Why the Word Prehistory Is a Problem There has been some back-and-forth in the group lately about the word "prehistory." I thought I would share why the label is controversial, because we are an academic group, and as academics we tend to be picky about word usage. I will admit that, although we have been researching the human past from about 3.2 million years ago to 6,500 years ago for more than a year while writing a new history course, I was genuinely surprised when someone in the SEA Community asked how "deep history" compares to "prehistory." Not because I …
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Homeschool History: Historical Thinking, Research, and Writing for Young Historians in 5 stepsSamantha Matalone Cook, MATHomeschool History: Building Young Historians Homeschool history is important. History guides our relationship with our communities, plays a significant role in our identities, and gives the answers to the many questions our young learners have about the world they live in. Studying history is also the catalyst to social change, cultural literacy, and building equity in our society. At the SEA conference in June 2021, I spoke about the importance of building young historians so that they develop knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm around the subject …
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Game Based Learning: Re-Energizing the Study of History with Video GamesSamantha Matalone Cook, MATGame Based Learning in the Classroom and Beyond It’s no secret that our family is a gaming family. Board games, video games, role-playing games, you name it, we play it. In many of the workshops I have given over the years, I’ve pointed out that using game based learning can be a wonderful catalyst to academic subjects. I’ve used games to introduce, connect, or reinforce concepts. Previously, I’ve used games as a strewing technique to gauge interest in an idea. Often, I’ve used games to branch out …
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Women's History Reading List March is Women’s History Month and the SEA Homeschoolers facebook group has been buzzing with excellent book recommendations to add to your family’s TBR lists. This Women's History Reading List is full of curated recommendations making it perfect for March, or any other month! Rad American Women A-Z: Rebels, Trailblazers, and Visionaries who Shaped Our History . . . and Our Future! This unique A-Z book introduces 26 diverse women spanning several centuries and multiple professions. There are artists and abolitionists, scientists and suffragettes, rock stars and rabble-rousers, and agents of change of all kinds. Recommended …
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Making through History: Sometimes We Should all Be Uncomfortable I’ve been leading a class that I created called Making Through History for almost two years, and it has been one of the best teaching experiences I have ever had. The class explores history and the humanities through the art and invention that expressed the values and aspirations of people in a specific time and place. These days STEM/STEAM education is all the rage, and we are told that our children can’t be prepared for the future without it. While I agree that technology and science literacy are essential to navigating …
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Free giveaway for - Making History Matter Through Project-Based Learning – Samantha Matalone Cook, MAT Thank you! Here is a downloadable PDF excerpted from Project-Based Learning: Creating a Modern Education of Curiosity, Innovation, & Impact.
Are you thinking about how to approach history in your homeschool? Particularly if you are just starting out, it can seem like there are too many choices. Should you start with American history, or go chronologically? Should you buy a structured program or build your own, based off your child’s interests? I’ll be breaking down how to make decisions about history for your homeschool, and sharing my planning process plus a free printable chart along the way.
Holistic History I believe in the complexity of the human story, and that there’s no way you can tell that story in one way and say, “this is it.” Always there will be someone who can tell it differently depending on where they are standing . . . this is the way I think the world’s stories should be told: from many different perspectives. secular homeschool history —“Chinua Achebe: The Art of Fiction CXXXVIV,” interview by Jerome Brooks in The Paris Review, Issue #133 (Winter 1994-5) History is traditionally taught through use of a single textbook. This method presents history …
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Why Study History? History is our story, the record of our triumphs and tragedies. Without history, everything is new and surprising; history does not predict the future, but it narrows the possibilities. The best way to learn history is to immerse yourself in the study of it – through historical television dramas, movies, historical novels, and by reading history, particularly one that takes both a social and political approach. Children love learning what other children’s lives were like, but even older students (and adults) like their history to read like a novel. In teaching history, remember the twenty-year rule: do …
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The Home School History Project: American Government “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana I interpret this quote to mean that through studying history people are less likely to repeat past mistakes. I think this is an important reason for studying history. In the United States the best way to accomplish this is by participating in the election process and at least voting. It disturbs me that young people, those who are likely to live the longest and therefore be affected the most by voting decisions made now, are not voting. It seems to me, they are …
