The Classics

The Helping Hand

The Classics is a unit study approach based primarily on literature that relates to American history. There are ten units (volumes) from which to choose. The scope and sequence shows American history coverage beginning with exploration and colonization of North America in the first unit, up through World War I and the Great Depression in the tenth unit.

The titles of available units are The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Johnny Tremain, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Ben and Me, Little House on the Prairie, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Across Five Aprils, Old Yeller, Mama’s Bank Account, and Charlotte’s Web.

Each unit consists of a Teacher’s Edition and a Student Activity Book with reproducible pages. Both are packaged together within a single binder that has divider tabs. Extra Student Activity Pages (specific for either grades 3-4 or grades 5-6) are available for $15 each if you choose to purchase them rather than to reproduce pages for additional students.

Lessons are geared for students in grades 3-6, although they might be stretched without much difficulty for younger and older students. Activities within the lesson plans are given approximate grade level designations so you can easily spot those likely to be appropriate for each child. Each unit should take 12 to 15 weeks to complete, although most families take longer. There are a number of lesson plan options presented so each family can work out a schedule that suits them.

Each unit revolves around a single novel, with all subject areas except math taught in reference to the novel. Subject areas are divided into language arts, history and geography, science and health, and moral and ethical values. (Moral and ethical teaching is tied to the Bible and Christian principles, although there is no sectarian doctrine.) Language arts is further divided into creative writing, vocabulary, English, reading, critical thinking, and spelling. Daily lesson plans are provided for language arts, then you choose from the other subject areas according to the level of each child. (You should not attempt to do everything in the book.)

While the Student Activity Book is rather bulky, the variety of activities included prevents comparison with typical workbook activity. In fact, some of the student pages are activity descriptions rather than work sheets. You can reproduce student activity pages for your own children, but some parents will find it more practical to purchase the packets of student activity pages.

Teacher’s Editions include unit evaluation pages that are designed both for testing itself and to provide students with practice filling in little circles as they do on standardized tests. Answer keys are included along with a bibliography of fiction, non-fiction, and biographies for supplemental reading.

The language arts instruction seems to be a very strong area. Feedback I have received from users of The Classics has praised the writing instruction and daily writing activities, often a weak point in other unit study curricula for these grade levels.

A variety of learning methods are used to meet children’s learning style needs. Parents who need structure while their children need variety and hands-on activity will find this a comfortable option that provides the security they need. It differs from KONOS and The Weaver type unit studies in its use of work pages, inclusion of complete language arts instruction, a more-structured approach, and indirect, sporadic Bible-related teaching. (Most of us will want to provide Bible/religion instruction in greater depth than is provided here.) Most of the lesson preparation work has been done for us. You will have to gather some materials, but activities generally require inexpensive materials that are usually found around the home.

You do need a copy of the novel that accompanies each unit, as well as a math program, and an encyclopedia. The Helping Hand sells the novels and other supplemental resources, although not all are listed on their website. (They also recommend and sell World Book.)

To begin in The Classics, I recommend that you commit to this approach for one year, and purchase a Combo Set that includes three different units of your choice. I am impressed with the wealth of material included in The Classics, the thoroughness of topic coverage, and the ease of use.