American History Review by Notgrass Company
There are many American history curriculum options for homeschoolers, from classic books and unit studies to lapbooks and other hands-on activities. Whether your family uses the Charlotte Mason method, unit study, or Classical approach there is a good fit for you and your children among the wide selection of history curricula. The best part is that most of these homeschool curriculum options can be used by students of all ages, from preschool to high school.
A favorite of homeschoolers is the All american history for homeschoolers review by Notgrass Company. This two year course is geared toward grades five through high school, but is adaptable for younger students as well. The curriculum is written by a Christian author and teaches history from the perspective of God’s sovereignty and His plan for our nation. It also emphasizes the importance of Biblical principles in our country’s development, including faith in Christ and respect for His Word.
One of the reasons this curriculum is so flexible is that it incorporates a digital companion guide and teacher’s guide into the Student Reader, making it a full-fledged textbook for students of all ages. The digital guides are packed with exercises, reviews, map work, and study questions. The companion guides also provide ideas for reading real books on a particular time period (annotated lists are provided) and creative projects. There are also many activities for families to do together, such as historical reenactments and timeline strategies.
All American History Review by Notgrass Company
The other reason this curriculum is so flexible is that it includes a DVD with documentaries, movies, and field trips to help students understand historical events and issues in a way that is often hard to do with a textbook. This resource can be watched as a family, or students can watch it on their own as homework. It also contains a wealth of links to additional information on the Internet.
Another option is the The Good and the Beautiful series, which is a two-year US history program that can be used for all ages. The books are based on the Old Testament and cover history from the early civilizations of the world through the Civil War. It also covers the Bible stories in great depth, which is a plus for some families.
It is important to remember that no matter which homeschool curriculum you choose, you should still make sure your children are reading a variety of books on American history. This will give them a rounded education and prevent them from being too dependent on one type of media for their learning.
You should also try to find a few good quality nonfiction books on American history, such as Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales, The Story of the Thirteen Colonies and The Great Republic by Guerber. These nonfiction books are excellent for elementary age students and can be read aloud, used as read-alongs, or assigned for independent reading. Also, check out The Book of Virtues series by William J. Bennett for a collection of moral stories that can be read aloud or assigned for independent reading.
