The Indie ScholarFrequently Asked Questions
Everything parents usually ask before starting their first unit. Don't see your question here? Get in touch →
Is The Indie Scholar curriculum secular?
Yes. We built Indie Scholar for secular families looking for flexible, student-led learning that isn't dry or overly simplistic — that perspective shapes every unit we write.
What grade levels are the units written for?
Most units are written with 4th–8th grade students in mind, though you can scale them down for younger students. Ancient Egypt is written for 6th–10th grade. We don't recommend our current units for high school–age students.
How much parent involvement is required?
Every workbook is written directly to the student, guiding them through daily reading and activities with minimal parent involvement. You'll still want to gather materials and check in, but the day-to-day work is designed for your student to run independently.
Do I need to purchase the answer key?
No. Answer keys are optional — identical to the student workbook, just with answers included. They're a convenience, not a requirement.
What's included with a unit, and what do I need to buy separately?
Each unit includes a student workbook and a reading list. Most American History units are built around the American History: a Visual Encyclopedia, plus your choice of historical fiction and nonfiction titles from a curated list — you'll typically need to source those books yourself, from a library or your own shelf.
Are the workbooks free?
Most Indie Scholar student workbooks are free to download. A small number of units, like Ancient Egypt, are paid workbooks with a free sample available first. Where an answer key exists, it's sold separately.
How long does each unit take?
It varies by unit — anywhere from an 8-day mini-unit like Christmas Around the World to a 26-day unit like World War II. Every unit page lists its exact pace under "Who It's For."
My student is in high school — is this curriculum a fit?
Our current units are written for middle schoolers and are explicitly not recommended for high school–age students. We're a small, family-run curriculum shop working on new units all the time — join our list to hear when older-student content is ready.