History curriculum for multiple grades (Full Version)

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OHmom3 -> History curriculum for multiple grades (8/23/2008 11:21:59 PM)

In the past, we've used Abeka for history. It was ok for the earlier elementary years, but for the later elementary years, it was kind of dry.

I'd like for us to do history all together this year (4th, 5th and 7th grades).

I think I'll be using Apologia's science curriculum this year. I'd like something similar for history, that's presented in the same easy reading manner, full of information and so interesting that the kids will hate to put it down! I don't want just facts and figures, but more of a narrative tone.

Any suggestions would be most helpful!



Jenny-Fair -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/23/2008 11:25:30 PM)

Story of the World is completely narrative. You might have to add some things for your eldest, though.



cindybode -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/23/2008 11:52:06 PM)

I second Story of the World. I read it aloud to the kids. It is very much an overview, but we use it as a jumping off point to things that we are interested in studying in more depth. Even my 16 yo likes it, although it would certainly be too simplistic for her to use as her only resource. She is a big picture kind of girl, though, and likes to get an overview of the time period before she gets into a lot of detail, so it works.



Jenny-Fair -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/23/2008 11:57:38 PM)

SOTW is expensive, btw, but our library has all four volumes. I would be inclined to check it out, read through until something sparked the kids, give it back while we researched that spark, then check it back out when we had settled back down.



Jenny-Fair -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/23/2008 11:59:05 PM)

History of US is also narrative...and your library probably has all the volumes, BUT it is not biblically accurate in its dating and so on, and of course, is a united states history curriculum, but perhaps you want to do US history right now.



cynthia -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/24/2008 1:14:07 AM)

I strongly prefer Mystery of History. Despite the fact that I think these other women are smart and terrific, I did not like Story of the World. I borrowed it from a friend and did not like it. I also had a recent conversation about it on the Basically Beechick e-mail loop and Susan Lemons (who is a columnist for Homeschool Enrichment Magazine) agrees with me. lol

I have only used MOH with one child, so maybe I have no real clue. However, it is a narrative history with maps and activities that I like a lot. This coming year, I am going to be using it with my 3rd-4th grader and my 6th grader, along with another 4th grader who will be co-oping with us. It is interesting and gives plenty of opportunity for branching out. In fact, she even gives you links and information to branch out without doing all the research yourself. It is full of information that you can either use or not, along with the basic program. It is a terrific program. We are doing MOH 1 with three children and MOH 3 with my eldest this year.



cindybode -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/24/2008 3:43:48 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: cynthia

Despite the fact that I think these other women are smart and terrific, I did not like Story of the World.


That's ok, Cynthia. We love you anyway. [:)]

I actually haven't looked at any other history curriculum. I don't use much curriculum. Until we started Story of the World, we just checked books out of the library and read them.



OHmom3 -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/24/2008 5:23:15 PM)

I haven't heard of either program but I'm going to see if our library has copies.

I'm so glad I came across Crosswalk. You all have been a wealth of information and I hope you know how much you're appreciated!

Thank you.



amybreit -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/25/2008 9:37:44 AM)

quote:

I have only used MOH with one child, so maybe I have no real clue.
I've used MOH with both my kids at the same time! It took us 1 1/2 yrs to get through the 1st book. We are going to start the 2nd book shortly (my kids will be in 5th & 8th grades). I found it easy to use & it has activities for the different age levels (elementary,middle & upper)! We did some of the supplementary things but I wouldn't even say Most of it (there is a lot of info & we just can't do everything)! We all have really enjoyed it! I usually read the lesson part aloud & then they work on their projects/maps etc...



Homegrownkids -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/25/2008 9:45:51 AM)

We use Mystery of History, also. I REALLY like it!!!!!!



cynthia -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/25/2008 11:57:18 AM)

Here's a link to Mystery of History. I would recommend getting either Vol. 1 or Vol. 2, but not Vol. 3, as it's not all ready yet. At this link, you can find the table of contents, sample lessons and a sample week.

Mystery of History is a Christian curriculum. It still covers the history of other religions though, which I appreciate, as that study is through the lens of Christianity and the depth of study is left up to the parents. Of course, whatever you do in homeschooling is going to be left up to the parents, but it is built into the curriculum that the parent controls the depth of study into other religions.

Mystery of History also covers geography with maps of the regions being studied. It is chronological, so it covers various regions in this manner. Here’s an example from week 4.

  • Lesson 10: Stonehenge
  • Lesson 11: Early Egyptians
  • Lesson 12: The Minoan Civilization
  • Review week 4


My method of instruction is more along the lines of Charlotte Mason and Ruth Beechick. They use similar means of instruction. This curriculum fits well with that way of teaching, but does not require a ton of research from me. Frankly, I get very tired of researching everything, all the time and it is a great help to me that all the research has already been done. Even though this is not the same as reading a bunch of books, it is not like reading a text book of the sort that I grew up with. It tells stories of history in an interesting manner.

My children still read a lot of historical literature, but it seems more productive when they have the foundational story line behind what they are reading and they can place it in the correct historical context. I wish Linda Hobar, the author, had already finished the rest of the series, but I don’t think she’ll be done with them even in time for my youngest. Alas! I guess my children’s children will probably benefit from this series when they are homeschooling.

