History Year 1: Quick Start
Before you being History Year 1
Bring history to life for the whole family with our brand-new History Year 1 course. This highly anticipated family-style history course for children in grades 3–8 promotes truth, sparks critical thinking, and encourages family interaction.
Information about how to start the new History Year 1 Course coming soon!
Before you being the original History Year 1
Please see note below about this discontinued course
We are excited for your family to begin History Year 1.
All of our history courses are thoughtfully designed to be open-and-go! You do not need to read or prepare anything on a daily basis.
It is, however, extremely useful to spend a few minutes getting an overview of the course. Here are a few highlights to help you have a successful start.
Required Items Needed for This Course
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History Year 1 Course Book
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The Big Book of History Stories Year 1
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Keys of History Board Game
Digitial Items Needed for This Course
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History 1 Digital FilesWith purchase of the course set, you receive access to two digital items: Student Explorers (PDFs) and Audio Dramatizations (MP4s). Both items can be found here. The access code is located in theAbout This Coursepages in the front of the course book.
About This Course
Course Pacing
Four-Year Outline
Lessons
There are a few lessons that require additional items. We suggest that you look ahead a few lessons to gather the items.
Bold text indicates instructions to you. Regular text is what you read to children. [Text within brackets are the answers to questions you ask the children.]
The Big Book History Series
The Big Book of History Stories includes maps and color images referred to in the course book as well as 21 illustrated stories that correspond with the lessons. Lessons indicate when to read the stories.
Student Explorers
The lesson indicate when to use the Student Explorers. Not all lessons use them, and in some lessons the older children use the Student Explorers while younger children do not.
Print a Student Explorer for each child (based on their grade level), and place each Student Explorer in a 3-ring binder. For how to access the Student Explorers, read the About This Course pages in the front of the course book.
Four Student Explorer PDFs are included with the course set:
- Lower Elementary: Grades 1–3
- Upper Elementary: Grades 4–6
- Intermediate: Grades 7–9
- High School: Grades 10–12.
Each Student Explorer includes assignments specifically designed for the targeted grade levels. They increase in complexity for the higher grades.
Audio Dramatizations
The password for the audio dramatizations page is in the About This Course section at the beginning of your history course book. Once you open the audio online, you can stream the audio or download it. To download, right-click and choose “Save As.”
Dramatized audio recordings are included in about half the lessons. These engaging audio recordings bring history to life and add variety and power to the course.
These dramatizations include much of the main historical content, and we suggest that families do not skip these audio recordings. Alternatively, you can download the script if you would rather read it.
The Keys of History Board Game
The Keys of History board game helps children review important information about key historical figures and events in a fun way. It also adds variety and family or class interaction. The course indicates when to play this game. In addition, we also suggest that you play this game occasionally during the Year 2, Year 3, and Year 4 history courses, again providing a wonderful review of key information learned in the Year 1 course. An instruction card is included with the game along with the following items:
- 10” x 10” game board
- 8 player pieces
- 22 black tokens
- 22 game cards
- 2 instruction cards
- 1 die
The game may be played by 1–8 students.
Teaching Older Children
Students in grades 7–12 create a history notebook from loose leaf paper that students put in a binder. The course book and student explorers guide students through creating this notebook.
The Grades 10–12 Student Explorers contain in-depth reading assignments and activities that students complete independently to prepare them for college-level learning.
Teaching Younger Children
Occasionally, in a big box under the lesson heading, you will see a message that suggests you skip the lesson if you are teaching only children in younger grades. All lesson material is appropriate for all ages, but these particular lessons may be too complex for younger children.
If you have both older and younger children, it is suggested you do all the lessons and let younger children participate to the degree you choose.
Recommended Resources
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History Year 1 Read-Aloud Book Pack
New Updates
Coming Soon!
Our development team is deep in the creation of brand-new History courses. History Year 1 is anticipated to release in March of 2025 and History Years 2–4 are scheduled to release every six months after that.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Visit FAQs PageVisit our Kindergarten FAQs page where you will find answers to frequently asked questions, helpful videos, and other resources.
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Email Customer Support
support@goodandbeautiful.comDo you have more questions? Email our friendly customer support team, and we will be happy to help you further!
