Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

Tagged: American History, government, presidents

This topic has 6 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 2 months ago by 4mykiddos.

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

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April 4, 2018 at 10:24 pm
4mykiddos
Participant
So me and my family absolutely love the SCM History/Bible/Geography series. I have a 6 year old, 10 year old and 12 year and currently completing the 2nd book in the series (Joshua through Malachi). My 6 year old has not yet been exposed to history and I am at a cross roads on where to go with her.
Just when I was confident to move on in the series, I began to feel uncertainty. My 10 and 12 year old do not know all of the U.S. Presidents, the Constitution, Bill of Rights and so on. So now, I am concerned. I personally want them to know key figures and events in history but yet, they love the SCM series. It would be 2 more years before we make it to Early Modern Epistles (World and American History). My eldest will be 14 almost 15!
I am just so confused and at a stand still on what to do next, though I love the SCM series. Any suggestions/feedback will be so very helpful.
April 4, 2018 at 11:10 pm
Tamara Bell
Moderator
4mykiddos,
I would encourage you to move forward with where you are. It sounds as though your children are developing a relationship with figures in history right now. They will get to those figures in history all the while having developed a love for history. Most often, if we just throw names and figures at children (even we adults) with no context, we don’t remember the info as we age. How many presidents do you remember from when you were in school? I remember having to memorize the presidents in order as a child but I don’t remember them now and many of the names I do remember are just names. No context. Nothing spectacular about them for sure. It looks like your oldest will be right in line for high school American history credit when you guys gets to Early Modern and Modern.
April 4, 2018 at 11:44 pm
4mykiddos
Participant
Ah! Just the feedback I needed! Thank you so much, I can breathe and relax now.
I never thought of it in that way, come to think of it, I can ONLY recall some names of Presidents, but what they did and their mark in history I cannot.
Thank you again, moving forward is the plan!
April 5, 2018 at 10:55 am
Karen Smith
Moderator
As for studying the Constitution and Bill of Rights, those will be covered in a government course in high school. We recommend Notgrass’ Exploring Government course, but there are several options for government courses available.
April 5, 2018 at 3:57 pm
HollyS
Participant
Another option would be to add in a few biographies on presidents for their reading lessons or an evening family read aloud over the coming years. There are some simple picture books on government you can read as well. A More Perfect Union and the Fourth of July Story come to mind. Not everything has to be tied into a nice history package to be beneficial to them. Sometimes a random book on a completely different subject than what we’ve been studying has been a breath of fresh air.
I have driven myself crazy trying to figure out how to fit in every last major historical event and time period, and I can honestly say it’s not possible! Not even historians know it all. 😉 That’s why they focus their studies on very specific places or eras.
April 5, 2018 at 4:50 pm
4mykiddos
Participant
Thank you so much! I will check this out as well.
April 5, 2018 at 4:52 pm
4mykiddos
Participant
Holly,
Your feedback was also a breath of fresh air! I have thought about sprinkling in biographies and other books surrounding history at random as well, but was concerned it would be too much or not in sync. But you just eased my mind in that regard.
Thank you!!