Hopped Up History - Janelle Hopkins, M.Ed.

03/17/2026

West Virginia Families...Exciting News!

Hopped Up History is now an Approved Education Service Provider through West Virginia's Hope Scholarship Program!

The Hope Scholarship empowers K–12 families to build individualized learning experiences outside of traditional public school, and now you can use those funds to bring history to life!

You can use your Hope Scholarship funds to access a curated selection of interactive history resources for grades 5–12, including simulations, curriculum bundles, and self-paced programs (pending approval).

✅ Hope Scholarship–approved resources
✅ Perfect for homeschool, hybrid, or micro-school learners
✅ Focused on critical thinking, engagement, and historical depth

Getting started is simple, link in comments.

Let's bring history to life and keep learning personal. 📚

09/14/2025

📢 Exciting news for West Virginia families!

Treasurer Larry Pack announced that Outschool has officially been approved for the Hope Scholarship Program. 🎓 Families can now use Hope funds to purchase Learning Passports (credit bundles of $50, $100, or $200) for small-group, online classes through Outschool.

With more than 140,000 live classes and 1.5 million students nationwide, Outschool provides flexible, high-quality learning experiences that support individualized goals. Each Hope student may hold up to $500 in credits at a time, giving families even more choice in their child’s education.

Read the full announcement here 👉

State Treasurer Larry Pack, who serves as Chairman of the Hope Scholarship Board, today announced his Office has approved an online learning platform, Outschool, to offer Hope Scholarship students a wide range of small-group, online classes.

09/04/2025

🎨✨ The Renaissance Reimagined! ✨🎨

In our Early Modern World History course, learners explored the brilliance of Renaissance art… with a twist.

This week’s creative challenge? Take a famous Renaissance masterpiece and remix it with a modern touch—something meaningful or personal to them. From cowboy Mona Lisas to iPhone-wielding self-portraits and even chocolate-infused classics, the results were both hilarious and brilliant!

🖼️ Scroll through to see how these young historians turned timeless art into timely statements.

💬 Which one is your favorite? What modern twist would YOU add to a Renaissance painting?

09/03/2025

🛡️ History That Grabs Their Imagination (Not Just Their Pencil)

Struggling to get your learner excited about history? This class brings it to life through roleplay, strategy, and hands-on simulations—not just memorization.

📚 Structured Scholar: Live Edition – Ancient & Classical Civilizations
🧒 Ages 11–13 | 🧑‍🏫 Max 8 learners
🗓️ Starts Thursday, September 18 at 12:15 PM Central

✔️ Weekly live Zoom sessions
✔️ Creative projects & immersive simulations
✔️ Digital/printable assignments
✔️ Personalized feedback + optional grading

🎭 Learners become tribal leaders, pharaohs, Greek citizens & Roman senators as they explore the rise of civilizations through action and collaboration.

💥 LIMITED TIME OFFER: Get $10 OFF every month with code NEWSCHOLAR10
⏳ Expires September 18 at 12:00 PM Central

🔗 Save your seat here: https://www.hoppeduphistory.com/test

09/02/2025

Just trying to to get some work done today… Hessie Jo had other plans. Apparently, back-to-school season also means pay-attention-to-me season. 🐾✏️📚

09/02/2025

📣 BIG NEWS for history-loving families! 🎉

Self-Paced Scholar is officially OPEN for enrollment! 🎓⚔️
This flexible, high-engagement membership is perfect for learners who want to explore history on their own schedule—without losing the excitement.

Inside, your learner will get access to my most immersive and creative courses, including:

✅ Ancient Civilizations
✅ Classical Empires
✅ Medieval Worlds
✅ Early Modern Era (Renaissance through Age of Revolutions & Napoleon)
✅ Modern Era (Industrial Revolution through World Wars)
✅ The Cold War & Beyond
✨ With more on the way!

🎙️ Simulation-based narrated lessons
📝 Digital assignments (Google Docs)
🧠 Creative projects & historical roleplay
🖥️ Step-by-step video intros
📂 Printable journals, slides & more
💬 Teacher support inside the Scholar community
🕒 Learn anytime, anywhere

Whether they love strategic thinking, myth-busting, or building zombie-proof civilizations (yes, really), this membership brings history to life.

📚 Now enrolling—visit the Self-Paced Scholar page to get started!

Got questions? I’m just a message away.

— Ms. Janelle 💙

Are you looking to bring history to life for your middle and high school students? My courses are designed to immerse learners in the rich tapestries of the past through dynamic discussions, hands-on activities, and realistic simulations. Whether you're seeking comprehensive curricula or supplementa...

08/25/2025

🚨 Homeschool families in Indiana, Idaho, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Wyoming—exciting update! 🚨
I’m now an approved vendor with Braintree Academy for history classes that are actually fun (and 100% secular)! 🙌

📚 Whether you're looking for Ancient Civilizations, the French Revolution, or the Cold War, I offer:
✔️ Engaging, simulation-based classes
✔️ Hands-on projects and optional teacher feedback
✔️ Full curriculum for middle & high school
✔️ Flexible self-paced or live options

🖥️ VIRTUAL VENDOR – CLASSES ONLY
Materials are not included but may be eligible for reimbursement or direct ordering:

📌 Oklahoma, Idaho & Wyoming – Materials must be reimbursed
📌 North Dakota & Indiana – Materials must be direct ordered via Zoom

💡 How to Enroll Using State Funds:
1️⃣ Request an invoice from me (or make your own)
2️⃣ Fill out Braintree’s Direct Order Form
3️⃣ They’ll pay me directly—no out-of-pocket costs!

📬 Message me if you’d like help getting started or need an invoice.

