FAQs

Charges

You will be charged on the same day of purchase each month (if you are on a monthly payment plan)

If you wish to cancel your subscription to Origins Curriculum, fill out and submit a cancellation request by visiting: https://www.originscurriculum.com/cancellation-request. 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 cancellation process and answer any questions you might have. We will also confirm the successful cancellation of your subscription by email. Please note that you will have access to your subscription benefits until the end of your current billing cycle.

If we receive a cancellation request less than seven (7) business days before your renewal date, your subscription will be scheduled for cancellation after the next billing cycle. This means you will be billed once more and retain access to Origins Curriculum for the duration of the following billing period.

Due to the nature of digital and downloadable content, no refunds or credits are permitted.  

How Our Product is Packaged

Our curriculum is made to be used online or printed—we currently do not offer drop-shipping. Each month new curriculum is released and made available to you on your dashboard. If you are a brand new subscriber you will begin with Month 1. The curriculum comes in the form of downloadable PDFs. 

When New Curriculum is Available

If you are on a monthly plan, 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. 

Then after that new curriculum content will be released each month along your unique timeline.

Access

You will always have access to your subscription, as long as your card is valid and not expired. You will get notifications to update your card if needed. 

If you are unable to update your card or pay for your subscription, your product will be revoked after so many notifications, and you will lose access to your subscription. 

If you cancel your subscription, afterwards you will see “pending cancellation” under your subscription, and next to it you will see your specific date of when your access to content will end. If you request for us to cancel your subscription, you will immediately lose access to content. 

If you cancel your subscription and then re-subscribe, you will begin again with Month 1. 

Pausing

It is possible to pause your subscription. After we’ve paused your account you will no longer have access to the dashboard and content there. So you will need to make sure to download all the content you would like to hold onto for this paused time.

Along with access, payments will also be paused. (We are not able to prorate or offer any refunds based on when you choose to pause)

We will add a tag to your account to keep track and wait to hear from you in the future to reactivate your account.

If you want to pause your subscription, you will need to contact us requesting this and we will take care of it within 72 hours.
Please note that you will need to track when your next auto pay is scheduled and make sure to reach out well in advance of that next charge.

This is an international curriculum that serves both Preschool and Homeschool students and educators. The curriculum was designed so that you can begin at any point in the year and you do not need to “catch up.” You will still need to review homeschooling requirements for your location, but we’ve already been approved in 4 countries and counting! 

Origins Curriculum Subscriptions:

Preschool Classroom is for ages 3-5. This curriculum is specifically written for Preschool Classroom Educators, but it can be adapted for homeschool families of children ages 3-5.

Homeschool Curriculum  is for  grades Kindergarten through 5th grade and Homeschool Educators. Our 22-23 curriculum is offered for the following grades: K/1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade.

Origins Store: 

*Products sold in our store are not subscription-based, that means you will not have an account or dashboard with us. Our additional offerings are only available with our subscriptions. 

Origins Curriculum sold in our store is for preschool-aged children through 6th grade. The difference in grades is because the 21-22 curriculum was written for the following grade ranges: K-2nd, 3rd-4th, and 5th-6th grades. Last year’s curriculum is sold in our store at a discounted price. These are sold singularly by the month or in quarters as bundles of 3.  

Our Conscious Lessons are for Kindergarten through 2nd grade. 

Our Exploratory Courses are for Preschool through High School. 

Yes. Origins Curriculum has already been approved by 4 countries and counting! You will still need to check the homeschooling requirements for your specific location. If you’re unsure of where to begin, you can start by viewing Homeschooling 101 on the website!

For Homeschool, you can download a sample HERE.

For Preschool you can download a sample HERE.

If you've already purchased a basic or deluxe bundle and would like to upgrade to the Premium to unlock additional features and more benefits, kindly cancel your current subscription and purchase again. 

When you’re set to upgrade your subscriptions, use the coupons below to enjoy amazing discounts:

Preschool

To upgrade to Bloom Premium Bundle, use BLOOMUP20 for 20% off at checkout. 

Homeschool

To upgrade to our Homeschool Bundle, use HSUPGRADE20 for 20% off at checkout. 

If you need to downgrade from Premium, you will first need to cancel your current subscription (See the Manage Your Account section at the bottom of the FAQ) and then purchase the subscription that you would like.

Discounts we offer:

• Sibling Discount offers 50% off on 2nd subscription purchase. You must have both subscriptions purchased under the same email address before we can apply the discount. You must also email us to request the discount be applied.
• Sliding Scale Discount is for low income families or those experiencing financial hardships. 

