Tuesday, April 10, 2012

TOS Review: Truth Quest History

"TruthQuest History is a deep and rich literature-based history study…but with a difference. You will not learn the story of mankind; you will learn the lovestory of mankind. You will not focus on the rise and fall of human civilizations; you will focus on the arrow-straight line of God's unchanging existence, power, love, truth, and plan for civilization. You will not simply 'meet the culture' or 'get the facts;' you will probe the truths of history so deeply that your students will be equipped to change their world!"  (from the website)

Truth Quest History is a unique history program that really suits our learning style.  I have always liked taking a period in history and using all the resources we have for that period in one big unit study:  historical books, historical fiction books, videos, crafts, recipes, etc.  This program encourages us to do just that.  In each guide, Michelle Miller goes through the predominant themes and events for that period of history, then suggests outside reading to complement the study.  She suggests various writing and discussion assignments.  The beauty of the program is that you do not have to use specific books for each unit.  You can use any resources you have at your disposal, whether books that are owned by you or that you find at your local library.  Michelle Miller's commentary ties them all together with a God-centered worldview.  More than just teaching the history itself, her long-term goal is to teach children how to learn on their own using whatever books or resources they have.

TruthQuest consists of a History Guide for each period of history:  Creation/Ancient History, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Middle Ages (500-1400), Renaissance Reformation Exploration (1400-1600), and Age of Revolution I, II, & III (1600-1800, 1800-1865, and 1865-2000, respectively) for Grades 5-12.  For Grades 1-5, the Guides go through American History only in three guides for Exploration-1800, 1800-1865, 1865-2000.  The Guides may be purchased as a PDF download or as a print copy.  There are companion resources to complement each guide, including a Binder-Builder and other map/timeline/report/notebooking helps created by A Journey Through Learning.  The companion resources make it easy to create not just a lapbook, but a complete binder or notebook in lapbooking style of each year-long history study.  The companion resources are sold as downloadable PDFs.  For purchasing information and to download samples of all the products offered, see the Truth Quest History Store.

I received the American History for Young Students I (Exploration-1800) Binder Builder to review.  I did not have the actual American History for Young Students I Truth Quest Guide, so I downloaded the sample from the website and did those lessons.  I was able to use the books that I had used studying the same period in history for my older kids, so that worked great for me.  We studied the early explorers Leif Erikson and Christopher Columbus and started our binders.  I believe I will purchase the Truth Quest History Guide and continue with this program and complete our binders.  I have a 1st grader who hates to just sit and do workbooks, so getting to create a notebook using scissors, glue stick, crayons, etc. while I read to him is a fantastic way for him to learn.  My 3rd and 6th graders enjoyed it as well.  They love lapbooking and doing just about anything creative.  The program is set up well for using with students of different ages.

You can purchase the American History for Young Students I Binder Builder downloadable PDF here for $18.  The Truth Quest History Guide for that period is $19.95 for the downloadable PDF or $24.95 for the printed version.  See the website for prices of other products.  I highly recommend this series.

Other TOS Crewbies reviewed this and other Truth Quest History Guides.  To see what they thought, click here.

Disclaimer:  I received a free downloadable PDF Binder-Builder from Truth Quest History in exchange for a fair review.  All opinions are my own.

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