American Girl Curriculum - Girls of American History Unit 5 1864 Civil War-Addy® - Family License

Studying history as a family is, perhaps, the best way to learn.  One of the most important parts of homeschooling is family relationship.  Schooling multiple ages together with the continuity of the same subject matter for literature and history, as well as crafts and field trip experiences, gives opportunities for family discussion and builds long lasting and cherished memories.

The experiences practiced in multisensory learning allow each family member to participate in ways that help them understand and retain best.  Brothers and sisters learn together and help each other with projects such as making a latch hook rug, playing jump rope, having discussions about the story, historical information, as well as positive character traits such as determination, excellent work ethic, etc.  

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.

Get the entire family involved while visiting a living history museum or making homemade ice cream.  This six week unit study using the American Girl® Addy® series books is also great for doing school with an additional family or two.  Get together for weekly activities or field trips, while doing the rest of the study on your own with your family.  Get together at the end of the unit for a Freedom Celebration of your own!

There are two options for the required readers for this unit.  American Girl orignally printed the Addy® stories in a six book set. These stories have been reformatted into a three book set called "Beforever".  Either book set will work for this curriculum.

This series of books follows a young girl through life as a slave, through the Underground Railroad, to freedom and all the emotions, as well as personal struggles that come with these experiences. Strong male characters include her father and brother.

This time in history is filled with so much information you could easily spend months on it. Choose what works for you, the ages of your children, and what your curriculum includes. You can always come back to the time in history again, when your children are older and go deeper. Some things to consider including during this unit study are emancipation, causes leading up to the Civil War, Harriet Tubman, Abe Lincoln, secrets of the Underground Railroad, Civil Rights movement (if you want to expand the unit), etc. Craft and field trip ideas from the time period are included in the unit to help enhance the study. Some examples of crafts include; making a Jacob's Ladder, drawings and more.

**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. Family license allows single family usage for the purchaser only.  Copies are not permitted for use outside of the owner's immediate family.  If you are a co-op or charter school purchasing for a single family - please make a note of the family's name and email address when ordering.