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5 Things That Make a Great History Curriculum

July 29, 2015 by BrittonL 14 Comments

History shouldn’t hurt, but it often does. When I was in school, history was an endless string of dates and locations. There was no meaning in it and I remembered it just long enough to fill in bubble sheets and pass the tests.

Learning about history shouldn't be painful. Here are 5 Things that make a great history curriculum

But what I learned in school wasn’t history at all. History is not a line of unconnected dates and locations; history is a powerful story of men and women who impacted the world for better or worse. Everyone loves a good story, and true history is the telling of the finest, most powerful stories mankind has recorded.

So when I agreed to review Masterbooks Christian History: Biographies of Faith, it was with great hesitation. Would it be a study of dates, or powerful stories? I wasn’t disappointed.

I received 5 biographies of great Christian men; Life of Washington, Life of John Newton,  Life of John Knox, Life of Luther, and Life of Andrew Jackson. I only meant to thumb through the books in order to form an opinion, but the Life of Washington hooked me, and I read about half the book in a single sitting.

Christian homeschool curriculum biographies of faith

His story was incredible. And while the books are intended for seventh through ninth graders, I would recommend them to adults and even younger children. I plan to finish them myself.

5 Things that make a Great History Curriculum

Masterbooks Christian History: Biographies of Faith is a great history curriculum because it has these 5 qualities.

1. Fantasy is fun; history if better. If a kid’s hero is a comic book character, that’s not good. Superheroes overcome life struggles with superpowers, but our children don’t have superpowers. Biographies of Faith offers examples to our children of real flesh-and-blood heroes; heroes without superpowers; heroes our children could aspire to be like.

2. Faith Is Not a Footnote. The way I learned history in school, Faith was a footnote. Our heroes may have had some religion, but it was inconsequential. Yet, a short reading of George Washington’s biography proves that he didn’t just have religion, he had a deep and driving Faith. In fact, his Faith was who he was, and it certainly directed his actions. Washington was not a great man, so much as he was a man of great faith.

Our schools and colleges are intentionally secularizing these Christian men. They want us to believe that Faith doesn’t matter. They want us to believe that great goodness can spring from Godlessness, but that isn’t the case. Christians will never retake America until we start putting faith back into our children’s history lessons.

Christian History Homeschool Curriculum page

3. Serious Reflection: When it comes to learning, I’m not a fan crafts and crossword puzzles, especially as kids get older. The questions in Christian History: Biographies of Faith foster serious reflection. I didn’t see any questions about dates, and few about places. Instead, most questions ask about pivotal moments and attitudes, drawing students’ attention to the character traits and wise decisions that distinguished these great men of history.

Christian homeschool curriculum history books

4. Only Essential: Did you know that George Washington had wooden teeth? That is about all I knew after studying Washington in school. The best part is, it is not exactly true.

For some reason, history textbooks in school give too many details, details that have nothing to do with history. Washington is not a remarkable historical figure because he had some false teeth. And the Pilgrims aren’t worthy of memory because they sailed on a ship called the Mayflower. Yet, I remember answering questions in school about those very things.

Luckily, Christian History: Biographies of Faith asks no such silly questions. The focus in on the essential facts and motives, the details that make these historical figures set apart from the other men of their time.

5. Vocabulary: Most of reading comprehension comes down to vocabulary. That is why I love that this curriculum starts off by having students define vocabulary words, in context, taken from their readings. Not only will this help them understand the material that they just read, but it will help them decode other, even more complicated, works in the future.

homeschool history curriculum planner page

As someone who produces curriculum of my own, I am often very critical of other’s learning materials. However, I could not be more pleased with Christian History: Biographies of Faith. This is how kids should learn history!

Get 26% off ALL Masterbooks curriculum sets and FREE SHIPPING on any order over $75.  No Code Needed. Offer ends August 31st.

Masterbooks Gift Card Giveaway!

If you’d like to try out Masterbooks Homsechool Curriculum? They have a wide variety for children of all ages! Here is your chance to win 1 of 2 $75 gift cards to Masterbooks.com.

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  I was sponsored by Masterbooks to review their Christian History homeschool curriculum. All opinions are my own.

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Filed Under: Book reviews, Homeschooling, Homeschooling Resources, Reviews Tagged With: curriculum reviews, history, homeschool curriculum

About BrittonL

No one understands education like Britton LaTulippe. Growing up, Britton changed schools almost every year. He attended 10 different schools in 6 different states. He is now a father of four, follower of Christ, and the owner of Blue Manor Academy. Britton has published nearly sixty children’s learning books and a how-to teaching manual. His greatest work is Revealing School, which chronicles the secret motives and mechanisms of public schooling.

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Comments

  1. Brooks L. says

    July 30, 2015 at 7:27 am

    I’m very interested in this series. I know my children would love it! When I looked at the site, however, I didn’t see a lesson plan guide offered, or mention of one included. I would order the entire set. 🙂

    Reply
    • Janine says

      July 30, 2015 at 9:51 am

      Hello! Yes, there is a lesson plan guide included. There is a picture of it above. It is the last picture with suggested assignments and tests.

      Reply
  2. Misty Thomas says

    August 5, 2015 at 6:10 pm

    I’m interested in the 12th grade set.

    Reply
  3. Darcy says

    August 5, 2015 at 6:52 pm

    I love the Answer in Genesis books!

    Reply
  4. Amy Tolley says

    August 5, 2015 at 11:30 pm

    Giants: Legends & Lore of Goliaths is just one book i would love to get

    Reply
  5. sandra says

    August 6, 2015 at 6:37 am

    i might get the Elementary Geography & Cultures (Curriculum Pack)

    Reply
  6. Tiffany (As For My House) says

    August 6, 2015 at 8:27 am

    I’m interested in the Answers in Genesis books!
    Tiffany (As For My House) recently posted…Renaissance BoyMy Profile

    Reply
  7. mistie says

    August 6, 2015 at 8:53 am

    This set of books I would really be interested in! I didn’t know they existed but I know they look like a great fit for our family. We are interested in the truth in history 🙂

    Reply
  8. Gina W says

    August 6, 2015 at 10:21 am

    I would get the Geology and Biblical History or Life Science: Origins and Scientific Theory.

    Reply
  9. Anna Pry says

    August 6, 2015 at 11:52 am

    i would probably use it towards books from the Creation Kids section for my younger children

    Reply
  10. Marion says

    August 6, 2015 at 12:28 pm

    History books are always informative and educational.
    Marion

    Reply
  11. Michelle Osborn says

    August 7, 2015 at 10:02 am

    These books look great.
    Michelle Osborn recently posted…Violin and Guitar music setsMy Profile

    Reply
  12. Christie Klein says

    August 8, 2015 at 8:34 pm

    My son would so love and cherish these books. They would bring such joy to his life,he loves history in way that I cannot even imagine.

    Reply
  13. Kat Graff says

    March 28, 2018 at 3:33 pm

    When deciding to homeschool my son I was worried about getting him all the info he needs when it comes to history. I feel like most of the materials are biased, I love how this article points out to only teach the critical information and only the facts. History is a hard thing to teach but I feel like this article helps make it more reasonable and achievable.

    Reply

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