What are History Links?
Read the reviewHistory Links are unit studies for Catholic homeschoolers. Each unit integrates Roman Catholic doctrine and tradition with the study of World History to help your children understand the past, make virtuous choices in the present, and look forward to the future. Each History Link is packed with thought-provoking questions, hands-on projects, and interesting research and report ideas that will have your children begging for more.
Each unit is
- Family-friendly: Designed to meet the needs of the large family. There are even ideas for the toddler listed on every page.
- Easy: Teaches the entire family together, from preschool through high school. Supply lists and age levels are given for each project in the margin; simply scan to see which activities you wish to do that day or week, and then implement them. So easy that many parents do not even develop formal lesson plans when using this program.
- Flexible: Designed so that the parent can tailor-make a unit that meets the needs of the individual family or child.
- Family-centered: Builds family memories and family relationships while helping to solidify your children’s understanding of history and their Faith.
- Orthodox: Incorporates encyclicals and documents of the Church, writings of the Saints and early Church Fathers, and Sacred Scripture throughout the program.
- Academic: Critical Thinking Skills are foundational to this program. Original texts and classical works are utilized throughout the units.
- Economical: No need to buy to buy a huge volume including many units that won’t be used.
- Sequential: The material is presented in an organized and sequential manner; however, the units may be used in any order desired.
- Enjoyable: Exploring ancient works, engaging in memorable activities, initiating research projects: History will probably become your children’s favorite subject!
View all History Links unit studies
What are Unit Studies?
Traditional Approach
Traditionally, school subjects are taught in parallel. There are reading primers to teach reading, spelling books to teach spelling, vocabulary lists to teach vocabulary, catechism books to teach religion, and so on. This method of teaching is insurance for the teacher that she has covered every element needed in each subject. But does it guarantee that the students are learning, remembering, and applying what they are studying? Not necessarily. The hours are filled with laborious tasks but retention is often poor, especially for the active or less scholarly child.
The Unit Study Approach
In contrast, unit studies weave all the subjects together. If the unit being studied is Ancient Egypt, the student will read books about Egypt for his reading class and he will study the words with which he is unfamiliar for his vocabulary and spelling class. Map skills and library skills are mastered as he researches the Nile River and the Egyptian climate. He finds out about the preservation and decay of organic material while probing the mummification process. Investigating the construction of the pyramids affords the younger student the opportunity to learn about square pyramids while the older student explores geometric principles. The mythological beliefs of these ancient people are compared to the truths of the Christian faith. Appropriate lessons from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Sacred Scriptures are pondered, and memorized as necessary, to build a firm awareness of our Faith. Opportunities for developing virtue are offered to solidify these precepts.
The Final Product
With unit studies, many subjects are interwoven around one central theme, producing a beautiful, unique tapestry that is sturdy and resilient. Although no two tapestries will be the same because each family will tailor the units for their family, every finished piece will be strong, the strength coming from the firm understanding attained from a multi-sensory, integrated study program. Concepts learned in this fashion will be remembered long after the books are shut and the classes are a distant memory. Woven cloth will stand the tests of time.