What is US History Options all about?
This plan for studying US History II is designed to be highly flexible, and thereby be accessible to all types of learners. Advanced students will choose more advanced resources from among those provided, while students working a a basic or remedial level will find resources for their needs too. This plan allows for flexible planning, but a workable overall structure. It allows for easy grading on a 100 point scale, if grading is something you seek. This course covers a unit on the our Founding Documents and then covers the eras from Reconstruction through Contemporary America. This time-frame is based on Washington state standards. US history I , Exploration through Civil War, is taught in middle school in our state.
How do we choose components?
First students will choose a spine. A spine is a text or video product that provides an overview of the content. Then they will put together other components to complete each unit. Each component has a point value, which allows for grading. Parents and instructors can decide to make certain components required or optional. They can select particular resources or leave the selection process up to the student. Much of the selection process is generally based on the student's unique abilities, interests and long term goals. Some students will have access to site-based classes in a Parent Partnership Program or an online community or a homeschool co-op. Others will have those classes conducted in their own front room within their families. Choose a spine from the list here
What are the components and point values?
50 points: Completion of spine learning resource and associated tasks: Cornell notes, questions, study guides and/or tests.
10 points per class, up to 30 total: Participation in a class discussions on primary source documents/opposing viewpoints
30 points: Creation and presentation of a project or composition of a paper that demonstrates your mastery of at least 3
"I CAN Statements".
30 points: Read a work of biography or historical fiction and complete a written analysis.
30 points: Watch a film set in the era under study and complete a written analysis.
(An additional list of movies in ALL historical time period sis available at Fordham University.)_
Where do we find the components?
The components are found, listed by month and era on this page: MONTHLY RESOURCES BY ERA, which is also in the main menu above.
Where are the answer keys?
Answer keys are password protected and available to teachers or parents who have attended a workshop on using this site.