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Where did you start your history study with your first grader and why?
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I’ve got time before we’ll start formal history study with my oldest, but I’m curious to know how you started studying history with your oldest and why? I love the idea of the SCM modules, studying history chronologically beginning in creation, and tying Bible history into world history. My concern with the modules, based on what I’ve read from some posts, is that the family books listed might be too difficult for a first grader. So that would leave only the 1-3 books, which for the early modules are only a few. My son loves to be read to (both picture and chapter books). I also have concerns with studying some of the ancient beliefs/religions/mythology at such a young age. So I’ve also been looking at Truthquest American History for younger students. I like the idea of using living books, and I’m sure my son would be interested in this time period, but it seems overwhelming to plan it all out.
What have you done? Started with SCM at Creation? Started with SCM at modern? Truthquest? Something else? And why? I’m sure there will be as many thoughts/opinions as there are homeschool families! In the end, I know I just want to use good, living books that will engage my son and help us experience the time period we study.
I’m looking forward to hearing about what you’ve chosen to do!
We did 1550-1850, generally following Module 5 but we didn’t buy the SCM guide. I used Story of the World as an audio book when we were in the van (our spine) and I filled in with read-alouds and children’s biographies from our public library. We had a lot of fun with history that year! I looked ahead in SOTW to see what was coming up and I grabbed books from the library. Also, we spent a lot more time on American History than SOTW did. Stories of America I would be a great read-aloud for a first grader, too.
We started in Module 1. Though the resources aren’t numerous, my boys have retained so much. My eldest is in second grade this year, and we are doing Greece (Module 2) as well as Truthquest US History for Young Learners. I am not a purist, as we are mixing time periods, but the appearance and persons are so very different, they don’t seem confused. We do Greece two days a week, and I add in US History reading another day or two. It might take us two years to finish TQ; I am fine with that. My boys are 5 and 7, if that helps.
When we began, my oldest was in maybe 4th grade and we had just spent quite a bit of time in the Ancients so I allowed my dc to choose where they wanted to go next. We did Module 5 (w/out the handbook, just read the books in order for each child/grade), then 6, then 1, now 2. My children have just been added to the mix in the time period we were in, be it Ancient or not.
I’m glad my oldest chose Module 5 at the time because he’s so much older now and will have heavier books to read next time around. When we hit a time period we haven’t studied, I may have him read to my youngest so he can read some of those great picture books he’s missed.
Now my youngest has started a My America Book, suggested at Charlotte Mason Help, which I did not do with my other dc (I wish I had). We read together 2x/week and he narrates/draws pictures for this time period, as well as, Module 2.
We began using SCM modules last year when our youngest was in first grade. We used Module 4. It was a great fit for her. She enjoyed the family read aloud titles that we read and the books that were for her level, too.
That said, each time we’ve had a child in first grade, it’s been a different time period. Usually, we’ve utilized family style studies. It’s been a fairly good fit even when we weren’t using SCM modules. We have five children, so for years we’ve utilized similar schedules no matter which resources we’ve used. Family read aloud time and individual titles tied to a common time period/science topic have made it easier for me to manage it all.
This year we are studying Texas history with various titles for family read aloud time, 13yos, and 7yod. Next year may be separate studies for our two youngest (the only ones currently homeschooling.)
It’s nice to start at the beginning, but that can’t always happen for each child if you want to pursue family style learning. If you’d rather have them each start with the same time period in first grade, you’ll likely want/need to follow something like CMHelp, or AO. This is certainly doable, especially with the resources available from CMH, the CMO, and careful planning.
HTH,
Becca<><
You know, I just realized that there are some (Christie comes to mind) who have their children use SCM modules for individualized studies in a fashion similar to CMH/AO. You’d just use a different module for each child. If I were doing that, I’d tend to go in the following order: 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3. My reasoning is due to where I’d want them to finish during 12th grade. Combining a couple of the years somewhere during modules 1, 2, and 3, allow a year for a your State’s/Country’s history during the first and last six years of studies. I’m hoping that makes sense.
I forgot to mention why we started in Module 1. We did because I wanted to start with Bible in Genesis, and I really loved learning how Israelite and Egyptian histories paralleled and intersected each other. My 5 year old has been listening in, so he’ll jump into Module 3 next year with us. I am all for combining everything we can! Only Language Arts and Math are separate in our schooling. I started doing TQ this year as well, so we don’t miss out on the younger books for US History, and they will have a general framework for later.
We started with SCM module 1 with our 6yo. I had planned on doing some American history too maybe one day a week, just reading books and keeping it simple. However, we moved just recently and I’m about to have another baby so we haven’t done the American history, but I am glad for the SCM modules and how it’s all laid out. Module one is lighter but I think that’s alright for a 1st grader and when life happens, it’s nice. Sometimes we’ll combine some of the bible lessons too. We are also doing the Visits to Africa which she really enjoys and Outdoor Secrets, so there’s lots of good books for us to enjoy there as well as independent books we get from the library because she loves reading. I also like the idea of starting at Creation, but I know my next daughter won’t be starting there when she’s old enough but she’s listening in a lot too right now. I will say my 6yo doesn’t quite get into the Ancient Egypt and Her Neighbors when I’m reading it sometimes, but other times she’ll surprise me and mention something or make some connection that she’s referencing from that book. All in all, I wouldn’t say it’s not enough, but you could always add in more books from other book lists. My daughter really likes Archaeologists Dig For Clues, the Catherine Vos story bible (DEFINITELY recommend that one), and I have read some out of Story of the World Vol. 1 as well.
We started with Module 5 this year because my first grade son wanted to study American history and well, why not? He’s the oldest of three so we have a bit more flexibilty on what to study when. (The younger ones may not get this privledge, lol.) We live in Germany right now and will be moving back to the states soon, and my son knows he’s “from” there so I think learning more abut the land he’s from but barely remembers led his desire. We absolutely love the SCM guide so far and my son asks for more. We do it 4 days a week, just rotating through. The geography book we tried but he was not ready for. We are replacing it with Stowaway per other suggestions here and following along on a globe but even that may be much for some first graders and easily skipped. I was hesitant to try the SCM modules because we are Catholic but I love the way they are done so much. I plan to use Mod 6 next year and we will see after that.
~Nicole
With my oldest, in his first grade, we did Ambleside Online (AO) Year 1, so it is a combination of early British History (Roman timeframe) and various important people through the ages.
With my second, we were doing a mentored CM program (no longer in existance) that does family studies similar to SCM – so we did Egyption History – and when I quit that program we did some of SCM’s Module 2 (before the updates)
We are now back to AO, so next year my 3rd with do AO Year 1, and in a couple more my 4th will likely do AO Year 1.
We started with American history when I just had younger ones. Last year was our first year covering ancient history. We’d also covered Biblical history through our Bible lessons. They were in 2nd and K when I covered history. Before that we mostly did unit studies or Five in a Row books.
We didn’t officially start history until 2nd grade but I always started by boys in American History for different reasons, the main one being there are SO SO MANY wonderful living books written for this age on American history and I did not want them to be missed. We do American history for grades 2-4 then start from the beginning around 5th.
My DS is in 1st this year. I had really wanted to start with ancient history, but he was much more interested in american history, so I decided to go with it. We are not using a curriculum. I am reading through Landmark biographies from the library. We read as long as it takes to get through one, then we move on. My general plan is to do american history for 1-2 grade, then geography focus, then start world history in 4th grade.
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