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Jen Merckling

life.unimaginable

How to Homeschool History (Without a Curriculum)

(This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure.)
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The homeschool world is full of shiny curriculum…I love it!  I love researching it, shopping for it, and opening it all up (it’s like Christmas in July when the boxes start to arrive)! The smell of new books and fresh crayons–it’s the smell of hope and endless possibilities!  I’ve definitely chased my fair share of shiny homeschool curriculum over the years…But I’ve also wasted a lot of money! So this year, I promised myself–NO MORE!  After 19 years–I know some things about my homeschool style and habits.  And one of those things is that I don’t need a packaged history curriculum for the elementary school years! Every year I buy it…and every year I have some buyer’s remorse…This year I’m homeschooling history without a formal curriculum–I should have done this years ago! Let’s talk about how it looks for me and how it can help you too!

Switch to a Morning Basket

I kept hearing and reading all this buzz around “Morning Baskets.”  Then I realized the concept of Morning Baskets are essentially how I’ve been starting our homeschool for years. It’s slow, intentional time with my kids before we jump into the meat and potatoes of the day.  It’s cozy time on the couch before attacking fractions or spelling words! 

Morning Basket with History Curriculum

I’ve discovered this cozy time is what cultivates a true love of learning–it’s where the lines between home and school blur beautifully. 

What it looks like daily for us:

  • Bible Story or Lesson
  • Read Aloud from History or Science Books

Some days it might also include: 

  • Poetry
  • Art (Take Time for Art integrates art & history lessons beautifully)
  • Music Study (This year we’re using A Year of Charlotte Mason Music Lessons)
  • Other Family Read-Alouds (Fairy Tales, Fables, Library Books, etc…)

I found that by reading from history or science books daily–I wasn’t following my expensive lesson plans!  So this year I decided to embrace the natural flow in our homeschool and ditch a formal history curriculum.  

Take Time For Art Greek Helmet Project

Now we simply homeschool history during our morning time together with great books.  Then we talk about what we’re reading–and we become pretty immersed in the topics! (This is a perfect way to teach multiple ages of kids at one time!)  We also keep a notebook for narrations throughout the week.

Morning Basket with Homeschool History Curriculum

Building Your History Book Lists

I enjoy the Classical Education approach to teaching history, which essentially rotates through major time periods in history so that your child will be exposed to each era at least three times over the course of their K-12 years. 

I used to fret over which era we needed to study…The truth is there is no magic to choosing your era of study.  I start with my oldest child and begin with Ancient History–and all the younger kiddos study it too.  I’ve tried to be precious about this in the past and work backwards from what my oldest child will be studying in high school…That takes some mental gymnastics, and honestly–it really doesn’t matter!  I’ve wasted a lot of time worrying about years that were much further down the road…try to focus on the step you’re on! 

There are 3 main sources I like to cull my book lists from:

1. The Well-Trained Mind is an amazing book that really fleshes out the classical education approach! I reread it every year!  In addition to being a huge inspiration–the book offers many practical resources and explains exactly how to implement a classical approach to education.  After each chapter are large book lists for various subjects–including eras of history. 

2. Sonlight...I have used Sonlight’s literature-based curriculum often throughout our homeschool journey (It’s on my Top 12 Favorite Homeschool Curriculum List.) I love all the books–but I found myself regularly “off schedule.” So this year I went through their book lists–but I didn’t buy the curriculum. I still use their timeline and timeline figures (we love the stickers)! And some of the books are best purchased through them (I keep a running list to compare prices and check the availability at the library).  Get on the mailing list–their catalogs are excellent resources and often contain their extensive books lists! If you decide to use a structured history plan–Sonlight’s is excellent!

Remember, every phase of homeschooling looks a bit different.  When in 10th grade, my daughter needed structure and a schedule–so Sonlight’s history and literature programs were perfect for her!  We  American History and American Literature Courses for high school.

3. Tapestry of Grace…Tapestry is also on my Top 12 Favorite Homeschool Curriculums. I used it for many years–and it’s great for teaching multiple children! However, it can be a bit all consuming…and my focus during this particular homeschool season (preschool and 2nd grade…my high school daughter is totally doing her own thing) is on Reading and Math Skills.  

Tapestry of Grace has an amazing resource right on their website–their book lists are divided out by Lower Grammar (classical education code for early elementary), Upper Grammar (upper elementary), Dialectic (middle school), and Rhetoric (high school)! You need to know that Year 1 is Ancient History, Year 2 is Middle Ages through Colonial America, Year 3 is the 1800’s, and Year 4 is the 1900’s. Search their book lists here!

