Homeschooling is more than just reading and memorizing, it’s about creating experiences that ignite curiosity, nurture imagination, and make learning memorable.
With Charlotte Mason-inspired curriculums, you can turn history, culture, and literature into hands-on adventures your child will never forget. One of the easiest ways to do this? Pair books with simple recipes and projects that connect directly to the stories your child is reading.
From European history and classic tales in The Kind Kingdom, to pioneering life in America with The Playful Pioneers, and exploring global cultures with Precious People, these literature-based activities bring each lesson to life.
Here are a few of our favorite pairings from our guides:
The Kind Kingdom: Explore European History Through Stories
The Kind Kingdom introduces elementary students to European history in a gentle, story-based way. Over 30 weeks, your child will explore major events in Europe using beloved classics like The Chronicles of Narnia, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, and Beautiful Stories From Shakespeare.
Book & Recipe Pairing:
Read: The Chronicles of Narnia
Activity: Host a tea party like the Beavers and make Turkish Delight together
This pairing brings C.S. Lewis’s magical world to life while providing a sensory, hands-on experience connected to the story.
The Playful Pioneers: Discover American History with Literature
With The Playful Pioneers, your child can journey through early American history with daily readings from The Little House on the Prairie series and curated picture books. Students learn about Native Americans, pioneers, and notable figures such as Leif Erickson, Harriet Tubman, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Edison.
Book & Recipe Pairing:
Read: The Little House on the Prairie
Activity: Make corn cakes, popcorn, or a simple cheese recipe together
Cooking alongside reading helps children connect with pioneer life and understand daily routines from the past.
Precious People: Cultivate Global Curiosity in Early Learners
Precious People: Year One is designed for early elementary students to explore geography, history, and culture through stories and recipes which refine motor skills, reading comprehension, and more. This 30-week program nurtures curiosity, introduces early science concepts, and encourages virtue through weekly stories and verses.
Book & Recipe Pairing (Europe, Month Three):
Read: Heidi
Activity: Make traditional Swiss Zopf bread together
Tasting a regional recipe while reading allows children to immerse themselves in the culture they’re studying.
The Peaceful Preschool: Gentle, Playful Learning for Little Ones
The Peaceful Preschool is a joyful, literature-rich program designed to help your little learner grow through play, connection, and hands-on experiences. This 26-week guide offers flexible, developmentally appropriate lessons that nurture early literacy, numeracy, fine-motor skills, and practical life skills that are all woven into a peaceful, nature-inspired rhythm.
Book & Recipe Pairing:
Read: Stone Soup
Activity: Make your own pot of Stone Soup together
. As you stir vegetables into the pot and watch the story come to life, children learn cooperation, problem-solving, and the magic of working together, just like the characters in the book.
This simple pairing captures the heart of early childhood learning: meaningful moments, shared stories, and hands-on activities that build confidence and connection.
Add Flavor to Your Lessons with The Peaceful Press Cookbook
If your family loves bringing stories to life, The Peaceful Press Cookbook is the perfect addition to your homeschool. Literature-based learning becomes truly memorable when children not only read about history and culture but taste it. Whether you’re shaking cream into butter during Little House on the Prairie with Playful Pioneers, baking cowboy cookies while reading about the West, or making corn tortillas to explore the Southwest with Playful Pioneers Volume 2, these hands-on experiences deepen understanding and spark joy.
This digital cookbook includes nearly 150 recipes that correspond with our Peaceful Press curriculums. Inside you’ll find fun desserts, homemade products, breads, and hearty dishes that will give your family simple, meaningful ways to connect with each lesson.
Cooking together strengthens fine-motor skills, introduces math naturally, and helps children appreciate the people and places they’re learning about. The Peaceful Press Cookbook is a delightful resource your family will return to again and again.