It seemed like there were a lot of people doing ancient history last year. Since we are doing Sotw (Story of the World), and they have 4th grade doing modern, and my dd is in 4th grade this year (I can't believe it!!!), then we switched to modern. Is anyone doing modern history, or has anyone done it in the not too distant past? I didn't know it, but the Activity book for the modern history for SOTW is not published yet. Well, maybe it is now. I was looking at thing this early summer, and they had it listed, and I ordered it, but they said it wouldn't be out until Sept. In September they changed to October, and in October they changed to November. I haven't heard that it's changed again, but I haven't received it yet either. We're moving along fine, it's just nice to have the activity book, cuz they have so much extra info. and creative ideas in them! We are still studying around the 1850's and 60's. My 7th grade ds and my dd just read about and did reports on Abraham Lincoln. We're working on the Civil War era now. We went to Gettysburg last summer (2004), so have pictures from the area, and some memories, so that helps. We're doing maps and summaries and things, but I can hardly wait for the Activity Book to get here! We only got half way through the ancient history last year, so we are going to finish that up next year, since that's what SOTW does, 5th grade goes back to Ancient history. We had a lot of fun with ancient, especially since we compared it with the happenings in the Bible and had a timeline on the wall. Maybe I better get a timeline back up on the wall for modern! They have their notebook timelines, but we haven't done much with them this year. As I typed this I realized that. Maybe tomorrow we can add the people and things that we have done to the timelines! Cool, I think they'll like that! So how ya'll else doing?
I thought,when I read what I did of WTM, that the idea was to start with ancient, then teach all history chronologically. We only got half-through Ancient, too, and are continuing it through. I also bought Vol. II of MOH from the author so I'll be ready for next year. Since it was new, she had it on sale. I know there's LOTS of stuff you can get for the time you're doing, so not having the Activity Book isn't all that big, though it sure would be helpful!
Deena~ I bought Mystery of History at our convention this past spring. My girls are in 1st and 6th grade this year, and we started working together on science, history, music, etc. Gracie is ONLY 5, so I thought it might be best to wait until next year to get into a "deeper" history; plus, Ashley is just "coming off" of Abeka, and I wanted something ALOT less structured for this year. So, we are doing OUR OWN THING for this year~ I am just piecing things together and doing American history~ using ALOT of different resources that I'm picking up/have picked up along the way. We are having SO MUCH FUN!!!! Right now, it has worked out great that, timewise, we are studying the Pilgrims, Native Americans, Colonial America, etc. We are doing lots of hands-on things- crafts, lapbooks, history pockets, notebooking~ the girls are having so much fun that somedays all we do is history! I'll admit, it's my favorite subject, so that doesn't take much begging on their part! LOL
Plus Pennsylvania is a wonderful place to be learning about so much of that!!! Isn't it amazing how much you can do together with kids so far apart in age?
Yes, it is amazing. And, it's also amazing to me how much a 5 year old will pick up and understand when you're doing hands-on as opposed to a ton of bookwork. And then I feel pretty proud when Gracie rattles off these facts to adults!
Yeah, my dd had a large vocabulary at a very young age, listened intently to what I did with the boys and rattled stuff off like that too. She didn't deeply understand it, but it was sure cute! It's so neat to see them pick up on it so well, like your dd is doing! That's great, good job!!! I also like the fact that we can work multiple grades of our children together and they all learn well at their level! That reminds me.......My oldest was probably 9 or so, and his brother was 5 or 6. The oldest was learning the presidents, mainly from the placemats (which we still use a lot! They're great---a cheap resource!), so the younger one wanted to learn them too. They both were doing well, and quizzing each other on names and facts. Anyway, the younger one was telling me the presidents in order, and when he got to Rutherford B. Hayes, he said "Ruthaferd, BEHAVE!" He wasn't quite sure why that command was in there, but he said it with great force, as one should! Jackie, it does say to go in order. But since the books are kind of made for certain grades, I thought we'd go ahead and move on and be on her grade level subject (modern) this year, then go back and finish the ancient for her 5th grade year, since they have stuff specifically planned for the grades like that. That way she is on the right track, and I only have to come up with more detailed plans for one child. Last year I was having to do more detailed plans for both of them, plus add in the Bible stuff, so it was a lot more work on my part. It was great fun, but tiring for me. This year it's much easier, and not so hard to do stuff for me ds. WTM has 8th grade doing Modern History, so I'm actually having him do some of that. The reason I chose to go with the grade my dd is in is because she will be doing this longer, so it's good to be on that level, just makes things a bit simpler. I agree, hands-on is great. We had so much fun with our ancient history last year, cuz we related it to things my kids understood and did lots of crafts, recipes, skits, etc. You go girl, those kids will remember what you're doing with them so much longer than if they were in school reading stories from a book!!!
