Galloping the Globe and Cantering the Country

Geography is the curriculum's primary strength, systematically covering world geography by continent and U.S. geography by state.

Students study the seven continents and selected countries, learn geography terms, complete map work, and fill in outline maps with key information

The curriculum does not emphasize primary source documents, instead relying on secondary sources like biographies and reference books.

Activities focus on reading from recommended books, core texts, and websites rather than engaging with historical documents or primary sources

The curriculum provides minimal direct instruction, instead offering activity suggestions that require parents to create their own lessons.

Parents must 'choose activities selectively' from 'lots of reading and activity suggestions' rather than following structured lessons

The curriculum does not provide chronological or comprehensive history coverage, focusing instead on scattered biographical and cultural topics.

Review states 'history coverage is not chronological or comprehensive, so you might want to use other resources for children beyond about third grade level'

The curriculum provides suggested scheduling and general instructions but minimal pedagogical guidance for effective social studies instruction.

Includes 'suggested scheduling options at the front of the book with general instructions' but limited support for content knowledge or teaching strategies

The curriculum includes some review through notebook compilation and activity sheets but lacks systematic retrieval practice.

Students compile information in binders and complete activity sheets with answer keys, but no explicit spaced review or retrieval practice mentioned

The curriculum includes some vocabulary instruction through geography terms but lacks systematic social studies vocabulary development.

Geography sections list 'terms for children to learn, although some lessons omit the geography category'