Home › All-in-one curricula › Programs › Ambleside Online

Ambleside Online

Free, rigorous Charlotte Mason living-books curriculum, K-12th; math not included.

Updated September 2026 · 6 sources

Grades	K–12th
Subjects	Language arts, literature, history, geography, science/nature study, Bible, art/music appreciation, Shakespeare, Plutarch (add your own math)
Math	Not included: add your own math
Faith	Christian worldview throughout
Approach	Charlotte Mason: free 36-week schedules of living books, nature study, narration and recitation
Who teaches	The parent teaches
Parent prep	Moderate-High (parent follows weekly schedules, gathers books, leads narration/discussion)
Screen time	Mostly offline (books and paper)
Video lessons	None: book- and schedule-based; no video lessons
Cost	Free: full K-12 Charlotte Mason curriculum framework (books sourced separately) (source)
Placement	AmblesideOnline: Getting Started No placement test; guide recommends starting at Year 1 for first grade, adjusting for transitioning/older students

Is it right for your child? Answer a few questions to see how Ambleside Online ranks against 24 other programs.

See my match

What parents say

Parents choose Ambleside Online for a truly free, rigorous Charlotte Mason education built entirely around real books, nature study, and narration instead of textbooks or tests, and many credit it with producing strong readers and writers. The most common frustration is the learning curve: understanding the CM method, gathering book lists (some out of print or needing library holds), and using narration as the main form of assessment all take time to get comfortable with. It's also explicitly Christian and doesn't include math, so families add their own math program and may need to adapt Bible content to their beliefs.

Parents love

Genuinely free, full K-12 Charlotte Mason curriculum
Rich literature and history through real books, not textbooks
Active community/forums support new users

Common complaints

Learning curve: takes time to understand the CM method
No math included – gather your own program
Christian framework; narration-based, not test-based, assessment

Who it fits

Best for

No, we'll add our own. Leaves math to your choice
Christian worldview. Christian content and Bible study throughout
Literature-based read-alouds. Built entirely around real books and read-alouds
Charlotte Mason. The definitive free Charlotte Mason curriculum: narration, nature study, living books
Yes, siblings together. Years loosely map to grades, so siblings can combine; AO for Groups cohorts multiple ages
A flexible guide I adapt. Parent sources books and adapts the framework
Mostly offline. Mostly books and hands-on work
Some screen time. Books-based, little screen time
Some: 1–2 hours daily. Many subjects run independently once a child reads well

Less suited for

Yes, include math. Math not included: add your own
No religious content. Christian content throughout
Traditional textbooks and workbooks. No textbooks or worktexts; entirely living-books based
Video lessons a big plus. Book- and schedule-based; no video lessons
Minimal: solo work. Daily reading, narration and discussion need a parent, especially early on

These come straight from the scoring rules the quiz uses.

Similar programs

Heart of DakotaChristian, Charlotte Mason unit-study curriculum built around modular history guides
Blossom & RootSecular, nature-based living-books curriculum for PreK-7th; math not included
Build Your LibrarySecular, literature-based history/science curriculum you build from a booklist

Comparisons

Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool vs Ambleside Online

Questions parents ask

What subjects does Ambleside Online cover?

Language arts, literature, history, geography, science/nature study, Bible, art/music appreciation, Shakespeare, Plutarch (add your own math). It's described as charlotte Mason: free 36-week schedules of living books, nature study, narration and recitation.

Does Ambleside Online include math?

No. Ambleside Online covers the other subjects and leaves math to you, so plan to add a math program.

What grades does Ambleside Online cover?

Ambleside Online covers grades K–12th.

How much does Ambleside Online cost?

Free: full K-12 Charlotte Mason curriculum framework (books sourced separately).

Is Ambleside Online Christian or secular?

Christian worldview throughout.

Is Ambleside Online online?

Mostly offline (books and paper). The parent teaches.

Does Ambleside Online have a placement test?

Yes. AmblesideOnline: Getting Started. No placement test; guide recommends starting at Year 1 for first grade, adjusting for transitioning/older students

Sources (6)

Summaries are in our own words.