Social Studies for Elementary Students US History Full Curriculum Semester Class
Welcome to the thrilling world of elementary US history! Using games, discussions, and lots of activities I turn boring ol' history into an exciting adventure!
Taylor Wirthlin
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(176)
What's included
14 live meetings
10 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursAssessment
Assessments will be informal in the form of activities or games.Class Experience
US Grade 3 - 5
Are you ready to travel back in time and discover the exciting world of United States history? Join us to explore from Ancient America all the way to the Reconstruction period. And! This class will not be just a dry lecture! All the lessons are taught on Nearpod to engage students and provide them with real-time feedback on their work. Nearpod is extremely easy (and free) to access. If technology makes you stressed, have no fear! I'll provide everything you need to easily access and incorporate Nearpod into our learning. Our lessons include interactive discussions, quiz games, drawing, and many other engaging activities that will keep you on your toes and help you truly connect with the material. My approach to US History is based on my belief that students should be taught history from multiple perspectives. We look at as many views and perspectives of an event as possible! This class is meant to be an overview of United States History for young learners. If you are interested in an in depth study of United States History check out my year long US History class here --> https://outschool.com/classes/middle-school-us-history-semester-class-section-1-of-3-flexible-pay-available-ITSbjqGM?usid=tu9PLRYP&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link So what are you waiting for? Come join the fun and explore the wonders of United States history with me.
Learning Goals
Students will be able to recount events from United States History.
Students will be able to express how the past has affected our lives for good.
Students will be able to express mistakes that people of the past have made, and how we can learn from them to create a better world.
Syllabus
14 Lessons
over 14 WeeksLesson 1:
Indigenous Tribes of North America
Culture and lifestyle of the Pueblo and Iroquois tribes 45 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
The Columbian Exchange
How disease, plants, and animals were spread across the world 45 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
The Lost Colony of Roanoke
What happened to the colonists of Roanoke? Can you solve this historical mystery? 45 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
The First Thanksgiving
Multiple perspectives of the First Thanksgiving 45 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Some sensitive topics that will be covered include: Disease (in the Americas and in Europe), genocide of Native American Tribes, Christopher Columbus, slavery and violence in war.
Some of the sources that we study contain inaccurate content (for example: A Young People's History of the United States uses the term "Indians" instead of Indigenous Peoples). I will always point out these inaccuracies in class as part of our discussions. If you have concerns about a specific source, please contact me.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Lessons are taught on Nearpod, an interactive learning platform that allows students to engage with the content through games, art, discussions, short answer questions and more. I believe students retain information best when they are active participants in the learning process, so I incorporate student participation as much as possible. Nearpod is free for students and does NOT require you to create an account. I provide more information on Nearpod once students enroll.
My approach to US History is based on my belief that students should be taught history from multiple perspectives. Course information and reading assignments primarily come from three history textbooks: 1) ‘A Young People’s History of the United States’ by Howard Zinn which takes a more critical look at the United States leaders and decisions and 2) 'An Outline of US History' by the United States Department of State, which takes a more supportive look at the Unites States leaders and decisions. And 'Everything You Need to Ace American History In One Big Fat Notebook' by Philip Bigler, a teenage friendly US History textbook.
Other sources include:
‘Give Me Liberty! An American History’ Volume 1 by Eric Foner
‘Voices of Freedom: A Documentary History’ Volume 1 by Eric Foner
Joined February, 2021
5.0
176reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
North Carolina Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Over the course of this class, this class will cover several sensitive topics including: the genocide of Indigenous Nations including the Aztec, Inca, Maya, and North American tribes from the Northeast Woodland, Southeast, Southwest, Plateau, California, and Northwest Coast regions by European explorers, the immoral Atlantic Slave Trade and conditions that enslaved people experienced, violent events that led to the American Revolution, and the battles of the American Revolution.
I am an experienced Social Studies teacher in both Utah and North Carolina. In my training and 5+ years experience teaching I have found that the best way to approach these sensitive topics is to address them explicitly and have an open conversation with my students. We discuss the mindset of historical societies, the moral implications of their actions, how it affects us to today, and why it can be difficult to talk about these subjects at times.
I make it clear to my students that they are always welcome to meet with me individually if they are bothered by any of these discussions. I also ask them, and the parents to contact me if they are concerned with my class content or delivery. These topics can be difficult to navigate and I am always trying to improve!Reviews
Live Group Class
$14
weekly1x per week, 14 weeks
45 min
Completed by 41 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-11
3-10 learners per class
