Secular US History Homeschool Curriculum through Literature: A Guide for Parents
- Charles Albanese
- Apr 14
- 12 min read
Is it tricky to teach US history in a way that's fair to everyone and also keeps kids interested? If this is something you’ve been wondering about, you’re not alone!
Many parents find it hard to give a complete picture of the past, especially when you want to avoid focusing on any one religion. But it's important to teach history in a way that includes everyone and helps children think for themselves.
This blog will show you how to do just that. We'll talk about using a secular approach, which means teaching history without a religious bias. We'll also explore how to use books and stories to make history more engaging.
Plus, we’ll look at top US history homeschool curriculum options that help children understand different viewpoints.
Whether you're new to homeschooling or have been doing it for a while, you'll find helpful ideas here.
To begin, let’s look at what a secular approach to teaching US history really means and why it might be the right fit for your homeschool.
Understanding the Concept of a Secular Approach in US History Education
When you teach US history at home, it's important to think about how to present it fairly to all children. This section explains what a "secular approach" means and why it's helpful for homeschooling.
What is a Secular Approach?
No Religious Bias: The homeschooling community is increasingly adopting the concept of a secular approach in US history education. This approach focuses on presenting historical facts and narratives without a religious bias.
Secular means teaching history without favoring any religion. It aims to be fair and neutral in how it presents the past.
Inclusive Understanding: By adopting a secular perspective, educators and parents can ensure that the history taught is comprehensive and reflective of diverse viewpoints.
This helps children learn about all the different people and groups who shaped US history. It avoids focusing on one particular religious or cultural viewpoint.
Diversity in Homeschooling: This is particularly important given the rise of homeschooling among non-white and non-Hispanic families, who now account for 41% of the homeschooling demographic.
More families from different backgrounds are choosing to homeschool. This means the curriculum needs to be inclusive and represent everyone.
Representative Curriculums: The homeschooling community's diversity underscores the need for curriculums to be both inclusive and representative. Homeschooling materials should show the contributions of all people. This helps children see themselves in history.
Enriching History with Literature
Powerful Learning Tool: Integrating literature into the history curriculum is a powerful way to enrich children's learning experiences. Using books can make history more interesting and memorable. It can help children connect with the past in a personal way.
Diverse Perspectives: Through novels, autobiographies, and primary documents, children can explore the emotions, motivations, and perspectives of individuals from different time periods.
Children can read stories about what it was like to live in the past. They can also read the words of people who lived through historical events. We’ll discuss this in detail in the next section.
Skill Development: This not only encourages a deeper understanding of historical events but also develops critical thinking and empathy. Children learn to think carefully about what they read. They also learn to understand and care about other people's feelings.
If you're exploring curriculum options, you might also be curious about which states make homeschooling easier. Take a look at this guide on the best states for homeschooling in the
US to see how your state compares.
Now that you understand what a secular approach involves, let’s see how using literature can bring US history to life in a more engaging and meaningful way.
How to Use Literature to Teach US History
Using books and stories can make US history more engaging and help your child learn to think critically. We’ll take a closer look at that in this section.
1. Making History Come Alive
Beyond Dates and Events: Integrating literature within the US history homeschool curriculum changes how children connect with historical content. It helps them see history as more than just dates and events.
Diverse Narratives: Children explore history through different kinds of stories, including novels, autobiographies, and primary documents. This lets them learn about the lives and feelings of people from the past. It helps them understand that history is about real people.
Empathy and Understanding: They delve into personal stories, understand the struggles and triumphs of individuals, and gain empathy for marginalized communities. Children learn to care about people from different backgrounds and time periods. This broadens their view of America's past.
2. Developing Critical Thinking Skills
Questioning and Analyzing: Literary works and primary historical documents can show the complexities and uncertainties of history. This encourages children to question and analyze. Children learn to think carefully about what they read and hear. They don't just accept everything they are told.
