Considering BFB? Here's the info you need, Part IV

Today we're returning to our series for those of you who want to know more about BFB. If you're coming here for the first time, check out the previous entries (Part I, Part II, and Part III) for back ground information on our philosophy, the history of how we got started over thirty years ago, and much more. Today, we're answering some of the most frequently asked questions about how to use our curriculum. First, here are links to two articles that answer two of the most common questions we get from parents and teachers: 

Why do you teach American history first?

When should I teach ancient history? 

Once you've understood our philosophy about teaching history in a chronological manner or starting with American history, the next question is naturally, where do I start? Here's our suggested study sequence using BFB:

Primary K-3rd Grade

Early American History (K-3rd grade)
Teaching Character/Primary (K-3rd grade)History of the Horse (3nd-6th grade)  
History of Science (3rd-6th grade) 
Geography through Literature (3rd-7th grades)

4th Grade

Early American History (Primary or Intermediate) 
Ancient History/Intermediate (4th-8th grade) 
History of the Horse (3nd-6th grade) 
History of Science (3rd-6th grade) 
Geography through Literature (3rd-7th grade) 
History of Classical Music (4th-8th grade) 
History of California (4th-6th grade) Semester program 
Teaching Character Through Literature/Intermediate (4th-6th grade) 
The History of Western Expansion (4th-7th grade) Semester program 

5th-6th Grade 

Early American History Intermediate (5th-6th grade) 

Modern American and World History (5th-8th grade)
Ancient History/Intermediate (4th-8th grade)

Medieval History (5th-8th grade)
History of the Horse (3nd-6th grade)
History of Science (3rd-6th grade)
Geography through Literature (3rd-7th grade)
History of Classical Music (4th-8th grade)
History of California (4th-6th grade) Semester program
Teaching Character Through Literature/Intermediate (4th-6th grade)
The History of Western Expansion (4th-7th grade) Semester program

Junior High 7th-8th Grade

Early American and World History (7th-9th grade) 
Ancient History Jr. High (4th-8th grade) 
Medieval History (5th-8th grade) 
History of Classical Music (4th-8th grade)
The History of Western Expansion (4th-7th grade) Semester program

Senior High 9th-12th Grade

Early American and World History (7th-9th grade) 
Ancient History (9th-12th grade) 
Medieval History Sr. High (10th-12th grade) 
US and World History Sr. High Pt I & II (10th-12th grade) 
US and World History Sr. High Pt III & IV (10th-12th grade)

Tomorrow we will provide information on the books that are included in each of our courses! If you need to know now, just click on any title above and you will be taken to our website where you will find a full list of each book required for the course.

We would love to hear what you think! Chime in below in the comments section and share your thoughts. Don't forget to check out our Facebook and Pinterest pages.  To learn more about Beautiful Feet Books, click here.

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FAQ: Books used in our Jr. High and High School Programs

In our previous entry we listed all the books that you read through in our programs for elementary levels, approximately K-6th grade. Now we're going to list all the wonderful books your Jr. High and High School students will read through using our study guides. Remember we offer great discounts on all of our package deals and even offer a Lowest Price Guarantee! Here's the lists:

Ancient History Through Literature for Grades 4-8

• Ancient History Through Literature Study Guide by Rea C. Berg and Rebecca Manor
• Ancient History Timeline
• Streams of Civilization, Volume 1 by Stanton and Hyma
• Streams of Civilization Test Booklet
• Student Bible Atlas by Tim Dowley
• Ancient Greece by Christine Hatt
• Augustus Caesar's World by Genevieve Foster
• The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth Speare
• The Children's Homer by Padraic Colum
• City: A Story of Roman Planning and Construction by David Macaulay
• D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
• The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
• Galen and the Gateway to Medicine by Jeanne Bendick
• Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt by Elizabeth Payne
• Pyramid by David Macaulay
• Tales of Ancient Egypt by Roger Lancelyn Green
• The White Isle by Caroline Dale Snedeker

Medieval History Through Literature for Grades 5-8

• Medieval History Through Literature Study Guide by Rebecca Manor
• Medieval History Timeline
• The European World 400-1450 by Barbara Hanawalt
• Beowulf adapted by Michael Morpurgo
• One Thousand and One Arabian Nights by Geraldine McCaughrean
• Queen Eleanor, Independent Spirit of the Medieval World by Polly Brooks
• The Adventures of Robin Hood by Roger Lancelyn Green
• The Magna Charta by James Daugherty
• Cathedral by David Macaulay
• Castle by David Macaulay
• The Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean
• Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Gray
• The Morning Star of the Reformation by Andy Thompson
• Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
• The Canterbury Tales adapted by Barbara Cohen
• Joan of Arc: Warrior Saint by Jay Williams
• Fine Print: A Story of Johann Gutenberg by Joann Johansen Burch
• The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly
• The World of Columbus and Sons by Genevieve Foster

