Exploring Tennessee
by the Notgrass Family
About Exploring Tennessee - Second Edition
Exploring Tennessee is a comprehensive Tennessee history curriculum containing 150 lessons divided into thirty units of five lessons each. It is written from a Christian perspective and designed to be used as a family study of Tennessee state history. We have targeted the material at fourth- through eighth-grade students, but children of all ages can enjoy studying the material together with their parents. Younger children can receive extra help, and older children can do additional projects at their level. By completing one lesson per day, a family can finish the curriculum in one year, even with field trips, achievement tests, and other special events.
Exploring Tennessee contains thirty Bible study activities, one per unit. These activities cover topics such as Bible homes, foods, rivers, mountains, and cities; getting along with others; peace and contentment; and God's love for all nations. The Bible lessons are designed so that students can use any Bible translation. Each of the 150 lessons includes a Scripture quotation appropriate to the lesson.
Exploring Tennessee has three volumes:
- The Story of Tennessee by Ray and Charlene Notgrass explores the people, places, events, ideas, and issues that have shaped Tennessee. It includes the history narrative and suggested activities such as art projects, family discussion ideas, field trips, research projects, and writing assignments (401 pages with illustrations and photographs). See the Table of Contents.
- The Student Workbook by Charlene Notgrass features fun learning activities such as coloring pictures, search-a-words, secret codes, word puzzles, drawing assignments, handwriting practice, and Bible studies that go along with the history lessons (261 pages plus two games to cut out).
- The Field Trip Guide by John Notgrass is an extensive listing of places to go and things to do in Tennessee. You can use it while you study Exploring Tennessee and every year you homeschool. It is divided into four sections (170 pages total).
- The County Guide contains listings of events, places, and visitor information for each of Tennessee's 95 counties.
- The Suggested Field Trips for Each Unit section offers lists of field trips that correspond to the thirty units of Exploring Tennessee.
- The Subject Guide features lists of field trips in various subject areas, such as fine art, science and technology, sports, and music.
- The Annual Events Guide contains lists of living history demonstrations, music festivals, and other educational events held annually across the state, sorted by month or by season.
What Parents Are Saying (about the First Edition)
"This curriculum sets a new standard for excellence in historical studies. It is literally a history course that you can not put down! It is comprehensive and well-researched, yet easy to follow. It allows you to teach any age child the history of our Great State." -- Oak Ridge
"I especially love Exploring Tennessee, because it is broken into short lessons, has lots of hands-on ideas, and has field trips every which way but boring!" -- Nashville
"We enjoyed your Tennessee history program. I think that the fact that it was written by someone who has a Tennessee history of their own made it more interesting and more personal." -- Knoxville
"The Tennessee study is a marvel. Wow!! Very well done--very! We especially like the way Bible concepts fit in." -- Franklin