this will be my 2nd year homeschooling my daugter. I am looking for a secular 1st grade history/ss curriculum. I prefer to "develop my own curriculum" but I have no idea what 1st graders do in history?!?! Is it ok to work on states, presidents, famous american/landmarks, etc. Any ideas would be appreciated, traditional and non-traditional ideas, anything. amy, GA
Check out "Story of the World". I don't use it, but many on here do. If you search this site, you'll be able to get some pretty good discusions on it!
just ckecked out Story of the World, looks to me like it would bore a 1st grader to death! 400BC is a lot of a 6 year old to comprehend. do some of you on HSP, really use this type of curriculum for 1st graders and they enjoy it???
have you looked at http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?curriculum?? I make most of my own things up and this was a big help when I was starting out. For first grade you don't really need to worry about history, more about society.. think "who are the people in your neighborhood". Then once that is all grasped then start to show that there is more than just your own neighborhood. You can touch on some history with the holidays.. think Pilgrims and Indians at Thanksgiving. Remember.. keep it simple and fun.
GymMom. We use sotw for 3rd grade. My first grader loved the Basic Not Boring workbooks. We used the Social Studies and the Geography. I found it to be pretty thourough. They have lots of drawing and coloring. I found them on www.rainbowresource.com
I go with whatever might interest them. It really does not matter. Do they want to learn about ancient times? How about colonial times? Maybe learn about states or countries they could travel to? There is not one subject that should be taught at one time. Just go with whatever interests them. Good luck.
Exactly, if it doesn't interest them it's in one ear and out the other. The library should have some nice books with lots of pictures - grab a big pile and see what appeals to her.
Hi Amy! I agree! Keep it simple - think more "social studies" We used Lifepacs - but that's definitely NOT secular You could do a BROAD BRUSH look at continents, oceans and countries. Maybe do a little bit on the the culture of Mexico and Canada since we share North America with them. And them maybe do some of the MAJORS like a couple weeks in China, Japan, European countries, Australia, Arctic/Antarctic, etc. There are TONS of workbooks for that level that are fun/puzzles, etc. You could even do something like the Highlights Which Way USA puzzle books or something - I think they do two states a month? I like School Specialty Publishing for those types of things...they do a lot of the "Big book of learning" type stuff. Do a unit on "Community Helpers" (think fireman, police, doctors, dentists, store clerks - who are the people in your neighborhood, in your neighborhood....you get the picture). Also, check out www.edhelper.com and www.worksheetworks.com for things. I like the holiday suggestions too...You could really do a whole year with the different holidays! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
Community Helpers is REALLY BIG at that age! And you can make cookies to take to the Fire Department, etc.
I would focus more on your local social studies, as in yoru neighborhood helpers, community helpers etc, do feild trips to fire house, dr office dental visits etc... if you want to go to local basic history but dont go over board, there are 12 years to learn about history and we can over stuff thier little brains andmake them bored with it ifwe try to add too much too soon. Teach map reading and drawing maps for your area, that way they can find the way home , that sort of thing, emergency numbers, etc.
GReat idea! her uncle is a fireman so maybe cookies and a tour of the station. Also my hubby/her dad works at a large hospital so cookies and a hospital tour may work also
i think I like the idea of just combining things that interest Abby. she is obsessed with learning ALL the states, which seems weird to me for a6 year old, but she likes it. I am going to do a short/condensed version on american history....like pilgrims, george washington, abe lincoln, slavery, so forth. just from the "step into reading #3 and #4 books, along with worksheet and crafts to match. then work on some map/georgraphy skills. keeping it simple and all on a 6 year old level! thanks for all the great ideas! amy
This sounds AWESOME! You could...also...use American Girl Historical books to read through - like pick the time period and choose the doll closest to that. When my oldest was 6 we did them as read alouds. She LOVES American Girl books! Now, 3 years later, she STILL reads them over and over again!
Also the Magic Tree House books are great for history at that age.. we LOVED them.. I can't wait for my younger kids to be old enough for me to justify using them as school again!
I'm starting 1st grade with my daughter on Monday. We are using Fifty Famous Stories Retold & An Island Story and reading biographies of George Washington, Buffalo Bill and Benjamin Franklin by Ingri D' Aulaire. We are also doing Paddle to the Sea for geography with map work.
haven't read all the posts... but for kiddo's that young I would just read good books. (Little house books and historical fiction of which there is a ton for that age) maybe do some map work...finding continents and looking at people from other cultures. (someone else did say think ss instead of history) cooking and foods from other places and other times are good. any stories that the kids think are interesting, I don't think it is at all important at this stage to worry about curriculum or scope or what order. (and I agree that Story of the world and MOH would be boring for that age)
