How to Homeschool History Using Literature with BookShark
When it comes time to planning a homeschool year, ideally, I prefer to homeschool history using literature. Literature-based history draws us into historical time periods through people, their lives, and their relationships. Well-chosen books contain stories that connect us deeply to the events and people in history. For our homeschool family, this is much preferable to the simple rote learning of facts and figures.
As a result, I am always on the lookout for high-quality homeschool programs that teach history through literature whenever possible and BookShark definitely makes the list! BookShark offers high-quality and well-organized literature-based options for homeschooling history.
{BookShark offered me their Reading with History G in exchange for my honest opinion and this review. Read my full disclosure here.}
Homeschooling History Using BookShark
BookShark’s Reading with History program provides homeschooling families with complete literature-based history programs for a variety of time periods. You’ll find American History, World History, the Eastern Hemisphere, and more.
Each Reading with History pack from BookShark includes a full year’s worth of History, Readers, and Read-Alouds in addition to the Instructor’s Guide, maps, markers, a binder, and a Timeline Book. It’s everything you need for a fantastic year of history.
And now you can also register your child for a BookShark Virtual Seat to keep track of assignments, progress, and grades.
Literature-Based History: It’s All About the Books
Many parents would agree that using a well-chosen selection of living history books is an ideal way to teach history, but putting together a great list of books can feel intimidating and overwhelming.
One amazing benefit of homeschooling history with BookShark is that the stress of selecting the books is off your plate. Instead of spending your summer reading ahead and finding the best titles, you can relax and know that you’ll receive a year full of incredible living books.
Take a Peek inside a BookShark History Package
I have to admit that opening my box of Reading History, Level G: World History Part I made me completely giddy with delight. That’s normal for a homeschooling parent, right? Books make all homeschool parents giddy, don’t they?
And for a parent who wants to homeschool history using literature, this box of books is bound to make you leap for joy.
Opening this incredible collection of historical fiction, literary stories, and non-ficiton titles was so much fun! I loved checking out all of the amazing books chosen to immerse readers into the world from ancient times to the Renaissance. Readers will learn more about Augustus Caesar, samurai warriors, Incan emperors, Joan of Arc and more!
Check out these fantastic titles:
History Texts/Spines:
Story of the World: Ancient Times by Susan Wise Bauer
Story of the World: the Middle Ages by Susan Wise Bauer
The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia
Read Alouds:
The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvi McGraw
The Trojan War by Olivia Coolidge
Favorite Poems Old and New
I, Juan De Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Treviño
The Second Mrs. Giaconda by e. l. konigsburg
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood
The Hidden Treasure of Glaston by Eleanore M. Jewett
The Adventures of Sir Balin the Ill-Fated by Gerald Morris
The Silver Branch by Rosemary Sutcliff
The Great and Terrible Quest by Margaret Lovett
Readers:
The Samurai’s Tale by Erik Christian Haugaard
Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray
Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
The Beduins’ Gazelle by Frances Temple
Mystery of the Roman Ransom by Henry Winterfeld
Leonardo Da Vinci by Emily Hahn
The Ides of April by Mary Ray
A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver by e. l. konigsburg
Black Horses for the King by Anne McCoffrey
Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
Theras and His Town by Caroline Dale Snedeker
Greek Myths by Olivia Coolidge
King’s Shadow by Elizabeth Alder
A Murder for Her Majesty by Beth Hilgartner
Just looking at that incredible list of books makes me want to gather the kids and start reading! And while the book selection is fantastic, a BookShark history package offers so much more.
BookShark’s Literature-Based History Teacher’s Guide
Exploring a stack of incredibly chosen books can make a parent feel giddy with excitement, but the truth is that attempting to homeschool history using literature can feel daunting without a plan.
Thankfully, BookShark has you covered again when it comes to a well-organized and easy-to-implement plan. The BookShark instructor’s guide is designed to make your life easier all year long so you can enjoy your time learning with your children without wondering how to make everything work together.
The guide includes 36 weeks of instruction that are organized into 4-day academic weeks. Everything you need for the week is displayed in the grid on the first page of each week.
One of my favorite things about the BookShark instructor’s guides is how easy they make it to take your school work on the go. You know exactly what books to pack and can easily mark the pages you need to read.
Behind the page with the overall grid for the week, you’ll find all of the detailed information you need to facilitate rich literature discussions with your children. There are discussion questions that include potential answers so you can check for comprehension, especially if it is a title you didn’t read with them.
The instructor’s guide also lets you know when your family will have a mapping or timeline activity during the week. The timeline book, the timeline figures, and the laminated map with markers are all included in your BookShark package.
Without a doubt, the instructor’s guide is designed to make your job as a homeschooling parent an easy one.
BookShark Virtual
If you are looking for a way to make homeschooling history using literature run even more smoothly, then you will want to add a seat for your children in BookShark Virtual.
BookShark Virtual is a fantastic option for you as a parent and for your children as students. There are so many things you are going to love about BookShark Virtual, but here are just a few benefits:
Instructor’s Guide Access
BookShark Virtual gives you access to your instructor’s guide from anywhere. Whether you are out and about in the car, on a family trip, or sitting at the kitchen table, your guide is completely accessible on your phone, tablet, or laptop.
Independent Learners
Students can log into their BookShark Virtual account to view their assignments, take assessments, watch required videos, and follow their progress. Having access to their daily assignments and progress encourages students to work independently.
Online Grading
BookShark Virtual offers automatic grading on most of the assessments throughout the year. Students receive immediate feedback on assessments so they can learn from their mistakes. Other assignments are uploaded for manual grading by the parent.
Screen Time Balance
BookShark remains a literature-based history curriculum so families can continue reading and discussing fantastic books together. The addition of BookShark Virtual simply makes some of the day-to-day organization a little easier on everyone.
Without a doubt, BookShark is a clear solution to planning your homeschool year with a literature-based history program. Head to their website to learn more and select your history time period today.
Have a fantastic year learning history through literature!
She believes that creativity, laughter, and fun are the backbone for engaging and inspiring homeschools. You can find her encouragement and tips on this blog, Mary Hanna Wilson.
She is an enneagram 7 and an extrovert. She enjoys traveling, tea (iced or hot), good conversations, and books. You can connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
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