How to Teach the US to Middle Schoolers

 

The car ride to Gettysburg felt shorter listening to audio dramas about the Civil War—even with the traffic jam we were stuck in about an hour away. Completely at a standstill, my two elementary boys and I pulled out the PB&J fixings and made the most of it. Sounds of gunfire in the background and action packed dialogue from the car radio built up the excitement ahead. That trip was memorable in so many ways but what made it unique was that I only took my younger ones. My older ones have seen Washington DC, the Booker T. Washington museum, and other iconic US landmarks. This was the time for my younger ones to have similar experiences. Middle school is one of my favorite times to present these experiences, both in person and in our curriculum choices. I have found that elementary school is a great time to introduce ideas in the area of history but the brunt of the work ends up being reading, writing, and math. History left to the wayside. Many homeschool moms will admit that they make it through an entire year (or two) during those younger years without even opening a history textbook (gasp!). Maybe YouTube videos or library books about certain historical facts or US holidays, but certainly not an entire curriculum devoted solely to history. 

Middle school is the time many homeschooling families dig deeper, whether they have been homeschooling since their child was in diapers or they are pulling them out of a traditional school. Either way, the parent knows that they need to keep their child engaged or they could lose their attention. With friends, social media, and activities outside of the home, how can a homeschooling parent keep a middle schooler engaged enough to instill in them a lifelong love of history? 

The Notgrass History curriculum does just that! The Uncle Sam and You Bundle gives you a great place to start. It naturally weaves in historical facts, shares how holidays are celebrated across the country, and includes related literature in a complete, one-year curriculum. This middle school bundle has a wide variety of activities, discussion questions, engaging reading material, and colorful pictures to keep your middle schooler excited about history the entire year.

Have you ever gone through the years and then wonder if there are any gaps in your child's education? You then think of something your child *should* know, so you ask them a seemingly simple question.

"Where does the president of the United States live?"

They might answer Washington DC, but how did they not know that he lives in the White House? How in the world did that fact get left out? If you want to make sure that those seemingly obvious facts about the United States are introduced to your child in a way that can be stored in his brain for a later date, Uncle Sam and You is the perfect start. In this course, your child will be introduced (or review) the following:

* History of the American Flag

* The Three Branches of Government

* The Declaration of Independence

* The Founding Fathers

* The Great Seal of the United States

* Presidential Homes

* Voting and the Election Process

* The First Lady

* American Holidays

* and so much more! 

Make this school year stand out with a deep dive into the history, holidays, and fun facts about the United States with Uncle Sam and You! Order the bundle today!

Disclaimer: Many thanks to Notgrass History for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.