American Girl Curriculum - Girls of American History Unit 14 1964 Life in the USA in the 1960's-Melody® - Co-op/School License

Race issues - a hard subject, and something that our country still stuggles with today.  This book series touches on real history, facts - hard and true.  However, it also talks about justice and the pursuit of peace.  An excellent unit to study and discuss.

Making history engaging for students is possibly one of the most difficult tasks for teachers.  How do we overcome that?  Two key things are critical for accomplishing this task.  First, it must be relatable in someway, and secondly, it needs to offer learning opportunities for multiple learning styles.  Girls of American History uses the popular American Girl book series.  This instantly makes history relatable, as the main characters are school age children, families and strong male characters. 

Girls of American History uses multisensory learning, which follows a pattern of Do It, Write It, Say It, Read It, See It.  Multisensory learning is great for every kind of learner - because each learner gets to experience learning the way they are most comfortable - but they also have the opportunity to learn through other senses.  Studies and research have shown that learning material through multiple senses helps children to retain information better.

The experiences practiced in multisensory learning allow each student to participate in ways that help them understand and retain best.  Boys and girls learn together and help each other with projects such as  making a kaleidescope or paper dolls, having discussions about the story, historical information, as well as positive character traits such as justice, leadership, perseverence, etc.  

Schooling multiple ages together, in a co-op setting for example, is very manageable.  And, with the continuity of the same subject matter for literature and history, as well as crafts and field trip experiences, opportunities for discussion are plentiful and help build a love of learning.

Activity and field trip ideas are pentilful and include playing baseball and touring a bakery.  This six week unit study using the American Girl® Melody® series books is also great in a large class setting,  or a smaller co-op environment.  Get together at the end of the unit for a community or class picnic to showcaser what your students have learned!

These American Girl stories are printed in a three book set called "Beforever".  The first two books, in the Melody® Beforever series, are needed for the curriculum.  The third is a fun reading, choose your own adventure style book.

During this time in history, the USA was divided. Although a pursuit of peace was rising, segregation and a lack of justice seemed to prevail far too often. During this unit, you might consider including some information on Martin Luther King Jr., the Civil Rights Act, Motown, and great African Americans of the past. This is just a short list of the many things to consider. Enjoy activities such as building a model car, planting a garden, writing poetry and more. Craft and field trip ideas from the time period are included in the unit to help enhance the study.

 **Crafts are not included in the purchase of the curriculum, but resources and instruction as to what crafts to purchase are included.  Some units do include free craft templates.   Co-op/School License allows permission for the purchasing school allow as many teachers to teach this curriculum to as many groups and classes as they like.  There is no expiration.  The school may not make copies for parents, or other schools/co-ops.  The file remains the property of the purchasing school only.