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History rotations
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I am doing some planning for next year (which, as we all know, translates into planning for the next several years on some level lol). I am planning to start our history rotation next year and am trying to decide how to plan it. I do not like the 4 or 6 year rotation because there is not a year set aside solely for American History. This is very important to my dh. Has anyone used a different rotation that they have found works well? I have a couple of ideas that I might settle into, but I thought I’d check here first to see if anyone else broke out of the “normal” rotation. Thanks!
I don’t follow a rotation. I’ve always done American History first, starting with Stories of Great Anericans for Little Americans when they were 6 and 7. I used a lot of audios from Our Story Hour then Living Principles of America, William Bennett’s Book of America, plus using the Truthquest guides starting at about grade 2. That way you have 4 years to work through American History, then in grade 5, start the Level 2 guides (I think one should take 2 years on Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece, not one as their 7-yr. plan promotes), doing an 8 year plan. Something like this:
For a year or so-general American History, nothing real specific, just igniting a love of Country and familiarizing them with our songs, stories and characters. Also, using our National Holidays as times to study up on certain events and people.
Ages 7/8 (gr. 2/3)-start American History Level 1, 2, and 3 till 5th.
Then begin the Level 2 series which covers:
Ancient Egypt/ Ancient Greece,
Ancient Rome
Middle Ages
Renaissance/Reformation
Age of Revolution 1 (50/50 American and World)
Age of Revolution 2 (50/50 American and world)
Age of Revolution 3 (50/50 Amer. and World)
I did add-in James Baldwin’s Fifty Famous People, Fifty Famous Stories Retold and Thirty More Famous Stories Retold and William Bennett’s Book of Virtues, to expose my children to the great stories/myths/legends of all of history, world and American. Children are at the best age to absorb the traditonal tales that are a part of our Western Civilization. I do recommend these; my children remember these tales well and it’s given them a good foundation for interest in history overall and a familiarity with certain names, places and events when covered later without detracting from the building of knowledge and love for American history.
HTH, Rachel
With this plan, how do you teach your children history together? (or do you?) For example, if your oldest is in 5th grade and starting World History guides, do you then teach your 3rd grader American History? I see that (in my house anyway), I could potentially be teaching 3 different periods of history with that plan. Except for that inconvenience, I like the layout…
eta: I’ll check out their website later. I’m sure she addresses these questions. Thanks for your input! 🙂
What are your children’s ages?
This question is dealt with at the site, but yes, definitely do them together as much as possible. I have it easy; I have a 9 and 10 yr. old. For wider age spans, just read aloud a spine that appeals to all (a little harder for the young, a little young for the olders) and schedule different books appropriate for their ages (even with mine, I have some that my 10 yr. old reads, that my 9 yr. old doesn’t due to ability). Within TQ, they have a variety of book recommendations based on age. In the Level 1 series, the span provided for is 1-12. Oral narrations would be required from those that are able and Written Narrations from those that can do the written. If you have certain projects in mind, the older ones may or may not participate.
I also add in books from AO and All Through the Ages, but I’m a book list freak.
Rachel
LOL I have All Through the Ages as well. I am so antsy to start picking books…but I have to finalize my plan first. My kids are 7, 5, and 3. Right now, my 5 year old listens and participates very well with what we do (even though she isn’t forced to do so). But, as they get older, I’ll have my 3 year old to think about. I make it a point not to get bogged down by the “What about in 5 years?” scenarios, but I do want to have a tentative plan for studying history, keeping in mind my children’s age span. I’ll check out Truthquest’s website and see how it works.
We use Truthquest and LOVE it. We also have a wide age span (7 kids, ages 14, 13, 9, 8, 6, 3, 2).
What works for us is to work thru the older kids guides taking everyone with us. The American History guides are covered again in the AOR guides.
So this year, we are all in Middle Ages and Renaissance/Reformation (we had to do two this year for my oldest to get thru them all before graduation). I read aloud books that are appropriate for my four oldest (my youngest are in “tag along” mode). My eldest two read some of the high school level books during their individual time. My next two read some appropriate to them.
Next year, we will do AOR1. This is the world history book that covers the same time frame as the first American history book (AHYS1). I will again read aloud appropriate books while they read their level books during their time.
I noticed that you said that you wanted at least a year for just American History. This would be quite easy using this type of rotation. Do AOR1 with AHYS1 (combining the 2nd and 3rd books the same way). Read aloud the American History books to everyone. Have your older kids (above grade 6) read the world history books by themselves (or you could add a few world history read alouds during a separate reading time with just the olders if you wanted). This way everyone gets thru American History at least once while they are little and add in the world history that corresponds as they get older.
HTH,
Rebecca
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