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History: A Repeat of a Favorite Class and Volunteering The Course: A Brief History of Humankind: This is a Coursera course, https://class.coursera.org/humankind-002, that repeats regularly. It is the best history course I have ever taken. The instructor, Dr. Yuval Noah Harari, from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem comes across as brilliant, even as he makes history accessible to a lay person! There is a book as well, but Sean did not use it. I did though, http://www.ynharari.com/sapiens-the-book/short-overview/. I read it, referred to it, and made a series of questions from it to accompany each lecture. Sean got a lot more out of the class …
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Several years ago we had the idea to write impactful courses focused on topics everyone should learn. We wanted the courses to use a multimodal approach, weaving intellectual topics with discussion and hands-on learning. In addition, we wanted learners to be engaged while using the courses and thinking about what they learned long after they finished them. Those are the courses you will find through SEA Publishing! SEA Publishing ProductsMicrobiology Microbiology is a 12-chapter science course written for middle-grade learners, 4th – 7th grade. This is important and relevant science everyone should learn. Microbiology takes an integrated approach to science, …
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SEA HomeschoolersOnline Conference Series SpeakerLearn More About the Speakers!Register NowSee Full Conference Schedule Emily Glankler Emily Glankler is a veteran high school teacher in Austin, Texas and the founder of Anti-Social Studies, which opens up her history classes by creating online courses and content for YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. She earned degrees in History and International Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in History (M.A.) from Texas State University. Over the past twelve years she has taught everything from 6th grade World Cultures to high school electives on International Relations and Contemporary …
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Diverse Books for Children: LGBTQ+ BooklistJoshua JerniganExpanding Horizons: LGBTQ+ Books for Young Readers Kids often experience the world for the first time through books. Having diverse books for children available to them helps expand their world in magnificent ways! Books help expose children to new ideas, new concepts, and new people they may have never known of otherwise. This booklist offers lgbtq+ books that are fun, whimsical, and diverse. Please check them out and enjoy watching your young readers see the world in a new perspective. Diverse Books for Children: List Age recommendations on this list were pulled from publisher …
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Critical Thinking: Metrics and MethodsDr. Sabrina WeissNavigating the Challenges of Information in the Digital Age: The Role of Critical Thinking In an era where the sheer volume of information available to students is overwhelming, educators face the daunting task of helping learners make sense of the world around them. Unlike the pre-Internet age, when access to credible information was more limited and manageable, today’s students are bombarded by vast, often conflicting data from a variety of sources. This shift has created an environment where students struggle not only with information overload but with how to evaluate, question, and engage with …
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Secular Science Education: SuperVolcanoesJohn Suchocki Secular Science Education: An Integrated Science Essay Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth Science, and Astronomy Supervolcanoes are a captivating topic that bridges multiple scientific disciplines, making them a perfect subject for secular science education. From the dramatic eruptions that shaped Earth’s landscapes to the intricate chemical processes hidden within volcanic ash, studying these natural phenomena offers valuable insights into physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and astronomy. This essay delves into the fascinating world of supervolcanoes, showcasing how interdisciplinary science helps us understand and prepare for the dynamic forces shaping our planet and beyond. Ashfall Fossil Beds …
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Homeschool Tips: How to Talk to Kids About Scary ScienceBlair Lee, M.S.Homeschool Tips for Tackling Scary Science Topics From the climate crisis and anti-vaccine misinformation to the coronavirus, it seems that every time you turn on the news, science is presented as something frightening. These topics can leave you and your children feeling worried and powerless to make a difference. It is a common occurrence in the SEA Homeschoolers Facebook group to have parents ask for homeschool tips to help with talking to their kids about these scary science topics. Parents are often worried that talking about them will make …
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Free Homeschool Resources: Tapping into Online Museum OfferingsDeirdre Palmer, MATEnrich Your Curriculum with Free Homeschool Resources: Online Museum Tools for Engaging Teaching and Learning How can online museum resources invigorate teaching and learning? How can these free homeschool resources complement and enrich curriculum? As an example, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC offers free online learning resources for Pre-K through 12th grade educators. Online lessons, downloadable high-resolution images, and self-paced courses provide educators with tools to help students actively engage with works of art. Suggested looking exercises, essential questions, and activities are designed to encourage students to observe, …
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