So... we've been using MOH since last Spring. I love it. The boys mostly enjoy it. Before that, they were using LPs and didn't get much actual 'history' in them. I awoke this morning to a miserable realization: None of them, not even my 5th grader, has studied American History! ACK! SO I want to put the brakes on MOH for the rest of the year and focus on American History. At least an early American history overview. I realize we won't be able to get too in-depth in a semester, but... I also won't have funds to buy a box curriculum for at least another month. I'm looking for tried-and-true lapbooks or unit studies that would be fun yet informational. Keep in mind, I have a 1st, 3rd, and 5th grader (and the 1st isn't a reader yet). I'll probably start showing the History Channel DVDs tomorrow. I know they're biased, but the boys won't absorb enough of it, I don't think, to concern me too much. Plus I have time to undo any bias. Suggestions for an elementary level crash course?
Liberty's Kids videos library books (easy readers) about early Americans- study one or two a week homeschoolshare has lapbook and unit study ideas study time periods in "snapshots"- Rev War, Civil War, Dust Bowl, Depression, World wars, JFK, space race, 40's, 50's, 60's..... do a state study of the state you live in, followed by the ones around you MT3
I was going to suggest the History Channels America: The Story of US. I got mine when they gave out the free copies. I thought it was good for a quick "survey" of US history. I had the same realization with my daughter last year...and she was 12! She had a bit of it here and there, but not anything that covered a longer span of time to see the bigger picture.
Don't worry!! There is time... relax! Honestly, I really don't think it is an emergency. I would suggest continuing on the way you are going, but consciously adding in history channel shows, choosing historical fiction to read together or visiting local historical sites for a start. Then you can do something more structured next term or whenever you were originally planning on taking a break from MOH. If they are learning, why stop?
Totally agree. However if you do take a turn for U.S. history, as suggested in another reply, Liberty Kids ROCKS! Also, Drive thru History seems to be a interesting crash course. I have the dvds but havent started then yet. I plan to watch them with my kids then branch off on areas that catch their attention the most.
If you want to do something fun what about homeschool in the woods Time Traveler cds. They may be a little much for the 1st grader (but I have had 1st graders in my class when doing it and they do ok, just not alot of writing from them) but the 3rd and 5th grader should be just fine. There are lots of great hands on projects and great information in those programs. Another idea is to use History Pockets.
I think they'd welcome break from our MOH routine at any moment. lol. Not that they don't enjoy it, but it does get fairly repetitive (the process, not the information). Read the lesson, do the activity, repeat, repeat, do a map, do a timeline, make memory cards. Do it all again next week. I found a nice "Summary of _(century)__" set of lapbooks on Currclick. I bought the 17th century one this morning. They look simple and fun, but at least the boys will be familiar with the players enough not to just go deadpan when one is mentioned. They don't know who/what half the people/events are that other kids refer to. lol
I really liked All American History, aimed at 5th and 6th grades. The first book goes up to 1850, the second book is 1850 onwards.
I also agree with the others who say don't worry. I was just thinking of the opposite here. My son is 18 and he has read a lot about US history and very little world history. We are doing world history this year, but not in any type of traditional way.
I wouldn't worry either. We haven't really done any American history either and we probably won't hit it until my kids are in 7th and 5th grades.
For the younger crew, I love The Complete Book of United States History (for the older crew I love Hakim's A History of US.. but would never even try to get through all the books in a year let alone a semester).
DO NOT USE ALL-AMERICAN HISTORY!!! When I went through MOH, we finished Vol. 2 before Vol. 3 was out. Bright Ideas Press said All-American History was a lot like MOH, and so we did that for two years, then went back to MOH. Well, it is NOTHING like MOH!!! It's VERY text-bookish, and BORING!!! We managed through the first book ok, but I found myself using the second one less and less.
Okay dont beat yourself up over it, they get to relearn history in JR high and High school levels no worries for grade schoolers not learning it haha! I used to worry too till this year as my ds does world history for a third time says WHY?
And I'm betting your boys will be like Phillip: "C'mon, Mom! How long before we can study another war? Everything else is BORING!!!" LOL!!!
I can't "not worry about it" when my boys are wondering why they don't know half the crap their friends know. I mean, we haven't done anything! They didn't know who Abraham Lincoln was; or what the Civil War was; or anything else! That's unfathomable for a 5th grader! I mean, really? How can I just ignore the issue. They don't know that the United States was formed out of rebellion. Or that we had to fight to be a nation. Unacceptable. So, today we started by watching episode 1 of The History of Us. 2 hours later, Elijah asked if we could watch it again. (We didn't have time or I'd have let him.) While we were watching, all of them asked me questions, even my 7yo (who isn't interested in anything). We'll start on the lapbook tomorrow.