ETA: If you get this program, I highly recommend getting the CD with the maps and activities, as I you’ll end up pulling apart your book if you don’t.



Jenny-Fair -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/25/2008 12:00:22 PM)

So Volume 3 isn't even the last one? How far does the series go right now, timeline-wise?



cynthia -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/25/2008 12:02:33 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jenny-Fair

So Volume 3 isn't even the last one? How far does the series go right now, timeline-wise?

I copied and pasted this from their website:
quote:

Volume I: Creation to the Resurrection: Creation-AD 29
Volume II: The Early Church and the Middle Ages: AD 30-1460
Volume III: The Renaissance and Growth of Empires: 1461-1707
Volume IV: Revolutions and Rising Nations: 1708-1914
Volume V: The World at War and the Present Day: 1915-Present Day

Link here.



Jenny-Fair -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/25/2008 12:08:07 PM)

Well, that's a tad disappointing. I was thinking of using it for Nate, but he's in 7th this year and I feel like he'd only get half of history.



cynthia -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/25/2008 12:29:52 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jenny-Fair

Well, that's a tad disappointing. I was thinking of using it for Nate, but he's in 7th this year and I feel like he'd only get half of history.

I know what you mean, but I like this curriculum so much, I'm sticking with it. It has a lot of depth to it, so I think the kids get a good understanding of history and will help to build a good foundation for further study of later time periods. That's why I'm going to use Vol. 3 for TL this year, even though she's technically in high school now.



amybreit -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/25/2008 12:44:58 PM)

quote:

ETA: If you get this program, I highly recommend getting the CD with the maps and activities, as I you’ll end up pulling apart your book if you don’t.
There's a CD?!!! I didn't know that! Of course, I bought Vol II before last school year thinking we'd be done with Vol I mid year & then that didn't happen![;)] But, I do have a flat bed scanner/copier, so I was able to copy all the maps w/o pulling the book apart! I copied everything for the whole book up front for both kids to make it easier on me during lessons! I'll have to check out the CD though!

quote:

My method of instruction is more along the lines of Charlotte Mason and Ruth Beechick. They use similar means of instruction. This curriculum fits well with that way of teaching, but does not require a ton of research from me.
Just wanted to comment about what Cynthia said here. We don't follow the Charlotte Mason method & still found this to fit in with us pretty well (of course, we're kind of a hodge podge sort, so I guess almost anything might fit in[;)]). Just wanted to make sure that the OP knew that it can fit into other styles too!

I'm with you all about wishing the Volumes were further along, but we'll just use what we can as they come out and if they still fit where we are & what we're doing! KWIM?



cynthia -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/25/2008 12:55:58 PM)

We are not scheduled like Charlotte Mason, but we use some of her instructional methods like short lessons for the younger kids (and working up to longer lessons as they progress in attention span), narration, copywork, and real literature rather than text books. I would say that MOH fits into the real literature catagory.

We also have a flatbed scanner, but it was still hard to make copies properly. I much prefer to be able to use a CD and print directly from that. There are two CD's available. The one I'm referring to the the Reproducibles CD, which has everything that is in the book.



MrsDC -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/26/2008 11:44:06 AM)

I've heard lots of good things about the Story of the World, but I've never been able to hold it in my hand.

Mystery of History was given to me last year and I love it. I use it with all 6 of the kids at the same time (grades 4 through 11), teaching mostly to the top of the class, but doing projects they all like. This is as close to a curriculum as I've ever come! It's pretty "teacher intensive" though. You can't just pick it up and read a little bit and call it good. It's not designed like that.

We also purchased "Drive through History" DVDs last fall. Those are really good!!! (The narrator is a little goofy and reminds us of a kid in our old youth group, but...) We also like "That the World May Know" which is more serious, and a little more in depth. For the ages you mentioned (4th through 7th grade), I highly recommend Drive through History. You can find them at CBD (Christian Book Distributors)

Enjoy!



Jenny-Fair -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/26/2008 12:18:10 PM)

Netflix has some Drive Thru History DVDs, as well.



cynthia -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/26/2008 12:20:27 PM)

We got all the Drive Through History DVD's this year. At the convention, there was a store that sold them very cheap. I plan to let the younger kids watch them for fun this year, then may use them more extensively later.



dramagal -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/26/2008 3:20:02 PM)

Nobody's mentioned Beautiful Feet. bfbooks.com
They have curriculums that can be used for mutliple ages and are great to do either in a group or alone. Last year, my 7th grade daughter went through the History of Composers by herself and loved it. A few years ago, we all did the History of Science.

They also have straight history, like Ancient History, Early American History, Medieval History. (different guides for high school and elementary, but otherwise mix quite well)

I was a history major, and with one student doing high school now - where one is limited and has to have a year of US history, a year of world history, . . ., I see the value of allowing my pre-high school students to have a bit more fun with history. Thus, history of science, composers, etc.

I also used BJU 8th grade history of the Republic for both my 8th grader and my 6th grader, with the 4th grader joining in for some lessons. That was a good history book. Best of all I've seen at that level.



OHmom3 -> RE: History curriculum for multiple grades (8/26/2008 9:14:27 PM)

Thanks everyone! I'm going to check them all out.



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