• Develops literacy, vocabulary!
• Introduces & explores key people and events in history!
• Fun, hands-on activities!
• Develops critical thinking skills!
• Works well for any-aged student developing literacy!
• Lesson plans are complete and ready to use!  Start now!

I've been using this along with Step 2 History - Leader I book with my 2nd grader for 2-3 months now. We love this curriculum because it's easy to understand, straight forward, age-appropriate and easy to use. All these without using a dumbed-down text. My son's able to narrate and answer comprehension questions from me once he reads the lesson. He also likes the thought-provoking questions from the author, links to videos/pictures, simple hands-on activities and the ball-stick drawing. It makes the history lesson fun and painless.

Before Steps we used literature-based approach in studying history. However, I found myself, even after the read aloud session, to sometimes have to re-explain the story or certain concept to my son because literature is ..ahem ... wordy. Plus, the books are often too detailed that the big picture is sometimes missed by the student.

With Steps, between the reading and activities/questions, student (well, my son) grasps the story and concepts easily by themselves and with high retention. Talking about painless and effective learning here. My son was able to answer the test questions without even a review and he can relate what he learns in history when he encounters something in real life.

We're happy with this curriculum, and my son told me that he would like to continue with Steps for his next year.  D. D., Homeschool Mom
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The first course in Step 2 History, for Semester 2. History for ages 7-8, and for students of any age who are developing literacy.  Nineteen lessons covering some of the most important leaders (great or terrible or both) in early history.

The student learns about the key accomplishments of:

• Fu Hsi (the first Emperor or China)
• Hammurabi (Babylonian King who wrote a great code of law)
• Nebuchadnezzar II (Babylonian King, a great builder)
• Hatshepsut (Pharaoh of Egypt and the first great female ruler)
• Ramses II (Great Pharaoh of Egypt)
• Solon (Bringer of sane laws to Greece)
• Ashoka (A King of India who spread Buddhism)
• Pericles (Leader of Athens during its Golden Age)
• Alexander the Great (Macedonian conqueror of the world)
• Qin Shi Hunagdi (Chinese Emperor who united China)
• Julius Caesar (Father of the Roman Empire)
• Augustus Caesar (The Roman Empire’s greatest Emperor)
• Hannibal (General from Carthage who terrorized Rome)
• St. Paul (A founder of the Christian Church)
• Nero (Feared Emperor of Rome)
• Constantine (The first Christian King and Emperor)

Early history is revealed through the men and women who helped make it. The student decides what made each leader great or terrible. Students decide for themselves how the works of these historic leaders of nations and movements changed history and the way we live today. At the same time, the student constantly develops vocabulary and study skills. This course is followed by two more history courses for semester 2, covering later historic leaders.