What are my middle school, secular, history curriculum options?

[zjande]

I'm familiar with Story of the World & History Odyssey. Are there others?

My son is finishing 6th grade this yr. We'll be completing our SOTW Vol 4 sometime next year & I have no idea what to follow it up with. I may go with HO, but it's just not quite.... perfect. Do you have any other suggestions for secular history curriculum for the middle school years?

TIA!

[MissRubyandKen]

Well for US History in detail there is the History of Us series by Joy Hakim. We've only read out of the first volume so far, but the kids actually liked it. There are guides to purchase for each book. I haven't looked at a guide yet, but my library has one and I'm waiting on reserve. I'll be watching for World History suggestions. I'm planning to order History Odyssey to try for next year. If there's something else out there I'm all about checking it out, lol. I've spent entirely too much time researching our Math choices!

[mom2ponygirl]

http://historyatourhouse.com/
This is supposed to be good, but I haven't tried it personally.

[zjande]

Thanks guys! I look forward to checking thos 2 ideas out! But 1st I have to go to some yard sales. Any more suggestions out there?

I'll let you know if I find the perfect history curriculum at a yard sale.

[Momma Aimee]

check out this thread:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1204445

I posted several Lit based History options there.

also

there is a set of books called History Through Children's Literature (not jsut little kids a lot of middle school and even high schoo options) -- broken down by time period. Check amazon.com

[zjande]

Well, although I still haven't figured out exactly what we're going to do for history, due to this thread I accidentally found our new science curriculum! YAY!

I followed the links to research The Sory of Us by Joy Hakim. I discovered she wrote one of my son's all time favorite science books-- and that she's followed it up with more awesome books AND a whole curriculum to go with each one!! I can't tell you how excited I was by the whole thing last night. I'm super excited to have found those. Thanks MissRubyandKen! I've already put my order in. I can't wait to get them!

mom2ponygirl, thanks! That site was interesting to cruise around. It sounds great! But I'd prefer to stick with curriculum that I can save & use for future kids, so a lecture & online coolness wouldn't work out.
for us
Aimee, thanks for the link! You gave me great ideas. I'm thinking that I might just end up ordering HO & supplementing with books from your link & other living history book lists I've found.

I've just been so spoiled by SOTW. She spells out all sorts of crafts, activities & further books to read for every single chapter. HO is more bland. I guess I'll just have to fill it in with other books myself.

Thanks everybody!

[Momma Aimee]

Originally Posted by zjande

Well, although I still haven't figured out exactly what we're going to do for history, due to this thread I accidentally found our new science curriculum! YAY!

I followed the links to research The Sory of Us by Joy Hakim. I discovered she wrote one of my son's all time favorite science books-- and that she's followed it up with more awesome books AND a whole curriculum to go with each one!! I can't tell you how excited I was by the whole thing last night. I'm super excited to have found those. Thanks MissRubyandKen! I've already put my order in. I can't wait to get them!

mom2ponygirl, thanks! That site was interesting to cruise around. It sounds great! But I'd prefer to stick with curriculum that I can save & use for future kids, so a lecture & online coolness wouldn't work out.
for us
Aimee, thanks for the link! You gave me great ideas. I'm thinking that I might just end up ordering HO & supplementing with books from your link & other living history book lists I've found.

I've just been so spoiled by SOTW. She spells out all sorts of crafts, activities & further books to read for every single chapter. HO is more bland. I guess I'll just have to fill it in with other books myself.

Thanks everybody!

you know if you link in books, you may be able to search by books to get craft ideas or cooking ideas .. or jsut search -- as an example -- "1900's apron patteren" and something like that for carcft / hands on work.

jsut an idea.

many time periods have activity books / craft books too -- that might be a way to go to recreat teh SOTW feel.

[elizawill]

if you get the history channel, on april 25, "a story of us" is going to begin. i'm very excited and plan to the episodes. it would probably go nicely with the joy hakim books. http://www.history.com/america-the-story-of-us-splash

hth.

[PGTlatte]

You might find something here:

http://www.hsfreethinkers.com/curricula/history

[kewb]

Originally Posted by zjande

Well, although I still haven't figured out exactly what we're going to do for history, due to this thread I accidentally found our new science curriculum! YAY!

I followed the links to research The Sory of Us by Joy Hakim. I discovered she wrote one of my son's all time favorite science books-- and that she's followed it up with more awesome books AND a whole curriculum to go with each one!! I can't tell you how excited I was by the whole thing last night.

Thanks to you I have now discovered that my library has the Story of Science books.

As for history, I use History Odyssey with my two kiddos. So far it has worked out well. DS would disagree because of the all outlining and writing he has to do but I keep reminding him that these are skills he will need and when they become second nature they won't seem like such a big deal and he will find college easier.