I have been a proud Missourian all of my life. I fondly remember studying Missouri history when I was young, and have continued those studies with my own kids. We really enjoy studying geography along with our history, but will spend some extra time on our home state. You can buy a curriculum, some resources, or piece it all together like we do. We will be studying Missouri History along with our Mystery of History. We will study it in the timeline of what was happening when Missouri became a state (1821).
To help support this blog and the resources shared, I may include Amazon and other affiliate links in my posts.
I would be so grateful if you click through my links to make a purchase. I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks!
🌐 Helpful State Websites
Mo.gov
The mo.gov website is a great landing page of info about Missouri. With the info on this site, you could probably spend a year studying Missouri history. You will find all the basic facts and stats about the economy, famous Missourians, and more. There is info about:
Visitmo.com
VisitMO.com is a great place to start if you’re wanting to learn more about Missouri’s history in a fun and easy way. The site shares info about historic places all around the state—like museums, Civil War battlefields, old towns, and landmarks that played a big role in shaping Missouri. You can find travel ideas, events, and road trip suggestions that help you experience history in person instead of just reading about it in a textbook. Whether it’s Mark Twain’s hometown, the Gateway Arch, or historic Route 66, VisitMO.com makes it simple to explore Missouri’s past while planning cool adventures. You’ll find:
- Travel ideas
- Events
- Road trip inspiration
- Info on Route 66, Mark Twain’s hometown, and the Gateway Arch
- It’s a great way to take your learning on the road and explore Missouri’s past in person.
DESE
The Missouri Department of Education has some excellent resources on its history. From the site: “The Missouri Heritage Project is available to anyone who wants to learn more about our state’s history. It consists of 19 video units that explore the excitement and drama of Missouri History. ” Each section offers a video, ideas for projects and research topics, and even lesson plans. There are also lists of online resources as well as a bibliography for more research. It Includes:
- 19 video lessons
- Project and research ideas
- Lesson plans and online links
- A helpful bibliography for further study
Historic Missourians
Historic Missourians is a website that showcases…..well, historic Missourians. A quote from the website: “As you read and view the biographies available here, you’ll see rich images, artifacts, and primary sources from the State Historical Society of Missouri. Founded in 1898, SHSMO has been storing and preserving these state, national, and world treasures for people like you to see and think about within our buildings…” This site is an excellent resource for state history studies.
Missouri Department of Conservation
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is a great resource offering classroom resources, field trips, and teacher workshops to help students learn about Missouri’s wildlife, forests, fish, and natural habitats. The MDC runs nature centers where people can see live animals, interactive exhibits, and attend events. Check out the Missouri Conservationist magazine, which is free to all Missouri residents and filled with articles, photos, and activities about Missouri’s natural world. Their website, videos, and social media pages share up-to-date conservation news and fun fact. Programs like Discover Nature Schools provide curriculum materials for all grade levels.
📚 Missouri History: Books & Curriculum
Curriculum
Abeka’s My State Notebook is a resource that can be used with any state so you can discover your state’s flower, motto, bird, song, nickname, seal, and more. We have used this in the past and love the colorful graphics and interesting material.
We have not used Missouri History in Light of the Cross, but the description sounds amazing. It looks like a solid, Christian-based resource. It includes:
- Chronological Missouri history
- State facts, natural resources, and government
- Multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank exercises
- 141 pages, workbook style
From the company: “this worktext lists the state facts about Missouri before chronologically covering pre-historic Missouri through the current decade; additional chapters cover natural resources and the state government. Multiple choice, sentence completion, fill-in-the-blank, and composition exercises are included throughout. 141 pages, comb-binding.”
Available with a teacher guide and answer key (see below).
 |
My State Notebook (4th Edition) By Abeka |
 |
Missouri History In Light Of The Cross, Worktext |
 |
Missouri History In Light Of The Cross, Teacher Guide/Answer Key |
State History from a Christian Perspective
This program offers curriculum for every age:
- Grades 3–12: Complete state history curriculum
- Ages 4–Grade 2: My State History Funbook
- Correlated across grade levels to teach multiple ages together
- Generic lesson plans make it easy to adapt or teach different states at the same time
This is a great option for homeschoolers wanting a Bible-based approach.
From the company: “We offer a complete State History Curriculum (State History from a Christian Perspective) for grades 3-12 as well as My State History Funbook for age 4 through grade 2. Our levels are correlated so you can teach all ages together. Our lesson plans are generic, so you can even teach different states at the same time!”
Road Trips USA
If you’re looking for a curriculum that studies all the states, Road Trip USA from Confessions of a Homeschooler is a fun curriculum that takes kids on a virtual road trip through all 50 states! We have used this curriculum through the years and it is a great way to study the states. It was designed for elementary students, but could be tweaked to work for older students. It includes printable worksheets, crafts, recipes, state facts, and engaging activities to help kids learn about U.S. geography, history, and culture in an interactive way. You do have to print this curriculum (I made notebooks for each child).
Authors
Please vet all books before your kids read them!!!
Ross Malone Books
If you are studying Missouri history, it would be a travesty NOT to mention Ross Malone. He is a celebrated Missouri historian, educator, and prolific author who has written nearly 20 books highlighting the state’s lesser-known stories and characters. He brings Missouri history to life through engaging narratives—sharing tales of riverboat disasters, outlaws, astronauts, and everyday heroes who shaped the state’s past.
Carol Marsh Books
Carol Marsh is a popular children’s author known for her fun, educational books that combine learning with adventure. She has written hundreds of titles—many focused on U.S. geography and history—including activity books, biographies, and her well-loved mystery series. Her Missouri-themed books, like The Mystery on the Mighty Missouri and Missouri Fun Facts and Games, are packed with puzzles, trivia, and state history facts that make learning exciting for kids, especially in homeschool settings.
Laurie Calkhoven
Laurie Calkhoven is a children’s author of more than 50 books who brings history and adventure to young readers in engaging and relatable stories. While her work isn’t focused solely on Missouri, Some of her “Boys of Wartime” series, like Will at the Battle of Gettysburg, touch on Missouri’s Civil War history.
Related Post: Homeschool Geography 101: A Natural Approach
🧭 Hands-On Learning
TeenPact
If you’re looking for more of a hands-on approach, sign your child up for TeenPact. You can choose from a one-day class (ages 8-12) or a four-day class (ages 13-19). These classes take place at the governor’s office in Jefferson City. The next classes start in March of 2026. If your kids like real-world learning, TeenPact is a fantastic experience. They offer:
- One-day classes for ages 8–12
- Four-day classes for ages 13–19
- Held at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City
TeenPact helps teens learn about Missouri history in a fun and hands-on way. Instead of just reading about the government or important events, students actually go to the Missouri State Capitol and see how things work in real life. They get to meet state leaders, learn how laws are made, and even take part in mock debates and activities. TeenPact makes history feel real by connecting students to the places and people that have shaped Missouri. It’s a great way to understand how the state works today and how its past has influenced it.
Easy Hands-On Activities
Studying Missouri history doesn’t have to be dry or textbook-only! This FREE printable includes a list of hands-on activities to use with your Missouri history studies, as well as a two-week unit study. This hands-on unit study is designed to make state history come alive for students using fun, interactive activities, online resources, and engaging books. Each and every activity helps students connect more deeply with Missouri’s past. Download the FREE printable 2-week PDF unit study to guide your homeschool journey with 30-minute daily lessons full of learning and creativity!
Happy Homeschooling!