PLEASE NOTE:
Discounts are NOT available with Annual subscriptions or for payments made with PayPal.

You can contact us at [email protected] to learn more and inquire about these discounts. Discounts are offered at our discretion.

The Preschool and Homeschool curriculum is developed in a way that supports both emergent learning and linear learning. The educator and/or student(s) can create a flow with the curriculum that works best for them. Each school or homeschool setting will have a unique approach, and our lessons can be plugged in where it is most fitting. *For ex.- Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are for Science and Art, so you can focus on those lessons during those days. 

The curriculum can be printed or worked with online. For Preschool we suggest printing and laminating the resources, and for Homeschool we suggest printing the workbook and resources. *Anything that you can work with online is a future tree saved. 

Origins has a wide variety of support from detailed educator guides, how-to videos, our private facebook community, in-depth FAQ's and more, all at no cost.

We’re always happy to answer questions and help support our subscribers via email or chat. 

If you are looking for extra one-on-one support, we now offer private consultations and trainings with our team of experts via phone or video calls for $25 per 15 minutes, $100 for an hour. 

Reach out to our customer service team to learn more [email protected]

If you are on a monthly plan, 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.

You must have one of our subscription bundles or products to have access to an account dashboard. A subscription is something you pay monthly 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, you can go to originscurriculum.com and click “login” on the right-hand side of the website—you can also click here.

First, this depends on what subscription you have. If you have a Basic/Deluxe Bundle you will have access to less content than the Premium Bundles. 

For our Premium Bundles you will find your curriculum content and corresponding resources + an Educator Guide, overview for the year (Year At A Glance), Mindfulness and Social-Emotional Support Tools, Movement Videos, Posters, and organization tools. 

If you have a Basic or Deluxe Bundle, you will have access to less content than you would if you have the Premium Bundles.

We offer your 1st Month free so you can try out the curriculum and see what is available.

You must be an Origins Curriculum subscriber to access the Forum or the Private Facebook Group.

Once you have subscribed, log in to your dashboard and scroll down to “Community Resources”. Here you will find a link to the Community Forum and the Private Facebook Group. (Please note: this link may be on page 2 of your dashboard so continue to page 2 to find it.)
Once you are redirected to the Forum, you will be prompted to log in again. Simply use your account username and password. Once logged in, you can connect with others, ask questions, and troubleshoot with one another. There are different sections for Preschool and Homeschool users.  

If you are asked for the Private Facebook Group password, just click the link under “Community Resources.” You will find it there.

Specific differences can be found between educational curriculum and educational programs. One of the main differences is that curriculum exists independent of an educational program, and does not fall under the process of accreditation management. There is not even a governing body that oversees an accrediting process for independent curricula.

However, Origins Curriculum expertly fulfills a multitude of needs for families and is comprehensive in a number of ways:

• Origins Curriculum provides families flexibility and is tailored to the wide variety of learning styles found in children. As such, it is helpful for families in meeting the needs of their children's uniquely inquisitive natures.

• Origins Curriculum can be personalized to meet the needs of each student in a learning group. While using Origins Curriculum, a parent delivers the provided educational content directly to their child in the manner they determine is best suited for their child's needs.

• One of the most exciting elements of Origins Curriculum is that it is based on a highly integrated approach to the educational needs of young children. As such, it is written to address the learning styles of all children, ensuring that parents are meeting the needs of their child no matter which area of learning they discover that their child excels in. 

All learning styles, such as the neurodivergent, those of different multiple intelligences, as well as new and experienced homeschoolers, can feel confident using Origins curriculum because the foundational elements for success are written right into the curricular building blocks. In accredited programs, learners generally have to be very focused on one path or one way of learning and thus, the flexibility is lost. Learn more HERE.

Origins Curriculum strives to not only support, but embrace and celebrate diversity to create an inclusive community where students and families from every background feel welcome and empowered to learn and grow together. We provide a curriculum and platform where students of every learning-style and ability can experience the Origins Effect.

We are embarking on a new paradigm of early childhood education, to not only give children a strong academic foundation, but to support the philosophies and ideals that will create a generation of emotionally healthy people who value the wise use of resources, cultural diversity, gender equality and a sense of democracy.

Origins curriculum is secular and non-religious. It uses mindfulness, eco-consciousness and the ancient wisdom traditions of a deep connection to earth and its natural systems as its main focus. 

Preschool Prices can be found HERE.

Homeschool Prices can be found HERE.

