What's included
8 live meetings
8 in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. Students will be given homework some weeks, but not all weeks. All homework 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
Students who need grades can submit their in-class assignments for a grade.Class Experience
This is part three 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 as a credit on a high school transcript depending on your state's homeschool requirements. **Want to try a one-time class before committing to this 8-week class? I offer two trial classes that are structured exactly like my year long US and World History classes, so that students can see if they enjoy my teaching style before signing up. These are located at the following links: https://outschool.com/classes/battle-of-little-bighorn-trial-class-for-united-states-2UAshzBt#us1N2EG6kM and https://outschool.com/classes/analyzing-civil-war-photographs-trial-class-for-united-states-Evrv5D1d#us1N2EG6kM 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 three covers US History beginning with the turn of the 20th century, through both World War I and World War II and into the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement. If you have not taken parts one and two of this course, it is suggested (but not required) that you take parts one and two first. This class builds on what students have learned in the first two parts. 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. 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. Since I only have an hour a week with them, it is impossible to fit everything in and reading about the era before we study it in class will help them tremendously! 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. These materials will be used in the classroom and as homework. In-class materials will be completed in class, often in groups, while students will be responsible for completing the homework on their own time. There are a few instances where students will be assigned homework that must be done before the next class, but most of the time we will only have homework if we do not complete everything during class time.
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 key events and concepts in American history including the Industrial Revolution, Great Depression, World War I, World War II, and more.
Syllabus
8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
Lesson One
Suggested Reading prior to Week 1: "Class Struggle" chapter in A Young People's History of the United States
-Topics covered: Muckrakers, Political Bosses, Progressive Movement, Women's Suffrage
-Political Bosses lesson
-Background of Suffrage; Anti-Suffrage lesson
Suggested Reading prior to Week 2: "World War I" chapter in A Young People's History of the United States
60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Lesson Two
-Topics covered: World War I, Imperialism, US and WWI
-WWI Mapwork
-US Entry into WWI lesson
Suggested Reading prior to Week 3: "Hard Times" chapter in A Young People's History of the United States
60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Lesson Three
-Topics covered: Race Massacres
-Chicago Race Massacre 1919 lesson
-Race Massacres research activity
Suggested Reading prior to Week 4: none
60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Lesson Four
-Topics covered: Dust Bowl, Great Plains in the 1930s
-Dust Bowl activity
-"Migrant Mother" photo discussion
Suggested Reading prior to Week 5: "World War II and the Cold War" chapter (to page 265) in A Young People's History of the United States
60 mins online live lesson
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 several years and have been teaching History on Outschool for almost as long.
Reviews
Live Group Course
$18
weekly or $140 for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
60 min
Completed by 184 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
4-14 learners per class