Hello! This last year of homeschooling was our first year doing the Charlotte Mason approach and we loved it. I find it fits so well with my philosophy of education and how we all prefer to learn. For history we started with the Ancient Egypt curriculum created by SCM. I think it makes a lot of sense to follow the history chronologically so that has been my plan. However, our family is planning to travel the US full-time in an RV in 1-2 years and we plan to take about 2 years to do this. As I look ahead to this period of time for homeschooling I am considering what will work best for us in the areas of history/geography at that time. I see a few possible options. 1) We could simply continue with our chronological study (which at that time would put us in Ancient Rome of the Reformation) 2) We could set aside our chronological study for the time being and study history that corresponds with areas of the US that we are traveling in (i.e. when in Montana we study the Battle of Little Bighorn). 3) We could use a curriculum guide and then set it aside to study something specific when we will be visiting something (such as a battlefield) Then there is the question of which module(s) to choose during our travel time. Should we jump ahead to the modules that focus on the US history for those years? Or should we pick those modules in the year or two leading up to our trip so that we are fully familiar with it before we hit the road? We did My Father’s World Adventures in US history three years ago so we do have some overall knowledge of US history (at the time my two oldest kids were 6 and 9 they are now 9 and 11). I am praying though this myself but would love any outside thoughts or suggestions.
I would go with US studies while on the road, especially since your space for books will be limited, and you will have many opportunities to visit historical sites.
I wouldn’t worry too much about how much of chronological history you study before the trip, because you can always pick up with that afterwards. Sounds like a fun adventure!
Wow! How exciting! Mason students did both British and World History. I though this would be too much, but decided to give it a try. Of course instead of British History, we are doing US. My boys are 9 and 11, and the 8 year old sometimes listens in. This was our first official CM year. It is wonderful, they are doing great. I think you can do both as well. I would use the SCM module as primary with the schedule activities. I would keep the US History light with more of fieldtrips as a real education. My dream is to also RV the USA, so I have daydreamed that I would mail-back home any books we are done with.
If you get to visit South Florida, PM me so I can share with you all the hidden gems. Have a great time. Oh, yes I almost forget, there is a blogging Mom, that lived on the road as well (she even gave birth at the time!). ShirleySolis.com