Learning American History Through Literature

Name: Learning American History Through Literature
Brand: Common Sense Press

by Common Sense Press

Social_studiesGrades K–6

About This Curriculum

A literature-based American history curriculum that uses living books, hands-on activities, games, and recipes to teach seven periods of American history from 1607-1968. Designed for multi-level teaching and flexible implementation over one or two years.

What makes it unique: Exceptional flexibility allowing families to pick and choose from extensive book lists, activities, and resources while maintaining Charlotte Mason principles; can teach multiple grade levels together with minimal prep work required.

Learning American History Through Literature: Literature-Based Unit Study

Learning American History Through Literature is a literature-based curriculum from Common Sense Press that uses living books, hands-on activities, and flexible unit studies to teach seven periods of American history from 1607-1968. Designed for multi-level teaching across grades K-6, it emphasizes reading quality literature and completing optional activities rather than traditional textbook instruction.

Best for

Homeschool families seeking a literature-based, flexible unit study approach to American history for grades K-6, particularly those who prefer Charlotte Mason methods and want to teach multiple ages together

Evaluation Criteria

1 strength · 2 concerns · 4 neutral

Vocabulary BuildingStrength

The curriculum includes explicit vocabulary instruction with definitions and crossword puzzles for each historical period. This provides structured vocabulary support for social studies terms.

Each section includes 'vocabulary words and their definitions' and 'a crossword puzzle for each section is in the appendices along with a few other strategies for learning the vocabulary'

Primary SourcesConcern

The curriculum does not emphasize primary source documents, instead focusing on living books and historical fiction. While these provide historical context, they are not primary sources.

The curriculum focuses on 'biographies and historical fiction' and 'living books' but reviews mention no specific inclusion of primary source documents or historical evidence

Direct InstructionConcern

The curriculum relies heavily on literature-based learning and student-led exploration rather than direct instruction. Teacher guidance is minimal, with most learning happening through reading and activities.

The approach emphasizes 'living books, discussion, and activities' and reviewers note it's designed for families who want to 'pick and choose from suggested resources and construct their own program' rather than follow direct instruction

Teacher TrainingNeutral

The curriculum provides discussion questions with answers and activity suggestions, but lacks comprehensive teacher background knowledge or pedagogical guidance. It's designed to be simple for parents to use.

Includes 'suggested discussion questions (with answers)' and the curriculum is praised as 'Simple to teach. Easy to learn' but reviews indicate minimal teacher support beyond basic activity suggestions

Retrieval PracticeNeutral

The curriculum includes some retrieval elements like vocabulary crosswords and timeline creation, but lacks systematic review and practice of historical content. Most assessment appears project-based.

Includes 'crossword puzzle for each section' and 'create a timeline to put events into their historical context,' but reviews indicate minimal systematic retrieval practice beyond these activities

Geographic KnowledgeNeutral

Geographic knowledge is addressed through map work activities, but civics instruction appears limited. The curriculum includes some civic elements like a Lap Book of the Constitution but lacks systematic coverage.

Activities include 'map work' and 'construction of a Lap Book of the Constitution,' but reviews indicate minimal systematic geographic or civic instruction beyond these isolated activities

Chronological KnowledgeNeutral

The curriculum builds chronological knowledge through seven sequential historical periods from Colonial times through the 1960s. However, it skips the exploration period and stops at 1968, leaving significant gaps in coverage.

The course divides American history into seven periods: Colonial, Revolutionary War, Westward Expansion, Civil War, Industrial Age, World War Years, and Postwar Years, but 'skips over the period of the explorers' and 'the final period covers only through the 1960s'

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com, tablelifeblog.com