's flexibility may frustrate. But for families willing to invest preparation time in exchange for a rich, integrated humanities education, the payoff is substantial.
The Bottom Line
Tapestry of Grace delivers a comprehensive, thoughtfully integrated humanities curriculum for families willing to invest significant preparation time. The four-year cycle and multi-age design make it particularly efficient for larger families. The classical Christian approach, emphasis on living books, and worldview integration appeal to families seeking education with spiritual depth. Just know what you're signing up for: this is not grab-and-go curriculum. Between preparation demands and the need for separate math and science programs, TOG works as a centerpiece, not a complete solution.
