Description
** This is a YEAR long honors-level online US History class – 2 semesters. Both semesters must be completed to receive credit for the class **
Students will learn US History through videos, interactive websites, simulations, games, primary documents, etc. No textbooks – but they will have to read one history-related book of their own choosing. The students’ mastery of the material will be assessed through quizzes and assignments (these will include creating posters, newspapers, videos etc).
History should NOT be associated with dry facts and a list of dates. It is a story created by fascinating characters and that’s how this class will be taught. It is also not something irrelevant because it happened a long time ago. This class will constantly encourage the students to ask “So what?” as they delve into the past. This is what makes it Honors level – students have to use critical thinking.
The amount of time it will take students will depend on their familiarity with online technology as well as their process skills and study habits.
The course is loosely based on The Americans . Student do NOT need to buy the textbook. This is just for reference in case your umbrella school likes a textbook listed.
Here is a video taking you through one module.
Instructor: Meryl van der Merwe – meryl@fundafunda.com
Hours: 4 to 6 hours per week
For: Grades 9 -12 (we suggest only advanced 9th graders enroll)
Credit Hours: 1 High School Credit on completion of both semesters
Full Syllabus: Available here
Fall Dates: August 18 – Dec 12 (with a week’s break over Thanksgiving)
Spring Dates: January 5 – May 1 (any week in March can be taken for Spring break)
View One Module Here
Anna Perkins –
This was such an incredible class. I absolutely loved it! It did have a bit of a heavy workload but was still very easy to not get behind. It was unbiased and was very thought provoking. It helped me to form my own opinions on matters rather than following the crowd like I had done previously. Mrs. Meryl’s teaching style is so much fun and helps people like me who are not huge school lovers to actual be very excited to go to class. I would definitely recommend this class to anyone who might be interested. It is well worth your time!
Charis Guilford –
Prior to taking this class I had done a very in depth history curriculum for several years. That history curriculum was very focused on events and dates and people and places. Essentially, the facts. This American History is event-focused and fact-focused, but it also includes a focus on the motivations behind the movements. There is space to reflect on what you have learned and to share your opinion. I had never really had a place to think about historical events: whether or not I agreed with them, what I might have done, how the events impacted future events or were inspired by events from the past, etc. I enjoyed working through that this year and I would highly recommend this class.
Leon Rapoport –
Great class!
This class is a very unique class in a sense that instead of featuring weekly or monthly tests, it is more centered around giving students the knowledge they need. The class provides a very unbiased opinion of all of the key events in United States history and presents them very well, making them both interesting and memorable.
Overall, I enjoyed this class and learned a lot.
Highly recommended!!
Joshua Gregg –
This is one of the greatest history classes I have every taken. Miss Meryl takes a look at history and makes us think critically about the choices that were made. You will walk out of this class as a smarter person and, by the end, know the full story of American history, both the good, and the very very bad.
Alex Reasoner –
This class is a phenomenal way to get an in-depth summary of just about all of American history. What I particularly enjoyed about it is that unlike most other history classes, it isn’t just a simple memorization of facts and dates. Rather, there are clever and creatively designed assignments that force you to really put that extra level of thought into it. Because of that, it not only makes the class a lot more fun, but helped me remember the things I learned far better.
Ava Cook –
I loved this class!! I do not typically enjoy history classes and do not obtain any knowledge from them, but this class was completely different. This curriculum was very engaged me and I have learned some very important knowledge that I can now use in essays, and other fields of life.
Chance Jones –
This class was pretty great. It was filled with many fun and interesting assignments, but I also learned a ton. Doing the end of module reflections were good too because I was able to see what my classmates thought as well. Overall a very good class.
Andy Belcher –
I think this class was the best history class I’ve taken. From a person who doesn’t usually like history let me tell you, this is a great class. There is a lot of work, but as long as you stay on top of it from the beginning you won’t have much of a problem. This class is very interactive, there are so many crazy and imaginative assignments. This class is a lot of fun, and the wide variety of ways Ms. Meryl makes the assignments are bound to keep your attention throughout the year.
Grace Wessel –
This class was the best history course I’ve ever taken. Although the workload was heavy, if you just do a couple assignments a day you won’t get behind. Also, the assignments were interactive and interesting and taught me a lot about US history. Mrs Meryl is a wonderful teacher too. I would definitely recommend this class to anyone who wants to learn a lot of history and are willing to work hard.
Christian Govig –
I enjoyed the class, it is fun, you learn loads of new things, and the way it’s all presented allows you to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and think about the event. I also learned a fair bit about politics and it has helped me to form my own opinion instead of just following the media.
