Why I built a whole narrative universe instead of just another Bible worksheet site - and what homeschool families told me they actually wanted
Every faith-based homeschool resource I found was either a PDF packet or a video curriculum that felt like school with a cross on it.
Kids weren't connecting. Parents were printing 40 pages and hoping something stuck.
So I went a different direction.
My-Backyard.Org is built around characters - each one tied to a specific virtue and a Bible verse. Kids don't just read about patience or courage. They follow a character who embodies it across eight story eras. They visit that character's profile. They see the verse. They earn a badge when they engage.
The lessons aren't worksheets. They're grade-leveled (K - 5) and tied directly to the characters - so a History lesson about courage is taught alongside the character who lives it.
There's also a prayer wall, a community bulletin, fan art and story submissions, and a Bible study tracker. It's meant to feel less like a resource and more like a place your family belongs to.
I'm a solo builder. This is a ministry project. Everything is free.
Curious whether this approach - story-first, character-driven faith education - actually resonates with how homeschool families think about their day. Do your kids respond better to narrative or structured lessons? Both?