Homeschool History- A Chronological Approach

How do you teach homeschool history using a Chronological Approach?

A Chronological Approach to History means that whatever way you decide to teach history, you will start at the beginning and move to the present day. Chronos means Time in Greek, so when we think of Chronology, we think of time-lines, sequence, order, beginning, moving from B.C. to A.D.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The easiest way to work in a chronological approach to history is for ALL the children to study the same time period at the same time, but at different levels-focussing on the same events and characters (mostly), but studying them in varying degrees of depth.


Is it essential to teach chronologically?

There would be some who argue that you must study history in a chronological way for the child to have an understanding of how everything fits together. I agree that at some time in the child's education, they should see the big picture and have a clear understanding of the scope of history and the time-periods. This can be done by using a chronological approach to history. However, I think that you could choose to keep the study of history to interest-driven thematic units for primary years or for a few years at least, and then pursue a chronological study of history.

So, in short, I agree that studying history chronologically makes sense, but at the same time, you will not ruin their education if you teach history using some thematic unit studies.

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Here are some ways that you may decide to study history:

If you have 12 years of education and want to include Interest based Units:

• Year 1-4: Thematic Units- based on interests; Develop a love for history and reading while you focus on their character development.
• Years 5-8 Chronological Study- once through history- focusing on events/characters/wars/making some connections.
• Years 9-12 Chronological Study- second time through historical time periods -focusing on making connections- the how and why of history; evaluating history; reading primary sources; reading philosophers of the time-period; reading the Great Books;

If you have 12 years of eduation and want to follow a chronological approach:

• Years 1-6 Chronological Study of History- once through all the historical time periods; Focusing on events, characters, wars, famous men and women, cultures, and so on. This is the time to strengthen their love of history, and reading, as you primarily work on their character development.
• Year 7-12: Chronological Study of History- second time through all the historical time periods; Focus shifts from factual events and stories to the how and why; Making connections of how the belief system of a culture is related to the actions of the people at the time; why wars happened; moving to philosophical readings and evaluating them against scripture. Discussion is crucial at this point to develop critical thinking and analysis.

If you have 12 years of education and want to follow a chronological approach:

• Years 1-4: Chronological study of history- once through all the historical time-periods. Enjoy the stories and give a general overview; Get the general picture. The main focus of this young age is character development and all of their studies can be the vehicle used to help us train them in obedience, persistence and diligent work habits.
• Years 5-8: Chronological study - second time: more in depth study; re-visit the time-periods again, focus can be more in depth; Begin making connections.
• Years 9-12: Third time of chronological study through history: The goals are to teach this age group to think clearly about events, philosophies, characters in light of the Bible. The three tools are reading, writing and thinking. More in depth discussion.

Having created a love of History, one may consider using the interest, building upon it, researching and writing about it! How?

Why not Keep Learning Real and Build a Website! What on? - Famous Character, Time Period, Inventions, History Projects for kids....??

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Homeschool History Curriculum

Some curriculum is written in a four-year-plan rotation, Tapestry of Grace, for example. This is written so that as you teach home school history, you can teach the same time period three times over, changing the focus each time. However, some people may choose to spend 8 years to cover history in the first cycle and then 4 years to cover it a second time.

As you can see, there are many ways of teaching history. You, as parents, must have the final say as to how you want to teach it in your home in your context with your children.Begin with the oldest child in mind and make a plan for them. Don't forget that you will visit the time periods a few times in your schooling years, so even if your youngest begins in the 20th century, he or she will continue the studies and visit it more than once.

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What are the Time periods?
The common divisions of History according to the Kingfisher History Encyclopedia are as follows:

• The Ancient World: (..to 500B.C.) The Beginning: The Christian starting place will be Genesis; It also covers Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and others.
• The Classical World (499BC to 500AD) Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome
• The Early Middle Ages (501 to 1100AD)
• The Middle Ages (1101-1460)
• The Renaissance and Reformation (1461-1600)
• Trade and Empire (1600-1707)
• Revolution and Independence (1708-1835)
• Unification and Colonization (1836-1914)
• The World at War (1914-1949)
• The Modern World (1950- present day)

Visit the History Bookshop

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Each homeschool history curriculum that is available follows its own divisions. Here are some of my favourite chronological homeschool history curriculum.

Tapestry of Grace has a four year plan.

• Year One- covers Creation to the Fall of Rome (476A.D.)
  • The Books of Moses
  • All Governments are Established by God
  • Preparing the World for Its Savior
  • In the Fullness of Time
  
  
  
• Year Two- covers Fall of Rome to the late 1700's.
  • The Middle Ages
  • Renaissance & Reformation
  • Colonial America
  • The Age of Revolutions
  
  
  
• Year Three - covers the Nineteenth Century.
  • Napoleon's World
  • The Birth of the Modern
  • Nations Uniting and Dividing
  • The Gilded Age
  
  
  
• Year Fours- covers the Twentieth Century.
  • The Century opens, World War I, The Roaring 20s, and the Great Depression
  • The World War II Era
  • The Post-War World: The 50s and 60s
  • The 70s, 80s, and 90s—and a look ahead

Truthquest History

The American History for Young Students guides (three volumes which together cover the scope of American history) were written with elementary students (Grades 1-5) in mind.

The main TruthQuest History series (seven guides which begin with ancient history and fully cover European and American history to just after the year 2000) are designed for Grades 5-12.

• Ancient Egypt/Ancient Greece
• Ancient Rome
• Middle Ages (500-1400)
• Renaissance/Reformation/Exploration (1400-1600)
• Age of Revolution I (US/Europe, 1600-1800)
• Age of Revolution II (US/Europe, 1800-1865)
• Age of Revolution III (US/Europe, 1865-2000)

Veritas Press History Curriculum

Mystery of History

• Volume I – Creation to the Resurrection
• Volume II - The Mystery of History Volume II (AD 30 - 1456)
• Volume III – The Renaissance, Reformation, and Growth of Empires (1455-1707)(to be completed in 2008)
• Volume IV – Revolutions and Rising Nations (1708-1914)(upcoming volume)
• Volume V – The World at War and Present Day (1915 to Present) (upcoming volume)

The Story of the World

• Volume One: Ancient Times (5000 BC to 400 AD)
• Volume Two: The Middle Ages (400 - 1600)
• Volume Three: Early Modern Times (1600 to 1850)
• Volume Four: The Modern Age (1850 to 1994)

Heart of Wisdom Unit Studies
At this stage only the unit studies forAncient History have been made into e-books.

• Ancient History
  • Adam to Abram
  • Mesopotamia
  • Ancient Egypt
  • Ancient Israel
  • Ancient Greece
  • Ancient Rome
  • The Messiah
• World History-not available as yet.
• Exploration to American West n/a
• Industrial Era to Today- n/a

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