I had planned on doing Canadian history from 1400-1700, life in New France, before Confederation etc. but I can't seem to get motivated. Plus I don't know it all, so I'm doing some research on it, setting up a more enjoyable (and easier to teach) program. Hopefully we'll start on it again within the month
Sara has an interest in art. We are studying what went on in the life of Devinci, his inventions,to MONA Lisa.who was alive in his lifetime.
Skippy, I want to add in authors and musicians also. They have many books on them, some of which I either have or can get at the library. Thanks for reminding me!
Hey Deena.. We are sticking to the schedule of the 4 yr rotation because my oldest is just 5th grade..So its like a perfect fit for us,kwim? We are more than 1/2 way through the 2nd year.. I would like to be farther, but with our move, we are where we are:roll: Actually, its worked out nicer because this year our local Renaissance festival did a school day. WOWEE OH WOWEE was that FUN!!! We never went to it because you know the drinking and too much flesh exposed , not to mention all the interest in witchcraft that comes from that era, it gets pretty rough on the weekends. So this was the first time they did school days. It was only schools, kids and their families for the whole day. All the people working were dressed time period and very knowledgeable about that time. They had fencing lessons for the boys, and I took a picture of all my *Sr Knights*.. Let me see if I can remember how to attach it. We REALLY like this time period, and yes the gory details we have to skim by some. I will have to do something different in a few more years about changing the schedule up because I want my oldest to start with the ancients in 9th grade like the WTM listed to be sure he has a thorough year on each area. In the meantime, I have used All through the Ages History through Literature Guide if I need a book on a different level. This year I bough the CD's and I love it too! That way if we miss history, I can pop the CD in on a drive and we still get the story if nothing else for that day,kwim? I just love the guides, they are sooo full neat facts...
Hi Tina, Welcome! I haven't seen you in awhile again! That's a cool picture of your Knights! I just got word that the Activity Book is now delayed again, and estimated shipping is end of December to early January! Rats! Wonder what the hold-up is?! Wonder if I'll ever even get it this school year? I'll have to cancel if it doesn't come in the next couple of months, cuz we'll have missed out on too much to make it worth it! I'm still glad we're on the right schedule now, though, even if we don't have the Activity book!
I'm still writting my history curriculum off and on. Only up to Jacob (none done of him yet) that looks to be about 25 lessons on doing a quick count. I have no idea how long the entire thing will take. I'm guessing a few years rotation. If we do 4 lessons per week + lap books then I have about 10 weeks worth done. :lol: a long work in progress.
For a time reference, we started in the fall and had made it to right before the Babylonian Captivity in one school year. This year, we will finish through the Ressurection. That was doing about 3 lessons a week. I started my Beth Moore study last night. One of the "homework" questions is to draw a quick timeline of important events in Israel's history. I asked my friend if I should bring in my kitchen wall, LOL! (My friend also uses MOH, and understands.) But in all seriousness, I DID ask my kids at breakfast this AM what they think Mommy should put on it....
Beth Moore has written lots of Bible Studies. I've heard about them for a while now, and have wanted to do one. Finally get to! But it "requires" about a half-hour to 45 minutes of preperation for 5 days a week!
I sure hope it is worth it; from what I've heard, it is. Though I missed my homework last night. We had a really busy day. My nephew was there in the AM, and I had to take him to my MIL after lunch. We met my cousin at an in-door pool (Little Phillip passed his Deep Water Test, and went off the HIGH DIVE!!! He was SO PROUD!!!) came home for about a half-hour, took Faythe to dance (all of us, since Carl had conferences at school), went from there to the Dollar Store with our shoeboxes for Christmas Child, stopped at Pizza Hut to redeem our Book It Coupons, came home and watched Mary Poppins while eating pizza. The kids got to bed after 10, so we slept in today. Carl wasn't home then. He got home about 10:45, which had me VERY concerned. I expected him an hour earlier. Then I realized that if he were hurt or anything, no one could contact me because the phone's out. But on the flip side, if he was running late, he couldn't contact me and tell me, either. He had stayed to finish up some things in the quiet. I was SO GLAD when he came in the door!
We are starting a unit on Presidents and plan to study each one, color a picture of each one and write a sentence on each one in a journal. Then put all of them in folders. Should be fun. The kids do know some about a few presidents already. Be interesting to see what they can remember.
We're going to be working on Presidents also. We just did some on Lincoln, since we're around the Civil War era. We'll used our handy placemats, with the presidents and some interesting info. on each one, to help them learn them in order. Then they'll write reports on some of them. My oldest will do more in-depth studying about what was happening during the time of that president, etc.
