Category: Golden

  • Why Bother Studying WV History?

    Why Bother Studying WV History?

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    (plus cool geography games!)

    ~the 3rd in a series of articles~
    Click here to start at the beginning of the series.

    As parents and teachers, we are preparing our children for the future – a future which they will have a vital role in shaping. Understanding the forces (geographical, historic, political, economic, etc.) which have molded and influenced West Virginia in the past is a key important component in determining and defining its future. And West Virginia’s future is exactly what our children will face as they grow up and confront the adult world challenges and opportunities.

    Our job, then, is to not only teach but train our children how to stand as Christians and engage the culture – impacting it, changing it, shaping it – all for the glory of Christ. First Chronicles 12:32 refers to men who understood the times, men with knowledge of what to do.  Likewise, our sons and daughters will one day stand as men and women and help establish their families, their communities, and their state.

    As Edmund Burke famously quipped, “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.” Today, more than ever, it is imperative to recall the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 1:9:  “The thing that has been — it is what will be again, and that which has been done is that which will be done again; and there is nothing new under the sun.”  We must learn from the past!

    Online WV Geography Games

    Online games are a great way to help students learn geographical information. Here are a few links to get your student started:

    County Game: https://www.purposegames.com/game/48cadb92e8

    Rivers Game: https://www.purposegames.com/game/west-virginia-rivers-game

    River Cities Game: https://www.purposegames.com/game/west-virginia-river-cities-game

    County Seat Game: https://www.purposegames.com/game/west-virginia-county-seats-quiz


    Tip #4 – Groups of 10 or more can often get discounts at educational 

    sites. Call and ask! (They often include parents in the count.)


    Tip #5The Beckley Coal Mine Exhibit 

    Take a tour in a real coal mine, explore a recreated coal town, and visit a comprehensive coal museum. This is a great way to complement a unit study and help ‘book learning’ come to life!


    Click here to read the next article in the series.

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  • Preparing for the Golden Horseshoe Test

    Preparing for the Golden Horseshoe Test

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    ~the 2nd in a series of articles~

    Click here to read the 1st article in the series.

    Learning about West Virginia in the 8th grade is both a valuable academic opportunity and essential preparation for the Golden Horseshoe exam, a prestigious statewide competition.  Even if your student does not plan to take the Golden Horseshoe test, the study is traditional for Mountaineers and a perfect complement to the middle school years.  Recommended resources are listed below:

    • West Virginia: Its Land, Its People is the textbook used in public and private schools.   Parents may be able to borrow the textbook from their local middle school or order the book through this link: https://www.clairmontpress.com/wv.html. CHEWV has teaching resources available to members.

    State law says that county BOEs may issue a homeschool student a book if they are available, but schools are not required to loan textbooks if they do not have enough. Contact your county’s BOE or your local middle school’s WV History instructor to find out what is available.  While teacher editions and answer keys are not likely to be offered, CHEWV has resources for members to help plan and teach WV history.

    Check your local library for additional resources for teaching WV History:

    • The Golden Horseshoe  by Frances B. Gunter is a fictionalized mystery that sends a group of youth on a mysterious quest. As a result, the reader learns about important historical events. Your student may not realize this is a history book as they get caught up in the story!
    • West Virginia Encyclopedia, by Ken Sullivan, is also available online. They have a great guide for teachers with a list of relevant articles.

    The West Virginia Cultural Center offers online resources that would be an invaluable addition as you teach your students about West Virginia history including quizzes!


    West Virginia History Tip #2: Not only does the Golden Horseshoe test cover state history, it includes questions about economics, cultural studies, civics, geography, and popular culture. Students should strive for mastery of these areas to provide a comprehensive picture of the great state of West Virginia.

    West Virginia History Tip #3: Educational field trips include Blennerhassett Island and Prickett’s Fort, both of which close for the winter season in October or November. These state parks are wonderful living history opportunities for your students to experience history outside of the world of a textbook. Plan your trip today!


    Read the next article in the Golden Horseshoe series here.

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  • What is the Golden Horseshoe Test?

    What is the Golden Horseshoe Test?

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    And Can Homeschoolers Participate?

    ~the first in a series of articles from CHEWV~

    In 1716, the lieutenant governor of Virginia, Alexander Spotswood, gathered a group of men and set out to discover the land beyond the mountains. The group experienced both great times and great struggles as they explored lands west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  When they returned, Spotswood awarded each man a golden horseshoe, and they became known as the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe.

    West Virginia DOE began promoting West Virginia Clubs in 1929 to help students appreciate their Mountain State heritage and history. Two years later the first Golden Horseshoe test was given. The top scorers from each county received a Golden Horseshoe pin and were dubbed Knights and Ladies of the Golden Horseshoe.

    Every year since 1931, 8th grade students have had the opportunity to study the state’s history, economics, culture, and geography, and then take the Golden Horseshoe Test. Sponsored by the West Virginia Cultural Center, the test is given in local middle schools, and only the top scorers are awarded the Golden Horseshoe.

    Since many homeschool students have asked if they can take the test and how they should go about preparing for it, CHEWV will highlight different aspects of West Virginia studies in an effort to help them achieve this milestone. Next in the series we will look at potential textbooks and other information sources that parents can utilize as they teach their children West Virginia history.

    If you know of a homeschooled student that has received a Golden Horseshoe, please send their name, county, and year they received the award to HSDC@CHEWV.org. If you have a photo of them at the ceremony, please send that as well.


    WV History Tip #1: Summer is a great time to visit West Virginia’s historic sites, a great way to provide visual and sensory understanding to history lessons. 


    Read the second article in this series here.

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