Fledglings (Grades 1-2)

At this age, your student will most likely need quite a lot of supervision and books read aloud.

YEAR 1

Morning Compass

Required:
   – Classical Historian: American Civics Book 1 
   – Classical Historian: History Cards
   – The Mighty Works of God: Self Government


Social Studies

Required: 
   – My Story: The World Around Me by Master Books
   – Children’s Atlas of God’s World by Master Books
   – Heroes for Young Readers: Hudson Taylor by Renee Taft Meloche
   – A Question of Yams by Gloria Repp


History Trek

Recommended for further study:
   – Chang’s Paper Pony by Eleanor Coerr, Maps by Aleksandra Mizielinska, Children’s Atlas of the USA by Master Books, American History Stories: Vol I, II, III, and IV by Mara L. Pratt, Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans by Edward Eggleston, Passport to the World by Master Books, A Child’s Book of Stories by Penrhyn Coussens, Living Long Ago, Around the World with Kate and Mack, Heroes for Young Readers by Meloche, The Discovery of the Americas by Giulio and Betsy Maestro, Columbus by Ingri and Edgar D’Aulaire, Pilgrim Stories by Margaret Pumphrey, Benjamin Franklin by D’Aulaire


American Literature

Required: 
   – A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla, Pocahontas by Ingri D’Aulaire, Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin by Marguerite Henry, Phoebe the Spy by Judith Berry Griffin, The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh, The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook by Joyce Lankester Brisley


Literature Trek

Recommended for further study: 
   – Look at Year 2 titles for more! Squanto: Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulla, Anno’s China by Misumasa Anno, Ming Lo Moves the Mountain by Arnold Lobel, Ruby’s Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges, Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say, The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks by Katherine Patterson

 


Parents & Guides

Recommended: 
   – Children’s Book of Virtues by William Bennett
   – How Great Is Our God: 100 Indescribable Devotions About God and Science by Louie Giglio
   – Teaching the Classics DVD by the Center for Lit

YEAR 2

Morning Compass

Required:
   – Classical Historian: American Civics Book 2
   – Classical Historian: History Cards
   – The Mighty Works of God: Self Government

Recommended:
   – Children’s Book of Virtues by William Bennett


Social Studies

Required: 
   – My Story 2: My Country, My World by Master Books
   – Children’s Atlas of God’s World by Master Books
   –
Heroes for Young Readers: Jim Elliot, a Light for God by Renee Taft Meloche
   –
Heroes for Young Readers: Gladys Aylward by Renee Taft Meloche


History Trek

Recommended for further study:
   – Three Young Pilgrims by Cheryl Harness, Squanto’s Journey by Joseph Bruchac, Children’s Atlas of the USA, Passport to America, Elementary Geography by Charlotte Mason, American History Stories: Vol I, II, III, and IV by Mara L. Pratt, Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans by Edward Eggleston, Brave Kids: True Stories from America’s Past by Cora Frear, Heroes for Young Readers Series


American & World Literature

Required: 
   – Leif the Lucky by Ingri and Edgar D’Aulaire, Columbus by D’Aulaire, Fifty Famous Stories Retold by Baldwin, A Grain of Rice by Helena Clare Pittman (Japan), Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher, Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder


Literature Trek

Recommended for further study: 
   – Look at Year 1 titles for more! The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks, The Lotus Seed, Once a Mouse, The Story of Little Babaji (India), Secret Valley, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr (Japan)


Parents & Guides

Recommended: 
   – Coming soon

Subject Definitions

Welcome to Great American Outpost! Please start here to understand how the program works. GAO is in two-year cycles and all the Outposts are on the same year. Let's take a look at each of the subjects and what you will need. (CLICK TO EXPAND EACH SECTION)

Morning Compass

Students start the day with leadership and discipleship training that equips them biblically, historically, and Constitutionally. We focus on virtue and self-government during this time. Required and recommended resources will be indicated here.

History

Required and recommended history resources are listed here. You will notice the addition of the biography of a missionary, heroic historical character, or true stories to make history come alive even if it doesn’t quite fit the time period. The Guide (tutor) will also have the discretion to add a book but will notify parents ahead of time. Guides will have training to conduct Socratic Discussions.

History Trek

Recommended resources only: Some students are eager to trek further for a closer look into history. While these books are optional and will not be in the schedule, they are worth checking out especially if you have a strong reader or curious historian.

Literature

Required and recommended history resources are listed here. Literature resources listed here will be required for class. While it’s easier to follow along if the student has a hard copy, we encourage the parent to read aloud, or use audiobooks if necessary. We will be using Teaching the Classics by Center for Lit to train the Guides to facilitate the classes. It encourages Socratic discussion instead of laborious busywork. There will also be assignments or projects. Guides will have the discretion to add a book if time allows but will notify the parents ahead of time.

Literature Trek

Recommended resources only: There are SO many delightful stories out there, it was hard to choose what we would cover in class! We couldn’t help but share some more books, some classics, some just for fun, for you and your child to read together. Somewhere in there will be a new favorite! These are optional recommendations, not required.

Additional Core 1

Freedom – Frontier: Books listed here indicate whether they are required or recommended. Additional Core 1 classes are included in Freedom-Frontier.

Enrichment

Enrichment options vary per Outpost. They are offered for Fledglings-Fortify cohorts. They are 1 or 2-hour periods and are completely optional and vary in price and offerings per Outpost.

Core 2

These classes vary per Outpost. They might include Science, Math, Grammar, and Writing courses. They will focus on core concepts, conducting labs, or doing assessments. Required or recommended resources will be listed here.

Parents & Guides

Training for parents is crucial to our mission. We are working hard to curate resources to equip you to be fully involved with your students. Required or recommended resources listed here.

Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom. Aristotle speaks plainly to this purpose, saying, 'that the institution of youth should be accommodated to that form of government under which they live; forasmuch as it makes exceedingly for the preservation of the present government, whatsoever it be. - John Adams

Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom.