High School US History II Curriculum
Whether you are a full-time homeschooler or a parent who is looking to supplement learning for your high schooler, Time4Learning’s online US History II curriculum has the flexibility and support that you seek.
Our US History II curriculum is a continuation of the study of American history from the Industrial Revolution through the modern age (our US History I course covers from the Era of Exploration through the Industrial Revolution).
Learn how you can customize your child’s learning with Time4Learning, and how we can help your students reach their learning targets.
How to Teach US History II
While teaching US History can be rewarding, particularly when your child is interested in social studies, it can also be challenging because students need to understand why the material is relevant to their own lives. There are often a lot of dates and names, and some of the topics require an understanding of complex relationships and backgrounds. Luckily, you are not the first parent to attempt this journey, and there are some things you can do to help your child succeed.
Below are a few tips to help you teach US History II to your high schooler:
- Begin lessons by activating prior knowledge. This will help you discover what your child already knows and allow you to fill in any gaps.
- Vary your instruction so that your child is reading some material, listening to some content, and learning through hands-on activities, writing, and discussion.
- Ensure that your high schooler has an area to work that is free from distractions and contains all the necessary supplies.
- Teenagers love to express their opinions, so ask for their thoughts on political decisions, controversial events, and other aspects of American history.
- High schoolers are also very busy with balancing work, academics, social lives, and preparations for life after high school, so help your child create a schedule that works.
- Access photographs and images on the Internet to make social studies come alive.
- Consider field trips to history museums, and, if you can, to locations relevant to what your child is learning.
- Don’t be afraid to make learning fun just because you are teaching a teenager and see if you can role-play or create active timelines or learn vocabulary while shooting hoops.
- Keep track of your child’s progress and monitor use of strategies for note taking, studying, reading, writing, and test-taking.
- Try using our free unit study supplements on all 50 states when it makes sense to expand their knowledge and vocabulary.
- Check out our free unit study supplements on American presidents too!
US History II Objectives
Part of teaching US History II effectively is being able to identify learning goals and objectives for your high schooler. The US History II curriculum targets the understanding of many concepts and the practice of numerous skills. Identify measurable goals and objectives that will allow you to easily assess your child’s progress.
Throughout our US History II curriculum, students will have the opportunity to:
- Compare and contrast the beliefs of Marxism/Socialism and American democracy/ capitalism.
- Analyze the reasons for the rise of nativism in response to immigration.
- Assess the impact of the transcontinental railroad on transportation, settlement, and the frontier.
- Describe the achievements of the progressive movement.
- Explain the factors behind the US acquisition of Alaska and Hawaii and describe how these acquisitions occurred.
- Analyze the changing role of women in American society.
- Evaluate how war production helped to end the Great Depression.
- Explain the effects of World War II, such as the consequences of warfare, the establishment of the United Nations, and the creation of new political states.
- Explain the opposing postwar goals of the US and the USSR that led to the Cold War.
- Analyze how civil rights advocacy groups used nonviolent resistance techniques to achieve their goals.
- Examine the reasons for increased US military involvement in Vietnam.
- Describe the economic climate of the late 1970s.
- Discuss the historical significance of the 2008 presidential election.
- Organize and write a clear, coherent argumentative essay that is based on reason and evidence and uses a style appropriate to the purpose and audience.
Why Choose Time4Learning US History II Homeschool Curriculum?
The US History II curriculum is one of four history courses offered at the high school level. US History II is taught using a combination of multimedia lessons, instructional videos, quizzes, tests and both online and offline projects.
As high school students progress in their US history studies, they will learn to identify various perspectives and construct compelling arguments backed by solid inquiry and research. Our combination of experienced teachers, interactive lessons and entertaining activities provide students with the opportunity to analyze how social and political movements like populism and progressivism affected change in US society.
The topics presented across our American History 2 course will help students explain how the United States achieved its role as a world power, as well as describe the effects of US involvement in different wars.
Below are just some of the benefits that come with using Time4Learning’s US History II curriculum:
As a Full Curriculum
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As a Supplement
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