Keep it Simple

Everything you’re doing with your elementary kiddos in the subjects of history and science is far more than they would be experiencing in a traditional classroom.  I promise. (I use to teach 2nd grade–the teachers are desperately trying to get 20 children reading, writing, and doing math on grade level…there is zero time to delve deeply into the Middle Ages!)  So don’t get yourself too wrapped around the axle over these subjects!  Let history and science be times of wonder and enchantment in your homeschool! 

If you have any questions–please feel free to reach out!

  • You may also be interested in my posts: 3 Books That Will Change the Way You Homeschool and Choosing Homeschool Curriculum (it’s got my go-to places for buying curriculum) and Homeschooling Multiple Ages

With Love,

Jen xo

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Filed Under: Curriculum, Elementary, History, Homeschooling Tagged With: Affiliate, Charlotte Mason, Classical Education, Elementary, History, Homeschool, Morning Basket, Routines, Unit Studies

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Hello! Welcome--I'm Jen! I've got 6 kiddos (including sweet twins) --lots of laundry and always dirty dishes! I've been Jason's wife for 26 years, a mommy for 24 years, and a homeschooler for 20+ years...I'd love to be friends. ♡

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My sweet sister & I just created this adorable Fal My sweet sister & I just created this adorable Fall Coloring & Activity Book for Kids!🍁🎉
Just sweet—no Halloween references…Your kids will love all the whimsical details & fun activities!!🧡 

Link in bio…🥰
🍁Quick Tip: I love planning for the next school 🍁Quick Tip: I love planning for the next school week on Fridays! After we wrap up each  subject, I write out next week’s plan…

🤓I used to plan on Sunday night—but this routine has been so helpful because…
🍁Where we are & what we’re doing is fresh in my head.
🍁It feels faster because it’s broken into small chunks—I plan as we finish each subject & before I put away those materials for the weekend.
🍁I don’t have to drag things out on Sunday—because the planning is already done! 🎉
🍁 I know if I need to grab any supplies over the weekend! 

 #homeschoolplanning #homeschoolorganization
Created a sweet little notebook… Matches my Home Created a sweet little notebook…
Matches my Homeschool Lesson Planner! 👯‍♀️
Perfect for journaling & reflecting…🥰💗 

Details:
7x10 inches, 110 pages, lined notebook 
Available as a matte paperback or hardcover! 
(I like to use hardcover notebooks for Bible study.)💗
This is the loveliest book…💗🪶🪺 Perfect This is the loveliest book…💗🪶🪺
Perfect for the changing seasons, bird lovers, & a bit of history!! 
(Thanks to @readaloudrevival for the recommendation!) 🥰
We can be reluctant to "count" activities that did We can be reluctant to "count" activities that didn't come in our packaged curriculum as "school". 

❤️But so much counts...(I think it may all count??)

(I honestly have a hard time trying to think of activities that don't count as education!)

🎨Here's just a few: swimming, ballet, soccer practice, nature walk, going to the playground, coloring, cutting, video games, reading books together, cooking, chores, dress-up, video creation, poetry writing, imaginary play, documentaries, vacations, the grocery story, Sunday School, camp, museums, legos, collections, lunch with friends, planning a party, and the list goes on & on...

 👀 Watch for the learning that is happening all around you! 

🌻Life is an amazing teacher & there is so much to learn! Our kids know that instinctively--we can trust them to be curious. We can become curious again...
I like to start the year with Language Arts lesson I like to start the year with Language Arts lessons, Math, & one other subject...

(And Language Arts can have lots of parts--so I gradually add in pieces as we gain some confidence in our routine.)

It's okay if you don't have it all figured out on day one, week one, or even month one! Give yourself time to get comfortable with your curriculum.

When I taught elementary school--we spent so much time just going over routines that first week of school! But in homeschooling--we can just bypass all that... 

🥳(Yay for freedom to potty & snack when want--and no thanks to practicing how to "line-up" for 20 minutes)! 

Even once our routine is established--we RARELY do all subjects every day at my house. 

🔥Breaking free from traditional school is more than the leap into homeschooling...It's also breaking free from our ideas of what education looks like, where & how it happens, & how much time formal instruction takes. 

It takes time to make that paradigm shift--give yourself grace as you grow with your kiddos!

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