Free Resources for Homeschooling Middle School Students

Homeschooling middle school students can be both rewarding and challenging, as this age group requires engaging, age-appropriate resources to foster academic growth and curiosity. While paid curricula are widely available, the cost can be a barrier for many families.

Fortunately, 2025 offers a wealth of free resources tailored to middle schoolers (grades 6-8, ages 11-14), covering core subjects like math, language arts, science, and social studies, as well as electives like coding and art.

This blog post explores the best free resources for homeschooling middle school students, providing parents with tools to create a comprehensive, budget-friendly curriculum that sparks learning and creativity.

Why Free Resources for Homeschooling?

Homeschooling middle schoolers requires balancing academic rigor with engagement, as students transition from elementary basics to more complex concepts like algebra and critical reading.

Free resources eliminate financial barriers, allowing families to access high-quality materials without sacrificing quality.

These tools, often created by educators, nonprofits, or universities, align with educational standards and offer flexibility to tailor lessons to a student’s needs.

From interactive apps to downloadable textbooks, free resources empower parents to deliver a well-rounded education while keeping costs low, making homeschooling accessible to all.

Key Considerations for Choosing Resources

When selecting free resources, consider these factors to ensure they suit your middle schooler:

• Alignment with Goals: Choose materials that match your educational philosophy (e.g., traditional, Charlotte Mason) and state standards, if applicable.
• Engagement: Look for interactive tools like videos, games, or quizzes to keep students motivated.
• Ease of Use: Resources should be user-friendly for both parents and students, with clear instructions and minimal setup.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Ensure resources cover core subjects and allow for customization to include electives or special interests.
• Accessibility: Opt for online or downloadable materials that work on your available devices (e.g., laptop, tablet).

Below are the top free resources for homeschooling middle school students, organized by subject and type, to help you build a robust curriculum.

1. Khan Academy

Type: Online Platform (Web, iOS, Android)
Subjects: Math, Science, English, Social Studies, Coding
Key Features: Video lessons, interactive exercises, progress tracking, personalized dashboards
Best For: Structured, self-paced learning

Khan Academy is a go-to resource for homeschoolers, offering free, comprehensive courses for middle school students.

Math lessons cover pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry, with step-by-step videos and practice problems.

Science includes topics like biology, physics, and earth science, while English focuses on grammar and reading comprehension.

Social studies lessons explore world history and U.S. history, aligning with Common Core standards. The platform’s personalized dashboard tracks progress, helping students focus on weak areas.

Parents can use Khan Academy as a full curriculum or supplement specific topics, making it ideal for self-directed learners.

2. Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool

Type: Online Curriculum (Web)
Subjects: Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Bible, Electives
Key Features: 180-day lesson plans, Christian perspective, downloadable workbooks
Best For: Families seeking a complete, structured curriculum

Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool provides a free, Christian-based curriculum for grades K-8, with 180 daily lessons for middle schoolers.

It covers math (e.g., pre-algebra), language arts (reading, writing, grammar), science (life and earth science), and social studies (world and U.S. history).

Electives include Spanish, computer skills, and art. Lessons use free online materials, with optional printable workbooks for offline use.

Parents can follow the structured schedule or customize it, and the platform’s My EP Assignments tool tracks progress. While Christian-focused, secular families can adapt it by skipping Bible lessons.

3. CK-12 Foundation

Type: Online Textbooks and Resources (Web, iOS, Android)
Subjects: Math, Science, Social Studies
Key Features: Downloadable textbooks, interactive simulations, practice problems
Best For: Students needing in-depth, textbook-based learning

CK-12 offers free, customizable digital textbooks for middle school math (algebra, geometry) and science (biology, earth science, physical science).

Textbooks include videos, simulations, and practice questions, making complex topics like cell structure or quadratic equations engaging.

The platform’s FlexBook system lets parents adapt content to their child’s needs. For example, CK-12 Life Science for Middle School and Earth Science for Middle School are comprehensive, with downloadable PDFs for offline use.

Teacher guides and student work pages are also free, making CK-12 a robust resource for core subjects.

4. BBC Bitesize (Key Stage 3)

Type: Online Platform (Web)
Subjects: Math, English, Science, History, Geography
Key Features: Videos, quizzes, articles, interactive activities
Best For: Visual learners and UK-aligned curricula

BBC Bitesize provides free resources for Key Stage 3 (ages 11-14), equivalent to U.S. middle school.

It offers engaging videos, quizzes, and articles on math (fractions, algebra), English (reading comprehension, grammar), science (physics, chemistry), and humanities (history, geography).

While designed for the UK curriculum, its content suits U.S. homeschoolers, with topics like medieval history or ecosystems.

The platform’s interactive games and short videos appeal to visual learners, and its clear explanations help students grasp concepts independently. Parents can use it to supplement core subjects or spark interest in new topics.

5. Discovery K12

Type: Online Curriculum (Web)
Subjects: Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, PE
Key Features: 180-day schedule, over 16,000 lessons, secular focus
Best For: Families wanting a traditional, all-in-one curriculum

Discovery K12 offers a free, secular homeschool curriculum with 180 daily lessons for middle schoolers. Core subjects include math (pre-algebra), language arts (reading, writing), science (earth science, biology), and social studies (U.S. history, geography).

Electives like art, music, and coding add variety. The platform uses open-source materials, requiring only a few novel purchases for language arts.

Parents can follow the provided schedule or customize it, and a free student account tracks progress. Discovery K12 is not affiliated with K12, ensuring independence from government funding and Common Core.

6. Code.org

Type: Online Platform (Web)
Subjects: Computer Science, Coding
Key Features: Block-based coding, tutorials, game-based projects
Best For: Students interested in technology

Code.org provides free coding courses for middle schoolers, teaching programming through block-based platforms like Scratch and text-based languages like Python.

