Level: Form III (7th–9th grades), Form IV (10th–12th grades)
Subject(s): Citizenship, Geography, History
Description:
Modern History & Geography will combine living books, narration, timeline, and maps to help students create connections between history and the world around them.
Students will read, narrate, and discuss passages from hand-picked spine books as well as supplemental readings. There will be weekly at-home reading assignments given so the students have the best possible opportunity to participate in class discussion and extend their learning to maximize the value of class time. Additionally, students will complete occasional research and written assignments as well as build a commonplace book.
Bluebonnet Scholars offers history on a rotating three-year cycle with studies synchronized across Forms 1 through 3 (grades K through 9th/10th) so that all students are studying the same time period together. The Form 3 (7th through 9th grade) cycle is as follows:
- Cycle Year 1: (2026–27) Ancient through Early Medieval History
- Cycle Year 2: (2027–28) Medieval through Early Modern History
- Cycle Year 3: (2025–26) Modern History (with an emphasis on American History)
In the Geography portion of the class, students will read, narrate, and discuss portions from living geography books in a rotating three-year cycle:
- Cycle Year 1 (2026–27): Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About The World (part); Geography III (part); and living geography read-aloud books
- Cycle Year 2 (2027–28): Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About The World (part); Geography III (part); and living geography read-aloud books
- Cycle Year 3 (2025–26): Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About The World (part); Geography III (part); States and Capitals; Don’t Know Much About the 50 States; and living geography read-aloud books
Students will spend some time observing and tracing world maps relevant to the course material. Students will have the opportunity to understand how specific nations’ borders changed as they journey through history, as well as identifying major features on a map.
Materials:
Families purchase the following required supplies:
- Primary Sources: (Siblings may share one copy of each; ISBNs must match.)
- Of Plymouth Plantation (fall semester, ISBN: 0486452603)
- A Son of the Forest” and Other Writings (spring semester, ISBN: 1558491074, used copies recommended)
- History spines: (Siblings may share one copy of each; ISBNs must match.)
- George Washington’s World (fall semester, ISBN: 096438034X)
- Abraham Lincoln’s World (spring semester, ISBN: 1893103161)
- Geography spines:
- Prisoners of Geography ISBN: 1501121472 (Siblings may share. This resource will be used over multiple years.)
- Geography III, 2nd Ed., Student Workbook (One per student; this resource will be used over multiple years.)
- States and Capitals Student Workbook (One per student)
- Don’t Know Much About the 50 States (One per family; siblings may share.)
- Backmore Translucent Vellum Paper, 8.5×11″ Tracing Pad, 56 LB (One per family might be sufficient.)
- Record of Time Timeline Notebook with blank timeline pages—Note: This item has been discontinued except as digital download; BHSC has purchased printing rights and printed spiral-bound timeline notebooks are available for purchase from BHSC for $30. Returning students will use the same binder as in previous terms.
- Printable Suggested Timeline Placement Guide (one-time digital purchase per family)
- 8.5/11 Notebook, either the grid or the graph option
- Composition book
- Scissors
- Three-ring binder with dividers, lined paper, pencils, colored pencils, and erasers in a pencil pouch
- The instructor may assign additional research & reading assignments; some books and resources may be available from the public libraries, some may require purchase.
The following additional materials are recommended:
- Recommended: Geography III, 2nd Ed., Teacher Key (one per family; used multiple years)
- Recommended: Geography III, 2nd Ed., Student Text (one per family; used multiple years)
- Recommended: States and Capitals Teacher Guide (one per family)
