There is a philosophy of teaching which suggests that teachers begin with the dawn of creation and teach history sequentially from that point. Though this sounds good and reasonable in theory, in practice it can lead to history being perceived by a young student as dry, boring, and lifeless. This arises out of the fact that the events of ancient history are often too foreign and removed from the world of your average 6-year-old to hold any significant meaning. On the other hand, young students can readily identify the heroes of America's story, and will be more able to comprehend the remarkable and inspiring stories of Leif Erikson, Columbus, the Pilgrims, Pocahontas, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and others who played such providential roles in establishing our nation.

There are a number of reasons why we prefer to begin primary grade students with a foundation in early American history rather than teach ancient history first. As Americans, we feel that it is a priority to learn first about our own providential heritage. That foundation acts as a basis for comparison with other cultures. Due to the fact that we are surrounded with icons of our heritage (i.e. The Fourth Of July, images of George Washington crossing the Delaware) the young reader will more readily identify with American history. We are then able to build context around those symbols and events, while discovering new stories in the process.

A practical reason for learning American history first is simply the abundance of excellent literature available. On the other hand, it is difficult to find good primary level literature for ancient history. A cursory treatment of ancient history, especially related to the Greek and Roman influences on our culture, undermines its contextual relevance. Also, much of the Greek and Roman influence on our culture, in areas such as law, architecture, philosophy, and art - demands a maturity beyond the typical primary student. Additionally, these students will not be able to comprehend the original writings of philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle which is imperative to understanding the ancient world.