08/10/2025

Heads-Up: I’ll Be Off Exploring History in Person!

From Monday, August 11 – Sunday, August 24, I’ll be trading my classroom for the islands of Hawai‘i—soaking up the culture, history, and breathtaking landscapes of Waimea Falls, Diamond Head Crater, Volcanoes National Park, Pearl Harbor/USS Arizona, and more.

I’ll still be checking messages and doing a bit of work along the way, but replies might be a little slower than usual. Thanks for your patience—and don’t worry, if you reach out, I will respond… it just might take me a little longer than normal.

08/03/2025

📣 NEW for Fall 2025: Structured Scholar — Live Edition Membership
Now Accepting Enrollments! 🎉

Looking for a history experience that goes beyond textbooks and timelines?

⚔️ In Structured Scholar: Live Edition, learners step into the past through weekly small group Zoom sessions—exploring ancient civilizations, leading empires, debating world-changing decisions, and creating epic projects like an Ancient Theme Park or Zombie Apocalypse Civilization.

✅ Weekly live classes with Ms. Janelle (max 8 learners)
✅ Assigned digital/printable activities
✅ Personalized teacher feedback + optional grading
✅ Final project guidance + full access to our digital library

📅 Fall Classes Begin First Week of September
🦣 Ancient & Classical World: Thursdays @ 1:30 PM Central
🏰 Medieval & Early Modern Eras: Wednesdays @ 3:15 PM Central
🌍 Modern World, Cold War & Beyond: Tuesdays @ 12:15 PM Central

📚 Recommended Ages: 11–15
👥 Small Class Size: 3–8 learners

✨ Perfect for students who thrive with structure, accountability, and live interaction!

🔗 Secure your spot now: https://www.indyed.com/online-classes/structured-scholar-live-edition
📬 Space is limited—reach out with questions anytime!

08/01/2025

🎉 Now Accepting Memberships! 🏛️

Hey homeschool families! Looking for printable, screen-free history resources that are actually fun and easy to use?

🗂️ The Homeschool Essentials Library is officially OPEN!
Join now to access ready-to-use history activities organized by era—no videos, no logins, no fluff. Just high-quality, printable lessons that bring history to life!

✅ What’s Inside:
🌍 Ancient World – From the Stone Age to Classical Empires
⚔️ Medieval World – Vikings, Crusades, Samurai & More
👑 Early Modern Era – Renaissance, Reformation, Revolutions
🌐 Modern World – Industrial Age to WWII
🧠 Final Projects, Dioramas, Simulations & More

📚 All materials are fully downloadable and designed for self-paced learning.
💬 Parent support + community included with membership!

🔥 Cold War & Beyond coming soon!

🚀 Join today and make history the best part of your homeschool week!
🔗 https://www.hoppeduphistory.com/membership-plans

07/25/2025

🕰️ On This Day in History – July 25, 1914
Serbia Replies to Austria-Hungary’s Ultimatum… But It’s Not Enough

Three weeks after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary delivered a harsh ultimatum to Serbia. On July 25, Serbia replied—accepting most demands in a surprisingly conciliatory response. But behind the scenes, Serbia was already mobilizing its troops.

The reply reached Vienna just minutes before the deadline… but it was too late. Austria-Hungary had already decided: war was coming.

💣 This was the final diplomatic moment before the world spiraled into World War I. The chain reaction had begun—but who really lit the fuse?

👉 Find out in this free interactive resource:
🎯 Who Lit the Fuse? Tracing the Spark of WWI
Learners explore key moments in the July Crisis, judge each nation’s decisions, and determine who bears the blame. Great for building critical thinking and historical argumentation.

🔗 Download now: https://www.hoppeduphistory.com/freebies

Prefer live interaction and small group discussion?
Explore the July Crisis—and much more—in our Modern World, Cold War & Beyond course (Tuesdays @ 12:15 PM Central)
🔗 Learn more: https://www.hoppeduphistory.com/membership-plans

07/24/2025

⚔️ On This Day in History – July 24, 1469
The Battle of Edgecote Moor: Betrayal, Bloodshed, and the Road to the Tudors

England was no stranger to civil war in the 15th century. Known as the Wars of the Roses, this brutal power struggle pitted the red rose of Lancaster against the white rose of York—and no alliance was safe for long.

At Edgecote Moor, forces loyal to the powerful noble Richard Neville, the “Kingmaker” Earl of Warwick, turned on King Edward IV, the Yorkist monarch Warwick had once helped put on the throne.

The king’s army was ambushed and scattered. Key allies were executed. Though Edward escaped and reclaimed power two years later, this battle marked a turning point in the trust—and treachery—that defined the era.

👑 But here’s the twist: Edward IV’s legacy wouldn’t end with his unexpected death in 1483.
His daughter, Elizabeth of York, would later marry Henry Tudor, uniting the warring houses and founding the most iconic dynasty in English history: The Tudors.

From battlefield chaos to royal weddings, the Wars of the Roses laid the foundation for everything from Henry VIII’s break with Rome to Elizabeth I’s golden age.

👉 Learn more here:
Homeschool Middle School Medieval World History: Europe, Asia & Islamic World (Outschool Semester):
🔗 https://outschool.com/classes/homeschool-middle-school-medieval-world-history-europe-asia-islamic-world-RKW5sIbo
World History: Middle Ages & Early Modern Era (Outschool Ongoing):
🔗 https://outschool.com/classes/world-history-middle-ages-early-modern-era-CmraIAog
Structured Scholar Live: Medieval & Early Modern Eras (Hopped Up History Membership)
🔗 https://www.hoppeduphistory.com/structured-scholar-live-medieval-early-modern-eras