K-12 Social Studies Sequence

I’ll admit it: I don’t love the four-year history cycle. With all due respect to homeschoolers for whom it is the organizing principle of, well, everything, it just doesn’t work for me.

So what do I recommend instead? My preferred approach makes more room for the study of geography and civics. It also makes space for state history, which is required in some places. Here’s what it looks like.

Grade	Social Studies Topic
K	[Geography]
1	[Geography] [World History]
2	[Geography] [World History]
3	World History
4	World History
5	World History
6	American History w/Civics Unit
7	American History w/State History Unit
8	Geography
9	World History I
10	World History II
11	American History
12	Civics/Economics w/Current Events study

 

• Topics in brackets may be taught informally through read-alouds or in conjunction with other subjects. For example,  Exploring the World through Story combines geography with world literature.
• Supplement spines with other materials. See The Well-Trained Mind or Build Your Library for ideas.
• Check for updates to the NY State outlines linked above.

Copyright 2021 by Drew Campbell, PhD. All rights reserved.

Drew Campbell is the author of  Living Memory, I Speak Latin, and Exploring the World through Story, and co-author, with Courtney Ostaff and Jennifer Naughton, of How to Homeschool the Kids You Have. Dr. Campbell is a veteran homeschooler and has worked as a classroom teacher, private school administrator, and independent tutor.