All American History is a two-volume curriculum that presents U.S. history as a story. It emphasizes how people lived in different eras and is designed for middle and high school students, with adaptations for younger learners.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population. Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests.
What is All American History?
All American History by Celeste W. Rakes tells U.S. history as an engaging story. Published by Bright Ideas Press, it focuses on how people lived in each era—what they ate, wore, played, and did daily. Volume I starts from the Age of Exploration to the Jacksonian era. Volume II goes from the Civil War to today. Each volume has 32 weekly lessons, making it a complete two-year history program.
How lessons are structured
Each lesson has three parts. First, 'The Atmosphere' sets the scene. Next, 'The Event' tells the story of what happened. Finally, 'The Impact' gives key takeaways in bullet points. This setup helps you understand historical events better. The teacher's guide includes activity ideas, research projects, and extra book recommendations for families interested in exploring topics further.
Multi-age flexibility
One great thing about All American History is that it's perfect for teaching multiple kids at once. It mainly targets middle and high school students, but there's a Junior edition for younger learners. This version has age-appropriate literature guides, simpler maps, and notebooking pages. Families can read together, and then each child can do activities that suit their level. This makes it easy for BetterSchool families to use without needing separate programs.
Christian worldview integration
All American History shares U.S. history from a Christian viewpoint. It looks at how faith has shaped American culture and politics. The integration is subtle and fits naturally into the story. If you're looking for a secular history option, you might need to check other resources. But families who appreciate faith-based education will find the Christian perspective thoughtfully woven into the curriculum.
The bottom line
All American History is a refreshing break from boring textbooks. Its storytelling style keeps students interested, while the structured lessons cover everything you need. It's especially good for families with kids of different ages or parents seeking an easy-to-use curriculum. At about $68 for the complete package, it’s a solid value. Just keep in mind that older high school students may need extra materials for deeper learning, and the Christian perspective is present throughout.
