Paths of Exploration
Paths of Exploration is the first step in the Trail Guide to Learning series. Learn about the character and experiences of explorers who shaped us as a nation with their vision, determination, bravery, and sacrifice.
What does it take to be an explorer?
The focus here is on the type of thinking, leadership, and skills that were needed to open up the way for others to follow. The six units in POE will take you from the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus all the way across America with the westward expansion.
Primary science focus involves acquiring the basic skills of observation and recording (both drawing and writing), beginning life science through studying the animals and plant life of explored areas, including habitats and the relationship of these factors to the explorers. Activities in POE such as learning directional terms, tracking, and using Semaphore Code help students understand the skills essential to an explorer’s success. Art lessons, craft projects, and cultural cooking, also enhance the learning process. While specifically designed for third through fifth graders, this book can easily be adapted for second and sixth graders as well. A Middle School Supplement is also available to include older students learning related content on a more challenging level.
Each unit in the book should take about six weeks to complete. The six units of the Paths of Exploration are:
- Columbus (includes people such as Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, Gutenberg)
- Jamestown (includes people such as John Smith, Pocahontas, and Leonardo da Vinci)
- Pilgrims (includes people such as William Bradford, Squanto, and Galileo)
- Daniel Boone (includes such people as James Cook, Benjamin Franklin, and Handel)
- Lewis & Clark (includes such people as Sacagawea, Thomas Jefferson, and Mozart)
- Trails West (includes people such as Johnny Appleseed, Zebulon Pike, and Jesse Applegate)
Click Here for a sample lesson and Table of Contents from Paths of Exploration.
Click Here for the Paths of Exploration Skills Charts.
"Paths of Exploration has restored my joy and confidence in our homeschooling. My children have not only enjoyed school more but they have grown tremendously in their ability to think through and communicate ideas with clarity and depth. We have many thrilling stories of triumph that started in struggles as my children were challenged beyond their natural abilities to discuss, to write, to draw or present their work. I am eternally grateful for how my own views of what learning really is have been transformed so that we can be free to love learning together."
– Elyce
"I have been using Paths of Exploration this past school year and I am very happy with it. I am looking forward to Paths of Settlement. I am wondering if a list is available for the books that will be used so I can begin planning and preparing. Thanks so much for any information you might have and thank you for this wonderful, innovative curriculum!."
– Amy
"I ordered Trail Guide to Learning this past Tuesday and received it a mere two days later! Wow! Kudos to your customer service department! I am so happy with the curriculum thus far. It is extremely well-laid out and very easy to implement. I have [curriculum X] I've tried to use [curriculum Y] and ended up selling them after a few weeks. You have brought together the best elements of all of those and then some and put it together in a way that makes sense and is easy to use. The Handbook of Nature Study has been sitting on my bookshelf for years but I could never really incorporate it into the curriculum we were using, but now, with Trail Guide, I can! I know people will want to tweak and add things, especially grammar, but I'm with Dr Beechick and plan to wait until high school for formal grammar instruction. I also love the teaching notes. They provide handholding without being scripted. They help me to understand what my children should be taking away from each lesson and provide opportunities for discussion. Your curriculum is an answer to my prayers. Thank you!"
– Ann
The necessary resources for Paths of Exploration are:
Core Resources:
- Handbook of Nature Study
- North American Wildlife Guide
- Profiles from History - Volume1
- Eat Your Way Around the World
- Intermediate World Atlas
- Large USA and World Outline Map
Volume 1 Resources:
- Meet Christopher Columbus
- Christopher Columbus
- Stories of the Pilgrims (2nd edition)
- Stories of the Pilgrims Answer Key
- Squanto, Friend to the Pilgrims
- A Lion to Guard Us
- Surviving Jamestown
- 5" RealEarth GlobeMap
Volume 2 Resources:
- Daniel Boone Frontiersman
- Daniel Boone, Young Hunter and Tracker
- Munford Meets Lewis and Clark
- Seaman
- Trouble for Lucy
- Johnny Appleseed
- 1911 Boy Scout Handbook
- United States History Atlas
- Lewis and Clark Hands On
- Going West!
Optional Support Materials:
Middle School Supplement
A Middle School Supplement is available to provide guidance for older students who are using the learning series. Content follows along with the sourcebook but at a higher, more challenging level. Including higher level literature books, writing assignments, activities, and thinking skill points. Connect all your students to the same time period, and type of learning with the Trail Guide to Learning series Middle School Supplement. Available in digital format.
Click Here for sample pages from the Paths of Exploration Middle School Supplement.
Pre-printed Student Notebook Pages
Printing the student notebook pages from the Student Resources CD-ROM included in Paths of Exploration is easy enough, but many folks requested we have them already printed and ready-to-use. The pages are all conveniently three-hole punched for placing in a 3-ring binder and are printed on high quality 60lb paper.
Click Here for sample pages from the Paths of Exploration Student Notebook Pages.
Assessment CD-ROM
Does your state require testing? Do you want to be able to assess your student's progress while teaching from the Trail Guide to Learning series? This assessment CD-ROM is just the ticket.
Coupled with the daily observations and interactive discussions and games that are a natural part of the Trail Guide to Learning series, this disk provides ample material upon which to base an accurate evaluation of student progress. Evaluations provided for each grade. Answer keys included.
"Wow, what an awesome CD; very comprehensive teacher keys and assessments in one organized file. I just wonder, can this series possibly be any more organized??? Thank you!"
– Sarah from Charlottesville, VA
Click Here for sample pages from the Paths of Exploration Assessments.
Light for the Trail CD-ROM
Optional Bible study curriculum that coincides with the 6 units in Paths of Exploration. Easy-to-use guide provides daily assignments and helps students make the most important connection of all, the one between their faith and their view of the world around them.
Click Here for sample pages from the Light for the Trail—Paths of Exploration.
Lapbooks
Lapbooks provide interactive, hands-on connections. Their biggest benefit is that you dramatically increase your student’s ability to retain learning. Great for all ages, using the lapbooks makes it even easier to teach your younger students. Each unit has a separate lapbook with multiple activities for learning fun. These are available as digital downloads (eBook), printed and ready to use, or on CD for you to print. For your convenience, file folders are already included in the printed versions!
Game Cards
These fascinating, yet familiar, games are used to review material learned in Paths of Exploration and are assigned throughout the curriculum when appropriate. They are also great for family fun or as a compliment to any study of the topics they cover.
Although the games are included in the appendix and CD-ROM of the curriculum this set of games, printed on card stock, makes it even more convenient for you.
