All American History

Name: All American History
Brand: Bright Ideas Press

by Bright Ideas Press

Social_studiesGrades 5–8

About This Curriculum

A complete two-year U.S. history curriculum that tells America's story through engaging narratives focusing on how people lived, bringing history to life piece by piece.

What makes it unique: Story-based approach emphasizing social and cultural aspects of history with thematic units focusing on how people lived, what they ate, and what games they played

All American History: Literature-Based Multi-Level U.S. History Program

All American History is a two-volume U.S. history curriculum from Bright Ideas Press designed for grades 5-8 that can adapt for K-12. It uses engaging narrative-style student readers combined with activity books and comprehensive teacher guides to tell America's story through how people lived.

Best for

Homeschool families with mixed-age students (grades 5-8 primarily) who want a structured yet flexible U.S. history program with strong teacher support and adaptable activities

Evaluation Criteria

3 strengths · 3 neutral · 1 insufficient evidence

Teacher TrainingStrength

The comprehensive teacher guides provide extensive support with detailed answer keys, activity suggestions, and differentiation guidance for multiple grade levels.

Teacher's guides include 'lengthy suggested responses,' 'additional activity suggestions and recommended reading lists for three levels,' and 'checklists at the end of each unit to help you plan'

Direct InstructionStrength

The curriculum facilitates direct instruction through structured student readers and comprehensive teacher guides with detailed lesson plans.

The teacher's guides include 'reduced reproductions of all student activity book pages with completed answers' and 'lengthy suggested responses for open-ended questions' to support direct teaching

Geographic KnowledgeStrength

The curriculum incorporates substantial geography instruction through dedicated map work and activities.

Multiple reviews highlight 'map work,' 'map forms,' and 'extensive map work' as key components, with the Teacher's Guide providing 'mapwork suggestions'

Primary SourcesNeutral

The curriculum includes some primary sources like the Declaration of Independence and Constitution in appendices, but primary source engagement appears limited.

Reviews mention that 'The text of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are included in an appendix in both volumes,' but no other primary source materials are specifically described

Retrieval PracticeNeutral

The curriculum includes regular review through end-of-chapter questions, unit tests, and summary activities, though spaced review is not explicitly described.

Reviews mention 'review questions for each lesson,' 'a test at the end of each unit,' and 'brief summary of key points concludes each chapter'

Chronological KnowledgeNeutral

The curriculum covers U.S. history chronologically across two volumes from explorers to the 21st century, though reviewers noted some confusing jumps within lessons.

Volume 1 covers 'The Explorers to the Jacksonians' and Volume 2 covers 'The Civil War to the 21st Century,' but one reviewer complained that 'the Student Reader jumps around chronologically, sometimes confusing students about which historical figure is being discussed'

Vocabulary BuildingInsufficient Evidence

Explicit vocabulary instruction is not clearly described in the available reviews.

Reviews focus on narrative content and activities but do not mention specific vocabulary development components or strategies

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com, chatterandclatter.blogspot.com