Freedom Homeschooling
Welcome to our list of free homeschool electives! Below, you’ll find free homeschool electives for all ages.
How to Use the Free Electives List
The electives curriculum on this page is listed in alphabetical order. There is a suggested grade range next to the title of each curriculum resource. These are only approximate, so you may want to also consider resources above or below your child’s actual grade.
All the Christian resources on this list are labeled with a “C.” Any resource not labeled as Christian is either secular or neutral and does not teach religious beliefs unless otherwise noted.
If you would like to use any of the resources listed below, click on the curriculum’s title to visit their website. Then, follow the instructions found there to begin using the resource.
For other subjects, visit our homepage and choose a subject from the free curriculum menu found there. There are options for all the standard subjects and many electives.
Free Electives Curriculum
Free homeschool electives for architecture, engineering, business, finance, communication, public speaking, photography, logic, law enforcement, agriculture, art, music, foreign languages, health, physical education, computer skills, Bible, and more.
Architecture, Engineering, and Construction
Alison (9th – adults)
Alison offers several courses in skilled trades. The courses cover plumbing, electrical, carpentry, masonry, appliance repair, and more. While the courses are all free to take, there is also a premium subscription service available that offers additional features.
Architecture Courses (9th – adults)
This website offers courses covering various architecture topics, including history, theory, design, home building, and more. The material is presented using online text.
edX (10th – college)
EdX, a nonprofit created by Harvard and MIT, offers numerous courses covering architecture, engineering, and design. The length and format vary from course to course, and availability changes periodically. The courses are free to audit, or certificates of completion are also available for a fee.
Georgia Virtual Learning (8th – 12th)
GVL’s high school Foundations of Engineering and Tech course uses an online textbook, interactive activities, and videos. Assessments are not included.
Khan Academy (10th – college)
Khan offers an Electrical Engineering course, which is taught using video lectures.
Teach Engineering (K – 12th)
Teach Engineering is a library of engineering lesson plans and units. Most activities use everyday items you can find in your home, grocery store, or hardware store.
Business, Economics, and Finance
Alison (9th – adults)
Alison offers nearly 300 business courses. Topics covered include finance, leadership, management, entrepreneurship, sales, human resources, and much more. While the courses are all free to take, a premium subscription service offers additional features.
Bahnsen Economics (10th – 12th) C
Bahnsen Economics teaches economics from a Christian perspective and was designed for a private high school in California. The course includes video lectures, reading assignments, and quizzes.
Core Concepts of Marketing (9th – college)
This downloadable textbook provides an overview of marketing concepts.
edX (10th – college)
EdX, a nonprofit created by Harvard and MIT, offers hundreds of courses covering business, economics, finance, management, and accounting. The length and format vary from course to course, and availability changes periodically. The courses are free to audit, or certificates of completion are also available for a fee.
Georgia Virtual Learning (8th – 12th)
GVL offers the following business courses: Banking, Insurance & Investing; Business & Technology; Business Communications; Marketing Principles; Legal Environment of Business; and Entrepreneurship. Courses are taught using online text, interactive lessons, videos, and printable handouts. Assessments are not included.
Hillsdale College (10th – college) C
Economics 101: The Principals of Free Market Economics teaches the foundational principles of the free market. Each lesson includes two or three videos, plus recommended reading. The course also includes a final exam.
Khan Academy (9th – college)
The following courses are available: Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Finance & Capital Markets, and Entrepreneurship. The lesson material is taught using videos.
Lessons for the Young Economist (6th – 12th)
This downloadable textbook is an introduction to classical Austrian economics. The course has four parts: foundations, an examination of Capitalism, the theory and history of Socialism, and the realities of Interventionism.
Marginal Revolution University (9th – college)
Two courses are offered: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. Both present the lesson material using videos and online text. While no textbook is required, if you choose to purchase one, MRU recommends Modern Principles of Economics.
Modern States (10th – college)
Modern States courses prepare students to take College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams. Students can earn college credit through CLEP exams while still in high school, making college more accessible and affordable. They offer Principles of Macroeconomics and Principles of Microeconomics.
OpenLearn (10th – college)
OpenLearn offers courses covering many aspects of business, including management, finance, accounting, marketing, leadership, and more. The length and format of the classes may vary.
