One of my home-school friends is teaching her daughter history next year with American Girl dolls. So smart! Her daughter, Sophie, loves her dolls. What a fabulous way to introduce a love for history and literature! Start at your local library. Who knows? The library may have all the Welcome to the World books to get you started. There are both vintage and more recent editions of the American Girl books. Remember, this is your child and your program. You could read the six books, cook a few recipes, play a few games, and try a few crafts. Call it a day. You may want to take a deep dive into Native American culture. Focus on the doll or period of history which resonates with your daughter. (Face it. Your son is NOT going to be as excited.) Below are a few links.
1. Fields of Daisies has several American Girl History Units for sale. However, some of her material, such as reading lists, etc are free. You may find the outlines are sufficient to build a curriculum.
2. American Girl has Conversation Guides. Beforever has the history timeline for the American Girl dolls. The other conversation guides are reader’s questions for the books in each doll series. They would be terrific for a book club based on the Historical dolls. The teacher’s guides, like the questions and activity guides , are generic—but free. Take a look.
3. The Unlikely Homeschooler’s unit studies (such as Kaya’s) are more of an outline with suggestions in blog posts—still free!
4. Heavens to Betty had better results and uses the American Girl books: Kaya, Felicity, Rebecca, Molly, and Nanea. You can do a great deal of instruction with the American Girl Doll books! The unit studies include cooking, crafts, etc.
5. My favorite is Kirsten. Here and here are guides. Here are Kirsten videos, which look educational. Here is a long list of books. Little House on the Prairie dovetails well with any pioneer, unit study. Here is a pioneer history unit study. Select elements you like.
I found a Lakeshore People Long Ago resource kit for pioneers at Good Will. You could use these kits with your unit studies. Used sets are available at eBay.
Want some more fun? Sew! I’ve made a few dresses and accessories!
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