Can you repeat the history themes in a four-year cycle?
What if I Want to Repeat through Cycles of World History?
Many homeschoolers love the idea that they can cycle through history a few times during their student’s school years. For most, this translates as completing a four-year cycle three times.
We here at WP have “tweaked” this idea a little bit. Why? Well, first of all, while repeating through history three times may sound great the first time, we have found that it can feel a little predictable and repetitive by the time you reach the middle of the second rotation. Plus, your student is often introduced to the same material, just in greater quantities and difficulty. It also seems to dampen some of the joy of discovery in learning.
So, WP “tweaked” this idea a little to include the best of the idea (learning through repetition), but instead offered
repetition that looked at history from different vantage points. Like looking through a stained glass window, each “pane” (program) adds a different, and often unexpected, dimension to the material encountered. Some of our programs are a year of history at a glance, while others offer extended views. Take a look . . .
“World History in a Year” Programs
Hideaways in History looks at world history from a basic “get-acquainted” perspective, stopping in at various time periods to get a feel for the most important people, places and events in history. It’s a birds-eye view.
Children Around the World looks at the history of each of thirty countries, allowing students to see again and again the common human cycle of agricultural societies, development of cities and trade, medieval culture, revolutionary uprisings, and the transition to a modern state. While each student will not put it into these terms, this cycle becomes apparent, and lays a groundwork for understanding all of world history.
Adventures in the Sea and Sky looks at world history through the filter of transportation by sea and air. Key turning points in history have been determined by this topic, and civilizations have arisen and fallen based upon transportation’s use and development.
There will be one more future release of a “world history in a year” program for junior high students.
“World History by Period” Programs
We have several programs that take an up-close look at periods of history. Two of them, Ancient World and Middle Ages have several programs that take an up-close look at periods of history. Two of them, Ancient World and Middle Ages, are multi-level so they can be repeated twice or used with multiple ages. Here’s an overview.
American Story 1 focuses on the “story” of America from her birth to the troubles preceding the Civil War.
American Story 2 continues the story from the Civil War to modern times, from cowboys to computers.
Quest for the Ancient World goes to ancient places, discovering the cultures that still affect us today.
Quest for the Middle Ages takes the student through medieval times, the Renaissance and Reformation.
These “history by period” programs mean that a student can complete Quest for the Ancient World and Quest for the Middle Ages for Middlers (middle-grade version of each), then do two years of American history for the last two cycles. The student can then cycle through another four-year cycle, and then working through the Quest for the Ancient World and Quest for the Middle Ages Sr High (high school version of each).
Take a look below at the emphasis of each year of WinterPromise.
Repetitive History Cycle Order
For families desiring to prioritize a repetition of history cycles. We’ve delineated the historical period and emphasis to make the cycle clear.
PROGRAM HISTORICAL PERIOD EMPHASIS
Journeys of Imagination & I’m Ready to Learn — —
Hideaways in History One-Year World History People & Places
Animal Worlds — —
Children Around the World One-Year World History Country by Country
Adventures in the Sea and Sky One-Year World History Through Transportation
Quest for the Ancient World for Middlers Period 1 – World Beginnings to Rome Adventure Quest
Quest for the Middle Ages for Middlers Period 2 – Middle Ages to Renaissance Plunder Quest
American Story 1 or American Crossing Period 3 – Age of Exploration to 1850 American Achievement
American Story 2 or American Culture Period 4 – 1850 to Today American Culture
Adventures in the Sea and Sky
Quest for the Ancient World Sr High Period 1 – World Beginnings to Rome Archaeology Quest
Quest for the Middle Ages Sr High Period 2 – Middle Ages to Renaissance Treasure Quest