Using the guides without the history?

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eachlee
Posts: 62
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:30 am

Using the guides without the history?

Post by eachlee » Mon Nov 15, 2010 10:25 am

Hi,
My question is one that isn't all that pressing, it's just been weighing heavily on my mind this past week and I want to ask it now rather than spend more time thinking on it.

Could you use the guides without the history component? I am thinking specifically about Beyond Little Hearts and Bigger Hearts. We are Canadian and two years spent on American history, while interesting, seems like a poor use of our school time. I really enjoy HOD, and don't want to walk away from it completely for two full years. And if you think it could be done, would you think it wise? Would it really 'ruin' the program to drop that box? I have spent a lot of time wondering and pondering and praying on this.

Thanks so much!
Nancy, mom to 3
DS6 - LHFHG, ER and BLHFHG Spelling
DD5 - LHFHG
DS3 - My little climber

We have also loved using LHTH!

Tansy
Posts: 1029
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:11 am
Location: Texas

Re: Using the guides without the history?

Post by Tansy » Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:43 pm

I would suggest you read the history and see if you can find comparable books on Canada They all starts out with "discovery" and much of our history is shared.

tho the history is one of the back bones of the curriculum, the art and geography vocabulary are often based on the history lesson. You will need to tweak it. :-)
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HappyMama
Posts: 224
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2009 12:40 pm
Location: Washington

Re: Using the guides without the history?

Post by HappyMama » Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:48 pm

Hmmmm....this is an interesting question! I haven't done Bigger so I can't comment on that, but we're doing Beyond now. You could definitely do the right side of the plans without the history, that would be no problem at all. But to do the left side without the history...that might be kind of weird, lol. :) The history is really like the "glue" that ties everything together...the Bible study, art, science, geography - it all is tied into the history theme. So honestly, I don't see how the left side could be done without the history box without throwing the whole thing off. I'm sure some of the more experienced ladies here will have more advice. :)

pjdobro
Posts: 1491
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:45 pm

Re: Using the guides without the history?

Post by pjdobro » Mon Nov 15, 2010 4:59 pm

I think a lot of the continuity would be lost without the history. I do think that it would still be worthwhile, but the poetry, Bible, daily activity (geography, history, art, etc.) are connected to the history.

In Bigger, I really don't think it would be a big deal at all for you to be studying the history even though it is American history. It really is more a biographical study of great people who play a role in American history. It's more about the people and their character than about the history itself. I think there would be much to be gained even without being an American. Of course we are only about 1/3 of the way through Bigger so it may seem differently to me after we have done the whole program. :wink:

Beyond is more of a story approach to the history so it's very much about the history. There still is a lot that is relevant beyond American history. As an example, the story of the pilgrims tells so much about our Christian history not just about American history. I love Tansy's idea of trying to tie in your Canadian history. I'm sure there are lots of similarities and connections that could be made. Perhaps Carrie would have a suggestion for you as far as books that you could use. Perhaps you would be able to stay close to the same time period at the same time and work it all together. I'm sure you could still do the activities regardless of whether you do the history, but they aren't going to be as enriching.

I hope you can find a good solution for you because they are both great programs. We enjoyed Beyond last year and are loving Bigger here this year. The character study in it is phenomenal! :D
Patty in NC

b/g twins '02 Rev2Rev 2014/15
previously enjoyed LHFHG, BLHFHG, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, RTR
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Nisi Dominus Frusta (Without God, frustration)
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Psalm 127:1

Mommamo
Posts: 616
Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 1:31 pm
Location: TX

Re: Using the guides without the history?

Post by Mommamo » Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:22 pm

Could you do it as written, but add relevant Canadian history? So as part of the exploration part, could you add in some extra about Canada? When you're talking about the American revolution, could you mention what was going on in Canada at that time? I think it'd be great to do those side by side, since really so much is shared. I know it would create a little extra work on your part, but probably not near as much as completely throwing out the left side of the plans and only doing the right side. A couple good books on Canadian history and you'd pretty much have it since this way you could still do the poetry, bible, science, and art/geography/history activities. It really sounds kind of fun and interesting to me.
Momma to my 4 sweeties:
DD 14 - MTMM and DITHOR (completed LHFHG, Beyond, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, took a couple years off, and now she's back!)
DS 11 and DD 9 - Preparing(completed 2 rounds of LHTH, LHFHG, Beyond, and Bigger)
DD 6 - LHFHG

my3sons
Posts: 10702
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:08 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Using the guides without the history?

Post by my3sons » Tue Nov 16, 2010 12:06 pm

The short answer is (IMO) all of the parts of the guide are worthy of doing, so whatever parts you end up doing will be worthwhile. :D Most families use the entire guide, but there are exceptions in which families may use just the right side and portions of the left as they fit. Have you found some living Canadian History books you can use? That would make a big difference. I agree that Bigger Hearts is more biographical, and again IMO :wink: , could be used as is only with adding Canadian history to it. HTH! :D

In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie

eachlee
Posts: 62
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:30 am

Re: Using the guides without the history?

Post by eachlee » Wed Nov 17, 2010 4:27 pm

Thanks Ladies for your advice and suggestions.

So for my next step, I am going to spend some time looking for living books with Canadian history content and see where that takes me. While I'd love to just use one of the guides as is, I will have to wait and see what the homeschool facilitator says to that plan when the time comes. Some times it seems like anything goes, and other times it seems that they want to have more of a say in what we study. I know that two years focused on American history wouldn't go over all that well. It is nice to hear that you are all thinking that it would be manageable to find substitutes. :D

Thank you again for your encouragement as I figure out how we can keep HOD at the center of our homeschool.
Nancy, mom to 3
DS6 - LHFHG, ER and BLHFHG Spelling
DD5 - LHFHG
DS3 - My little climber

We have also loved using LHTH!

Kathleen
Posts: 1980
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:23 pm
Location: NE Kansas

Re: Using the guides without the history?

Post by Kathleen » Thu Nov 18, 2010 11:28 pm

I was thinking, like the others, that you'd have to tweak it but it would be doable. Really, I'm thinking that only the Reading About History & then the Rotating Box would be the ones you'd have to work on. The Bible and the Coordinating music should be A-OK. :D The key idea for the Bible shares how it relates to the history, but the Character Study in Bigger & the verses you're learning in Beyond will be just as applicable without the history! :wink: I'd hang on to everything else...poetry, science...

I love having HOD all ready for me to open & go, but I can see in your case where I'd want to hang on to what I could and be willing to work on the part I needed to substitute.

:D Kathleen
Homeschooling mom to 6:
Grant - 19 Kansas State University
Allison - 15 World Geography
Garret - 13 Res2Ref
Asa - 8 Bigger
Quinn - 7 Bigger

Halle - 4 LHTH

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