Reading Like a Historian: The 'Reading Like a Historian' method from Stanford is a good example. It teaches children to find biases and check if historical texts are accurate. Children learn to look at sources carefully and see if they are reliable. For example, they might compare different accounts of the same event.
Forming Interpretations: Such analysis helps children evaluate historical reliability and form their own interpretations. Children learn to make their own judgments about what happened in the past.
3. Interactive Learning Activities
Debates and Discussions: There are platforms that facilitate critical thinking through debates on historical events. Children can argue different sides of a historical issue. This helps them learn to support their opinions with evidence.
Evidence-Based Reasoning: This allows children to practice evidence-based reasoning. Children learn to use facts to back up their arguments. This is an important skill for school and life.
Atomic Bomb Example: For instance, discussing whether the dropping of the atomic bomb was justified engenders complex thinking about historical decisions and their ramifications. Children can explore the different reasons for and against a historical decision. This helps them understand how history affects the world.
4. Engaging with Historical Narratives
Living Books: Living books, such as Johnny Tremain, provide stories that make history come alive. These books tell stories that make history more interesting and engaging. They can help children connect with characters and events.
Combining Narratives and Documents: These programs pair narratives with primary documents. Children read stories and also look at original writings from the time period. This gives them a more complete picture of history.
Program Examples: This approach is advocated by programs like Build Your Library, which strive to humanize history. These programs try to make history about real people and their experiences. They also help children get better at analyzing information.
Analytical Skills: These programs sharpen analytical skills as children engage with both fiction and factual accounts. Children learn to think carefully about what they read and watch. They develop skills that will help them in other subjects too.
5. Experiential Learning
Role-Playing: Role-playing can further deepen children’s understanding. Children act out historical events or take on the roles of historical figures. This helps them understand different perspectives and motivations.
Constitutional Convention Example: For example, children can explore historical events from multiple perspectives, such as Federalists and Anti-Federalists during the Constitutional Convention. Children can debate the Constitution like people did in the past. This helps them understand the different sides of the issue.
Empathy and Nuances: This experiential learning develops empathy and exposes the nuances of historical debates and compromises. Children learn to understand how people in the past felt and why they made certain choices. This helps them appreciate the complexity of history.
6. Multi-Sensory and Creative Approaches
Multi-Sensory Projects: The inclusion of multi-sensory projects, like recreating wampum belts to discuss Native American culture or analyzing WWII propaganda, enriches understanding. Children can learn about history by doing hands-on activities. This engages different senses and makes learning more memorable.
Media Literacy: Similarly, courting media literacy by comparing historic and modern narratives strengthens children’s ability to navigate and discern between portrayals throughout history.
Children learn to compare how history is shown in different books, movies, and news stories. This helps them become more critical consumers of information.
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This video provides insights into planning and selecting resources for a US history and literature secular homeschool curriculum, suitable for middle and high school.
There are several secular US history curriculums that already use literature in powerful ways.
Top Secular US History Homeschool Curriculum
Choosing the right way to teach US history at home is important. You want a curriculum that's both accurate and engaging but also fits your family's beliefs. Here's a look at some of the best secular options for teaching US history in your homeschool.
1. American Emergent Curriculum by The School House Anywhere (TSHA)
The American Emergent Curriculum (AEC) by TSHA offers an interconnected and hands-on approach to US history. It is designed to spark curiosity and engage children through active participation and real-world connections.
It aims to move beyond traditional textbook learning by integrating history with other subjects and developing critical thinking skills.
Key Features:
Integrated Learning: The AEC weaves US history into a broader context by connecting it with other disciplines like literature, art, civics, and geography. This helps children see how history isn't isolated but relates to various aspects of life and learning.
Hands-On Activities and Projects: AEC promotes active learning through hands-on activities, projects, and simulations. Children might recreate historical artifacts, conduct mock trials, or develop presentations that showcase their understanding in creative ways.
Development of Essential Skills: The AEC goes beyond rote memorization to cultivate essential skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration. These are vital for success in both academic and life pursuits.