Righter Cressman –
This is an outstanding course. It’s extremely well-designed, and gave me the most enriching experience I’ve had in a high-school class so far. I greatly appreciate the work Mrs. Van der Merwe has put into creating the course and teaching us throughout the school year, even when times became more difficult. One thing I might add is that the course and the workload are quite intensive, as you are required to exercise critical thinking skills on a regular basis. However, as someone who enjoys history immensely, it was not an issue for me. If you would rather learn history in a creative, hands-on, and constructive way than from reading a chapter in a textbook and forgetting it the next week, this course is definitely right up your alley.
Katie Sharpe –
This a very informative class, and it really makes you think about each aspect of the events in US History and what it was like for the people involved. I enjoyed many of the assignments, and I think it was really cool to see so many of the primary documents (as well as video and audio) from the actual time periods. This class is very time consuming, but I would say that this is a good class for anyone willing to put in a lot of time to get a better understanding and knowledge of US History.
Ibrahim –
I loved this class very much. I love having no tests and quizzes. It puts less stress on me. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to increase their knowledge for U.S. History.
Noor –
Mrs. Meryl knows how to teach you in a fun, interactive way. I never felt like I was doing work, and every time I was doing assignments my siblings would gather around me and think I was playing a game and not doing my school. I would recommend her class to anyone who wants to have fun while learning
Ainslee Rogers –
Mrs. van der Merwe is very nice and supportive. She provides help when you need to fix an assignment that you got a lower grade on. The biggest problem, in my opinion, is the sheer amount of work expected to be done in a week. The way the work could be done was nice, though. Coming from someone who just started homeschool this year (2017-2018), I think the way you submit your assignments is a big relief from the Farragut method (writing it on paper and handing it in).
Christina Sanchez Quinata –
If you want class that will provide your child with a watered down version of not so pretty periods in our nation’s history, this class is not for you. This class will be honest and educational to your teen about things that have happened in our history and it does so in a way that challenges them to think critically with a wealth of resources and activities. I cannot say enough about this class and what it has provided my son educationally.
Abbey Bickers –
I loved this class. She is an amazing teacher and actually helps you learn. This class can be challenging, so if you don’t like a challenge or don’t try I would not advise you take this. The material used, is fun and doesn’t incorporate test, but does have quizzes and can have difficult assignments. This class helps you get a better understanding of so many different perspectives in history and does is unbias allowing you to form your own opinions on history. If you are hesitant about taking, but love learning not just about wars and movements but also people, then this is the class for you.
Lindsey –
The is one of the best opportunities available to learn US History. It encourages you to think about events, and it presents multiple facets of US History. I was a student in this class for the 2017-2018 school year, and getting to this class was always a highlight of my week. While it is extremely educational, it is also fun and I really enjoyed working through the modules. It is very well organized and is a creative and productive way to learn history. While learning History, I also gained time management skills, computer skills, and writing/speaking skills. I would definitely recommend this class to anyone!
Elizabeth Bosse –
If you are looking for an interesting, informative, and challenging U.S. history class, you have made an excellent choice. I took this class Fall 2017 through Spring 2018 and have learned more about U.S. history from it than all my previous classes combined. It is a difficult class, but rewarding. You will have to answer in-depth questions and examine your own stance on many issues. There will be no easy memorization of a few facts to pass. Be fully prepared to work hard. This course requires creativity and independent thinking. But then again, what great class doesn’t?
Cristian Quinata –
This is one of the best US history courses I’ve ever taken. It is very strait forward, unbiased towards one side of the fence, and overall does not sugarcoat any of the events discussed. I would definitely recommend this class to anyone looking for a great US history course.
Patrick Daigle –
Ready to go back in time?
I took this class in the 2017 – 2018 school year, and I absolutely loved it. The best part about it is that there are no textbooks; instead, primary resources are a big hand in the assignments. I’ve learned more history in this class than all my other history classes combined (and being a sophomore, that’s saying something). Mrs. van der Merwe also does a great job of making the class as balanced as possible. While some history books have some bias based on some crazy reason, she makes sure that you get the full story. It made everything feel so real, especially with the several activities throughout the course, like games and projects, plus engaging videos, like Crash Course. And with the Honors stuff, you really dive deep into the history, and learn way more than you ever could by reading a textbook. I’d also recommend it for preparation for the AP US History exam; I’ll be taking it in about two weeks, and I feel that this class has made me very prepared for it.