What's included
8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1-2 hours per week. Each week, students will have work to do that would have been considered "in class" work if this were a live class. Instead, this could all be considered homework and students should expect there to be work to do each week. All work will be given in pdf form so that students can print the worksheets or they can upload the pdf to kamiapp.com and type directly onto the pdf. Students are strongly encouraged to read A Young People's History of the United States throughout the class. If they are participating in the reading, all reading will be done as homework.Assessment
Student progress will be assessed through their in-class work and homework.Grading
Grade provided by request at end of class.Class Experience
This is part one of a four part series covering United States History. If all four parts are taken, this is a full year of US History. There are in class and/or homework assignments each week. If a student completes all in class assignments, reading, and homework, this four part class could be used a credit on a high school transcript depending on your state's homeschool requirements. All of my classes, especially my US History classes, are inclusive and anti-racist. We will be covering tough subjects and tackling tough topics from the point of view of the people involved, particularly the marginalized groups involved. Part one covers US History beginning with early settlement in the colonies through the American Revolution. For the first three weeks of class, we will work on exercises that help the students learn how to analyze primary sources like a historian does. We will do that through fun, non-history, activities but the skills students learn will be applied to their study of history throughout the rest of the weeks of class. I have included a full breakdown of topics studied each week in the syllabus, along with probable assignments, but assignments are subject to change depending on time/pace once we start the class. This is a self-paced class, which means that there will be no live meetings. Instead, each week I will post a lecture video for students to watch, as well as links to additional resources, additional videos explaining assignments where necessary, and discussion questions for students to answer. In addition, students will complete and turn in their assignments on the classroom wall or via message to me. I will provide a lecture video on the topic we are studying before students work on their assignments. It is not required, but it is strongly suggested that the student do some reading of their own on each topic prior to attending class. I have modeled this class after the chapters in the book "A Young People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn. For each week, I will let students know which chapter from this book they can read to keep pace with the class. If you have another US History book already on hand, you are more than welcome to use that, however I will not be able to suggest chapters or reading passages for other books. Each week, materials will be posted inside the classroom for students to print or upload to the Kami App to be able to use them online without printing. Students will be responsible for completing and turning in all work by the due dates.
Learning Goals
When students complete this class, they should be able to look at any historic document and "source" it. They will be able to determine who the author is, what the author's authority is, when the source was written and if that date impacts the source's reliability.
They will also know how to take two accounts of the same story and pull corroborating facts out.
They will know how to determine which sources are reliable and which are not.
They will know what primary and secondary sources are.
They will know how to determine which sources should be used for a research paper and which should not.
They will learn who was traveling to the colonies, whether by choice or by force.
They will learn key events and concepts in early America including the Middle Passage, the American Revolution, the 13 Colonies, the Boston Massacre, Federalists and Anti-Federalists, and more.
Syllabus
8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
Lesson One
-Topics covered: Why do two people have different stories of the same event? Why might two people remember a story differently? How do we determine who is more trustworthy? Do stories change over time?
-We will learn or review what primary and secondary sources are
-The Lunchroom Fight
Suggested Reading prior to Week 2: "Columbus and the Indians" chapter in A Young People's History of the United States
Lesson 2:
Lesson Two
-Topics covered: This class will also focus heavily on corroboration. This is such an important skill to have when researching for history papers and will help students in the future when writing research papers.
-Evaluating Sources worksheet
-Make Your Case activity
Suggested Reading prior to Week 3: "Black and White" chapter in A Young People's Hist
Lesson 3:
Lesson Three
-Topics covered: slavery, racism, social order in early America, indentured servants
-Middle Passage activity
Suggested Reading prior to Week 5: "Who were the Colonists?" chapter in A Young People's History of the United States
Lesson 4:
Lesson Four
-Topics covered: early colonies, King Philip's War
-King Philip's War activity
Suggested Reading prior to Week 5: none
Other Details
Parental Guidance
As with any US History course, we will be covering topics like death, war, racism, slavery, and sexism. I will not shy away from these topics, but will help the students understand that though racism, slavery, sexism, etc. are part of the fabric of American History, they are not acceptable by our standards today.
Supply List
Students will be given pdfs each week that contain the in-class work and homework. These pdfs need to be printed or if the student prefers to type answers, pdfs can be uploaded to the Kami App website and students can type directly onto the pdfs. Students are strongly encouraged to use A Young People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn, though another US History book that covers all of these topics can be substituted.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in History from Wilson College
Bachelor's Degree in History from Wilson College
My Masters degree is in American Studies and I spent a great deal of my graduate studies focusing on the Civil War, Westward Expansion, and the Industrial Revolution. I have been teaching this course in person to homeschoolers for a year and have been teaching History on Outschool for almost as long.
Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$13
weekly or $100 for all content8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
Completed by 72 learners
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Ages: 13-18