Posted on 04/11/2010 1:50:27 PM PDT by kimmie7
Hello homeschoolers! I'm in the market for history curriculum. Previously we've done aBeka US History...son is in 5th/6th grade and I am feeling the need for something more comprehensive.
Just for fun, I've ordered the "Drive thru History" Soldiers/Jamestown DVD and love it, but it is hardly a comprehensive curriculum.
What do you currently use or have you used in the past?
Homeschooled for decades. We always used Christian Liberty Academy’s curricula. Simply outstanding.
My wife uses the ACE (Accerated Christian Eduction) curriculum for our son. I don’t know if it more “comprehensive”, but is good.
David Barton’s Wallbuilders books are excellent.
It's been discussed on FR at some length in the past. It's not without its flaws but it's a good solid text.
My other suggestion for a supplemental resource would be for you to get hold of OLD back numbers of American Heritage magazine -- best place to look is your local college or university library, or abebooks.com.
You want to get back before the early 70s, when long time editor Bruce Catton (yes, that Bruce Catton - of A Stillness at Appomattox fame) had died and his protege Oliver Jensen left the magazine. It went into softcover and not only got all politically correct and sloppy, it started repeating itself.
The text of all the articles is online at the American Heritage website -- but the real strength of the magazine is the marvelous illustrations and maps which are NOT on line. Maybe they will put out a DVD that will include all the pics (you could write them and ask). I have all the hardcover issues back to when it was The Journal of Local and Regional History or some such title, back in the late 40s.
It is especially strong in Civil War (naturally, given the editor), but also in Revolutionary War as well as political history. Catton was a liberal in the old sense, but he was a good historian and an honest man.
Also consider the possibility of teaching from original documents, if you have the time. That was the most fun I ever had in history class.
I like the methods recommended by the book, “The Well Trained Mind.” They have a series for younger students called “The Story of the World,” that might be ok, but it might be too young. I believe they also have a series in the works for older kids. I bought the first book, but have been using and assortment of real books for history.
>>> Also, I just got out of the hospital and am still on pain meds.
Glad you’re out.
Now, on topic - the “A Patriot’s History of the United States” is authored by a freeper. His other works might be useful in your homeschooling as well.
The poster of this thread has a question that the homeschooling community would be well-qualified to answer.
wallbuilders has great books but not sure if they are for different grades...they do have this book (see link) it is the primer....great for any age
I followed “The Well Trained Mind” as well.
Here is a link to a catalog that is close to the same format of going though history from beginning to the current day, and repeat in higher levels.
I have been slowly transitioning my daughter into college level classes. So, I haven’t used or looked at this site recently. Looks like lots of new stuff. I usually find myself wishing that some of this had been available when my daughter was younger!!
We loved the Drive Though History series. I have not purchased the Am History DVD yet, though.
Mystery of History has three volumes and is good, but it’s a world history from a Christian point of view. I’m not sure that’s what you were looking for.
I have also used WinterPromise’s American History, which is a literature based program with additional activities.
Sonlight has a core program similar to that of WinterPromise ~ also a literature based program but with fewer hands on activities.
One of my favorite history learning tools is lapbooks. There is an outstanding AM Hist lapbook “Time Traveler’s History Studies” by Homeschool in the Woods.
http://www.themysteryofhistory.info/
http://www.sonlight.com/history-geography-4.html
http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/
The Story of the World is a great jumping off point for elementary school kids — even junior high kids can benefit from it. All you have to do is supplement with additional reading, for which suggestions are made in the activity book.
My DD is in 9th grade, and they have not taught her anything in history she did not learn in homeschool using The Story of the World.
The added benefit is that all of kids enjoyed it very much.
My high schoolers will be reading and studying this book during the summer. I am really looking forward to it.
When I was homeschooling I always loved Bob Jones history.
I made a history line for the children that we posted on the wall along with maps of the world and the U.S. As we read history books and biographies from the children's library we noted on the time line and the map where and when these events happened. We did the same for fiction as well.
We also used films from the library such as NOVA. Also...Their grandfather was very very generous with subscriptions to National Geographic magazines ( both adult and children) and books.
Our kids were admitted to college at the ages of 13, 12, and 13. They did well so I suppose the had a good enough background from our eclectic approach.
While not a curriculum, the series of books by G.A. Henty make a nice addition.
TRISMS
I also used Bob Jones history, and supplemented with historical fiction (Henty stories) when they came to that part of history.
When studying specific periods, we had fun with beautiful feet. If your child is a reader, he’ll/she’ll love it! Different curriculums are designed for different grade levels...here’s a link:
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