Learn About Culture Through the People Who Live It
Secular, inquiry-based social studies resources for curious homeschoolers.
History becomes more meaningful when students hear directly from the people whose lives and cultures they’re studying.
People Are Culture is a body of curriculum featuring 200 in-depth first-person interviews and educational resources that help middle and high school learners explore geography, history, social studies, and world cultures through authentic lived experience—not stereotypes, summaries, or simplified textbook narratives.
Instead of memorizing facts alone, students examine multiple perspectives, ask thoughtful questions, and build a deeper understanding of how culture shapes our shared human experience.
Whether you’re building an eclectic homeschool, supplementing an existing curriculum, or looking for secular resources that encourage critical thinking, People Are Culture gives you flexible tools to teach in the way that works best for your family.
Secular Homeschooling Educational Resources That....
- Embrace Diverity
- Foster Curiosity
- Shape Global Citzens
- Present Multiple Perspectives
- Celebrate Inclusion
- Inspire Critical Thinking
- Develop Empathy
- Reflect Progressive Values
- Create Heart & Mind Connection
- Provide Real World Context
- Don't Whitewash History
- Align with National Standards
Buy Ready-to-Teach Social Studies, World Cultures & History Resources for Grades 7 - 12
Our digital download lesson Units feature accounts from culture creators in 30+ countries who share their lived experience, heritage, culture, and identity in 14 categories: Archaeology; Architectural Styles; Cultural Heritage; Dance; Festivals; Folk Art; Food; Gardens & Landscapes; Language & Legends; Maritime; Music; Spirituality; Textiles; and Visual Arts.
Each lesson includes an Overview of the relevant culture category, and a Reading & Reflections exercise that will foster your learner’s curiosity, critical thinking and empathy.
Curriculum Options to Suit Your Budget, Objectives & Learning Style!
People Are Culture offers six different World Cultures curriculum bundles in recognition that homeschoolers have a range of preferences in what and how they teach their learners. Check out our line-up and find the bundle that is right for you!
Indigenous Peoples & Globalization
Grades 7 - 12 & Higher Education
People Are Culture eBooks & Posters
eBooks
Posters
Customer Reviews
Jennifer Beck
This really drove home for my kids the idea that while there are standardized definitions of culture, in day-to-day life, culture means different things to different people. It was a great springboard to explore all the ways culture is a living breathing part of who we are.
Susan Hofmann
Really helpful overview that framed for my son in a meaningful way how culture encompasses so much of the human experience in big and small ways, and sparks connections between big concepts like values and identity and traditions and ways of doing things that he previously took for granted.
Beth G
We were FLOORED by the depth and detail of this unit! The material is so well researched and developed. I am working with a small group of middle/high school students ranging 6th-9th grade and they’ve found the content super engaging. There is so much in each lesson, this will be a unit we work...
Juan Torres
This really brought to life for my daughters what people who emigrate have to go through, and why they undertake making such a dramatic change. Dawit’s story was a way to have a conversation about current events, and stereotypes of emigrants and what the realities are.
Stories are remembered up to 22 times more than facts alone.
The People Are Culture Difference
The Power of Stories
Stories are remembered up to 22 times more than facts alone. Stories engage our thinking and emotions to create meaning.
Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
Raise global citizens who respect diversity and are empowered to thrive in our increasingly multi-faceted world.
Inquiry-based Learning
Encourage students to ask questions, investigate answers, and develop critical thinking.
Standards Aligned Content
The primary purpose of social studies is to help young people make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world.
Our content aligns with all ten of the National Social Studies standards and enables students to engage with various cultures and societal dynamics, fostering a deeper understanding of individual and collective identities.
Digital Downloads
Each digital download resource includes:
- a 20-70 page PDF that profiles a real person story in the context of their culture
- Overview on the meaning and significance of cultural identity
- Overview of the cultural sector explored in the lesson
- Reading Comprehension & Reflections assignment
Each lesson is likely to take a student three hours to do the reading and complete the comprehension and reflection exercises.
No AI
In an era in which content is frequently created with the use of AI, and Google searches prioritize content from sources like Quora and Reddit, you can have confidence in the authenticity and integrity of People Are Culture’s material.
The PAC lessons are authoritative, first-person accounts of people describing their own cultures that were personally documented by PAC Founder Meg Pier and her team.
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A Sample Of Where Our Visitors Found Us
People Are Culture Founder & Chief Editor
I’m Meg Pier , founder of People Are Culture. For more than a decade, I’ve traveled the world interviewing people about their heritage, culture, identity, and lived experience.
Again and again, I’ve discovered that the most meaningful way to understand another culture isn’t through a list of facts—it’s through listening to the people who know it best.
People Are Culture was created to bring those conversations into homeschooling families, classrooms, and independent learning spaces, helping young people develop curiosity, empathy, and the confidence to explore a complex world with an open and questioning mind.