World History I and II Lap Book Kits

Social_studiesAll Grades

World History I and II Lap Book Kits: Hands-On History Projects

These are two lap book kits covering world history from ancient times through the 20th century, designed for grades 6-8. The curriculum uses hands-on craft projects and pre-printed materials to engage students with selected historical topics through creative construction activities.

Best for

Students in grades 6-8 who benefit from hands-on activities to maintain engagement, used as a supplement to a more comprehensive world history curriculum

Evaluation Criteria

2 concerns · 2 neutral · 3 insufficient evidence

Teacher TrainingConcern

Minimal teacher support is provided through instruction books with project directions.

Each kit includes 'an instruction book' with 'illustrated, step-by-step directions' and 'helpful tips at the front,' but no mention of content background or pedagogical guidance

Direct InstructionConcern

The curriculum relies heavily on hands-on activities rather than direct instruction of historical content.

The review describes 'illustrated, step-by-step directions for individual projects' and craft activities, with students following construction instructions rather than receiving explicit historical instruction

Geographic KnowledgeNeutral

Limited geographic knowledge is addressed through selective world history topics.

Projects include geographically diverse topics like Egypt, Japan, South America, Canada, and the Russian Empire, but the review doesn't indicate systematic geographic instruction

Chronological KnowledgeNeutral

The kits provide some chronological structure, with Kit I covering ancient history through the 17th century and Kit II covering 17th-20th centuries.

The review notes the first kit covers events from ancient history up through the 17th century, while the second covers 17th through 20th centuries, with specific examples like unification of Egypt, Trojan horse, Augustus, Rise of Islam, and medieval Europe in chronological progression

Primary SourcesInsufficient Evidence

No evidence of primary source document engagement in the curriculum materials.

The review focuses entirely on craft activities and pre-printed materials, with no mention of historical documents, letters, speeches, or other primary sources

Retrieval PracticeInsufficient Evidence

No evidence of systematic retrieval practice or spaced review of historical knowledge.

The review describes individual projects taking 1-2 hours each but mentions no review activities, cumulative assessments, or retrieval practice components

Vocabulary BuildingInsufficient Evidence

No explicit vocabulary instruction is evident in the curriculum design.

The review mentions 'a lot of text on some of the printed pages' but does not reference vocabulary development or academic language instruction

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com