How It Works
Designed to be easy-to-use for parent and student, Exploring America has 30 weekly units has an introduction that features a summary of the material covered, a list of lessons, books required for that unit, and suggested writing assignments. Each of the 150 daily lessons (five lessons per week) includes the history text and the reading assignments for that day (and those in progress). A focused student can direct his own study, and the parent can offer as much interaction as needed. Depending on how fast your child reads and how much time he spends on the writing assignments, he may need an average of 2-3 hours for each daily lesson.
Exploring America presents history from the perspective of faith in God and respect for His Word. Each unit includes a Bible study highlighting spiritual issues related to history. It is comprehensive, giving students a survey of events and issues from European exploration to the war on terror, with extensive coverage of the twentieth century. The Exploring America Curriculum Package includes three books:
- Volume 1: Columbus through Reconstruction (first semester)
- Volume 2: Late 1800s through the Present (second semester)
- American Voices: A Collection of Documents, Speeches, Essays, Hymns, Poems, and Short Stories from American History (assigned readings)
Completing the full course provides your child with a year's high school credit in American History, English (literature and composition), and Bible. The History credit involves reading the lessons and the original documents and speeches (and answering the questions in the optional Quiz & Exam Pack if desired). The English credit involves completing the weekly writing assignments and one research paper; and reading the assigned literature, poems, and short stories in American Voices. The Bible credit involves reading the Bible lessons, completing the Bible assignments at the end of many lessons, and reading the hymns and other religious literature assigned.
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The Literature
In addition to the assigned readings from American Voices, the curriculum also assigns the following thirteen works of literature. Specific page numbers are not assigned, so you do not have to use these particular editions. We offer them for sale as a set or individually for your convenience.
- The Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne)
- Narrative of the Life of David Crockett (David Crockett)
- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (Frederick Douglass)
- Uncle Tom's Cabin (Harriet Beecher Stowe)
- Co. Aytch (Sam Watkins)
- Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
- Humorous Stories and Sketches (Mark Twain)
- In His Steps (Charles Sheldon)
- Up From Slavery (Booker T. Washington)
- Mama's Bank Account (Kathryn Forbes)
- Christy (Catherine Marshall)
- To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
- The Giver (Lois Lowry)
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Look Inside
| Exploring America (Table of Contents, Introduction, How to Use Exploring America, Advice on Writing, Unit 4 - Revolution, and Unit 19 - The Triumph of Progressivism) |
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| American Voices (Table of Contents) |
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| Exploring America Quiz & Exam Book (sample review questions and unit quizzes) |
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| Guide for Parents and Teachers Using Exploring America |
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What Parents Are Saying
"I truly feel [Exploring America and Exploring World History] have been the most pain-free homeschool products I've ever purchased!" (Arizona)
"I could not be more pleased with the curriculum! I anticipated it being wonderful, and it has surpassed my expectations. In addition to completing the course, my son has passed the CLEP tests for American History I and II. He interacted with the issues using Scripture in this course, with great focus on what was happening spiritually in America amidst other events. The value of that is much greater than the college credit earned! As I write, I am thanking the Lord for His calling and equipping your family to prepare these incredible resources for home learners." (Texas)
"[My daughter] is using your American History curriculum and absolutely loves it! She says she likes it because it is easy to read (not dry) and doesn't just give you the facts about history, it tells you about the people and politics that lead up to events in history. She loves to read the speeches and documents that go along with it too. We plan on using your curriculum for all of our history needs, and other curriculum that you have available." (Pennsylvania)
"I was very thankful to find a history curriculum that looked at history from God's perspective. I especially like the Bible study that is included in each unit because it really shows the student God's perspective on what man was doing during that time period. This curriculum has enabled me to feel confident that my daughter is getting a good education but not one that is boring and dry." (Oregon)
Ray Notgrass holds a bachelor's degree in history and master's degrees in history and religion. He has written three other high school courses: Exploring Government, and Exploring Economics, and Exploring World History. Ray is also the coauthor of Tennessee and Georgia state history curricula.
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