Please note, if you wish to cancel your subscriptions before your next payment, you can do so by going to your “Billing Info” on your dashboard. 

Please also note that no refunds will be made if you fail to cancel your subscription before the renewal date.

We currently offer a sliding scale to help teachers and families that need financial assistance. We require that you provide us with supporting documentation to first see what discounts you qualify for, and then thereafter (every 6 months to a year) to keep your discount. Please contact us to inquire about our sliding scale.
PLEASE NOTE: Payments made with PayPal are not eligible for sliding scale discounts

The Origins Store is a place to buy non-subscription home and classroom resources, mindfulness and organizational tools, conscious courses, lesson plans and single-purchase curriculum packages that come bundled seasonally or yearly.  

The store curriculum packages are 1-time purchases rather than monthly subscriptions, and you get all the content at once. You can purchase seasonal packages that follow our focal points (fall, winter, spring and summer) or a full year at once.

These are discounted packages from the prior year’s content that does not come with the plethora of additional resources, lessons, audio & video content, tools, guidance and support that is part of the subscription bundles.

If you purchase anything from our store, you will not have access to a “dashboard.” You only have access to an account dashboard if you have a subscription bundle. 

Exploratory Courses & Conscious Lessons are available for purchase in our STORE.

Exploratory Courses are in-depth conscious courses that are designed to be implemented over 2 weeks. There are courses for preschool-aged children all the way through High School.

Conscious Lessons are supplemental lessons for classroom or homeschool students and they are designed to be taught over 2-5 days. These are good for PreK-2nd grade.

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 - Origins Curriculum is centered around nature and strives to give students a robust understanding of the natural world around them. Additionally, opportunities to take learning outside are provided every month.
• Visual/Spatial - Students are provided with opportunities to move and experience their world while being out in the world, not just learning about it on screens. Art lessons and suggested projects are provided every month so students can learn and express themselves through the visual arts. Additionally, strategies to help visual learners are provided in most lessons. 
• Linguistic - The newly designed curriculum provides the skills and strategies students need to become strong readers and writers so they can confidently follow their learning interests.
• Logical/Mathematical - Each biome will be taught in its component parts and then put together through concepts of interconnection and systems thinking, to help ensure a deeper understanding of the world we live in.
• Bodily/Kinesthetic - Origins Curriculum believes that students learn best through direct experience with the world. Whether it’s observing nature on a hike or a neighborhood walk, conducting science experiments, or creating and sharing art and writing, Origins gets students involved in their world.
• Musical - New this year, Origins Curriculum will have lessons on the music from biomes around the world as well as the sounds of the natural world.
• Intrapersonal and Interpersonal - Origins Curriculum has lessons dedicated to mindfulness to help students understand their socio-emotional world and the socio-emotional world of others. These concepts are woven throughout the curriculum as well to help students develop empathy for all the living and nonliving parts of our beautiful planet. Through this empathy, we hope students learn to care for others and protect planet Earth.

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 homeschooling laws. 

You will see more assessment tools in the 2023-24 curriculum.

When we are talking about requirements, each state is different and has different requirements. Locate all the information you need to know what the requirements for your state are. The following is a basic overview: 

• Schooling Options
• Teaching Qualifications
• School Ages
• Curriculum Requirements
• Assessment
• Immunization
• Notification
• Attendance
• State Records
• Days or Hours
• Disabilities
• Athletics
• Part-time enrollment
• Re-enrollment
• Public School 
• Graduation

Origins Curriculum covers all subjects that you find in public school and many more! 

You don't need a formal educational background, 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 interests and passions. For example, reading lessons explicitly teach the skills and strategies to not only decode texts but comprehend them.

In our Homeschool Bundles you’ll find things like: 

• Focal Point Tools

- Opening/Closing Guides and suggestions to begin and end learning sessions.
- Transition Tools

• Mindfulness Tools
• Social-Emotional Support Tools
• Yoga
• Homeschool Educator Resources

- Educator Planners
- Student Planners
- Portfolio Guide
- Sample Letter-Intent to Homeschool

• Posters
• Community Resources

All of these tools and resources are available to support you in homeschooling your student, and we are too! 

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 you will need to make sure to download all the content you would like to hold onto for this paused time.

Along with access, payments will also be paused. (We are not able to prorate or offer any refunds based on when you choose to pause)

We will add a tag to your account to keep track and wait to hear from you in the future to reactivate your account.

If you want to pause your subscription, you will need to contact us requesting this and we will take care of it within 72 hours.
Please note that you will need to track when your next auto pay will happen and make sure to reach out well in advance of that next charge.

