Oak Meadow World History Curriculum Review

Summary of Oak Meadow World History Homeschool Curriculum Review:

  • Grades: 9th-12th
  • Subject: Social Studies, High School History
  • Category: Non-Religious, Secular
  • Format: Print-based with optional online support
  • Price: $465

Oak Meadow’s High School World History offers a well-rounded, rich exploration of history from the Neolithic Revolution in 10,000 BCE to our modern times. This curriculum is designed for high school students and emphasizes critical thinking and hands-on learning. It is ideal for families seeking a flexible, literature-rich, and creative approach to world history.

Oak Meadow World History Strengths

  • Engaging and Global Perspective: stands out for its inclusive view of world history. This curriculum doesn’t just focus on Western civilizations – it also highlights African, Asian, Indigenous, and Middle Eastern cultures. The narrative style of the main textbook helps students connect emotionally and intellectually with the material.
  • Creative Project-Based Learning: keeps students interested and motivated through projects like building a model of a Neolithic village, writing a historical newspaper, or creating a board game based on the Silk Road.
  • Literature Integration: The curriculum includes both historical fiction and primary source documents. The inclusion of both types encourages students to explore history through multiple lenses. This is especially appealing to those families who appreciate a Charlotte Mason or classical approach to homeschooling.
  • Critical Thinking Emphasis: Students are asked to analyze, reflect, and form their interpretation instead of relying heavily on memorization. Assignments include essays, document analysis, and open-ended questions that promote deep thinking.
  • Flexible and Self-Paced: Families can choose to use the curriculum independently or with Oak Meadow’s accredited distance learning school. It works well for both structured and relaxed homeschoolers.

Challenges

  • Writing Intensive: Some families may be looking for a writing intense curriculum, and if so, Oak Meadow’s World History would be a win. There is a significant amount of writing. While this is an excellent preparation for college prep students, some students may struggle with the amount and level of composition required.
  • Parent involvement: Though this curriculum is designed for independent learners, younger high school students may find this course challenging and need a substantial amount of parent support. In addition, students with learning differences may need extensive parent involvement.
  • Cost: The cost is pretty substantial for one social studies/history course. Oak Meadow is often considered a premium curriculum and the price of World History reflects that. Some families may feel that the quality of the curriculum justifies the price tag, but it may not be a good fit for those on a tight budget.

Oak Meadow’s High School World History Course is Ideal For:

  • Students who enjoy language arts expression: reading, writing, and creative expression
  • Families seeking a secular, holistic, and globally inclusive curriculum
  • Homeschoolers who value flexibility and interdisciplinary learning
  • Learners who thrive with project-based and narrative-driven instruction

Core Themes that this World History Course Covered

  • Hierarchy and Community
    • How societies are structured and governed.
  • Migration and Exchange
    • Movement of people, goods, and ideas across regions.
  • Humans and the Environment
    • Interaction between human societies and the natural world.
  • Progress and Its Consequences
    • The dual nature of historical progress—benefits and costs.

What’s included in the World History: Communities and Connections Course Package

  • World History: Communities and Connections Coursebook
    • Purpose: This is the main guide for the course, providing weekly lessons, assignments, and project prompts.
    • Content: It covers 36 weeks of instruction, from the Neolithic Revolution to the modern era, organized around four key themes: Hierarchy and Community, Migration and Exchange, Humans and the Environment, and Progress and Its Consequences.
    • Features: Weekly readings and writing assignments
    • Creative and research-based projects
    • Primary source analysis
    • Semester review and capstone projects
  • Worlds Together Worlds Apart
    • Publisher: W.W. Norton
    • Purpose: This is the primary textbook used for historical content.
    • Content: A global history text that emphasizes interconnectedness across civilizations. It presents history through a comparative and thematic lens, rather than a strictly chronological or Western-centric one.
    • Strengths: Rich visuals and maps
    • Diverse perspectives and voices
    • Strong focus on global interactions and cultural exchanges
  • Documents in World History Volume 1 & 2
    • Purpose: These volumes provide curated primary source documents from different historical periods and regions.
    • Volume 1: Covers ancient civilizations through the early modern period.
    • Volume 2: Covers the Enlightenment through the 21st century.
    • Use in Curriculum: Students analyze these documents to practice sourcing, contextualization, and critical thinking.
    • Assignments often ask students to compare perspectives or evaluate historical arguments.

Additional Materials That Are Recommended

  • History of the World Map by Map
    • Purpose: A visual atlas that helps students understand the geographic context of historical events.
    • Features: Over 140 detailed maps
    • Timelines and infographics
    • Thematic spreads on trade, empires, wars, and migrations
    • Benefit: Enhances spatial awareness and supports visual learners
  • World History: Communities and Connections Teacher Edition
  • Students also need to obtain two additional books for two longer semester projects: a book-length primary source and a book of historical fiction.

 

Parent Reviewer Comments:

We enjoyed the course. However, it was a bit overwhelming when we unpacked the box and saw SO MANY books. I believe my high schooler was starting to panic. After we read through the overall plan and got a sense for the structure of the course, it made sense. The books are beautifully illustrated and very interesting.  We tried to simplify the process as much as possible and came up with a basic plan that worked for us. I do believe that this course helped my student develop skills in analyzing primary sources, identifying bias and perspective, and writing argumentative essays.