It’s different from TruthQuest. It’s written in narrative style with color drawings and all-inclusive; no extra books are needed at all. You, of course, can add; which I will always do. Truthquest (as you know) has a small narrative, then you continue the reading with book selections. Their student journal really should be sold with it because there are notebooking pages and a prayer journal you make to pray for our country, that kind of thing. It’s a truly lovely book to simplify school. I want to do Module 1, the girls want to continue American History. I can easily do both without being overwhelmed with this.
There are 28 Chapters and 6 reviews (the reviews are in the journal).
Typical Week: Reading from a weekly chapter, structured narration breaks and recommended discussion during chapters, notes to parents at the end of chapter about subject matter. Notebooking activities in the journal about the material covered for the chapter. One thing I really like are the phonetic break down of the Indian names and other hard to pronounce words.
Hope that helps. Do you have any other questions?
We aren’t going to use it until the fall because the journal is so pretty that I want my youngest to be able to really write in it. She’s too young for that yet.
If anyone is interested, here is the progression of the series:
Volume 3, American history from 1900 to present (ages mid elementary-jr. high) Volume 4, Ancient (for the whole family!) Volume 5, Medieval (for the whole family) Volume 6, Explorers through 1850 (for the whole family) Volume 7, 1850- present (for the whole family)
My copy of Volume 1 just arrived, and I think this is a really nice “spine.” The language seemed a little simplistic to me at first glance, but she really puts the reader IN the story. She has lovely personal anecdotes as well. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of it!
Thank you so much for including the future volumns! We are starting Volumn 1 Monday and I have been wanting to see what the future for this set had in store.
I was just checking in to see how your first week went with this. I’d love to hear– if you’re willing to share. We’re looking at adding this in to TQ as a possible spine. Also love the idea of the journal.
Thank you for this post. I took a look at it. For some reason, I have it in my head that we need to study world history before American history. Yet, I have already taught my children about George Washington, Abe Lincoln, and the pioneers through many picture books, etc. They seem more interested and able to understand these than they do for world history. So, do you teach world history along side this book on American history at the same time? I have also considered Mystery of History. I haven’t started CSM Module 1 because I felt my kids (4 and 7) were not old enough for that yet. I am searching for what to do for more structure and coverage on history at this age, stressing a Biblical worldview.
A Living History Vol. 1 just arrived at my house, but now I think I am going to have to wait another year. It looks really wonderful! I just feel that my youngest will be able to enjoy it more when she can write in the journal independently with confidence. I also just reworked our plans and it looks like SCM Module 4 is the best place to be for my two olders, so I must fold in the younger for my sanity . Oh well, ALH vol. 1 will fit with Module 5 quite nicely.