High school level, Christian (?) American History

Is there anything out there for American History that is similar to Mystery of History? (Even something secular would be fine if it's very deep... preferably 1-2 years in length.) I found All American History, Vols 1 & 2 today at a used bookstore for less than half price. I had planned to use them "someday", so I kinda flipped when I saw them... almost scooping them up and running to the check-out counter. But when I got a good look at them, they seemed so dry, and they seemed to lack depth. *sigh*

I have pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenty of time before I actually need to think about high school transcripts, but please humor my OCD-ness and help me start looking for something today. My spreadsheets will really appreciate it. :lol: My whole life is a series of spreadsheets and lists. I'm lost without them!

 

My aunt gave me an AP American history text book for my dd this year... it covers everything!

this is the link to what I have...

http://www.amazon.com/The-American-...06/ref=sr_1_31?ie=UTF8&qid=1335928391&sr=8-31

It may be something to look at.

 

We used BJU for high school American History. I found it very factual and sd said it actually grabbed her attention and she did not mind reading it (a huge thing when it comes to history for her). I added some Drive Thru History and some other period movies to flesh out the curriculum.

 

We never made it through our All American History text. It is dry.

I am not positive about my choice, but I am thinking of going with Exploring America. It is from Notgrass and is good for 9th-12th grade. It is a series of three texts and counts as three units. I didn't want a curriculum that covers history, American lit, and Bible in one but it is the only text I can find that seems a bit interesting. I looked over the questions on the quiz sample and they seem reasonable and thought provoking. It is reading intensive. Since Ems is beginning 9th, we are keeping transcripts and U.S History is a required course for college. We wanted Mystery of History but the new text isn't published yet.

http://rainbowresource.com/product/sku/041609/ec09674faa68ab514d11442b

 

I second Notgrass. I can't wait to dig in to it! I picked it up at the convention a couple weeks back and have already been flipping through it a bit. It seems well-written -- factual, yet interesting. The chapters are short, so it makes it seem more manageable. It is definitely reading intensive, but I really love how the Literature is intertwined.

There are three texts, one each for part one and part two (basically divided by semester), and the third is a set of excerpts from historical documents to refer to while studying (part of the literature component). You supplement with about 7? novels to round out the literature. You piece in the novels into the time period being discussed in the history portion.

 

I put together my own history since my Ds knows more about it already than I do. :lol: One thing I am having him read this year is America's Providential History (Beliles and McDowell). It actually goes through history in light of God orchestrating everything, even down to the geography of how the gospel was spread. It spends a little time setting it up from the beginning till the gospel was spread to America. Then it focuses on how God's hand has been in our history through the people and battles. It talks about specific miracles, too. It has been eye opening for us.

The book is designed to encourage reforming America, so there is an agenda of sorts that you might not be comfortable with, but the meat of the book is worth reading if just for the anecdotal evidence of God's hand in our history.

 

Thank you!! Now I have time to find these suggestions in person (conferences, used book sales, etc.) to see what I like, and time to find them at a good price before I need them.

 

Possibly take a look at using Illuminations with AAH. ILM is put out by the publisher of both MOH and AAH, and we are loving it with MOH. It definitely helps take the text to a more in-depth level and expands by way of literature and study guides. Haven't used or even seen the year 4 which would use AAH1, but all of the ILM packages include a high school option and I'm sure there are samples on the yahoogroup.

 

if no one else did I third Notgrass, we are doing the world history for tenth next year I was going to try something else but read some of it again and was totally sure its the best thing for ds as well!
It has history, lit and bible all intertwined, and don't get scared by the fact they consider it a 3 hour class, its not really that long unless you count your research time and such like that> It just qualifies as one.

 

you could also check drive thru history... we are using some of this and the not grass for our world history this year, it is very good and helps them see what they are studying.

 

I know you can do just the History part of Notgrass if you don't need the Bible and Lit. (we already have those) but can you use it and count just history as a credit without reading all the novels?

 

OK, talk to me about Illuminations. It works WITH MOH. So it's basically activites/timeframe to use MOH with other stuff? So I would have to buy the Illuminations CD, and then all the different textbooks they want you to use with it?

 

YEs, you can just read through the lessons, there are three suggested activities or what not each day. We only read some of the novels because we could ot get every one in at our library but dd loved the reading. I do not think it is all necessarily needed, but some yes. IT comes with a middle book as I call it with the shorts and some poetry as well.

 

We are incorporating Drive Thru History (both the regular videos as well as the Foundations of Character videos) as well as some short video bios of each of the Presidents for our American History with Notgrass. I'm excited.

I so so so wish we had known about Notgrass last year for World History. I'm completely bummed we didn't get to use it.

 

Rachael did well with Notgrass, but I think it will be too much for Faythe.

 

I actually don't plan on reading all of the novels either, but a majority of them. I plan to show him some (very well done) movie adaptions of a couple of them. Like perhaps for Little Women. Between the language and the fact it centers on 4 sisters... I just don't think it will be a well loved choice for my 16 year old boy.

 

Jackie I thought maybe so too with ds but after looking through it I decided he could do it, I decided to add in the drive thru because of his need to see more than just words, and we will view a lot of the books in movie form when possible.
I will not do as many books as dd did, I will gear it to meet is learning. will it take work? YEP< but if dd gets it together she will be at University next fall and ds older will be looking for real life job out of college and so ds and I will have the time! lol

 

LOL! Somehow, I don't see Phillip reading it, either! Maybe "Jo's Boys" instead...?

 

My 19yo and 14 yo DSs love this movie! I don't think either one would read the book though!

 

No question here: "A History of Us."

History is a topic where, personally, I believe it's imperative to teach multiple viewpoints - not just "Christian."