A Fun American Cultural History Curriculum by Charla Virkler

My daughter-in-law Charla homeschools our three grandchildren, and she has created something exciting that I want to share with you! - MV

How many people sat through history, learning dates and facts about wars and conquests, wondering what it really felt like to live in those days? Realizing that there was far more to American history than names and dates, I set off to create an elementary homeschooling curriculum centered around the part that got neglected in most history books: the way normal people lived through the ages! 

Here's an example of the kind of fun things you'll discover...

Coloring. It seems like something that's always been an activity for kids, doesn't it? But how long has it really been a part of childhood?

Here are four things connected to coloring. Either write down, or at least hold in your head, the order you think they were invented. I'll tell you later when each thing came about.

• coloring books
• crayons
• markers
• colored pencils

It's hard to imagine what kids would do for fun...and for kindergarten...without crayons. But believe it or not, they weren't always around!
(actually, neither was kindergarten, but that's not what this is about)

Before I found out when things were actually invented, I was doing a bit of a chicken-or-the-egg fight with myself on which part could possibly come first. Are you ready to find out?

The colored pencil was the first invention! They were around in the early 19th century. I guess that makes sense: you could have drawn your own pictures on plain paper.
Coloring books came next, in the 1880s.
Crayons were a 1903 invention (by Crayola).
The final addition was markers, in 1953!
 

What Was it Like? is a brand-new history curriculum developed by Charla Virkler. What started out as a project for her children gradually took shape into something others can enjoy and learn from.

Check out whatwasitlike.school to learn more and to get it at a great discount during its introductory sale!