Courses like CS Fundamentals introduce loops, conditionals, and algorithms via interactive games, such as creating a Minecraft mod.

The platform’s self-paced tutorials are engaging, with projects like designing animations or games to keep students motivated.

Code.org also offers teacher guides for parents, making it easy to integrate coding into your curriculum. It’s perfect for tech-savvy kids or those exploring STEM careers.

7. Zearn

Type: Online Platform (Web)
Subjects: Math
Key Features: Interactive lessons, video tutorials, personalized exercises
Best For: Students needing extra math practice

Zearn offers a free math curriculum for middle schoolers (grades 6-8), focusing on topics like ratios, expressions, and geometry.

Its interactive lessons combine videos, guided practice, and adaptive exercises to reinforce concepts. The platform is free for homeschoolers with fewer than 35 students, making it ideal for individual use.

Parents can use Zearn as a full curriculum or a supplement for tricky topics like fractions. Its engaging interface and progress tracking help students build confidence in math without additional costs.

8. Project Gutenberg

Type: Online Library (Web)
Subjects: Language Arts, History
Key Features: Over 60,000 free eBooks, classic literature, public domain
Best For: Literature-based learning

Project Gutenberg provides free access to classic literature, perfect for middle school language arts and history.

Titles like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Anne of Green Gables, or Aesop’s Fables are available as eBooks, downloadable in multiple formats.

Parents can pair these with free study guides from SparkNotes or LitCharts to create literature units. For history, books like Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass offer primary source material.

This resource is ideal for Charlotte Mason or literature-based homeschoolers seeking free texts.

9. Crash Course

Type: YouTube Channel (Web)
Subjects: History, Science, Literature
Key Features: Short, animated videos, engaging explanations
Best For: Visual learners and supplemental learning

Crash Course offers free, engaging YouTube videos on middle school topics like world history, U.S. history, biology, and literature.

Each 10-15 minute video breaks down complex concepts, such as the American Revolution or ecosystems, with animations and clear narration.

Parents can use Crash Course to introduce or reinforce topics, pairing videos with free worksheets from TeachersPayTeachers.

Its fast-paced, humorous style appeals to middle schoolers, making it a great supplement for history and science.

10. STEM Learning

Type: Online Platform (Web)
Subjects: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
Key Features: Interactive activities, lesson plans, real-world applications
Best For: Hands-on STEM learners

STEM Learning offers free resources for middle school science, technology, engineering, and math, including interactive activities and lesson plans.

Topics include energy transfer, coding basics, and engineering design, with hands-on projects like building simple circuits.

The platform’s secondary-level resources suit grades 6-8, providing clear instructions and minimal supply costs (e.g., household items).

Parents can use these to supplement science or introduce STEM electives, engaging students with practical, real-world applications.

Tips for Using Free Resources Effectively

To maximize these resources, follow these strategies:

• Create a Schedule: Use Easy Peasy or Discovery K12’s 180-day plans as a guide, or create your own with a free planner from Homeschool Resource Room.
• Mix and Match: Combine resources, like CK-12 textbooks for science with Crash Course videos for history, to suit your child’s learning style.
• Engage with Projects: Incorporate hands-on activities from STEM Learning or Code.org to make learning interactive.
• Track Progress: Use platforms like Khan Academy or My EP Assignments to monitor your child’s growth and adjust lessons as needed.
• Supplement with Libraries: Borrow books or access eBooks via your library’s Libby app to complement Project Gutenberg’s classics.
• Join Communities: Engage with homeschooling forums like Reddit’s r/homeschool or CoderDojo for support and additional resources.

Customizing Your Curriculum

Free resources allow flexibility to tailor a curriculum to your child’s needs. For a traditional approach, use Discovery K12’s full schedule.

For a Charlotte Mason style, pair Project Gutenberg’s literature with Easy Peasy’s narration activities. If your state requires specific standards, align resources like Khan Academy or BBC Bitesize with your state’s guidelines, available on department of education websites.

For students with special needs, like those with an EHCP, focus on core subjects (English, math, science) using accessible platforms like Zearn or BBC Bitesize, which offer clear, self-paced content.

Benefits of Free Homeschool Resources

Using free resources offers numerous advantages:

• Cost Savings: Eliminate curriculum costs, freeing up funds for educational trips or supplies.
• Flexibility: Customize lessons to your child’s pace, interests, and learning style.
• Engagement: Interactive tools like games and videos keep middle schoolers motivated.
• Accessibility: Online platforms work on various devices, ensuring learning from anywhere.
• Comprehensive Learning: Cover core subjects and electives without gaps.

Challenges and Solutions

Free resources may require more parental planning, as some, like CK-12, need scheduling. To address this, use Easy Peasy’s pre-planned lessons or create a weekly schedule with a free planner.

Internet access is necessary for most platforms, but libraries offer free Wi-Fi, and CK-12’s PDFs work offline. For students struggling with focus, incorporate gamified tools like Code.org or Zearn to maintain engagement.

If a resource doesn’t align with your curriculum, adapt it or supplement with another, like pairing Khan Academy’s math with STEM Learning’s projects.

Conclusion

Homeschooling middle school students doesn’t have to be expensive, thanks to free resources like Khan Academy, Easy Peasy, CK-12, and Code.org.

These platforms provide comprehensive, engaging materials for core subjects and electives, ensuring a well-rounded education.

By creating a structured plan, mixing interactive tools, and leveraging community support, parents can deliver high-quality instruction on a budget.

Start exploring these resources today to empower your middle schooler with the skills and knowledge they need for academic success and beyond.