meghanlisicich Posted April 26, 2023 Share Posted April 26, 2023 I am planning for next school year and was hoping someone might be able to recommend a history curriculum (preferably one that could be adapted for use by both a 1st and 5th grader). We have been using Story of the World for the past several years, but my kids (including my oldest who will be starting high school in the fall) have always disliked it because it focused heavily on wars and rulers, without giving too much of a sense of what life was like for everyday people in a particular place and time (some of the recommended reading and craft projects do more of this, but not so much the textbook itself). I would be happy to use a curriculum that was more oriented towards cultural history, but I love that Story of the World is thorough and requires little planning on my part. What are you all using for history and why do you like it? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted April 26, 2023 Share Posted April 26, 2023 (edited) Welcome! I see by your post count that you are new here. Since you are not new to homeschooling, and since you have past experience with Story of the World, why not just enjoy resources that you pull together yourself? Elementary grades really don't NEED a curriculum for history. And that would allow you to switch to more of a cultural focus, and less of a straight up dates/events history approach. You could spend a little time over your summer break researching what you want to cover, and what materials are out there that you'd like to use, and print that up, so during the school year there is no need for planning -- just do the next thing on your personalized list. 1 hour ago, meghanlisicich said: ...What are you all using for history and why do you like it? We went with this sort of "Do-It-Yourself" I described above and loved it for the flexibility (we could slow down and explore bunny trails of interest as they popped up, or speed up through less interesting times), and for the wide variety of resources we used: - nonfiction books - historical/cultural fiction books - folktales/myths - religious beliefs, traditions, history - documentaries, travel shows - feature films set in the time/place - field trips - "cultural" experiences -- made food, listened to music, played games of the culture/times Edited April 26, 2023 by Lori D. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted April 26, 2023 Share Posted April 26, 2023 We took a 'build it ourselves' approach as well, making units and pulling together resources (including SOTW). Have you looked at Layers of Learning? It seems like it might fit the bill, except it's more of a set of guides and pulling together directed resources for each unit. Build Your Library or Bookshark might work for you, too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted April 26, 2023 Share Posted April 26, 2023 What does your 5th grader want to study? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meghanlisicich Posted April 27, 2023 Author Share Posted April 27, 2023 2 hours ago, HomeAgain said: We took a 'build it ourselves' approach as well, making units and pulling together resources (including SOTW). Have you looked at Layers of Learning? It seems like it might fit the bill, except it's more of a set of guides and pulling together directed resources for each unit. Build Your Library or Bookshark might work for you, too. I could not figure out how to reply without quoting. Thanks for the suggestions. I have not tried Layers of Learning, but I have friends who have used and like it, so I will look into that. I am not familiar with Build Your Library, but I will check it out too. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quarter Note Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 (edited) Since your kids want to know 4 hours ago, meghanlisicich said: what life was like for everyday people in a particular place and time I can't highly enough recommend the "farm videos" (all BBC productions set in Britain, but this American family loved them!): Tales from Green Valley (Stuart era) Tudor Monastery Farm (episode 2, on - I can’t seem to find episode 1 on YouTube A Tudor Feast (Christmas) Victorian Farm Edwardian Farm Wartime Farm Wartime Farm Christmas Full Steam Ahead (development of the railroad) We loved these videos like crazy! I think you could make at least a whole semester of watching them one every couple of days. Edited April 27, 2023 by Quarter Note 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nm. Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 (edited) I had to stop using SOTW for the same reason. I am not able to combine my 1st and 4th grader easily. I have been using heart of dakota this year and like most of it (nothings perfect). The books have all been uplifting and wholesome. I have also tried a bunch of other stuff the past few years. My first grader has enjoyed five in a row. Since we have always done some sort of formal history, I haven’t used it fully. Funschooling journals have been helpful as well. You don’t need a curriculum- I just get overwhelmed without one. Edited April 27, 2023 by Lovinglife123 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philomama Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 We love History Quest. We've only gotten through Ancient History and the first part of Middle Times -- so I can't speak to what comes after -- but thus far it's been very focused on people as opposed to wars. Each chapter begins with an overview of what's happening in the time/place. The second half of the chapter is a "history hop", in which you travel back in time and meet someone from the past. (Written in second person; really well done!) The figures you meet are very well balanced, both in terms of the inclusion of women, and in giving perspectives other than those of rulers. Only down side is that the Modern Times volume isn't out yet, nor is the audio book version of the American History volume. (But the audio books are so well done!) https://www.pandiapress.com/history-quest/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted May 2, 2023 Share Posted May 2, 2023 Maybe take a break from history and do a world geography year instead? 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisdomandtreasures Posted May 2, 2023 Share Posted May 2, 2023 I'm using SOTW as a spine and adding in extra reading for the cultural background. For example today my daughter read from SOTW Vol. 2 and then read the books "St. George and the Dragon" and "Castle Diary". Next week she'll read "Pippo the Fool" and "Medieval Feast". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Servant4Christ Posted May 11, 2023 Share Posted May 11, 2023 (edited) . Edited May 11, 2023 by Servant4Christ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Bean Posted May 12, 2023 Share Posted May 12, 2023 Another SOTW drop out here. Same reasons as above: too many wars. I see why she wrote it that way as those are major pegs to hang information on over time. It does get depressing if you don't use the AG for the cultural input. History Quest by Pandia Press is similar to SOTW, as stated above. They have a generous Try Before You Buy option. I would buy the textbook printed but the AG as a pdf for ease of printing multiple copies of things. https://www.pandiapress.com/history-quest/ We have used and liked k12 K-8 as an Independent family. https://www.k12courses.com/subject/history/filter/course_type/independent-study.html Veritas Press Self-Paced courses could be fun for the kids to do together. https://store.veritaspress.com/product-type/self-paced NotGrass is another option. Servie is a better person to talk about them, though. https://shop.notgrass.com/#gsc.tab=0 HTH! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Servant4Christ Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 (edited) On 5/12/2023 at 4:24 PM, Green Bean said: Another SOTW drop out here. Same reasons as above: too many wars. I see why she wrote it that way as those are major pegs to hang information on over time. It does get depressing if you don't use the AG for the cultural input. History Quest by Pandia Press is similar to SOTW, as stated above. They have a generous Try Before You Buy option. I would buy the textbook printed but the AG as a pdf for ease of printing multiple copies of things. https://www.pandiapress.com/history-quest/ We have used and liked k12 K-8 as an Independent family. https://www.k12courses.com/subject/history/filter/course_type/independent-study.html Veritas Press Self-Paced courses could be fun for the kids to do together. https://store.veritaspress.com/product-type/self-paced NotGrass is another option. Servie is a better person to talk about them, though. https://shop.notgrass.com/#gsc.tab=0 HTH! As you can tell, I almost posted about Notgrass, but changed my mind because I'm not sure if OP is looking for secular or Christian perspective in a history curriculum and that really makes a difference. Edited May 15, 2023 by Servant4Christ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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