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Need suggestions for one semester of American history for rising senior...


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My original plan was to use Bill Bennett's books (The Last Best Hope) fleshed out with various papers, but ds16 read them all within a couple of weeks this summer and now wants to do something more out of the box. There is a local Modern History co-op course that he will attend second semester, but I am at a loss for what to do first semester. I am looking for project ideas, interesting research paper ideas, a senior capstone project, or something just... different. This will be his last year of high school, and he would like to do something fun and memorable for American history. Any ideas?

 

Thanks!

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It sounds like National History Day would be a great fit.  It's a history competition using various types of projects, papers, or drama.  Actual events are 2nd semester, but he could do most of the work in the fall.

National History Day http://www.nhd.org/  

 

Other ideas he might enjoy: 

National History Bee http://hs.historybee.com/  Can participate in other states' bees if your state doesn't have one.

Reading Like a Historian (primary document study)http://sheg.stanford.edu/home_page  

Hillsdale College courses https://online.hillsdale.edu/register

Education Portal video courses http://education-portal.com/academy/subject/history.html AP/CLEP prep material, very well done

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IF he read both volumes of Bill Bennet;s book- that is American History, right there.  You don't need to do anything more.  Those are two big volumes.  So if you need more history credits or want more, a) you don't need to just focus on American history but if you want to- focus on a type of history or a specific time period he may want to dwell into.  For example, if he wanted to study reconstruction, there is a great book about called that by Eric Foner.  IF he wants to study civil rights, there are several good books.  IF he wants to study military history, again more good material.  WHat about industrialization or agricultural history or criminal history or sociological history?  FOr that matter, instead of history, he could study another social science such as economics, sociology, criminology, or psychology.  He could study history of some place he would like to know more about.  I read a fascinating history of Mexico City that I had always hoped one of my kids would want to read. 

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We are using Road Map to Last Best Hope. There are projects, AP info and more....two levels of testing on each chapter. I printed like crazy, made a notebook and direction for my 10th grader, and he can do it himself, asks for tests when he needs them. I NEVER subscribe to online stuff, but this is different to me. I have not used any projects, and you are wanting them, so I cannot speak to that particular need.

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