This was my reaction after reading through American History: Observations & Assessments from Early Settlement to Today
I have saved the best for last.... In my opinion, this is the best new offering from Master Book's High School History selection.
This curriculum is comprised of 34 chapters with 5 lessons each. Each lesson consists of a short reading section with critical thinking questions and will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Some of these questions can be deduced from the reading, some require thinking 'outside the box' and a few require you to search out the answer in other materials. At the end of each week's lessons is a short exam. Starting with Pre-Colombian Civilizations, author James Stobaugh takes the student on an engaging journey through American History all with a Christian Worldview.
In addition to the increased length of the readings, are the improved Critical Thinking Questions. They vary from "Which came first, racism or slavery?" to a variety of comparison charts that appear throughout the study to researching a list of Presidents and writing a paragraph about their most memorable accomplishment. These questions are greater in number and depth than in British History and World History.
Another thing I really liked about this study was that it did not *smash* the 1970's to the present together into one mind-numbing lump. The author does a wonderful job moving through the Presidential eras of Kennedy through Obama plus hitting contemporary issues of abortion, health care, terrorism, euthanasia and even homeschooling!
In addition, scattered through the book are sections on Philosophers, Preachers, and Historical Debates of the time which really give the student insight to how day-to-day life was during that particular era.
Whether your child has little knowledge of American History or is a walking Encyclopedia, I think most High Schoolers will enjoy this study.
Though still lacking in mapwork and literature selections, this curriculum definitely makes up for it in depth and broadness of information! And, is one that I am considering for my own children as well.
Look inside!
Disclaimer:
I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.This post written and property of Homeschool Circus and can be found at: www.upatdawnreadytowork.blogspot.com . If you are reading this from a source other than www.upatdawnreadytowork.blogspot.com you are reading a scraped copy!
