Hi, I tried to ask this in another post, but I think I worded it wrong. So I’m trying again.
I am Canadian but feel it is important to also have a good grasp on American History and I don’t want to simply replace American with Canadian. My current (still in the planning stages) long range plan is to have my kids take over much of their own history studies at the year 9 mark. I have been looking around and I think I like TQ for this purpose to cover world hist. They will also (as we have all along, just mom led) be going through a more in depth Canadian Studies (which is mostly history) course at the same time. I have never used TQ and I don’t know if this will be WAY to much to expect from them at once. I cannot take away CS or World hist. but maybe I could cut out some of the American history.
So my question boils down to, how doable is it to expect my future HS students to complete two full history programs a year, one being TQ, the other basically being a list of chronologically ordered living books for Can. Studies. If this is to much, what are the most important event/people in U.S history that would give them a good basic understanding of U.S. history. I would need to know what NOT to cut.
Truthquest is very comprehensive and I would think it would be way more than you need. Even as an American I do not cover every topic they list. It is mostly a bibliography (with added commentary) so you can use it as such and just pick and choose and do a lot less. If it were me I would pick a good spine book that covers everything and then add on some other books, esp fiction and biography.
Two full history programs sounds like too much for us – but I do not have kids in high school yet.
That said, if you feel strongly about doing both histories, I would do a full curriculum of my own country and just pick a book that gives a simple overview of American History – like the ones mentioned in the SCM curriculum for modules 5 and 6 or, of course ones in TQ.
O.K. So maybe I will plan on having them do all sections pertaining to World History and then just do an “overview” type of book for American with some biographies thrown in as well. Maybe two or three bios per year on strictly American figures? As another mom pointed out to me as well, there is a fair amount of shared history between the two countries as well, so those types of events will be covered within our Can. Studies.
Lishie, were you referring to the Stories of America books from mod. 5 and 6?
Thanks for the input, Ladies. Any other opinions, tips or suggestions are welcome as well! : )
So, I just looked at the stories of America books on the book finder but the recommended grades for this resource are 1-6. Is there something similar, but for HS grades? Thanks again for any help.
What about using summers for American history reading? Then you can enjoy world and Canadian history in the depth you want during the school year and still get American history in without overloading.
Things not to miss in American history? That’s up to you. Some that I would pick:
Colonies
American Revolution/Revolutionary War
War of 1812
Lewis and Clark
Pioneers/Westward movement
Civil War
Industrial changes around 1900, factories, etc
WWI
WWII
I’m sure there are others, but those are the first that come to mind.
Thanks Tristan, many of the topics that you gave will actually be covered to some extent through our Canadian Studies already. I may end up being able to cover a lot of U.S. history easier than I thought at first simply by doing it as it relates to Canadian history. As far as the “summer school” goes, we are probably switching to all year schooling right away, anyway, so I will need to think on that idea.
Lishie, thanks for the recommendations, I will look into it.
Hopefully I’ll get things settled and simplified in our long range plan soon, here. I’m starting to dream about this stuff! I may be slightly obsessed!
Did you see the John A: Birth of a Nation movie? It is about the events leading up to Confederation and the Civil War gets a mention as a reason. Of course you can find a whole lot more on the civil war, but it is a nice tie in between a Canadian historical event and an American one.