Cycle 3 · One full year for every grade · 1800s America/Britain + the Middle Ages
A complete year of school for your whole family — set in the 19th century and the Middle Ages.
Each Living Heritage cycle is one full year of school for Grades 1–12 together, plus a gentle, cycle-independent year of Kindergarten. Cycle 3's history period — the 1800s in America and Britain alongside the Middle Ages — sets the theme, and the literature, Bible, geography, and arts appreciation move with it; skill subjects and some Bible and civics change by grade. Whatever your children's ages, here's what you'll cover and what you'll need.
What a cycle is
One year. Every subject. Every grade.
A Living Heritage cycle isn't merely a history course — it's a complete year of school with all subjects for your whole household, organized around a historical era. History — as well as much of the literature, church history, geography, and arts appreciation — are keyed to Cycle 3's time period — the 1800s in America and Britain alongside the Middle Ages — and science moves with the cycle as well for grades 1-8.
Skill subjects — math, language arts, foreign languages, music — and some Bible and civics change by grade, independent of the cycle — but don't worry; they're still included with your cycle purchase!
Grades 1–12 study the same era together, each group with its own reading list, while Kindergarten runs its own gentle, cycle-independent year alongside.
The history
The 19th century and the Middle Ages.
Cycle 3's America/Britain streams cover the 1800s — Lewis and Clark, the frontier, the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, the high Victorian era. The world stream walks through the missionary kingdoms after Rome, the rise of Christendom, monastic learning, the medieval universities, the cathedrals, the crusades, and the early evangelical voices that led toward Reformation.
These streams run on different days of the week, fostering connections and relations between America, the intertwined history of Britain, and pre-modern times. Read more about how the Cycles work →
For Group I (grades 1–4), only the American stream is scheduled.
Choosing where to start
Why would I start with Cycle 3?
Start with Cycle 3 if you have just completed study of the Revolutionary War and Founding Fathers or study of Ancient Greece and Rome with another curriculum. If you have multiple children who studied different things, use your best judgment, and when in doubt, choose what works best for your oldest child.
The books
Cycle 3 books, by grade group
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American History Spine
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American History Spine
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Ancient History Spine
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British History Spine
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American History Spine
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American History Spine
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Ancient History Spine
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British History Spine
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These are the books specific to Cycle 3 book across all three grade groups — not every book is read in every grade, and other books not shown here are grade-specific or used in multiple cycles. (You can see those in the Shop by Grade section.) 3rd/4th grade and 7th/8th grade students have extra independent reads (some pictured here) and are sometimes given a choice between two. A complete linked book list with titles, publishers, and exclusive discount codes comes with the plan you purchase. About 60% of our books are free online (cycles vary), and many may be at your library. Wondering what that adds up to? See our note on yearly book costs →
19th Century and the Middle Ages
Get Cycle 3.
Each cycle stands on its own — start here if it's where your family wants to begin.