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American history?
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Hi! I am looking towards next year……I am completely on board with the concept of teaching history in chronological order-we are on SCM Module 1. (My boys are 8,6, and 2). But, I realized that my kids are clueless about American History. (Neither one could tell me who George Washington was!) This is our first year homeschooling. I have no idea how my 2nd grader could have gone through the first 2 years of ps and not learned that! But, apparently he hasn’t! I really feel like I need to do some basic American history alongside the SCM modules for next year. What do you think? If I am correct in my thinking….any ideas as to what is the best way to do that?
Jennifer
One easy way to do that with young ones is to emphasize the American History-related holidays throughout the year. You can read living books that go with them just to expose the children to the key names and main ideas.
Well we plan to do American history first for a couple of reasons. I agree completely that history should be taught chronologically at some point, but I believe that my boys, at least, will benefit more by starting with the more familiar, closer to home history. Another reason is completely selfish. I operate a living books library and some of the best living books were written about American history for young children. I have hundreds of these in my library and I don’t want them to miss them!
So we’ll start American history next fall then move to TruthQuest Egypt around 4-5 grade and move chronologically from there. I also plan to do a family BOC to help us have a visual and to add those things we might encounter that do not fall into the “next thing” in history.We do both and I use and like Mara Pratt’s American History Stories series. It is a series of 4 books and all are available in print or online. I also have a Jim Hodges recording of all 4 books that is great.
Thanks! I am wavering between doing living books at the holidays and doing the Mara Pratt series. I saw the online books-they look good! But, I am not sure I want to get that detailed yet! But, the stories look great……hmmm…. I like the holiday idea, but I know myself…I know I don’t always follow up with things when they are at a set time of the year, especially near holidays. I thought about just highighting some of the important people that I think they should know. I also read on some post around here about doing an American BOC. That’s a thought. So, I am getting closer to a decision! Thanks for guiding me!
Jennifer
This year we are doing two strands of history side by side: Module 1 (using Mystery of History as our spine), and our own Australian History. I am using the way the history modules are set out as a model for our Australian history – one or two books as our family ‘spines’, then some books that are read aloud to all but most relevant to the younger kids, and extra books for the older kids to read as well. They are keeping two notebooks of work – one for the Australian history, and one for the Ancients. The five oldest kids are also using Australian history/social studies/geography workbooks on their own throughout the week (NOT very CM but they are learning from them, so all good
).Maybe you could do a similar thing with American history – even if just once a week, read an American history book or biography, then narratre, draw or write about what read for the noptebook.
Just a thought,
Linda
I am one who wants to stick close to home (Amer. His.) in the younger years. So we are going to try TruthQuest Amer. History and skip the first cycle of SCM history modules.
My younger two are 8 and 5. I am wanting to do a year of Am. History next year as well (for different reasons). I am going to use MFW Adventures as a spine (very loose spine) and add in Mara Pratt’s American History Stories, some Beautiful Feet books and some of the books from SCM Module 5-6. I’m planning on using SCM 106 Days of Creation instead of MFW science. I mention it because the ages of your children are perfect for MFW Adventures.
That said, MFW Adv. is very light. I have a love/hate relationship with MFW. I’m planning on beefing it up for my now 8 yr old and using it pretty much as is for my 5 yr. old.
Just food for thought.
So we’ll start American history next fall then move to TruthQuest Egypt around 4-5 grade and move chronologically from there. I also plan to do a family BOC to help us have a visual and to add those things we might encounter that do not fall into the “next thing” in history.
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