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 of the lesson titles may be the same or similar, the content and area of study is completely different.

Mindfulness - provides your student space and guidance for calming the senses, increasing focus and attention, and bringing awareness to the present moment while growing social-emotional intelligence.

Reading & Writing - provides foundational skills and strategies for the study of language, using literature and writing opportunities to build your student’s confidence as a reader and writer. Your student will be empowered to independently explore subjects that ignite their passions, while using their writing for creative self-expression and positive, real-world change.

Culture & Society - provides a chance to explore ourselves and others through the study of human culture and history through social studies. This prompts your student to think both critically and creatively, so they can imagine and take part in a better future.

Nutrition - provides your student the opportunity to learn about how the body needs and uses nutrients to stay healthy, with a focus on a farm-to-table approach highlighting sustainability and food sovereignty. Thematic recipes offer a hands-on learning experience, exploration of global food culture, and an opportunity for meaningful connection.

The Sciences - provides your student an outlet to discover and understand the world around them. Lessons and hands-on experiments deepen your student’s comprehension of how things work, and enhance their connection to the habitats and ecosystems that sustain us. 

Movement - provides opportunities to take part in physical exertion that can help us expel energy, strengthen our bodies, and calm our minds. We offer a variety of yoga-inspired videos and other movement-related content to ground and center your student's feelings and focus.

Mathematics - provides a right-brained approach to math, helping your student understand math in the context of the natural world. Lessons focus on developing understanding, opportunities for meaningful practice, and encouraging your student to apply what they have learned.

Origins is delivered through various methods and means including the integration of off-line activities and experiences that leverage the natural world. In essence, the content is hosted online, which provides flexibility and accessibility for those who live in both urban and rural areas, but the content is not limited to screen-based activities. It includes instructions, guides and resources for hands-on experiences that take place outdoors and fully engaged with nature! Our project-based learning delivers content with real world exploration built in. And it’s also the way we are able to take children around the world virtually, in a way that they would never be able to do physically. In this way Origins students can learn about, appreciate, and engage with nature even while benefiting from the flexibility and accessibility of the online curriculum that also gives real world immersive experiences.

If you wish to cancel your subscription to Origins Curriculum, fill out and submit a cancellation request by visiting: https://www.originscurriculum.com/cancellation-request. 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 cancellation process and answer any questions you might have. We will also confirm the successful cancellation of your subscription by email. Please note that you will have access to your subscription benefits until the end of your current billing cycle.

If we receive a cancellation request less than seven (7) business days before your renewal date, your subscription will be scheduled for cancellation after the next billing cycle. This means you will be billed once more and retain access to Origins Curriculum for the duration of the following billing period.

Due to the nature of digital and downloadable content, no refunds or credits are permitted.  

Our Emergent Reading curriculum is a resource for budding readers, developed with Pre-K through first 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 with learned sounds. The curriculum is included with each month’s Kindergarten and first grade homeschool curriculum, and includes a workbook with ten lessons and corresponding student materials. The lessons and materials contain student-friendly games and activities, including instructor-led phonemic- and phonological-awareness activities, letter and sound recognition cards, printables, and three original decodable texts with comprehension questions. Origins’ decodable texts are books that are written to progressively include the letters and sounds that your budding reader learns. They provide an opportunity for your student to be “a reader” from the first reading lesson. Our Emergent Reading curriculum is meant to foster a love for books and reading, and is adaptable based on each students’ unique development, interest level, and pace of learning.

None of our homeschool lessons are tied to specific books, we suggest books that are at an appropriate reading level and support the lesson. Most lessons can be done with any book. Subscribers can go to whatever library is available and search for those topics.  That being said, not every library has the same materials. Here are some articles about ways to get non-resident library cards: 

Some of these even accept international patrons. These services are only for ebooks though. Before paying, people should browse the ebook catalogs to see if the books they want are available. 

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 of this assessment:

Current Subscribers: You will automatically gain access to the next grade level in your dashboard. As a bonus, if you've been with us continually for the previous 12 months, you will retain access to the completed grade level as well.

Paused or Cancelled Subscriptions: If at any point you choose to pause or cancel your subscription, please note that access to the previous year's content will be revoked. You will, however, still be able to access the new grade level content when you resume.

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 we incorporate Bloom's Taxonomy in addition to Origins own Eco-literacy and Mindfulness based Conscious Curriculum.

Mindfulness - provides your student space and guidance for calming the senses, increasing focus and attention, and bringing awareness to the present moment while growing social-emotional intelligence.

