When I find an awesome homeschool resource, I want everyone to know about it. And if I can, I like to get the creator of that resource involved! So when I attended the Great Homeschool Convention in Fort Worth, Texas this past spring, I was ecstatic to find The Classical Historian. I love anything that makes learning and remembering history fun, and their card games almost jumped out at me! I immediately contacted the company about a review and giveaway, because I knew this product needed to be in the homes of every homeschool family!

How Games Help Teach History

Tell me: would you rather watch your kids play “Go Fish” with regular ol’ playing cards, or would you prefer to use cards naming the Presidents, or periods of Ancient History, or parts of the U. S Constitution? When your kids play this way, they are learning and reviewing all kinds of history. I can’t think of a situation that makes this mama’s homeschool-heart more happy!

There are two types of games available: Memory Games and Go Fish Games. But with each set of cards you get a whole booklet that takes your simple set to new levels of learning. There are multiple ways to play each card game, for the young and older students.

My six year old loves to play the classic Go Fish with her 16 year old sister. Like, daily. So when we got this game, it quickly became their new go-to game. When all of my kids played, the boys (ages 9 and 11) kept commenting, “We just read about that story!” each time they drew a card with a familiar event. This is the best part.

I don’t like to do endless quizzes and tests. But a game that reminds them of what we’ve been learning? I do like that. It’s so sneaky. Haha!

The booklet includes ideas for more games and reviews with the Go Fish games, which is great for adapting the games to many ages and abilities.

Chronology
Following the Answer Key instructions, shuffle the cards necessary for the chronology game. When one player signals, the other player assembles all cards in chronological order, as fast as he can. The fastest time wins!

Collect the Cards – This is the favorite version of the game!!!
Players use historical facts (hints) to try and guess the image on the card. If a player guesses correctly, he wins the card.

Geography 
Place the Continents cards at the top of the playing field. Shuffle the other cards. When one player signals, the other player assembles all cards under the correct continent, as fast as he can. The fastest time wins! Answer key provided.

In Go Fish Games, there are Ancient, Medieval, Bible, Constitution, and the new Presidents. I really want to get all of these sets!

In the Memory Games, there are Ancient, Medieval, and American history. This beats the Frozen and My Little Pony Memory games we’ve been subjected to for the past few years. Ahem.

The Classical Historian has some really great resources for homeschoolers besides the card games. They also offer several complete one year history curriculum topics for grades 6-12. I have not tried these yet, but from my study of the website, here’s what I like:

• It’s great for mulitple ages in large families. I love the ease of combining several subjects with my multiple children, and this looks like a great fit for that lifestyle.
• It focuses on history in an in-depth way that I love, while making it easy for parents to teach buy just opening up the guide and digging in with students.
• Cathy Duffy gives it high marks. That’s an endorsement to be proud of!
• It encourages critical thinking, discussion, and essay writing on the subject. Students study from primary sources and from a Christian worldview.
• Online classes are also available.

Visit their website and watch the demonstration videos! I LOVE the video on teaching history to multiple ages of children at the same time. This is precisely how we homeschool. And I’m excited about their upcoming book “The Story of Liberty.”

Giveaway!  ** Giveaway Closed**

We’ve been playing American History Go Fish! for a few weeks, and I asked the owner of Classical Historian if they would like to give away a game to one of my lucky readers. He said YES! So I am pleased to offer the newest Go Fish game “U.S. Presidents” to one lucky winner!

“This is an outstanding educational game that teaches facts about the first 44 Presidents of the United States of America. Children play either “Go Fish” by trying to find all four Presidents of the same category, or, they play “Collect the Cards” where players try to guess the President based on the hints of the card. The game comes with a booklet, that teaches everything you need to know about each President with a succinct and clearly written paragraph.”

Here’s how to enter:

• Comment below and tell me either

Your favorite time period in history

Or the historical time period you struggle to enjoy

• Visit the Classical Historian website

Details of the giveaway:

Drawing will be held on Wednesday, May 24 via Facebook Live video. Winner will be contacted by me via email for announcement and shipping info. Open to U. S. residents only. Game will be shipped directly from The Classical Historian. 

First name and email address of each entrant will be shared with The Classical Historian for their newsletter mailing list. Entrants without this information will be disqualified.

Good luck!

I received a free copy of this product from The Classical Historian in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations.

Pin It!

Nicki Truesdell is a 2^nd-generation homeschooler and mother to 5. She loves books, freedom, history and quilts, and blogs about all of these at nickitruesdell.com. She believes that homeschooling can be relaxed and that history is fun, and both can be done with minimal cost or stress, no matter your family’s circumstances. Nicki is a member of the Texas Home Educators Advisory Board and The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Review Crew. You can also find her on  Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.