OpenStax (10th – college)
OpenStax offers downloadable student textbooks, instructor guides, and other instructor resources for Introduction to Business, Business Ethics, Principles of Accounting: Financial Accounting, Principles of Accounting: Managerial Accounting, Introductory Business Statistics, Principals of Management, Entrepreneurship, Organizational Behavior, Principles of Economics, Principles of Macroeconomics, and Principles of Microeconomics. While these courses are intended for college students, motivated high school students may be able to complete many of them.
Parallel Alternative Strategies for Students: Economics (9th – 12th)
This course covers economic systems & institutions, supply & demand, the American economy, taxes, and more using a downloadable workbook and teacher’s guide. While it’s designed for special needs students, other students may use it as well.
Saylor Academy (10th – college)
Saylor Academy is a nonprofit initiative offering courses at the college and professional levels. However, high school students may also take their classes. Saylor provides numerous business courses, including accounting, economics, finance, marketing, management, organizational behavior, and more.
Communication, Public Speaking, and Journalism
The Art of Public Speaking (9th – 12th)
Project Gutenberg has made this free textbook, published in 1915, available for free download.
Ck-12 (7th – 12th)
Journalism is taught using an online textbook.
edX (10th – college)
EdX, a nonprofit created by Harvard and MIT, offers numerous courses covering communication, public speaking, and journalism. The length and format vary from course to course, and availability changes periodically. The courses are free to audit, or certificates of completion are also available for a fee.
Georgia Virtual Learning (8th – 12th)
GVL offers high school Journalism. The course material is presented using online text, interactive features, videos, and printable handouts. Assessments are not included.
Handbook of Independent Journalism (8th – 12th)
This downloadable handbook provides an introduction to the fundamentals of Journalism.
Saylor Academy (10th – college)
Saylor Academy is a nonprofit initiative offering courses at the college and professional levels. However, high school students may also take their classes. Saylor offers courses in public speaking and public relations.
Photography and Film
The Art of Watching Films (11th – college)
This online textbook introduces the formal elements and production process of films and helps students analytically view and understand films within their historical, cultural, and social contexts.
FutureLearn (8th – adults)
FutureLearn offers several online classes related to photography and film. Length and format vary from course to course. The availability of courses periodically changes. Most of the courses are free to join, be there is an option to upgrade to access additional benefits, like the ability to qualify for a certificate.
Georgia Virtual Learning (8th – 12th)
Georgia Virtual Learning offers Photography I & II courses. These courses utilize an online textbook, videos, and interactive activities. Assessments are not included.
Logic, Critical Thinking, and Ethics
Critical Reasoning for Beginners (10th – college)
This course from the University of Oxford consists of six video lectures. The student will learn all about arguments, how to identify them, how to evaluate them, and how not to mistake bad arguments for good.
Critical Thinking (10th – college)
This 24-lecture video course, presented at Fayetteville State University, covers topics like deductive and inductive arguments, fallacies, rhetorical devices, appeals to authority, and much more.
Logic Self-Taught: A Workbook (9th – 12th)
This workbook teaches logic in 20 downloadable units. An answer key is also provided.
Saylor Academy (10th – college)
Saylor Academy is a nonprofit initiative offering courses at the college and professional levels. However, high school students may also take their classes. Saylor currently offers an introduction to critical thinking and logic course.
The Prindle Institute for Ethics (K – 5th)
The Prindle Institute offers over 200 discussion guides designed to help introduce philosophy and ethics using popular children’s picture books. You will need to obtain the books.
Agriculture
Cornell Small Farms (9th – adults)
Cornell’s Plan Your Farm course guides the student through videos, readings, and planning activities to help them take the first steps toward developing farm plans.
Georgia Agricultural Education (9th – 12th)
Georgia Ag Ed offers courses covering various aspects of agriculture, animal science, plant science, and food science. The courses consist of downloadable lesson plans. Please be aware that some links in the “web resources” section of the lesson plans no longer work, but you should be able to find other online resources that illustrate the same concepts.
Law Enforcement
Georgia Virtual Learning (8th – 12th)
GVL’s high school Introduction to Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security course uses an online textbook, interactive activities, and videos. Assessments are not included.
Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (9th – 12th)
This downloadable textbook, created by the Utah State Board of Education and the Unified Police of Greater Salt Lake, covers the fundamentals of law enforcement and criminal justice. Most of the information in this book should also apply to other areas of the United States.
More Free Electives
Additional free homeschool electives for every grade can be accessed from the menu on Freedom Homeschooling’s homepage or by clicking the links below.
Affordable Electives
Affordable Electives (9th – 12th) Some C
If you haven’t been able to find free electives that meet your high schooler’s needs, this post lists numerous affordable options to choose from.
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