All American History is a two-volume U.S. history curriculum from Bright Ideas Press that teaches American history as an engaging narrative, covering exploration through the 21st century for grades 5-12.
What is All American History?
All American History by Celeste W. Rakes presents U.S. history as a captivating story rather than a collection of dates and facts. Published by Bright Ideas Press, this two-volume curriculum emphasizes how people actually lived during each era—their food, clothing, games, and daily routines. Volume I covers the Age of Exploration through the Jacksonian era, while Volume II continues from the Civil War to contemporary America. Each volume contains 32 weekly lessons designed for one full school year, making it a two-year complete American history program.
Key Takeaways
- Two volumes cover U.S. history comprehensively from early exploration through the 21st century
- Narrative approach reads like a story rather than a traditional textbook
- Designed for grades 5-12 with adaptable content for multi-age family learning
- Includes student reader, activity book, and teacher guide with hands-on project suggestions
- All American History Junior edition available for K-4th grade students
How Lessons Are Structured
Each weekly lesson follows three parts: "The Atmosphere" sets the historical scene, "The Event" delivers the narrative of what happened, and "The Impact" summarizes key takeaways in bullet points. This structure helps students understand both the context and significance of historical events. The teacher's guide provides activity suggestions, research project ideas, and extensive supplementary book recommendations for families wanting to dig deeper into specific topics.
Multi-Age Flexibility
One of All American History's strengths is its suitability for teaching multiple children together. The main curriculum targets middle and high school students, but the Junior edition adapts the same content for elementary students with age-appropriate literature guides, simpler map work, and notebooking pages. Families can read the narrative portions together, then have each child complete activities appropriate to their level. This makes it practical for homeschool families without requiring separate history programs for each child.
Christian Worldview Integration
All American History approaches U.S. history from a Christian perspective, examining how faith influenced American political and cultural development. The integration is natural rather than heavy-handed—the curriculum tells the story of America while acknowledging the role religious beliefs played. Families seeking secular American history options would need to look elsewhere, but those comfortable with faith-based education will find the worldview woven thoughtfully throughout.
The Bottom Line
All American History offers a refreshing alternative to dry textbook approaches. The narrative style captures student interest while the structured lesson format ensures comprehensive coverage. It works particularly well for families teaching multiple ages together or parents who want an easy-to-implement curriculum without extensive preparation. At roughly $68 for the complete package, it represents solid value. Just know that higher-level high school students may need supplementary materials for depth, and the Christian perspective defines the curriculum's approach throughout.
