🎓 Courses and learning platforms · 🏫 Classroom tools
OER Project
By Big History Project, LLC (non-commercial). Visit OER Project
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
Free, online social studies courses for middle and high school: Big History, World History, World History AP and Climate. Teachers sign up and assign readings, videos and activities, with leveled articles and audio to support different readers. Students read, watch, discuss and write evidence-based claims, and courses plug into Google Classroom, Canvas and Schoology. It also runs a teacher community and free professional development.
Our take: A strong free history curriculum for teachers and co-ops; homeschool families should note the terms say it is meant for school-directed use.
| Ages it suits | about 11-18 (grades 6-12) |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | The terms say the courses are only for school use directed by a teacher; students may not use it on their own, and under-13s may use it only if their school can consent for them. (terms) |
| Price | Free. Free (Oct 2026). |
| Works on | Web |
| Account | A school account |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No AI. |
What's good
- Full free courses with ready lessons
- Leveled readings and audio
- Strong focus on writing and evidence
- Works with common school LMSs
Watch for
- School use only under its terms
- Research comes from the project itself
- Not built for independent home study
- Analytics and ad pixels on the site
Data and privacy
The privacy policy says student data is never used for targeted advertising or sold, and schools are responsible for parent notices and consent. It uses Adobe and Google Analytics and tracking pixels to promote the site elsewhere. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
OER Project publishes annual research reports by its own researchers that show student writing growth, especially in Title I schools; these are not independent.
In the Big Index
- On the list 21 best homeschool resources online
- On the list 23 best free online courses for teens
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Where these facts come from
- https://www.oerproject.com/
- https://www.oerproject.com/Terms-of-use
- https://www.oerproject.com/Privacy-policy
- https://www.oerproject.com/FAQ
- https://www.oerproject.com/-/media/WHP/PDF/Teacher-Resources/Summary-of-OER-Project-Research-2020-21.pdf
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.