Reading & Writing - provides foundational skills and strategies for the study of language, using literature and writing opportunities to build your student’s confidence as a reader and writer. Your student will be empowered to independently explore subjects that ignite their passions, while using their writing for creative self-expression and positive, real-world change.

Culture & Society - provides a chance to explore ourselves and others through the study of human culture and history through social studies. This prompts your student to think both critically and creatively, so they can imagine and take part in a better future.

Fine Arts - provides hands-on artistic exploration to help your student explore their internal and external worlds. This exploration helps your student practice and develop their own personal relationship with self-expression. 

Nutrition - provides your student the opportunity to learn about how the body needs and uses nutrients to stay healthy, with a focus on a farm-to-table approach highlighting sustainability and food sovereignty. Thematic recipes offer a hands-on learning experience, exploration of global food culture, and an opportunity for meaningful connection.

The Sciences - provides your student an outlet to discover and understand the world around them. Lessons and hands-on experiments deepen your student’s comprehension of how things work, and enhance their connection to the habitats and ecosystems that sustain us. 

Movement - provides opportunities to take part in physical exertion that can help us expel energy, strengthen our bodies, and calm our minds. We offer a variety of yoga-inspired videos and other movement-related content to ground and center your student's feelings and focus.

Mathematics - provides a right-brained approach to math, helping your student understand math in the context of the natural world. Lessons focus on developing understanding, opportunities for meaningful practice, and encouraging your student to apply what they have learned.

Currently we do not have a way to automatically transition you to the next grade level. 

Each student is working through the curriculum content at their own pace, so whenever the student is finished or whenever you’re ready to move onto the next grade level, you’ll need to email us so we can assist.
If you have been a subscriber and completed all 12 months of one grade, you can reach out to us and request the next grade. Doing this will allow you to keep access to your previous grade and keep it stored on your dashboard along with the new grade level (this way you won’t have to download all of that content).

If you have not completed all 12 months of one grade, you would reach out and we would cancel your previous subscription (and would need to download the content to keep it and you would sign up for the new grade level.

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 though, even in a homeschool setting. The group activities can be differentiated for homeschooling by working with other children (siblings or friends), or working with your child as a pair. 

We will eventually be adapting this curriculum so that the voice addresses Homeschool Educators and children specifically. 

If you’re interested in seeing if our current curriculum will work for your 3-5 year old, we suggest subscribing for a free trial of any of our preschool bundles: Seed, Sprout, or Bloom. 

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. 

Then after that new curriculum content will be released each month along your unique timeline.

We currently have a reading program that is included in our Premium Bundle for Kindergarten through 1st grade.

This Reading Program consists of 10 levels and has 2 main components:

1. Emergent Reading Curriculum
2. Decodables (Beginner Reader Books)

These levels will be released as the months progress, and you’ll begin with Level 0. 

If you have the Homeschool Premium Bundle for 2nd-5th and would like to utilize this reading program for your student, please contact us. 

We currently have some foundational handwriting resources that are included in our Homeschool Premium K/1st grade subscription. We plan to add these to our store in the near future, but for our other Premium subscriptions these resources are available upon request. If your student is in 2nd-5th and needs help with writing practice, just contact us and we’ll send what resources we have to you. 

It depends on the lesson, and of course, your student and how they’re doing that day. Work with the pace and engagement of your student—learning is to be practiced and fun, not forced.

Move through the lessons and content with your student at your own pace, all of the resources are available to you so that you can cater to the individual needs, ability, and learning style of your student. 

For students who breeze through their work you can introduce one of our focal point projects. 

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 off of what we suggest.

Our curriculum considers Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences:

• Naturalist - Origins Curriculum is centered around nature and strives to give students a robust understanding of the natural world around them. Additionally, opportunities to take learning outside are provided every month.
• Visual/Spatial - Students are provided with opportunities to move and experience their world while being out in the world, not just learning about it on screens. Art lessons and suggested projects are provided every month so students can learn and express themselves through the visual arts. Additionally, strategies to help visual learners are provided in most lessons. 
• Linguistic - The newly designed curriculum provides the skills and strategies students need to become strong readers and writers so they can confidently follow their learning interests.
• Logical/Mathematical - Each biome will be taught in its component parts and then put together through concepts of interconnection and systems thinking, to help ensure a deeper understanding of the world we live in.
• Bodily/Kinesthetic - Origins Curriculum believes that students learn best through direct experience with the world. Whether it’s observing nature on a hike or a neighborhood walk, conducting science experiments, or creating and sharing art and writing, Origins gets students involved in their world.
• Musical - New this year, Origins Curriculum will have lessons on the music from biomes around the world as well as the sounds of the natural world.
• Intrapersonal and Interpersonal - Origins Curriculum has lessons dedicated to mindfulness to help students understand their socio-emotional world and the socio-emotional world of others. These concepts are woven throughout the curriculum as well to help students develop empathy for all the living and nonliving parts of our beautiful planet. Through this empathy, we hope students learn to care for others and protect planet Earth.

