Short Form Learning Products
Elementary History Units
Company: Knowable World
Audience: Families with students age 8-12
Format: Video mini-lessons (via Youtube and Thinkific LMS) with printable elements
Technologies: Thinkific LMS, Canva, Google Docs
Project
Overview
The Anchor Facts series of mini lessons and printables was created to meet a specific need. The subject matter expert (SME — Scott Powell) had developed a unique approach to history education over his years of teaching full-year online classes to homeschooled students. We wanted to create a shorter, more accessible format that could showcase this approach and make it possible for more families to begin learning history this way.
We developed a flexible course template which incorporated a market demand for "printables": resources that could be purchased online and used instantly, with little or no preparation required from the parent beyond printing the activity sheets. The Anchor Facts series consists of 10-12 short video lessons paired with a set of activities that can easily be adapted to an endless combination of new topics.
My Role
The subject matter expert created the lesson sequence, video lessons, and timeline of anchor facts for each series. My role was to develop the additional materials which turn the series of videos into a bundle of high quality learning activities which can be easily modified for each new series.
I was responsible for:
- Instructional design of modular learning components
- Visual design of all components using Canva
- Course build in Thinkific LMS
- Workflow development for reusable curriculum
Template Elements
I had three goals for the printable elements of the Anchor Facts series:
- They should be engaging for the students and support learning and retention of the lesson content — no fluff or busywork!
- They should be extremely easy for parents to use — my favorite words are "open-and-go."
- They should help create a product that is substantive and comprehensive — great value for the cost.
After creating the first series, Anchor Facts of American History, with only the lesson worksheets and timelines as printable elements, we received some feedback from parents. Based on this feedback, I created more materials that could be used throughout the entire set of lessons to create a more comprehensive unit. Examples of each of the lesson elements can be found in the accordion sections below.
Each Anchor Facts lesson includes a short-answer worksheet designed to reinforce the video content. These are intentionally brief and focused, helping students recall key facts and solidify learning through retrieval practice — one of the most effective methods in cognitive science. For the parent, they serve as a quick and low-prep check-in on comprehension.
To reinforce key facts and vocabulary in a playful way, each Anchor Facts unit includes printable games like matching cards or trivia formats. These are designed to support memory and engagement without requiring extra prep or materials. For parents, they offer a fun review activity that can be used with multiple children.
The curated reading list includes both fiction and non-fiction books to help students deepen their understanding of Ancient Egypt through storytelling and further exploration. These books were chosen based on age appropriateness, historical relevance, and readability.
Writing prompts and vocabulary activities integrate history with language arts learning, encouraging reflection and synthesis. Prompts are tied directly to lesson content and are open-ended, allowing flexibility by grade or writing ability. Vocabulary is presented in matching or fill-in-the-blank formats to reinforce terms through context.
The final quiz gives families a low-stakes way to review and celebrate what students have learned. The multiple-choice format makes it easy to administer and mark, while the content review across all ten lessons helps consolidate memory.
The Teaching Guide is designed to be a lifeline for parents who may feel uncertain about teaching history. It explains the purpose of the course, offers flexible ways to use the lessons, and includes teaching tips grounded in real homeschooling practice. Its structure is consistent and scalable, laying the groundwork for future units.
LMS Configuration
I configured and uploaded all course materials for the first two Anchor Facts series to an online learning platform (Thinkific). This included organizing each lesson into a clear, user-friendly structure so that parents could easily follow the course sequence.
Key elements of my LMS work included:
- Modular lesson design: Each lesson includes a short video and printable worksheet grouped together under a consistent layout.
- Resource management: PDFs and image files are clearly labelled and downloadable from the appropriate lesson modules.
- Navigation clarity: Timeline and reading list materials are linked within relevant lessons, and optional materials are organized in a dedicated supplementary section.
- User testing & QA: I reviewed the course as a parent-user to ensure intuitive access, appropriate pacing, and minimal friction.
- Scalability: The existing courses can easily be duplicated and the content replaced for each new course that is developed.
By combining content creation with LMS implementation, I'm able to offer end-to-end curriculum development — from raw lesson ideas to a polished, ready-to-launch course.
Marketing Package
The marketing package includes social media graphics, product images, and promotional copy, all designed to clearly communicate what Anchor Facts offers and who it's for. Emphasis is placed on simplicity, flexibility, and academic rigour for homeschool families.
See more projects from my portfolio