We have a recorded online seminar that gives an overview of our high school curricula.
When should I do each course? Does the order matter?
We recommend Exploring World History anytime 9th-12th grade, and we recommend Exploring America for 10th-12th grade. Exploring Government and Exploring Economics are good for 11th or 12th grade. However, you do not have to do our courses in a particular order. Each course can be done during any high school year.
How much work does the parent need to do?
Our courses are designed to be easy for parents and students to use. Each unit introduction features a summary of the material covered, a list of lessons, and books required for that unit. Each lesson includes the text to read and the assignments for that day. A focused student can direct his own study, and the parent can offer as much interaction as needed. We encourage families to study together important issues raised during the course, and some of the books may bring up questions for family discussion.
Can I talk with other parents who have used your materials?
You can join an e-mail discussion group to talk with other parents who are using our high school courses. Membership requests are approved by the moderator (not by us), so please share some brief information about why you would like to join at the time you submit your membership request. Blank membership requests may be denied. This is part of an effort to keep spammers out of this group. Send your subscription request to ExploringAmerica_users-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
If I have two students using the curriculum, do I need two sets of books?
A few families have purchased one set of curriculum for each child, but that is not necessary. Our high school Curriculum Packages are not consumable. If two children need to share the books, they can read the lessons out loud together or simply do their lessons at different times during the day.
How long should the weekly high school writing assignments be?
Two to three pages of typed, double-spaced text (500-750 words) is a good target for most of the writing assignments. The primary goal is for your child to practice putting his thoughts on paper in an organized, effective manner.
How do I grade the writing assignments?
We know good writing when we read it, but trying to explain why we like it is like trying to explain why we like a particular flavor of ice cream. Good writing engages the reader and makes him or her want to keep reading. It covers the subject well and uses proper mechanics (spelling, grammar, and punctuation). Good writing informs and sometimes even challenges the reader. Above all, good writing says something of significance. [Read More]
Are your high school courses suitable for AP/CLEP study or Honors credit?
We have heard from several parents who used our courses to help prepare their students well in these areas. For instance, cne woman has used our government, world history, and American history courses at a homeschool co-op. Three of her students took and passed the AP U.S. Government exam after using our course along with the Barron's Government AP study guide. She describes our courses as "excellent, college-preparatory, AP level materials."
Another mother used our Exploring Government course. "[O]ur oldest son used your Exploring US Government curriculum. He loved it. Along with an AP test study guide, he used it to prepare for the AP US Government exam. You probably know that the APs are scored on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). My son's score was 5. While the test prep book was helpful for learning test taking skills, my son said everything he needed to know to pass was in your curriculum."
A third family used our Exploring America course and the mother told us, "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." Yet another student passed the "History of the United States I" CLEP test using our course and the REA study guide.
Of course, past results are not a guarantee of future results, but we feel that our courses do provide a strong foundation in the subject area covered. We recommend using a study guide for the particular test your child wants to take.
"Honors" is a much more subjective classification for high school courses. If this is important to you and your child for college applications, you should check with the school for its definition of honors courses.
Exploring World History
How much time does each lesson take?
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 World History is designed to give your child a year's credit in three high school subjects.
How do I assign credit for this course?
By completing all the assignments provided in Exploring World History, your child can earn one year's worth of credit in three high school subjects. You may purchase the optional Quiz & Exam Book if you want review questions, quizzes, and exams to gauge your child's understanding of the material. You can use the following course descriptions as you develop your school records, produce a high school transcript, or report grades.
World History. The student will survey world history from Creation to the 21st Century. The course discusses civilizations from around the world. A special emphasis is placed on key events, key ideas, key persons, and everyday life in various time periods of world history. The student will read a significant number of original documents and speeches while studying the narrative of lessons.
English (World Literature and Composition). The student will read classic works of world literature, from The Cat of Bubastes to Animal Farm. The literature will include novels, short stories, devotional literature, plays, theological essays, biographies, memoirs, poetry, and hymns. Emphasis is placed on how the literature reflects the historical settings of the works. The student will also have a weekly writing assignment. Most of these assignments are based on historical issues from the various periods of world history. The writing assignments take several forms, including essays, editorials, speeches, and letters.
Bible: Issues in World History. This course provides an overview of the Bible, including both its message of faith and how it guides our understanding of history. The student will read several complete books of the Bible as well as several of the Psalms. The student will study such topics as the inspiration and authority of the Bible and how to study a New Testament letter. Topical Bible studies bring Biblical teachings to bear on the historical issues discussed.
Do you advocate a young earth and a six-day creation?
Here is an excerpt from Lesson 9 of Exploring World History:
The Bible describes the creation as taking place in six days, accomplished by the word of God (Gen. 1; Ex. 20:11, 31:17). The Lord spoke, and it was so. The Genesis account gives no indication of the passage of any significant length of time. This presents no problem for those who believe that God spoke a fully-developed world into existence. . . . Since we believe God made the world, it is within reason to believe that He could make it in six days.Archbishop James Ussher of the Church of England published a extensive study in 1650-1654 in which he concluded that the earth was created in 4004 BC. Because of Ussher's influence, his dates were printed in the margins of many editions of the King James Version of the Bible, However, this date is not included in the Hebrew manuscripts from which the English Bible is translated.