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 homeschooling laws.

You will see more assessment tools in the 2023-24 curriculum.

Yes we do! You can check out our Homeschool 101 section. Please also feel free to contact us directly if you need further guidance or support. 

You do not! 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 interests and passions. For example, reading lessons explicitly teach the skills and strategies to not only decode texts but to comprehend them.

In our Homeschool Premium Bundle you’ll find things like: 

• Focal Point Tools
  • Opening/Closing Guides and suggestions to begin and end learning sessions.
  • Transition Tools
• Mindfulness Tools
• Social-Emotional Support Tools
• Yoga
• Homeschool Educator Resources
  • Educator Planners
  • Student Planners
  • Portfolio Guide
  • Sample Letter-Intent to Homeschool 
• Posters
• Community Resources

All of these tools and resources are available to support you in homeschooling your student, and we are too! 

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 of the following: 

• Schooling Options
• Teaching Qualifications
• School Ages
• Curriculum Requirements
• Assessment
• Immunization
• Notification
• Attendance
• State Records
• Days or Hours
• Disabilities
• Athletics
• Part-time enrollment
• Re-enrollment
• Public School 
• Graduation

Origins Curriculum covers all subjects that you find in public school plus many more! 

*See “What subjects are covered?” in the Homeschool FAQ section for further details. 

This something that varies from state to state. Many times, it will come down to the specific district that you live in and what they require for re-enrollment. The best way to find out is to call your local superintendent's office and ask what their specific requirements are.

Origins provides educator and student planners to track subjects, lessons/activities, and hours to make this easier. We also provide a portfolio guide in case your state requires a portfolio submission. 

Check out HOMESCHOOL STATE LAWS here for more info. 

It can be hard to adjust when you go from public school to homeschool, but the simple answer to this question is no. 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 of hours and days of instruction, with no set standard of when those hours need to be or what days you need to have instruction on.

It is best to keep documentation of when you hold instruction and what you are teaching during that time by using our planners and resources that are included in the Homeschool Premium Bundle. 

Homeschool is such a great way to practice emergent learning. Emergent learning is 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 instincts and interests to bloom.

There are so many ways to show interest in your student’s world. You can check out books on topics they love, visit museums (virtually or in person) that involve their interests. You can even encourage your student to decide which activities to share with you. One of the most important ways of participating in your student’s interests is to listen to them. This means creating space for them to talk and share while you listen, refraining from the urge to direct or evaluate their thinking.

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. 

Here are some examples of extending learning outside the home and other educational opportunities: 

1. First consider your student’s interests and go to places that support that and provide opportunities for exploration. 
2. Museums
3. Art Galleries
4. Aquariums
5. Wilderness areas of National Parks
6. Local parks
7. Your backyard
8. Community Venues and Services
9. Theaters
10. Sport Events
11. Student Labs and Exploratory Observatories
12. Libraries
13. Any businesses of interest that offer tours or will let students shadow
14. College campuses 
15. Farms or Community Gardens 
16. Animal Shelters or Sanctuaries 
17. Farmer’s Markets

There are so many opportunities for learning and exploration. We can include our students when we’re doing important tasks (as long as it’s age appropriate of course), like building or creating things, applying for loans, grants, other services, or even doing our taxes. 

We may often feel as though it will take less time if we just do it ourselves, but there may eventually come a time when our students nevertheless ask us how to do something in the future. Students will be much more prepared for the real world when we involve them in it. These experiences are also a wonderful opportunity for connection and bonding. Around every corner is a potential learning opportunity—use it! 

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 login.  Origins really only requires normal school supplies, access to internet and a printer, and potentially a library (if a local library is unavailable, many of the books can be found to view or purchase online). The books in our book list are widely available and the lessons can be done with a variety of books. 

Technology is a great addition to any learning experience. This is a tool that can open doors for your children and allow them to explore new places. As the homeschool educator you can make the call on how much or how little. Our belief is that repeated and prolonged exposure to nature and the outdoors is one the most powerful tools in helping to foster creative and happy learning. This can help to create balance with the exposure and use of technology. 

