Random Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 We've done several cycles through world history, but we've never focused on US/American history. (Even though I had planned to this year.) Next year, I want to focus on US History, but I want to have a lot of fun with my kids. I'm ready for low-pressure, relaxed and interesting ways to teach US history. I'd love a one year, concise program with lots of hands-on stuff for my boys to do. Ideally, it would include all of my children (grades 9, 7 (struggles with LA), 5, 3 (motivated, slightly advanced), but the 9th grader could do his own thing. I'm always concerned about the price tag, too. It's still 8 months away, so I could probably make a larger purchase happen. But, I'd rather not. Does such a program exist? I've heard Sonlight's 1-yr US history program is boring. I like the look of History Through the Ages: Time Travelers project packs, but they seem kind of pricey. $173 just for the plans, plus tons of printing, assembling, resources to buy, etc. I like the looks of WinterPromise, but it's a two year program. I'm fine with secular or Christian resources. 1 Quote
Mom2Five Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 Maybe check out Notgrass Exploring America 1 Quote
FawnsFunnyFarm Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 The Time Travelers packs are really fun, and you don't have to buy them all at once... and you can buy them used... and they hold their value pretty much for resale. 3 Quote
FriedClams Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 (edited) I'd field trip if at all possible. National parks, state stuff, whatever you can do. If you can pull of Virginia or New England, do it!! My kids most meaningful history classes (and memories) all involve some travel. Edited January 14, 2016 by FriedClams 2 Quote
pitterpatter Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 (edited) Unfortunately, no. Evan-Moor has some history pockets at a couple of different levels that are good. Scholastic has several about Native Americans and early settlers. Their Interactive 3-D Maps: American History book is quite good as well, which actually covers some things after the turn of the 20th century. (Buy the Scholastic ones when they're $1 for the eBooks.) There are numerous children's project books out there divided by time period/theme, but few meet my standards. I do like Nomad Press's project books (even the text in them is pleasant and informative) but they don't cover enough time periods/topics. Overall, you can find things about Native Americans, Pilgrims, Colonial/Revolutionary War Times, Civil War/Underground Railroad, and Westward Expansion. Anything else is pretty elusive because it isn't traditionally covered in public school at that age. ETA: I misread...took grades for ages. All this would apply more to your 3rd and 5th graders than the other two. Edited January 14, 2016 by pitterpatter 1 Quote
mom31257 Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 (edited) I put together several emails a few years ago with a year long plan using the Complete Book of US History. Those included ideas found online for each category of study listed below. I don't know if all the links still work, but I could forward them to you. I'm very excited to do a year of American History again next year, but I will only have one child here, an 8th grader. I plan on using CLE's 8th grade US history textbook with ds. I've read great reviews of it, including one which said it was the most unbiased history textbook this person had ever read (she had a minor in history). https://www.clp.org/products/changing_frontiers_textbook_3068 Here was my plan and spines referenced. Exploration 2 weeks Settlement 2 weeks (Roanoke and Jamestown 1 week, Plymouth the next) Colonial Life and American Revolution 4 weeks Frontier Life/Lewis and Clark 2 weeks War of 1812 1 week Trail of Tears and Native American study 3 weeks Westward Expansion 3 weeks (Oregon trail, Pony Express, Alamo, Gold Rush) Slavery and underground RR - 1 week Civil War and Lincoln 3 weeks (field trips near by) Transcontinental RR 1 week Pioneer Life on Plains and Wild West 3 weeks Immigration & Statue of Liberty 1 week Inventions 2 weeks Panama Canal/Right to Vote 1 week WW I 1 week Depression 1 week WW II 2 weeks Civil Rights 1 week Space Race 1 week Some of the spines did not cover the entire time period. The Complete Book of US HistoryScholastic's Interactive 3D Maps of US HistoryDK's Children's Encylcopedia of US HistoryA Beka's 3rd grade historyCLP's Pioneers & PatriotsBJU's 3rd grade history Edited January 14, 2016 by mom31257 3 Quote
ondreeuh Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 The History of Us by Joy Hakim can be use for that age spread. Bookshark currently has a guide for it labeled for 8th grade but they are relabeling it as 9th once they finish their new 8th grade program. I find the BS guide a bit annoying as the tone is pretty patronizing towards Hakim, BUT most of the discussion questions are good and the schedule has you cover the whole series in a year at 4 days/week. The HUS series is available as audiobooks (I bought them on Audible) so that can work for the younger ones. 2 Quote
Freedom Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 Beautiful Feet has American History with living books in a schedule all laid out. You could buy the guide and use the library to save money. Bright Ideas Press has All American History but it takes 2 years. You can use it with a variety of ages. 1 Quote
Random Posted January 15, 2016 Author Posted January 15, 2016 I'd field trip if at all possible. National parks, state stuff, whatever you can do. If you can pull of Virginia or New England, do it!! My kids most meaningful history classes (and memories) all involve some travel. I wish! Our most memorable studies involved travel, too. Unfortunately, we could exhaust our local US history field trip options in about one day. :) My area is great for lots of things, but not this. Quote
Random Posted January 15, 2016 Author Posted January 15, 2016 I put together several emails a few years ago with a year long plan using the Complete Book of US History. Those included ideas found online for each category of study listed below. I don't know if all the links still work, but I could forward them to you. I'm very excited to do a year of American History again next year, but I will only have one child here, an 8th grader. I plan on using CLE's 8th grade US history textbook with ds. I've read great reviews of it, including one which said it was the most unbiased history textbook this person had ever read (she had a minor in history). https://www.clp.org/products/changing_frontiers_textbook_3068 Here was my plan and spines referenced. Exploration 2 weeks Settlement 2 weeks (Roanoke and Jamestown 1 week, Plymouth the next) Colonial Life and American Revolution 4 weeks Frontier Life/Lewis and Clark 2 weeks War of 1812 1 week Trail of Tears and Native American study 3 weeks Westward Expansion 3 weeks (Oregon trail, Pony Express, Alamo, Gold Rush) Slavery and underground RR - 1 week Civil War and Lincoln 3 weeks (field trips near by) Transcontinental RR 1 week Pioneer Life on Plains and Wild West 3 weeks Immigration & Statue of Liberty 1 week Inventions 2 weeks Panama Canal/Right to Vote 1 week WW I 1 week Depression 1 week WW II 2 weeks Civil Rights 1 week Space Race 1 week Some of the spines did not cover the entire time period. The Complete Book of US HistoryScholastic's Interactive 3D Maps of US History DK's Children's Encylcopedia of US History A Beka's 3rd grade history CLP's Pioneers & Patriots BJU's 3rd grade history I really like the looks of the CLE textbook! I'd love to get a copy of that email, if you don't mind. I'll send my email address in a PM. Do you happen to remember much about the activities in The Complete Book of US History? The Amazon sample pages didn't have much to say about the activities. 2 Quote
mom31257 Posted January 17, 2016 Posted January 17, 2016 I really like the looks of the CLE textbook! I'd love to get a copy of that email, if you don't mind. I'll send my email address in a PM. Do you happen to remember much about the activities in The Complete Book of US History? The Amazon sample pages didn't have much to say about the activities. The activities were the "Show What you Know" sections. Some were like the samples in the link with drawing or doing something, but some had the work in the book such as a map to label. 1 Quote
ExcitedMama Posted January 17, 2016 Posted January 17, 2016 http://www.truthquesthistory.com/howtochoose.php I haven't used these but I liked the look of them. 1 Quote
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