Do your teens want to understand why COVID-19 happened and what led to this worldwide pandemic? Want to connect current events to modern history?
After 17 years of homeschooling my nine kids, I can confidently say that finding a history curriculum that actually sparks conversation at the dinner table is rare. But this year, my 15-year-old son has worked through several unit studies from Pallas Learning Center—and he’s loved every single one.
Their latest one, The COVID-19 Unit Study, was no exception.
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Why We Chose This Course
We’ve already worked through their courses on 9/11, Modern U.S. Surveillance, the history of DEI, and even a fascinating unit on gold (yes, gold!). What sets all of them apart—including the COVID-19 Pandemic unit study—is the unique format: every lesson includes an audio podcast version. For my son, who tends to learn best by listening, this has made studying modern U.S. history far more engaging than any textbook ever could.
For me as a mom, what I’ve appreciated most is how these studies have expanded his understanding of current events. Instead of just repeating headlines, he’s starting to ask deeper questions and connect the dots between past and present. We’ve had some truly incredible conversations that I don’t think would’ve happened without this curriculum.
One of my goals as a parent is to help our teens develop valuable critical thinking skills. As our son was doing these unit studies, he kept saying he liked them so much better than regular history because everything was so recent.
That is what makes Pallas Unit Studies unique for sure. They focus on understanding the how’s and why’s of recent history which helps things in the news today make more sense!
What Makes the COVID-19 Unit Study Stand Out?
Let’s be honest—COVID-19 is recent, raw, and politically charged. Teaching it as history while it’s still fresh in our minds can be tricky. But Pallas Learning Center doesn’t shy away from hard topics. Instead, they offer a balanced, thought-provoking, and curiosity-driven approach.
Most history…the kind we learned in textbooks, is far enough in the past that it’s hard for teens to evaluate whether it was true or not. But modern history like this unit study is something students can evaluate using recent journalism, their own experience…and conversations around the table.
This 10-lesson unit covers the global pandemic in a way that’s approachable for high school students but still rich in content.
Some of the topics included:
- Why Study COVID-19?
- When the World Paused: The Emergence of COVID-19
- COVID-19 Origins: From a Bat or a Lab?
- The Dark Winter Exercise: A Biosecurity Simulation
- Global Lockdowns: Policies and Socioeconomic Repercussions
- Concerns About Operation Warp Speed and the Vaccine Process
- Vaccine Passports as a Tool for Social Control
- The World Health Organization’s Use of COVID to Promote Global Governance
- COVID-19 Vaccines Led to Fatalities
- The Aftermath: The WHO Pandemic Treaty
Each lesson includes a written article, audio narration, and links to source materials from journalists, scientists, and experts.
It’s not just a rehashing of what we already know—it encourages students to ask: Is this the whole story? What wasn’t covered in mainstream media? How should we evaluate sources and claims?
From Passive Learning to Active Thinking
One of my son’s favorite aspects of Pallas courses is that they never just tell you what to believe. They present history that links out to actual data, and let the student make up their mind.
That’s powerful.
Too often, history feels like memorizing someone else’s version of events. But with this course, students begin to think like historians and investigators. The unit ends with a capstone project where they choose an angle to write about—encouraging analysis, synthesis, and articulation of their own ideas.
And as a parent, this is where I’ve seen the most growth. My son is more confident when discussing current events because he’s informed and aware of how modern history connects to what’s happening now.
We will continue to do all of the unit studies that come out because of the way they break down big ideas and events into easy to consume lessons.
Pallas Center Units Are Great For Raising Informed Young People
If you’re a homeschool parent looking for a modern history course that tackles recent events with depth, nuance, and critical thinking, the COVID-19 Unit Study from Pallas Learning Center is a must.
It’s self-paced, high school appropriate, and comes with everything you need for a ½ credit in U.S. History. The lessons are respectful of sensitive topics but never shy away from asking bold questions. And if your teen enjoys podcasts, audio learning, or exploring ideas from multiple perspectives—this course will be a win.
As a mom, I’m thankful for the way Pallas Learning Center has helped my teen engage with complex history and learn how to think, not just what to think. That’s exactly the kind of education we’re aiming for.
Sarah McCubbin and her husband and 9 kids live in Ohio. She loves talking about all kinds of education topics and is passionate about helping families find the best education options in each season! After being very socially awkward growing up, she now loves to help families teach life skills, social skills and leadership to their kids!
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