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 of the lesson titles may be the same or similar, the content and area of study is completely different.

Short answer is, yes. The Preschool Classroom curriculum can be adapted for ages 3-5 at home.

Long answer: The Preschool Classroom curriculum is written for Preschool Classroom Educators, so that means it includes details on classroom arrangement, group activities, and classroom culture. Any aspects of this curriculum that are not applicable to you at home can be omitted or simply adapted. For example, if there is a group or class activity, you can do this as a pair with you and your child, as a family, with friends, or even in a small pod. 

There are also resources like our Parent Newsletter, which has great information that you can still use, but you just won’t be sending it home like a teacher would. This resource could also be used by sending it to other family members to keep them informed, and to help them reinforce learning when the child is in their care. 

• For 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 you just wanna check out a few lessons before committing to something more. 
• For Bloom Premium Bundle ($65/month) everything is included. This is the package that has a full lesson plan packet, curriculum guide, social-emotional support and mindfulness tools, movement videos and resources, posters, and even pre-filled planners and parent newsletters to save you time. This bundle is for schools and home educators that want to take conscious learning to the next level!

The beauty of teaching a class of unique individuals, can also be the challenge. A number of learning styles and a variety of developmental stages can be found in a single classroom of children. Origins’ lesson plans are designed to meet the needs of all types of learners: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, logical, social, solitary, and naturalistic. Lessons also encompass more than one subject at a time, to mirror real life and to ignite interest from multiple angles.

Origins Curriculum supports different learning styles and abilities, we offer suggestions within our lesson plans and curriculum guide. We understand that everyone learns and experiences the world in their own unique way. We are always searching for creative ways to adapt classroom materials, activities and learning centers to meet the needs of all of our students.

 Here are some pointers from our Professional Educators:

• A good daily schedule leaves room for flexibility and can be easily adapted to meet the needs of individual children.
• An intentional and adaptable teacher observes the children in their care closely and follows their lead, allowing for space and flexibility throughout the day. This may look different in each classroom, and may vary from one day to the next depending on the needs, interest, and energy levels of the children on any particular day.
• Sometimes this may mean providing acceptable alternatives to large group or teacher led activities, or strategically seating children in a way that optimizes their chances for success. Other times it may mean providing sensory breaks or changing plans entirely. On occasion, there may be a need to make structural changes to a classroom in order to accommodate children with physical limitations.
• When we make these changes, it is important to verbalize that we too are flexible, and to provide examples of the ways in which we can be adaptable and how it benefits our lives. You can provide children with a visual by explaining how you use your “flexible brain”, like flexible bodies, to make changes—this will help students make deeper connections about adaptability.
• Our students are constantly watching us as we model our own adaptability, and we empower our students to utilize their own when we acknowledge ours.
• We also suggest that teachers become trauma-informed and take into account children’s physical, mental, and cultural differences.

Cognitive provides a variety of stimulation geared towards enhancing neurological skills such as imagination, attention, resilience, reflection, interpretation, initiative, self direction, logical reasoning, critical thinking, and engineering.

Mindfulness provides opportunities to practice presence and garner self awareness through emotions, empathy, respect, self concept, self regulation, likes and dislikes, gratitude, affirmations, sound healing, and self esteem.

 Sensory Exploration provides experiences to hone all of the senses through tactile, auditory, visual, gustatory, and olfactory exploration. Children use their senses to connect with and make sense of the world around them.

Food and Nutrition provides students with the chance to diversify their taste buds, observe the food available to them, categorize foods, and learn about food in a threat free environment. Food is a major component of bringing people together and cultural identity, and plays a pivotal role in relationships to self and others.

 Fine Arts provides a broad perspective on art forms including music, theater, literature, sculpture, and visual art. Activities call for a multitude of mediums and the study of different artists. Students can find pride in themselves and respect for others.

Science provides observation and experimentation to inform knowledge of physical science and life science. From body systems and self care, through food chains and ecosystems, to life cycles and climate change, students recognize the important role they play in the future of our world.

Mathematics provides a foundation of number sense, operations, measurement, data analysis, algebraic thinking, geometry, and spatial reasoning. A focus on real world applications provides meaning and context.

Social Studies provides a scope of information concerning people and their interaction with society and culture through the lenses of community, spatial exploration, conservation, resources, pollution, sustainability, Indigenous cultures, global warming, farm to table and seed to store concepts, and wants versus needs.