Early American and World History for Jr. High

•  Early American & World History Through Literature by Rea C. Berg & Rebeca Manor
• The following titles are all by Genevieve Foster
• The World of Columbus and Sons
• The World of Captain John Smith
• George Washington's World
• Abraham Lincoln's World
• Poor Richard by James Daugherty
• Of Courage Undaunted by James Daugherty
• Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
• Carry On, Mr Bowditch by Jean Latham
• The Great Little Madison by Jean Fritz

Ancient History Through Literature for High School

• Ancient History Through Literature Study Guide by Rea C. Berg and Rebecca Manor
• Ancient History Timeline
• Streams of Civilization, Volume 1
• Streams of Civilization, Test Booklet
• Augustus Caesar's World by Genevieve Foster
• Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
• Antony and Cleopatra Max Notes
• Beyond the Desert Gate by Mary Ray
• The Children's Homer by Padraic Colum
• The Cat of Bubastes, A Tale of Ancient Egypt by G. A. Henty
• Caesar's Gallic Wars by Olivia Coolidge
• D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
• The Greek Way by Edith Hamilton
• Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
• Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
• Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt by Elizabeth Payne
• Quo Vadis? by Henryk Sienkiewicz
• Student Bible Atlas by Tim Dowley
• Tales of Ancient Egypt by Robert Lancelyn Green

Medieval History Through Literature for High School (Available Soon!)

• Medieval History Through Literature Study Guide by Rebecca Manor & Rea Berg
• Medieval Literature in Translation edited by Charles W. Jones
• One Thousand and One Arabian Nights by Geraldine McCaughrean
• Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney
• The Magna Charta by James Daugherty
• The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
• The Scottish Chiefs by Jane Porter
• Joan of Arc, Warrior Saint by Mark Twain
• The World of Columbus and Sons by Genevieve Foster
• The Medieval World, An Illustrated Atlas by John M. Thompson

Modern U. S. and World History for High School, Year I

• Modern US and World History Through Literature Study Guide by Rea C. Berg
• Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt
• All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque
• Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
• Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt by Jean Fritz
• Harriet Beecher Stowe and the Beecher Preachers by Jean Fritz
• The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
• Reconstruction: Binding the Wounds edited by Cheryl Edwards
• The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
• Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith
• Sojourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman by Patricia McKissack
• Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe 
• Up From Slavery by Book T. Washington
• The following titles are by Albert Marrin
• Virginia's General 
• The Yanks are Coming
• Stalin Russia's Man of Steel
• A History of Us: An Age of Extremes by Joy Hakim
• A History of Us: War, Peace, and All that Jazz by Joy Hakim

Modern U.S. and World History for High School, Year 1

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• No Promises in the Wind by Irene Hunt
• The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
• The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp
• Anne Frank, Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
• The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig
• Hiroshima by John Hersey
• The House of Sixty Fathers by Miendert DeJong
• So Far From the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins
• The Vietnam War: How the United States Became Involved ed. Mitch Yamasaki
• Journey to Topaz by Yoshico Uchida
• A History of Us: All the People by Joy Hakim
• The following titles are by Albert Marrin
• Hitler
• Victory in the Pacific
• America and Vietnam

I hope this helps give you a better idea of all the wonderful books you'll be reading when you choose one of our study guides! And if you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below! 

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FAQ: What books are used in our curriculums?

On our Facebook Page, I got a question that I realized many of you probably have. What books are used in our study guides? It's one of those questions that escapes our notice because we're so familiar with all the books, but many of you may not know what treasures you'll be reading when you choose to do one of our programs. The fastest way to discover what books are used in each study is to visit our website and click on the "Literature Packs" tab. Under each pack you will see all the books listed individually–those are the books you'll be reading through during the school year! For a quick reference, I'm also going to list them below. We'll start with our K-3 programs and work our way up through the high school level programs. I will also provide links to the packs we have available on our website. Remember, we offer a Lowest Price Guarantee on all our packs and give you the option to customize the packs if you already own up to five of the titles! 

Early American History for K-3

• Early American History Study Guide by Rea C. Berg
• Leif the Lucky by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
• Columbus by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
• Pocahontas by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
• Benjamin Franklin by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
• George Washington by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
• Abraham Lincoln by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
• Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Bulla
• Pilgrim Stories by M. Pumphrey, edited by Rea Berg
• The Pilgrims of Plimoth by Marcia Sewall
• Meet Abraham Lincoln by Barbara Cary
• A More Perfect Union by Betsy and Guilio Maestro
• The Matchlock Gun by Walt Edmonds
• The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
• The Forth of July Story by Alice Dalgliesh
• George Washington's Breakfast by Jean Fritz
• Winter at Valley Forge by James Knight
• Jamestown, New World Adventure
• The Year of the Horseless Carriage 1801 by Genevieve Foster
• Benjamin West and his Cat Grimalkin by Marguerite Henry
• 4 Audio CDs featuring the stories of Columbus, the Pilgrims, and Abraham Lincoln

Geography Through Literature for K-6th

• Geography Through Literature Study Guide by Rea C. Berg
• The following titles are all by Holling C. Holling
• Paddle to the Sea
• Minn of the Mississippi
• Tree in the Trail
• Seabird
• Set of Four Maps, these maps have been specifically designed to go along with each book!

