The Curious Historian 3A

A one-semester course for grades 7 and up

The Curious Historian Level 3 is the third part in a 3-level series that presents the study of history and culture from the beginnings of civilization (Mesopotamia and Egypt) through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Students will grow excited about history, see how people throughout the ages were both similar to and different from themselves, and learn to be scholars of the past who can make a difference in the future. The Curious Historian Level 3A: The Early Middle Ages (TCH3A) introduces students to:

• Unit I: The Divided World of the Early Middle Ages
• The twilight of the western Roman Empire
• The feudal kingdoms of western Europe
• The rise of Islam
• Unit II: The Carolingian Age
• The empire of Charlemagne
• The Vikings
• The Byzantine Empire
• The expansion of western Christendom
• The Normans
• Unit III: The Eastern World
• China through an intermediate period to the Sui and Tang dynasties
• The Gupta Empire and arrival of Islam in India
• Islamic and Byzantine civilizations

The Curious Historian teacher’s editions include detailed teacher notes and tips, a suggested weekly schedule, answer keys for all exercises, and sample responses and prompts for the discussion questions.

The Curious Historian's Archive: Extra Resources for Level 3A is a collection of supplemental materials that correspond with The Curious Historian Level 3A: The Early Middle Ages. The digital files include:

*Please note: the streamable audio files will be available in My Library upon purchase.

• Songs: It is a well-known fact that students rarely forget what they sing! TCH3A includes 4 catchy and entertaining songs that you and your students will enjoy singing in class and even as you go about the rest of your day. The unit songs summarize the key events and cultural pieces included in the chapters. The fourth tune, “Top 12 Things to Remember from TCH3A,” is a great way for students to impress their friends and family with the most interesting tidbits about the early Middle Ages! The lyrics are found in appendix A, and a PDF download of the song lyrics is included in the support resources for easy reference if your students want to sing in the car, on vacation, or at a friend’s house. A song icon in the text will prompt you to introduce each chapter’s verses to students at the beginning of each lesson. Sample songs coming soon!
• TCH3A Profiles and Legends (PDF): This collection of optional readings is intended to complement the TCH3A chapters by introducing students to some of the more famous tales of medieval history—such as the story of Odo of Bayeux—that we did not have room for in our text. The Profile pieces shed further light on interesting historical achievements by important figures, such as Amalasuintha, Alcuin, and Æthelflæd, whom we could only spend a limited amount of space discussing in the context of each chapter.
• Biblical Connections in TCH3A (PDF): For teachers and parents who would like to integrate religious history/biblical studies with their study of ancient history, we have created a supplemental PDF that draws connections to biblical history and locations, scripture verses, and so forth. Icons in the teacher’s edition indicate when to reference this optional PDF resource.
• The Curious Historian’s Reading Guide for TCH3A (PDF): For those who would like to continue their exploration of medieval history beyond the pages of our text, we have supplied a recommended reading list, featuring titles for both students and teachers. This PDF includes clickable links for easy browsing and purchasing.
• Guide to Holding a Medieval Day Event (PDF): A great way for students to review what they have learned in their study of the Middle Ages is a daylong event that celebrates medieval history. This guide for hosting such an event at your school or homeschool co-op includes plans for multiple learning stations, an immersive monastery experience, medieval games, a mystery play, and a catapult battle. 
• “Master Supply List for the Medieval Day Event” (PDF): This master supply list includes all the materials required for the Medieval Day Event in a convenient, printable checklist.
• Guide to Holding a Medieval Day Event (PDF): A great way for students to review what they have learned in their study of the Middle Ages is a daylong event that celebrates medieval history. This guide for hosting such an event at your school or homeschool co-op includes plans for multiple learning stations, an immersive monastery experience, medieval games, a mystery play, and a catapult battle. 
• “Master Supply List for the Medieval Day Event” (PDF): This master supply list includes all the materials required for the Medieval Day Event in a convenient, printable checklist.
• The “Top 12 Things to Remember from TCH3A” (PDF): This beautifully designed and convenient reference sheet can be posted in the classroom or distributed to students.
• Map Exercises (PDF): The unit review chapters in TCH3A feature exercises that challenge students to recall geographic and political features included in the chapter maps. These printable versions of the map exercises can be used for review or assessment. Answer keys are included.
• Unit Time Lines (PDF): Featured in the unit introductions and appendix E, the 3 fully designed unit time lines are provided for download so they can be printed and displayed.
• The Medieval Civilizations Timetable (PDF): A digital version of the timetable in appendix F can be projected in the classroom or printed.

Plus: A supplemental Go Deeper PDF will be available to view for free! This resource includes additional information to share with your students or explore for your own interest: fun tidbits, links to museum collections of artifacts, links to virtual tours of medieval ruins and other key sites, and much more. Icons in the teacher’s edition indicate when to reference this optional resource.

“We believe that history is about more than memorizing dates, reciting lists of kings and emperors, and remembering who won which battle in wars that changed the world forever. History is also the study of the people who lived during those events. From the beginning of recorded time, people have invented new ways to do things, created beauty in dreary places, and erected buildings and monuments that continue to inspire us. Some of these people became well-known figures and others were ordinary men and women like you and me. But all of us are part of the greater tree of humankind, and we each need to know what our part is as a leaf upon that tree. Without an understanding of the past, we will be less equipped to live in the present and plan for the future.” —Dr. Christopher Perrin