Laura Berquist, the author of Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum, has created syllabi to make the implementation of classical methodology much easier. Based upon recommendations she makes in that book, she has fleshed out complete courses for high school level. Examples of these courses available for history, literature, and government are:
- U.S. History and American Literature
- Ancient History and Literature
- Medieval English and Spanish History and Literature
- Medieval European History and Literature
- American Government and Economics (A Beka)
- Advanced American Government and Economics
One example of the types of books studied is The Ancient History and Literature Syllabus which uses Walter Carroll's The Founding of Christendom as the primary text. Among other resources are the Bible, Plutarch's Lives, Antigone, Pygmalion, Julius Caesar by Shakespeare, and The Histories by Herodotus. (Suggested for tenth grade.)
Think of these courses as "Great Books" versions of literature-based history courses such as those from Beautiful Feet Books. The courses integrate reading from the primary books and historical fiction with the creation of timelines, suggested activities and field trips, video viewing, research papers, and oral presentations. You will probably need to borrow some of the resources from the library since there will be too many for most families to purchase.
