TruthQuest History Curriculum+ FREE GIVEAWAY!

Sisters with a System received a free copy of TruthQuest History: Beginnings from TruthQuest History for the purpose of this giveaway. We have personally used this curriculum for three years and all opinions regarding the awesomeness of it is entirely our own! This post also contains affiliate links through which we are paid a small commission, but your cost does not change. Thank you!

On the 1st Day of Homeschool, the sisters gave to me..............

A FREE TruthQuest History Guide

Welcome to Day 1 of The 12 Days of Homeschool! Today we kick off 12 days of freebies, awesome resources and giveaways! It is our hope that you will be greatly inspired and encouraged, homeschooling mama, as you begin another year of homeschool. (By the way, this whole kick-off would have been much more dramatic if Rachel had agreed to my idea of dressing up and singing the 12 Days of Homeschool on video. But no......apparently that was cheesy and embarrassing. Feel free to leave a comment letting Rachel know that my idea would have been epic!)

As homeschooling mothers of 10+ years, we have tried our share of history spines. Rachel and I both love history (especially American History) so we study history during our group time with our kids. We love to read aloud from a solid spine and then read exciting, living books aloud that make history come alive! It can be a little tricky with our children spread out in ages from toddlers to teens, but after years of trial and error, we have finally hit on a curriculum (and method) that works. And lucky you, we're giving one away!

If you aren't familiar with this approach to teaching history, here's a brief description of what we do:

Each week, we have reading selections from the TruthQuest History guide. These can be very short (1 or 2 paragraphs) or span several pages, depending on the topic. These selections are more of a "teaser" or summary of a particular person or event. Depending on interest level or the significance of that topic, we'll follow up with additional reading from other sources, recommended in the TruthQuest guide. Some topics we don't pursue further. Other topics we spend days on, again depending on the interest and importance.

For example, this year we're covering 1600 to 1800 (TruthQuest Age of Revolution I).  Chapter 7 covers Changes in Russia.  The two paragraphs from the TruthQuest spine are probably all the reading we'll do. However, when we read about Plymouth Colony, we'll slow down and really explore this topic. Some things I might include are

• Additional reading, both non-fiction and fiction (either as read-alouds or individual assignments)
• A virtual field trip to Plymouth Colony
• A re-enactment of the first Thanksgiving (with homemade costumes, decorations, an authentic  feast, etc)
• Focus on the Family audio drama The Legend of Squanto
• Family movie night enjoying Disney's Squanto: A Warrior's Tale

In addition, as I read aloud or while we listen to an audio drama, the kids are filling in timeline pages with anything that strikes their interest. Younger children might sketch a picture of a pilgrim (or, for a toddler sitting in on our group time, color a coloring page I've printed). An older child might want to write down some important names and dates. Others might copy William Bradford's Proclamation on the First Thanksgiving. This is very open-ended and is meant to be a reflection of what they are learning.

Once we have satisfied our curiosity on a topic, we move on. It is really such a simple, delight-directed way of learning that has ignited a genuine love of history in my children!

Although you could use a variety of history spines (and we've tried quite a few!), I highly recommend TruthQuest. The author, Michelle Miller, obviously has a deeply rooted love of history and the Bible that infuses this guide with both enthusiasm and a biblical worldview. I have never encountered a history guide that filters every event and person in history through a biblical lens she does. It has challenged not only my kids' way of thinking, but also my thinking and really opened my eyes to just how much of a humanistic education I received through the public schools!

Which is why, we are so thrilled that Michelle has agreed to give us a copy of TruthQuest: Beginnings (Creation/Old Testament/Ancients/Egypt) as a giveaway for our readers!

Here's How to Enter:

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Marlo Hartz!

Terms & Conditions:
1. No purchase necessary to enter.
2. Giveaway begins Thursday, August 9th at 12:30 pm and ends August 12th at midnight. 
3. Winner will receive 1 TruthQuest History Guide: Beginnings. ($30 value)
4. Contest is restricted to U.S. residents 18+.
5. Winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries.
6. Winner will be emailed within 7 days of closing date. Winner must respond within 7 days to claim prize.

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