Ussher's name has been most prominent, but he was certainly not the only one to study the age of the earth. According to historians, some people in the ancient cultures of Persia, Babylon, Egypt, China, India, and Axum dated Creation between 6204 and 5369 BC. The traditional Jewish date for Creation is 3761 BC. Alphonso X of Spain went as far back as 6984 BC. Josephus proposed 5481 and 5402. Bede said 5199. Martin Luther suggested 3961. Astronomer Johannes Kepler calculated 3993. These dates show variety, but nothing like the millions or billions of years proposed by modern scientists. Some ancient people believed that the universe had always existed or that it went through long cycles, but historical calculations and records suggest a young earth of a few thousand years.
Even though we may not be able to determine a precise date for Creation, we can be confident that the Biblical record is accurate. The geological evidence supports the historical evidence for a young earth.
Exploring America
What are the differences between America the Beautiful and Exploring America?
America the Beautiful and Exploring America touch on many of the same topics, but they are quite different. The reading level for the lessons and literature is very different for the two courses. Exploring America also uses more literature and original documents. With a weekly essay assignment, too, it is much more challenging than America the Beautiful.
America the Beautiful spends more time on the colonial period, and Exploring America spends more time on the Civil War, so the first semester units do not exactly correspond between the two curricula; but in the second semester, they realign. America the Beautiful provides more detail on individuals through the biographies and highlights of each president's life. It also covers natural wonders, landmarks, and daily life extensively. Exploring America focuses more on political and social history, and it has more in-depth Bible study.
Download a chart comparing the table of contents from each curriculum to see how you can use them together.
How much time does each lesson take?
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 is designed to give your child a year's credit in three high school subjects.
How do I assign credit for this course?
By completing all the assignments provided in Exploring America, your child can earn one year's worth of credit in three high school subjects. You may purchase the optional Quiz & Exam Book if you want review questions, quizzes, and exams to gauge your child's understanding of the material. You can use the following course descriptions as you develop your school records, produce a high school transcript, or report grades.
American History. The student will survey American history from the time of the Native Americans and first European explorers to the 21st Century, including the George W. Bush Administration. The course discusses actions and developments on the national level, especially involving the Federal government, as well as issues and events in American culture. A special emphasis is placed on the role of slavery and subsequent racial issues in American history. The student will read a significant number of original documents and speeches while studying the narrative of lessons.
English (American Literature and Composition). The student will read classic works of American literature, from The Scarlet Letter to The Giver. The literature will include novels, short stories, essays, autobiographies, memoirs, poetry, and hymns. Emphasis is placed on how the literature reflects the historical settings in which the works are set. The student will also have a weekly writing assignment, most of which are based on historical issues from the various periods of American history, with additional reflective writing based on the literature that is read. The writing assignments will take several forms, including essays, editorials, speeches, and letters. A research paper is assigned in the second half of the course.
Bible: Issues in American Christianity. The student will examine developments in American religious history, from the role of religion in the founding of the colonies to contemporary moral and spiritual issues such as abortion and evolution. The student will study American religious movements such as the First and Second Great Awakenings, Fundamentalism, and groups founded in America. The student will also study how religion and spirituality have played a role in the unfolding of American history. Bible studies bring Biblical teachings to bear on the historical issues discussed.
What is your view of the Civil War / War Between the States?
Our curriculum offers students an historical look at what happened leading up to the war--the conflicts and the compromises. It offers readings from people on both sides, including Abraham Lincoln and Alexander Stephens, Uncle Tom's Cabin and Co. Aytch, the memoirs of a Confederate soldier. Here is a summary from one lesson in our curriculum:
The Civil War holds a unique place in American history and in American hearts. Historians and novelists continue to churn out books about the war, adding to an already immense library on the subject. A PBS mini-series on the war was widely watched, and the video recordings of the series have been huge sellers. Emotions ran high on both sides in the 1860s; and people continue to have strong ideas on the subject, as evidenced by controversies still alive in the South such as debates over state flags that contain symbols from the Confederate flag.The Civil War has this hold on the American mind for several reasons. Both sides believed deeply in the causes for which they fought, and each side believed that their principles were supported by American history and blessed by God. Few elected leaders and few in the population as a whole showed any willingness to compromise on their beliefs. Perhaps above all else, the war was such a huge tragedy for the country, affecting so many people, that its effects have run deep in many ways, including economically, socially, and racially.
We recognize examples of faith and courage among both Northerners and Southerners, and we recognize failures by partisans on both sides, too. By incorporating Bible study with the history study, we encourage students to think about why things happened as they did and to consider how we can work for truth and righteousness in our time.
What are the differences between the first and second editions of Exploring America?
For the second edition of Exploring America (copyright 2007), we redesigned the lessons and added many new illustrations. We eliminated the three separate document books and created our own one-volume book of speeches, documents, poetry, and short stories called American Voices.
All three books in the new edition are in a paperback binding rather than a spiral binding. The second edition covers essentially the same material as the first, but Ray Notgrass rewrote and reorganized many of the lessons. The units do not exactly match up, so using the old and new editions together would be difficult.
See this page for a summary of changes we have made to our curriculum.
Exploring Government
How much time does each lesson take?
Your child should need an average of 30-60 minutes to complete each lesson.
Do the lessons on state government apply to any state?
The way state and local governments are set up and the way they work vary across the country. Our curriculum gives examples from multiple states and highlights basic elements that most states have in common.
Exploring Economics
How much time does each lesson take?
Your child should need an average of 30-60 minutes to complete each lesson.
Does this course cover microeconomics or macroeconomics?
Exploring Economics gives the student an introduction to both microeconomics (how individuals and businesses participate in the economy) and macroeconomics (government policy and national trends).
