I can’t believe we’re already in our third year of homeschooling — and that I officially have a fifth grader! Each year feels like a fresh opportunity to grow, learn, and find what works best for our family. This year, we’re keeping our foundation with BJU Press Homeschool Online, while adding enrichment from The Good and the Beautiful to make learning hands-on, creative, and faith-filled.
Below, I’m sharing what we’re using for Grade 5 this school year and how we’ve customized it to fit our multi-age homeschool routine.
(Please note: You don’t have to use the same curriculum we do! The beauty of homeschooling is that it allows you to tailor learning to each child’s needs and your family’s rhythm.)
Core Curriculum: BJU Press Homeschool Online
After trying a few different curricula over the years, we’ve found that BJU Press Homeschool Online with video courses is the best fit for our family. I love that it offers structure, flexibility, and a Christ-centered approach.
All of our core subjects: Bible, Science, Heritage Studies, Math, English, Reading, Spelling, and Handwriting are part of the Grade 5 Online Kit, which includes digital access to lessons through the Homeschool Hub. Each subject comes with engaging video lessons, student worktexts, and a full year of content, which makes it a perfect balance between independent learning and parent support.
Here’s what’s included:
Bible 5
Exploring how the New Testament fits into God’s big story of Creation, Fall, and Redemption.
Each morning, my fifth grader begins by watching her Bible video lesson and pausing throughout to complete the interactive learning activities. Once the video wraps up, she spends a few minutes answering questions or reviewing her workbook independently before moving on to the next subject. The kit includes a textbook and workbook so she can read Scripture lessons and write her reflections right away.
Science 5
This year’s topics include minerals, rocks, fossils, and matter, perfect for our hands-on learners.
Each Science lesson begins with a short, engaging video that draws my daughter into the topic. She often pauses the video to jot down notes or complete quick activities before continuing. After the video lesson, she works independently in her textbook and workbook, completing review questions or short experiments when they’re assigned.
Heritage Studies 5
American history from early settlement to the Obama administration, giving a well-rounded look at our nation’s past. I love that BJU Press makes history come alive through stories, visuals, and faith-based connections. Each day, my fifth grader watches her online history lesson, pausing when prompted to fill in her workbook activities. Once the video ends, she reads a short passage in her textbook and completes an assignment in her workbook, reinforcing what she’s learned.
Math 5
Focused on whole numbers and fractions with lots of practical examples and review built into each lesson. Math lessons begin with an instructional video that walks step-by-step through new concepts, followed by guided practice. My daughter pauses to complete practice problems right in her workbook, then continues on to her independent exercises when the video finishes. She uses both a textbook and workbook for this subject, which helps her practice skills in multiple ways.
English 5
Covers grammar, sentence structure, essay writing, and creative forms like poems and letters.
BJU English provides a strong foundation in writing and grammar through both video instruction and daily practice. My fifth grader watches her video, completes grammar drills, and then moves into writing exercises that build week by week. She has a textbook for instruction and a workbook for her writing assignments, making it easy to follow along and stay organized.
Reading 5
A mix of engaging literature, informational texts, and three novels that we’ll read together throughout the year. The Reading 5 curriculum blends independent reading with comprehension practice. My daughter begins each lesson with a short video that introduces the text and key vocabulary. Afterward, she reads from her textbook and completes activities in her workbook to strengthen her understanding. In addition, she gets three novels throughout the year an absolute highlight for her!
Spelling 5
Encourages proofreading and vocabulary building through daily word practice. Each spelling lesson starts with a quick, engaging video that reviews the week’s word list. My fifth grader then moves into workbook activities that reinforce correct spelling, usage, and proofreading. Spelling is one of the few subjects where students only receive a workbook, but it’s packed with practice exercises to help mastery come naturally.
Handwriting 5
We’re taking a cross-cultural journey through handwriting practice, which the kids have really enjoyed.
Handwriting is another workbook-only subject that focuses on improving penmanship through themed writing activities. My daughter watches her handwriting video lesson, then pauses to complete each exercise carefully. These lessons are short but meaningful, helping her build consistency and neatness over time.
The Homeschool Hub has truly been a game-changer for our family. It keeps everything organized, allows me to track grades easily, and gives my child the independence she needs to move through each lesson confidently. Every subject flows naturally into the next, which makes our homeschool days run smoothly and keeps learning enjoyable.
A Note About the Investment
If you’re concerned about the monetary investment for BJU Press Homeschool, please don’t worry, there are ways to make it work for your family and budget. You can often save money by connecting directly with a BJU Press representative, who may be able to offer discounts or special pricing. I would recommend reaching out to my representative Elizabeth Pyle. Click Here to contact Elizabeth. Attending a homeschool conference is another great way to access exclusive deals and connect with other families using the curriculum. And if paying in full isn’t an option right now, BJU Press does offer flexible payment arrangements to help you spread out the cost over time. Remember, homeschooling is a long-term investment in your child’s education and there’s always a way to make it both affordable and rewarding.
Enrichment: The Good and the Beautiful
Even though BJU Press provides an excellent foundation, I wanted to bring in more hands-on and creative learning opportunities. That’s where The Good and the Beautiful comes in! We use The Good and the Beautiful Level 5 Language Arts for small group enrichment in reading, spelling, grammar, and art. The course is visually stunning and filled with faith-based stories and writing activities that truly spark my kids’ creativity.
Some highlights include:
- Beautiful literature selections and spelling workshops
- Open-and-go lessons that my kids can follow independently
- Integrated grammar, writing, and art appreciation
- A strong Charlotte Mason and classical learning influence
For math, we also use The Good and the Beautiful Math 5, which adds hands-on activities, games, and real-world problem solving. The Math 5 video lessons make this subject fun and approachable, even on busy homeschool days.
Why We Love This Setup
BJU Press gives us the structure we need for consistent learning, while The Good and the Beautiful adds creative depth and flexibility. This combination allows my fifth grader to learn independently in core subjects while still enjoying meaningful, parent-led enrichment time.
Each weekend, I spend a little time reviewing upcoming lessons in BJU’s Homeschool Hub and preparing materials for our Good and Beautiful activities. This rhythm helps me stay organized without feeling overwhelmed.
Encouragement for Fellow Homeschool Moms
If you’re still searching for the “perfect” curriculum, remember, it doesn’t exist! The best curriculum is the one that fits your child’s learning style and your family’s season of life. I love that homeschooling lets me blend structured academics with faith, creativity, and family connection. Every child is different, and every homeschool year looks unique and that’s what makes it beautiful.
What’s Next for Us
We’re wrapping up our Unfolding Ancient Egypt Unit Study, and it’s been such a joy to see the kids come alive with history! I wrote a full blog post about why I chose this study and how I made it work across multiple grade levels you can read it here:
👉 Why We Chose the Ancient Egypt Unit Study Learn our why. Click here.
We’ll be transitioning into our next unit study soon, and I can’t wait to share what’s next for our homeschool.
✨ What about you?
What curriculum are you using this year? I’d love to hear what’s working well for your family drop a comment below or share with me on Instagram @gervaseware.
Wow, how do you have time to add extras to BJU. I would love more information about that.
Sure! We use BJU Press as our primary curriculum. We established a schedule our kids follow daily. With that consistency we found the kids finish their daily work early in the day. I look for opportunities to add in extras right after lunch or after my kids take their homeschool “recess.”Occasionally I find time after they finish their school work for the day. I keep it flexible which makes it fun!