Curriculum Guide

History

History focuses primarily upon United States history up to the Civil War. Texas history will also be emphasized. Texts employing a strong narrative method, such as Joy Hakim's History of US published by Oxford University Press, are used in each grade. In addition, each grade also uses biography and historical novels to bring to life the characters of the past such as Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes and Rabble in Arms by Kenneth Roberts. The great battles throughout history are emphasized, including the great American battles every boy should know—such as Antietam, Saratoga, and Normandy; through the battles we study the political and cultural conflicts, the historical contexts, the geography, the leaders—heroes and villains— and the choices people made. Various field trips and the use of outside sources and stories augment the program.

Grade 3
Texts: The First Americans: A History of US, Book 1 by Joy Hakim. Topics: Early native settlers to the explorers and early colonization.

Grade 4
Texts: Making Thirteen Colonies: A History of US, Book 2 by Joy Hakim. Topics: development of the first thirteen English colonies in Eastern North America.

Grade 5
Texts: From Colonies to Country: A History of US, Book 3 by Joy Hakim. Topics: The American Revolution and early development of the Republic.

Grade 6
Texts: The New Nation: A History of US, Book 4 by Joy Hakim. Topics: the Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark's expedition, the War of 1812, Tecumseh's effort to form an Indian confederacy, Southern plantations, the beginning of the abolitionist movement, and the Trail of Tears.

Grade 7
Texts: Liberty for All? A History of US, Book 5 by Joy Hakim. Topics: Early nineteenth-century America with its mountain men, railroad builders, whalers and farmers, westward migration, the California Gold Rush, a war with Mexico, the Oregon boundary conflict, Texas and the Alamo.

Grade 8
Texts: War, Terrible War: A History of US, Book 6 by Joy Hakim. Topics: John Brown, Bull Run, Fort Sumter, Generals Lee and Grant, President Lincoln, West Point, Harriet Beecher Stowe, George Pickett, Harpers Ferry, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Emancipation Proclamation, Underground Railroad, and the Mexican War.