Teaching Character Through Literature for K-3

• Teaching Character Through Literature Study Guide by Rebecca Manor
• A Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey
• The Runaway Bunny by Margaret W. Brown
• Boys and Girls of Colonial Days By Carolyn Sherwin Bailey
• Brave Irene by William Steig
• The Clown of God by Tommy DePaola
• The Courage of Sarah Noble by ALice Dalgliesh
• Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
• Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
• Obadiah the Bold by Brinton Turkle
• Rachel and Obadiah by Brinton Turkle
• Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox
• When I was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant

History of the Horse for 4th-6th

• History of the Horse Study Guide by Hilary Severson
• Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
• The Black Stallion by Walter Farley
• Handbook of Horses by Elwyn Edwards
• Draw 50 Horses by Lee James
• Horses of the World card game
• The following titles are by Marguerite Henry
• Album of Horses
• Brighty of the Grand Canyon
• King of the Wind
• Justin Morgan Had a Horse
• Misty of Chincoteague
• Mustang, Wild Spirit of the West
• White Stallion of Lipizza

California History for 4th-6th

• California History Through Literature Study Guide by Rea C. Berg
• California HIstory Timeline by Rea C. Berg
• Columbus by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
• Cruise of the Arctic Star by Scott O'Dell
• Zia by Scott O'Dell
• Patty Reed's Doll By Rachel Laurgaard
• By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischman
• Riders of the Pony Express by Ralph Moody
• Jessie Benton Fremont–California Pioneer by Marguerite Higgins
• Blue Willow by Doris Gates
• Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi
• Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

Western Expansion of the US for 4th-7th

• History of Western Expansion Through Literature Study Guide by Rea C. Berg
• Abraham Lincoln by James Daugherty
• Abraham Lincoln's World by Genevieve Foster
• Amistad: The Slave Uprising Aboard the Spanish Schooner by Helen Kromer
• The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon by Jacqueline Davies
• Daniel Boone: The Opening of the Wilderness by John Brown
• Frontier Living by Edwin Tunis
• Of Courage Undaunted by James Daugherty
• The Stout-Hearted Seven: Orphaned on the Oregon Trail by Neta Lohnes Frazier
• The Year of the Horseless Carriage by Genevieve Foster

Early American History for Intermediate, 4th-6th

• Early American History Through Literature Intermediate Study Guide by Rea C. Berg
• Early American History Timeline by Rea C. Berg
• Leif the Lucky by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
• Columbus by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
• Pocahontas by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
• Benjamin Franklin by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
• The Landing of the Pilgrims by James Daugherty
• The Lewis and Clark Expedition by Peter Copeland
• A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution by Betsy and Guilio Maestro
• Abe Lincoln Grows Up by Carl Sandburg
• America's Paul Revere by Esther Forbes
• America's Providential History by S. McDowell and M. Beliles (optional)
• Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates
• The Life of Washington by Josephine Pollard
• Go Free or Die, A Story about Harriet Tubman by Jeri Ferris
• Sacajawea, Guide to Lewis and Clark by Della Rowland
• Walking the Road to Freedom by Jeri Ferris
• William Bradford, Pilgrim Boy by Bradford Smith
• The Vikings by Elizabeth Janeway
• 4 Audio CDs featuring the stories of Columbus, the Pilgrims, and the story behind the U.S. Flag

The History of Science for 4th-7th

• The History of Science Study Guide by Rebecca Manor
• The History of Science Timeline
• Explorabook by John Cassidy
• The Picture History of Great Inventors by Gillian Clements
• The New Way Things Work by David Macaulay
• Along Came Galileo by Jeanne Bendick
• Archimedes and the Door of Science by Jeanne Bendick
• The Story of Thomas Alva Edison
• Albert Einstein, Young Thinker by Marie Hammontree
• Marie Curie's Search for Radium by Beverly Birch and Christine Birmingham
• Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia by Margaret Cousins
• Pasteur's Fight Against Microbes by Beverly Birch
• Scientists card game
• The Science Experiment Pamphlet

The History of Classical Music for 4th-7th

• The History of Classical Music Study Guide by Rebecca Manor
• The History of Classical Music Timeline
• Set of 18 CDs, these feature the biographies and music of 21 composers!
• Dance Me a Story by Jane Rosenberg
• The Story of the Orchestra Book and CD set by Robert Levine
• Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers by Patrick Kavanough
• Musical Genius by Barbara Allman
• Farewell Symphony by Anna Harwell Celenza
• Coloring Book of Great Composers, Chopin to Tchaikovsky
• Coloring Book of Great Composers, Mahler to Stravinsky
• Composer card game

There you have all the books listed for our Primary and Intermediate program, those appropriate for students from Kindergarten through 6th grade. Tomorrow I will provide book lists for our Jr. High and High School programs. And be sure to keep asking those questions! We're happy to help with any information we can provide.

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