Movement provides a range of body-centered activity to focus on cross-body movement, mind-body connection, gross motor development, hand-eye coordination, and self care. Practices of stretching, yoga, sports, and balancing are included.

Each month with our Bloom Bundle, you receive a new lesson plan packet that includes corresponding resources and a curriculum guide. You may also find additional resources that support the curriculum for that month.

With Seed Basic Bundle, you receive a sample of the lessons and resources for the month.

*You can also see the FAQ “What is the difference between Seed and Bloom Bundles?” for further details.  

Lesson Plan Packet 

• 20 pre-written lesson plans
• Ready-to-print lesson supplements
• Additional materials, activities, inspiration and ideas
• Suggested scaffolds and modifications for each lesson

Curriculum Guide

• Instructions & Teacher Resources
• Books and Supplies Needed
• Pre-filled (and blank) Weekly Planners
• Food and Nutrition
• Biomimicry in the Classroom
• Heart Poems
• Vocabulary Images
• Parent Newsletter
• Improving Your Child Care Center
• Information: Math and Play Centers
• Information: Outdoor Extensions, Science Notebooks, and Circle Time
• Blank Assessment Checklists

And of course, on your dashboard you will always have access to your Welcome Preschool Educator Guide, the Year At A Glance, planners, visual aids like posters, social-emotional support and mindfulness tools, yoga & movement videos, training videos (soon to be updated), and access to our forum and private facebook groups. 

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. 

Then after that new curriculum content will be released each month along your unique timeline, and for Bloom Bundle it will be 10 days prior to allow for additional prep time. 

We currently have a reading program that is included in our Bloom Premium Bundle for ages 3-5. This can be found on the Bloom Premium Bundle dashboard under “Reading Resources.”

This Reading Program consists of 10 levels and has 2 main components:

1. Emergent Reading Curriculum
2. Decodables (Beginner Reader Books)

These levels will be released as the months progress, and you will begin with level 0. 

We currently have some foundational handwriting resources that are included in our Bloom subscription. We plan to add these to our store in the near future. If you have our Seed Bundle and your student needs help with writing practice, just contact us and we can work with you.  

It depends on the lesson, and of course, your class or student and how they’re doing that day. Each lesson typically is worked through in a day, but if things change as they typically do, feel free to extend a lesson over a few days. Work with the pace and engagement of children-learning is to be practiced and fun, not forced.

Move through the lessons and content at your own pace, all of the resources are available to you so that you can cater to individual needs and learning styles. 

In our Bloom Bundle we currently provide you with 3 different assessments: 

1. The Developmental Checklist-this is for ages 3-5. 
2. The Co-Active Assessment-this is to be done alongside your student or child and requires their participation. 
3. The Comprehensive Preschool Assessment-this is broken down into Origins’ subjects or categories of learning. This can be done through both observation and student/child participation in activities demonstrating skills. 

The Developmental Checklist can be done at the beginning of the year, and repeatedly if there are concerns. Please contact your local childcare resource and referral agency, and/or your local CDC (Child Development Center) for additional resources and help. *Remember a wide range of ability and skill is expected.

The Co-Active Assessment can be done 3 times per year (we suggest before the Comprehensive Preschool Assessment, CPA) because it will allow you to observe specific skills, which will help you fill out the CPA. The Co-Active Assessment includes things like color, shape, number, and upper/lowercase letter recognition, phonics, patterns, following a dotted-line, and writing their name. 

The Comprehensive Preschool Assessment  is also suggested to be done 3 times per year. This includes the following categories of learning: 

• Cognitive
• Language & Communication 
• Emotional Development
• Social Development
• Health, Nutrition, & Safety
• Mindfulness
• Physical Development
• Basic Geometry & Spatial Awareness 
• Mathematics
• Sciences
• Eco-Literacy 
• Social Studies
• The Arts
• Reading & Literacy 

Within the Curriculum Guide, which will be 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/guardians, weekly suggestions to reinforce learning at home, and a blank section for preschool updates and important dates. 

*This is only available to Bloom  subscribers. 

Currently our Preschool Curriculum is written specifically for Preschool Educators with groups or classes in mind. This curriculum will currently suffice for any preschool-aged child though, even in a homeschool setting. The group activities can be differentiated for homeschooling by working with other children (siblings or friends), or working with your child as a pair. 

We will eventually be adapting this curriculum so that the voice addresses Homeschool Educators and children specifically. 

If you’re interested in seeing if our current curriculum will work for your 3-5 year old, we suggest subscribing for a free trial of any of our preschool bundles: Seed, Sprout, or Bloom.