Your Questions,
Answered

Origins Curriculum is unschooling-inspired and research-based. We take a student-centered and interdisciplinary approach using project-based activities. We support emergent learning while providing direction and guidance. We include all of Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences and incorporate mindfulness, eco-literacy, and connection to the natural world throughout every subject.

Origins' lessons are interdisciplinary and cover Language Arts, Science, Math, Social Studies, Art, Movement, Mindfulness, and Eco-literacy — blended into cohesive, project-based learning experiences rather than isolated subjects.

Each month you receive: Lesson Plans, Origins Workbook, Origins Guided Meditations, and Movement Videos. Each Focal Point you will also receive an Opening and Closing Workbook and Transition Tools. Premium subscribers receive additional content including the Reading Program and expanded resources.

New curriculum is released based upon when you initially purchase your subscription. Immediately upon purchasing you will have access to Month 1 and all static resources on the dashboard. After that, new curriculum content will be released each month along your unique timeline.

Origins Curriculum provides the skills, strategies, and content for homeschool educators and students to decide what works for them, and then find the appropriate materials based on what we suggest. Our curriculum considers Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences — Naturalist, Visual/Spatial, Logical/Mathematical, Linguistic, Kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, and Intrapersonal — ensuring every type of learner is supported.

Origins Curriculum offers formal assessments that focus primarily on self-assessment and student growth by comparing the student's beginning and ending skill and ability. Our formal assessments have been designed to act efficiently for students that are required to take standardized state tests due to state requirements, while still staying true to the Origins approach of holistic, student-centered evaluation.

You do not need a formal background in education to homeschool with Origins! You just need the willingness, confidence, and sometimes a little support. Origins Curriculum is research-based and standards-informed, so you don't have to worry about not having an education background. Lessons in the core subjects teach the foundational skills your student needs to pursue their academic path.

Yes! Check out our Homeschool 101 section on the dashboard. Please also feel free to contact us directly if you need further guidance or support. We're always happy to help new families get started with confidence.

Each state is different when it comes to what is required, and researching and locating all of the information can sometimes be daunting. Origins Curriculum has created resources for you — check out our Homeschool 101 section to learn what your state requires for you to homeschool. We give you a basic overview and then direct you to accurate, up-to-date resources.

This varies from state to state and often from district to district. The best way to find out is to call your local superintendent's office and ask what their specific requirements are for re-enrollment. Origins provides educational documentation and portfolio resources that can help support that process.

Not at all! Some states will require a set number of hours of instruction per day, but they do not dictate when those hours need to be. Many states only require you to meet the annual requirement in total — so you have tremendous flexibility in how you structure your day. This is one of the greatest gifts of homeschooling.

Homeschool is such a great way to practice emergent learning — when we allow a student's interests and abilities to guide their learning. You can follow any outline that works for your family. Origins gives you the freedom to be student-led and to allow your student's natural interests to flow. We provide a flexible framework, not a rigid schedule.

Not at all! We actually encourage you to get out and explore the real world as much as possible — this can be a fantastic way to reinforce learning and make it more concrete for students. Nature walks, museums, community spaces, gardens, and parks are all extensions of the Origins learning environment.

Origins really only requires normal school supplies, access to the internet and a printer, and potentially a library card for our suggested book list. There is a page in the Home Educators Guide that explains materials and supplies in depth — this can be found under the "Welcome Homeschool Educator" section on your dashboard when you log in.

Technology is a great addition to any learning experience and can open doors for your children to explore new places. As the homeschool educator, you can make the call on how much or how little technology you incorporate. Our belief is that repeated and prolonged exposure to nature and the outdoors is essential — technology should supplement, not replace, that connection.

Our Emergent Reading curriculum is a resource for budding readers, developed with Pre-K through 1st grade students in mind. Each level introduces and builds on early reading skills and concepts, from letter recognition and identifying single phonemes (sounds) to decoding and reading words and sentences. It is included in our Premium Bundle for Kindergarten through 1st grade.

We currently have a reading program included in our Premium Bundle for Kindergarten through 1st grade. This Reading Program consists of 10 levels and has 2 main components: the Emergent Reading Curriculum and Decodables (Beginner Reader Books). These levels are released as the months progress. If you have a 2nd–5th grader who needs the program, you can request it and we can add it to your dashboard.

We currently have some foundational handwriting resources included in our Homeschool Premium K/1st grade subscription. We plan to add these to our store in the near future. For our other Premium subscriptions, these resources are available upon request. If your student is in 2nd–5th grade and needs handwriting support, please contact us directly.

Origins Curriculum developers designed the lessons so that any book on the lesson topics will suffice. We know not everyone has the same access to public libraries and books, and we want you to be able to use what you have. That said, we do provide a curated suggested book list on the dashboard to give you a great starting point. Most titles are widely available through public libraries.

An Origins lesson really takes as long as you need it to. It all depends on the engagement of your student and the flow of the day. You might finish a lesson in one day, or you can deep dive and stretch it out to last a week if your child is really interested — and then repeat it any time throughout the year.

The lenses through which the study is done will be the same between grade levels, but the content is an entirely different biome. Each year we dive into a different biome to study the regions in depth. While some lesson titles may be similar, the content and area of study is completely different. Each grade level also introduces increasingly advanced academic skills appropriate to that developmental stage.