Adaptability and Flexibility: While providing a structured framework, the AEC is designed to be adaptable to diverse learning styles and pace. You can tailor the curriculum to meet the specific needs and interests of your children.
Screen-Free Learning: The AEC prioritizes hands-on learning and real-world engagement, minimizing reliance on screens to promote active learning and healthy development.
Why it might be a good fit:
The AEC offers a dynamic and engaging approach to US history, making it more than just a collection of dates and facts.
The emphasis on diverse perspectives and inclusive narratives helps children develop empathy and a nuanced view of US history.
The screen-free nature of the curriculum can be a valuable alternative for families seeking a balanced approach to technology use.
Things to consider:
The AEC's activity-based approach may require more active involvement from parents in facilitating projects and discussions.
While adaptable, the AEC's structure might not be suitable for families who prefer a completely unschooling approach.
This curriculum is designed to help children develop strong analytical and argumentative skills through the in-depth study of historical sources. It emphasizes critical thinking and the ability to construct well-reasoned historical interpretations.
Key Features:
Secular and aims for neutrality in its presentation of historical events and figures.
Heavily utilizes primary source documents, such as letters, speeches, and government records.
Focuses on developing children’s ability to evaluate historical evidence and identify bias.
Provides a structured framework for learning, often divided into manageable semesters.
Why it might be a good fit: This approach is well-suited for homeschoolers who want a rigorous academic curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking and independent analysis of historical materials.
Things to consider: The focus on primary source analysis may require significant parental guidance, especially for younger or less experienced children.
This curriculum heavily emphasizes using "living books" – engaging, well-written literature – to teach history. It integrates history with other subjects like literature, art, and poetry.
Key Features:
Secular and inclusive, representing diverse perspectives.
Age-appropriate book lists.
Detailed lesson plans and schedules.
Often incorporates hands-on activities.
Why it might be a good fit: It's a popular choice for parents who want a literature-rich, engaging, and structured approach.
Things to consider: It requires obtaining many books, which can be a cost factor.
This program uses a narrative approach, presenting history as a series of engaging stories. It aims to make history interesting and memorable.
Key Features:
Secular and generally considered non-denominational.
Uses audio dramas and accompanying materials.
Focuses on making history fun and accessible.
Why it might be a good fit: Good for children who enjoy stories and audio learning.
Things to consider: It may require supplementing with other resources for a more comprehensive coverage of all historical periods.
5. BookShark
BookShark is a literature-based program that uses a variety of books, including historical fiction and non-fiction, to teach history.
Key Features:
Secular options available (they also offer religious versions, so be sure to choose the correct one).
Structured four-day week schedule.
Variety of book selections.
Why it might be a good fit: Provides a balance of structure and literature.
Things to consider: It can be relatively expensive due to the cost of the books.
If you're also looking for more well-rounded curriculum options beyond just history, check out our guide on the 5 Best Secular Homeschool Curriculum Resources. It offers helpful recommendations to support a fully secular learning experience at home.
To support your journey, it helps to have a variety of resources on hand. Let’s go over some helpful tools and materials that can make teaching history through literature even more effective.
Resources for Teaching US History with Literature
To make history more interesting and help your child learn better, you can use a variety of tools and resources, along with books and stories. Here are a few resources for that.
1. Combining Literature with Multimedia
Documentaries and Videos: One effective method is to pair literature with documentaries and multimedia content. For example, when studying the Dust Bowl, you can show videos about it. This helps your child see what it was like and understand it better.
Music and Poetry: Using music and poetry from specific eras, like jazz during the Harlem Renaissance, can add an emotional layer that deepens the historical understanding.
Listening to music from the time period can help your child feel the mood of that era. Poetry can give them a different perspective on historical events.
2. Using Tangible Resources
Historical Replicas: Another avenue for engagement is the use of tangible resources like historical replicas. You can find or make objects that look like things people used in the past. This helps your child understand how people lived and worked.
