Secular History for High School

[gingersmom]

What would you recommend for a secular history program for high school?

 

I've been poking around online and in previous messages but have not found any secular suggestions.

 

Thanks!

[Lori D.]

Actually, there are quite a few secular resources. You might also see what your local high schools are using, and you may even be able to purchase a used copy from a school if you like what you see.

 

As far as secular history mentioned on the high school board:

I've seen all of the following secular history books mentioned in previous threads; perhaps try specific searches or post specific questions on each that looks of interest to you? We have been using Spielvogel's Human Odyssey and it has worked fine. BEST of luck in finding what works for your family! Warmly, Lori D.

 

- World History: Human Odyssey (Spielvogel) -- high school text, also includes many non-western cultures

- Western Civilization (Spielvogel) -- college text, very accessible to high school students, focus on western cultures

- The Teaching Company history DVD lecture series -- college professors give a series of lectures on DVD, accessible to high school students

- A History of US (Hakim) -- Amer. Hist.; middle school/early high school level

- The Complete Idiot's Guide to American History

- World History The Easy Way (Barron's) -- http://www.amazon.com/Essentials-History-Barrons-Efficient-Guides/dp/0812006372/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255996627&sr=1-3

- History of the Ancient World (Wise-Bauer) -- http://www.amazon.com/History-Ancient-World-Earliest-Accounts/dp/039305974X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255996599&sr=8-1

- History Odyssey (K12 text) -- http://www.k12.com/courses/textbooks-products/

 

 

 

An American Textbook Council brief article; at the bottom is a list of widely used high school history textbooks:

http://www.historytextbooks.org/adopted.htm

 

 

And here is an online review of 12 widely used high school history textbooks:

http://www.edexcellence.net/detail/news.cfm?news_id=329

 

A few more ideas:

- McGraw/Hill Glencoe World History: Human Experience textbook, with online supplements

http://www.glencoe.com/sec/socialstudies/worldhistory/wh2001/index.html

- Pearson/Prentice Hall World History

http://www.phschool.com/atschool/worldhistory/program_page.html

[Amy in TX]

http://www.amazon.com/Heritage-World-Civilizations-Combined-7th/dp/0131926233/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256001836&sr=8-7

 

for high school world history, and I am LOVING it. It truly is a *world* history text, as opposed to a western civ. text. It's quite in-depth and thoughtful without being overwhelming. My 9th grader and I are taking 2-3 weeks to read, outline, and discuss each chapter. Each chapter includes literature samples from the culture being studied. There are questions at the end of the chapters, which we are using for discussion and as essay topics.

 

We plan to use it over the four years of high school (following the WTM history rotation).

 

:)

[gingersmom]

Thank you both so much!!!

 

I have a lot to check out.

[MIch elle]

http://www.amazon.com/Heritage-World-Civilizations-Combined-7th/dp/0131926233/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256001836&sr=8-7

 

for high school world history, and I am LOVING it. It truly is a *world* history text, as opposed to a western civ. text. It's quite in-depth and thoughtful without being overwhelming. My 9th grader and I are taking 2-3 weeks to read, outline, and discuss each chapter. Each chapter includes literature samples from the culture being studied. There are questions at the end of the chapters, which we are using for discussion and as essay topics.

 

:)

 

but the newer version. His school uses this book in grades 9 & 10. Here is the older version's website my ds uses for the self-tests (you have to pay for the website to the newer edition).

 

http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_craig_herwldcivb_2/17/4607/1179427.cw/index.html

[Amy in TX]

Thanks so much Michelle! I didn't know this existed. :)

[Hilary in MI]

Another resource: lectures on Annenberg Media (free streaming). We're now doing The Western Tradition as a nice supplement.

 

http://www.learner.org/

[Peela]

I am using Connect the Thoughts, which is secular, and I have used and still use the booklists from Ambleside Online, secularly.

[JustGin]

What would you recommend for a secular history program for high school?

 

I've been poking around online and in previous messages but have not found any secular suggestions.

 

Thanks!

 

Dd (9th grade) is using William Bennett's, "America: The Last Best Hope" on audio, along with the companion web resources "Roadmap to America". I've also set up a schedule for reading which includes a series called "American Heritage, American Voices" short readings from primary sources, non-fiction books such as 1776 by McCullough, and Undaunted Courage by Ambrose and sometimes dvds, like "Liberty! The American Revolution,(PBS) and later Ken Burns' "Civil War". She is also memorizing historical pieces, like the Preamble to the Constitution, part of the Declaration of Independence and so on. So far this is the best history year we have ever had according to her and that says it all for me! :)