It’s no surprise I’m a big fan of any curriculum that includes great living books! That’s why I’m excited to share Sonlight’s new American history curriculum for kindergarten, Exploring American History, with you.
I have no doubt my oldest son would have loved it! Why? Let me tell you a little bit about him…
The following is a sponsored post. I received the Instructor’s Guide and the 2-volume history spine for free, and I was compensated for my time. My opinions are honest, and I was not required to post a positive review.
Falling in Love with American History
For my oldest son, history was his “love at first sight” subject. He will be graduating with a Masters degree in History this year, and I’m pretty sure I know what ignited his passion for it.
Real books.
History was never about dry facts or a list of dates to memorize. It was about story. During his elementary years we used several of Sonlight’s cores including their American History ones. Their natural, literature-based approach to teaching was perfect for him!
There was never a time he didn’t want me to read aloud to him, especially stories of the past from ancient times to modern history. Picture books, biographies, and historical fiction provided the foundation for his studies from an early age. And that’s exactly the type of education Sonlight specializes in!
Why Your Family Will Love Sonlight’s Kindergarten American History Curriculum
This curriculum set comes with an Instructor’s guide, history spine (more about that later!), and literature.
Not only will your kids love this American history curriculum for kindergarten, you will too! Instructors guides, living books, and connected learning work together to make homeschooling time something both you and your kids look forward to each day.
Easy to Use Instructors Guides
Everything is laid out for you. Each morning you can grab your instructor’s guide and dive into the day with confidence. You don’t have to worry if you are “doing enough” because you have a guide to help. But remember it’s just that—a guide. YOU are the teacher, and the curriculum should always serve you and your kids.
That’s part of the beauty of the Sonlight program. It’s flexible! You can choose either a five or four day schedule. Whatever works for you family.
My personal favorite, though, is the four day one. With it, you have the freedom to slow down or use a day for co-ops or other outside activities. And for your kindergarteners, you’ll want to make sure they have plenty of time to explore and play and discover.
What else will you find in the Instructor’s Guide?
- Easy to read schedule. With just a quick glance you’ll be able to see your entire week laid out right in front of you. You can even use it for record keeping.
- Teacher’s notes for Bible and History right after the schedule. And Read-Aloud notes are easily found in another section. Get a three ring notebook, and you can put everything you need in one place.
- Discussion questions. Sonight provides these questions to help you assess if your children are understanding the material. Plus they make great discussion starters. Haveing conversations over books keeps children learning and fosters a connected relationship with you!
Interesting and Informative Living Books
You kindergarteners will be so excited about the books! Sonlight families will tell you that the day the box arrives will become one of your favorites each year. It’s so fun to watch your kids excitedly pull the books out and start looking through them.
My history-loving son will still tell you how much he personally liked one of the books in this curriculum: George vs. George. Your kids will want to read again and again, even when they are older.
Why? Because the stories are actually interesting for adults as well as kids. You need to enjoy homeschooling too—especially if you plan to do it long term. But it’s even more than that. If you enjoy the stories you are reading to your kids, it probably means you are reading quality literature.
“A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.”
C.S. Lewis
Connected Subjects
One of my favorite parts of a literature based approach to teaching is that kids see that subjects are connected.
- They can be building and practicing their language arts skills while learning about history.
- They will exercise their minds as they memorize Scripture while hiding God’s Word in their heart.
Sonlight purposefully interweaves subjects together giving you a streamlined and effective homeschool experience.
Even kindergarteners catch on to the idea of busy work! There’s no reason not to combine skill and knowledge subjects together to get the most out of both of them.
Get a peak inside Heroes and Happenings!
Heroes and Happenings is the foundational text for the history study. But don’t let the word “text” fool you. It’s not a textbook in a traditional sense. It’s written in a gentle, interesting, and age appropriate way. You’ll feel like you are having a conversation with your child as you read it.
It’s perfect for your young learners. Learn more about it in this video:
Don’t Miss the Giveaway
Sonlight is giving away it’s new Kindergarten History/Bible/Literature Program: Exploring American History to one lucky winner! (Sorry! Contiguous US mailing addresses only!) Enter for you change to win by 6-30-2020!
We are loving this pack from Sonlight! Thank you for sharing!
It’s so much fun!