Our Great Big World
Quick Start Guide
The First Thing
Thank you for choosing Our Great Big World for your family. We are honored to be part of your educational journey.
Read the "Dear Parents and Students" and "How to Use Our Great Big World" sections at the beginning of the lesson book. Start on page i after the Table of Contents. That will help you see how all the books fit together and what you will need to do each day and each week.
If any questions come to mind after you review the rest of this page, or later as you are using the material, please contact us any time.
Video Walkthrough
Here is author Mary Evelyn McCurdy to explain how it all works.
The Literature
We chose seven literature titles to go along with this curriculum. Each book is set in a different region of the world. You can find a list of the books on page viii in the Our Great Big World lesson book. Reading this literature is beneficial, but it is optional.
The Activities Ideas box at the end of each lesson will tell you which chapters to read that day. The first literature book we assign is The Turtle of Oman by Naomi Shihab Nye. You will start reading it in Unit 2 on the Middle East.
Notes on the Literature
We deliberately chose quality literature that will enrich your student's study of geography and culture. The books we recommend have some content that we want you to be aware of in advance. We provide specific notes about each book in the Answer Key and Literature Guide, which is part of the curriculum package. You may also download a copy.
Suggested Supplements
Notgrass History curriculum is self-contained. You don't need to add anything else unless you want to. However, if you are looking for videos, virtual field trips, interactive websites, and other resources to supplement your studies, check out the resources we have listed at Homeschool History.
Need an extra book or two?
If you ever need an extra Atlas Workbook, Coloring Book, or Lesson Review, or a specific literature title, you can shop for any of the individual books on our website.
Looking for our bonus downloads?
All of the instructions and assignments for each lesson are included in the Our Great Big World lesson book. We provide access to audio recordings of the folktales and songs plus some more supplements on our website.
Have other questions?
We've posted answers to frequently asked questions about using our elementary curriculum. If you don't find the answer you need there, please email, call, or text us. You can also join one of our online communities to connect with other parents.
Keep up the good work!
We admire your dedication to giving your child a great education at home. May God give you strength, courage, and wisdom.
Sincerely,
Ray and Charlene Notgrass