Once you've journeyed with us for a full year and reached the 12th month of your subscription, you'll be prompted to complete a short assessment. This is a quick process to ensure that the content has been comprehensively covered. Upon successful submission, current subscribers can seamlessly move into the next grade level. Please email us when you are ready to transition and we will assist you.

Currently our Preschool Curriculum is written specifically for schools and Preschool Educators with groups or classes in mind. This curriculum will currently suffice for any preschool-aged child, even in a homeschool setting. The group activities can be differentiated for homeschooling by working with other families in a co-op arrangement, or by adapting activities for a single child.

If you wish to cancel your subscription, fill out and submit a cancellation request by contacting us. In order to prevent an additional billing cycle, you must reach out at least seven (7) business days prior to your subscription renewal date. Make sure to download all your content before requesting cancellation, as you will no longer have access to your dashboard after cancellation is processed.

The Origins Preschool Curriculum takes a play-based, emergent approach rooted in eco-literacy, mindfulness, and whole-child development. We support children ages 3–5 in building foundational academic skills alongside social-emotional learning, nature connection, and creative expression — all delivered in a joyful, curiosity-led way.

The Preschool Curriculum covers Early Literacy, Early Math, Science Exploration, Art, Movement, Mindfulness, Social-Emotional Learning, and Eco-Literacy — all woven together in interdisciplinary, play-based lessons.

For the Seed Basic Bundle ($15/month) you receive 4 lesson plans and a thematic project, as well as some basic teacher resources like planners. The Basic Bundle is great if you need supplemental curriculum or just want to check out a few lessons before committing to something more.

For the Bloom Premium Bundle you receive a comprehensive package including all lesson plans, the full curriculum guide, assessments, reading resources, handwriting resources, movement videos, guided meditations, parent newsletter templates, and more. This is our recommended bundle for full implementation.

Each month you receive Lesson Plans, an Origins Workbook, Guided Meditations, and Movement Videos. Each Focal Point you will also receive an Opening and Closing Workbook and Transition Tools. Bloom Bundle subscribers receive additional resources including assessments, reading supports, and parent communication templates.

New curriculum is released based upon when you initially purchase your subscription. Immediately upon purchasing you will have access to Month 1 and all static resources on the dashboard. New curriculum content will then be released each month along your unique timeline.

The beauty of teaching a class of unique individuals can also be the challenge. Origins' lesson plans are designed to meet the needs of all types of learners: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and more. We include differentiation suggestions within our lesson plans and curriculum guides, and we are always searching for creative ways to adapt classroom materials for a variety of learning needs.

We currently have a reading program included in our Bloom Premium Bundle. The Reading Curriculum can be found under "Reading Resources" on your dashboard. If you have a 2nd–5th grader that needs the program, you can request it and we can add it to your dashboard.

We currently have some foundational handwriting resources included in our Bloom subscription and they are also available in the store. If you have a Seed Bundle and your student needs help with writing practice, just contact us and we can work with you.

An Origins Lesson really takes as long as you need it to. It all depends on the engagement of your students and the flow of the day. You might finish a lesson in one day, or you can deep dive and stretch it out to last a week if your students are really interested. You can also repeat lessons any time throughout the year.

In our Bloom Bundle we currently provide three different assessments: the Developmental Checklist (for ages 3–5), the Co-Active Assessment (to be done alongside your student and requires their participation), and the Comprehensive Preschool Assessment (broken down by subject and focal point). These assessments are designed to be low-pressure and focused on growth, not grading.

Yes! Within the Curriculum Guide (located in the "Curriculum" section on your dashboard) you will find a document called "Parent Newsletter" at the end of the guide. This contains an overview to share with parents and guardians, weekly suggestions to reinforce learning at home, and a blank section you can fill in with your own classroom-specific notes.

Short answer: yes. The Preschool Classroom curriculum can be adapted for ages 3–5 at home. The longer answer: the Preschool Classroom curriculum is written for Preschool Classroom Educators, so it includes details on classroom arrangement, group activities, and classroom culture. Any aspects that are specific to a classroom setting can be adapted — group activities work beautifully in co-op settings or with siblings.

If you've already purchased the Basic (Seed) Bundle and would like to upgrade to the Premium (Bloom) to unlock additional features and benefits, kindly cancel your current subscription and purchase the Bloom Bundle. Please reach out to us if you need assistance navigating the process.

You must have one of our subscription bundles or products to have access to an account dashboard. A subscription is something you pay monthly or annually for. If you purchase curriculum or resources from the store, you do not have access to an account dashboard. If you do have a subscription, log in at originscurriculum.com and you will be directed to your personalized dashboard.

To update your payment information: Log in → click the circular icon in the upper right-hand corner → go to Account "Settings" → click "Billing Info" in the upper right-hand corner. From here you can update your payment information. If you need further assistance, please contact our customer service team.

Yes, we are able to pause your subscription. After we've paused your account you will no longer have access to the dashboard and content there, so make sure to download all the content you would like to hold onto during that paused period. Payments will also be paused while your account is on hold. Please contact us to request a pause.

If you wish to cancel your subscription, fill out and submit a cancellation request by contacting us. In order to prevent an additional billing cycle, you must reach out at least seven (7) business days prior to your subscription renewal date. Our team will guide you through the process. Make sure to download all your content before requesting cancellation, as you will no longer have access to your dashboard after cancellation is processed.

You must make sure to download all your content before requesting cancellation, as you will no longer have access to your dashboard after cancellation is processed. After cancellation we are unable to provide any content that wasn't downloaded before access was revoked.