Upon completing this class, students will have an understanding of 
-pre-history vs. history
-how humans progressed from nomadic lives to creating civilizations

I am a Colorado-certified teacher with over 20 years experience teaching children in grades K-8.  I have taught in many settings, including public schools, private schools, and homeschool environments. 

History Quest curriculum
https://www.pandiapress.com/history-quest/

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Books used in this class
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"History Quest: Early Times" Chapter Book
-This book was written with the intention of offering an unbiased story-telling approach to history.  The author explains that "for me, it was very important that History Quest refuse to promote a predetermined agenda.  Most people understand that scientific work is best done when scientists approach data without preconceptions so that the data can determine conclusions.  The same can be said about historical work.  The abuse of history to advance a political ideological, or religious agenda disturbs me greatly.  But despite my devotion to an accurate and unbiased presentation, I, like all history writers, have my own inevitable subjective perspective.  I do try hard to mitigate that, and I worked in tandem with a wonderful publisher and editor, whose perspectives challenged and complemented my own.”

“Discovery in the Cave” by Mark Dubowski
-a Step-Into-Reading book about the discovery of ancient cave drawings found in France

“First Drawing” by Mordicai Gerstein
-a fictional story about what it might have been like in prehistoric times when the first cave drawing was made

“The First Dog” by Jan Brett
-A fictional account of how a boy living during the Stone Age might have befriended a young wolf.  

“You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Writing” 
-Though these books are written with a sense of humor, they offer historically accurate information In class we use the books as a discussion starter and will differentiate the facts from the fiction.

“Gilgamesh the King,” “Return of Ishtar,” and “The Last Quest of Gilgamesh” are 3 books by Ludmila Zemen that tell the epic tale of Gilgamesh.  The books are used to show students some of the stories used at this time in history.  As the author of the History Quest chapter book notes, “History should be much more than descriptions of conflicts and battle.  Art, inquiry, ideas, and invention also shaped the past dramatically and are treated as vital topics.”  

“A Street Though Time” by Steve Noon and DK
--a wonderful picture book that displays the progression of a fictional Roman city from the Stone Age to today.  The pictures depict what life may have looked like in various time periods.  It is a wonderful way to look at history from a variety of perspectives as we see how the very same place can look so differently, depending on the people that live there and the things that have happened (like invasions, battles, sickness, and prosperity).