3D Models: Creating 3D models of landmarks, whether purchased or as DIY projects, allows children to interact physically with history. Your child can build models of famous buildings or monuments. This helps them learn about architecture and engineering.
Tactile Experiences: These tactile experiences provide an additional layer of comprehension that complements the narratives found in literature. Touching and holding things can help your child understand history better. It can also make learning more fun and memorable.
3. Exploring Online Archives and Museums
Authentic Documents and Artifacts: Online archives and museums, such as the Smithsonian's History Explorer and the Library of Congress, open doors to a wealth of authentic historical documents and artifacts.
You can find real letters, photos, and objects from the past online. This gives your child a chance to see history firsthand.
Interactive Exploration: This digital access allows children to explore history interactively. Your child can click and zoom in on artifacts. They can also search for information on specific topics.
4. Tracking Progress and Encouraging Participation
Narration and Oral Assessments: To track progress and promote self-assessment, incorporating narration and oral assessments can be highly effective.
You can have your child tell you what they've learned in their own words. This helps them understand and remember the information.
Charlotte Mason's Approach: Inspired by Charlotte Mason’s approach, children engage in oral reviews and storytelling. This method emphasizes the importance of telling stories to learn. It can make history more engaging and personal.
Want an easier way to keep track of your child's learning in your homeschool?
The School House Anywhere (TSHA) Transparent Classroom tool helps you record assignments, grades, and activities all in one place. It's designed to simplify your record-keeping and provides a clear overview of your child's progress.
You can even use it to share updates with family or create a digital portfolio to showcase your child's achievements.
5. Gamified Learning
Interactive Games: Integrating apps and games like 'Civilization VI' offers gamified learning opportunities. You can use video games to teach history. This can make learning more fun and exciting.
Strategic Thinking: These tools not only make history interactive but also promote strategic thinking. Games can help children learn about historical strategies and decisions. They can also help them develop problem-solving skills.
Active Engagement: These resources align well with project-based and hands-on learning activities. You can combine games with projects like creating historical costumes. This gets children actively involved in learning.
Wrapping Up
Teaching US history doesn't have to be just about dates and battles. You can make it more interesting and fair by using a secular approach and including the best US history homeschool curriculum.
This way, you can teach the facts while also showing your child the different perspectives and experiences that make up American history.
By focusing on stories and literature, you can help your child connect with the past on a personal level. You can also teach them to think carefully about what they read and form their own opinions.
This approach not only makes history more engaging but also gives your child skills that will help them in all areas of learning and life.
Ready to Bring US History to Life in Your Homeschool? TSHA Can Help!
You've explored the power of a secular approach and the use of literature to teach US history. The School House Anywhere (TSHA) is here to help you create a US history learning experience that truly captivates your child.
Here's how TSHA can support your US history homeschooling:
A Curriculum That Integrates Literature: TSHA's American Emergent Curriculum (AEC) is designed to be adaptable. It allows you to incorporate rich literature, primary source documents, and storytelling into your US history lessons.
You'll have the flexibility to create a curriculum that goes beyond textbooks and brings history to life.
Focus on Critical Thinking: TSHA provides resources and guidance to help you teach children to analyze historical sources, evaluate different perspectives, and form their own well-informed opinions. You'll equip your child with the critical thinking skills they need to understand and engage with history.
Inclusive and Diverse Narratives: TSHA's curriculum encourages the exploration of diverse voices and experiences. It ensures that your child gains a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of US history.
You can create a homeschool environment that celebrates diversity and promotes empathy.
Flexible and Engaging Learning: TSHA offers a variety of learning activities and projects that can be tailored to your child's learning style and interests. You can make US history an interactive and enjoyable subject.
Community and Support: Connect with other homeschooling families and educators who share your passion for engaging and meaningful history instruction. TSHA has a supportive community where you can share ideas, get advice, and find encouragement.
Ready to create a US history homeschool experience that's both educational and inspiring?
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