Updated to add: At the bottom of this post, find my previous comments on possibly beefing up Bigger Hearts for a 7th grader. As we are on now writing the guide to come after the time period of the Resurrection to Reformation, I find that we are planning to use some of the books I previously noted below in our newest guide. So, I am updating this old thread to give a few comments about books you may wish to wait on instead (if you were planning to beef up Bigger Hearts for an older student). I will leave the original post at the bottom so as not to confuse anyone. Here are the new updated comments that I just posted to someone on the board about beefing up Bigger Hearts:
If you are planning to go the "beefing it up" route with Bigger Hearts, I will let you know that you will likely wish to wait on George Washington's World and The Story of the Great Republic by Guerber as we are planning to include those in the guide to come right after RTR. They are both terrific books and will be two of the spines in the guide to come.
The same may also be true for some of the other books I mentioned in that post from awhile ago, as we're still pondering Basic and Extension Package options.
You may instead wish to look at Guerber's Story of the Thirteen Colonies and possibly one of Foster's other books, such as The World of Columbus' and Sons or The World of Captain John Smith or the World of Abraham Lincoln. Short Lessons In U.S. History would still work to fill out the later time periods if needed. Or, you could lean toward any of the volumes of Mara Pratt books from Yesterday's Classics instead as they are short interesting readings for a bit older audience all based on American history.
I'd definitely start with the Extension Package and see how much you really think you need to add before making it too heavy though.
Blessings,
Carrie
Here is the older thread with the books I mentioned previously.
coconuts,
Welcome to the board! We're glad to have you here!
I will have a 7th grader next year too. You could have your 7th grader ride along with the same one-year overview American history focus you are using in "Bigger...." next year with your youngers, and beef it up by adding several more difficult spines like "George Washington's World" by Foster (for early American History) "The Story of the Great Republic" by Guerber, and "Short Lessons in U.S. History" (for a general overview).
You could also add additional advanced reader books to the Extension Pack (like "Poor Richard" by Daugherty, "Abigail Adams" by Bober, "Of Courage Undaunted" by Daugherty, "American Tall Tales" by Stoutenburg, and "Carry a Big Stick" by George Grant).
These titles would require a strong 6th-7th grade reader/literature lover to read on his/her own. If your kiddo is not wired that way, you could just use the Extension Package in "Bigger..." for additional history literature and add a single spine such as "This Country of Ours" by H.E. Marshall to "beef up" the history.
Anyway, you get the idea. For literature you could add "Drawn into the Heart of Reading" Level 6/7/8. My oldest son has used "Drawn into the Heart..." for years, and we have found it has provided him with a very strong background in literature study.
I'm not sure if you are also looking for recommendations for language arts and math, but this will get you started.
Blessings,
Carrie
