So many to choose from Here is our line-up for 5th grade so far: Math = Mastering Mathematics (Letz Farmer) Language Arts = Learning Language Arts Through Literature Science = Apologia, Exploring Creation with Astronomy Bible = ?? History = ?? We used A Beka for history last year. It was US History. I've thought of using Lifepac this year but the 5th grade seems to be pretty much US history again. The 4th grade, however, is this: I'm wondering if it would be a better choice so he doesn't burn out on US history before middle school. And, is Lifepac a good choice for history anyway? Thoughts, opinions?
Mystery of History!!! I love it, it's Christian based, and is world history. Volume 1 covers Creation through the Ressurection.
We are using Christian Cottage this year. We are doing history for U.S.,Canada,and Mexico. It includes Geography and science as well. Laid out sorta like Mystery of History. It has the hands on activities and also has lists of living books that you can read to go along with the unit you are studying at the time. There are 4 differant volumes each one focusing on a particular area of the world. Also includes Bible as well. Go to www.christiancottage.com if you want to find out more. Click on curriculum and then unit studies. It is pricy through that site but check Vegsource.com or ebay. I bought mine for less than 1/2 the price including shipping. HTH. Angie
I wasn't impressed with LifePac history for 4th grade. I actually switched him to 6th grade level for it. My NOW 3rd grader would have been able to do the 4th grade level if I pushed her a little bit since she did 3rd grade level last year (and she was in 2nd grade). Look at the 6th grade one instead if you want to skip over the US (we did as well)
If you want geography (which is basically what 4th grade LifePac is when I last checked)....there are lots of good options. We actually started A Child's Geography today (Vol 1). It mostly introduces the study of Earth (which is good for us since I'm trying to sneak extra science in on my 5th grade daughter who dislikes science). They have another volume on the Holy Land. I'm assuming, others are in the works. It's very conversational like the Elementary Apologia books. Or move onto World History like someone suggested. My 5th grader is continuing her US History studies with Sonlight this year. We're probably spending LOTS of time on US History but stretching it out and reading lots of historical fiction, etc with it. We'll do World History in Middle school (probably 7/8 grade). Good luck
my ds liked history 4, life paks SOS version. He likes geography , and yes thats basically what it is, you do the world and topographical studies , etc. I would suggest Story of the World now that we are going to be doign it for 6th, cause you are right most currics are doing US for 5th, thats what we did. SOTW has ancient then medivial, we are doing the blue book , second book for 6th grade, you could start with the first book, and the begning.. or you can do the MOH and it has Bible in it? Someone said SOTW does too , I dint look that closely at it at the store I just looked at the activities booklet. It has great suggestions and ideas and is really cool. I looked at the MOH too at the store kids were not too into that, or Ancient Civilisations either. that one is a rectangle book. But some of the other ones refer to it...
I want you all to know that I stayed up until after 1:00 a.m. reading history curriculum reviews last night! :lol: I've decided to give MOH, Vol. 1 a try. If anyone else is looking for it, Amazon has it for $33.70, w/ free shipping! They also have the Student Bible Atlas that the MOH author recommends.
you probably will, I heard a lot of people say how good it is back when I joined this spot... so it can't be too bad hahah ( nudge nudgejust kidding! )
Here: http://www.homeschoolspot.com/showthread.php?t=5108&highlight=ancient+history is a book list of books that correspond with MOH 1. I got this from the MOH Yahoo group that I was part of a good while back.
Wow, thanks Jackie! Well, Amazon to the rescue once again. I went ahead and ordered 6 of the ones on your list. Free shipping on all, PLUS, I got one for free because Amazon has a 4 for 3 promotion on certain books going on now, which means I saved $15.89. Can't beat that! Here's the list of the ones I ordered: The Golden Goblet The Trojan War Hittite Warrior Adam and His Kin The God King The Bronze Bow (this was my free one) Some on your list were not available, some didn't qualify for free shipping, and some were too expensive for me to want to buy, so we'll try to hunt those down at the library. Thanks again, I'm now looking forward to this year's history!
Jackie Thanks so much for posting that list. I still have to buy the history reading books. 1boy1girl2teach I think you will like MOH, I just got it in and SOTW and secretly I like MOH better than SOTW lol. I just like the way it is layed out much better and the fact it really goes into the Bible. If I was going to pick just one, it would be MOH and not SOTW.
I really would suggest getting books from the library as much as possible!!! If I were to buy every book we read for history, I would more than double what I pay for my ENTIRE curriculum! I have three kids. Usually, I have two different read-alouds, plus each of my children has an "assigned" book to read on their own. That's five books at any one given time!
I looked over the list, and don't think I saw "The God King" on it. It's about a boy who "accidently" became pharoah. Without giving anything away, he ends up in Jerusalem when Sennecherib attaked King Hezekiah. It's REALLY worth reading! Also, there's a great poem about that "battle". I'll see if I still have it somewhere!
Jackie, Thanks for the tip. I will search the Library but since we are in a small town, our library is really disapointing. Its like I almost never find the exact title I am looking for. I might have to substitute what ever they have, for the books on the list because budget is really becoming a concern. I am over a grand just on curriculum already for this year, and that dont count the laptops that I got a few months back. I still dont have any history reading books and need umpteen binders for this year still. Then, hopefully, I will be done buying this year. I am thinking of paying the fee and trying to go to the Library in the city just to cut some of these costs. I know exactly what you mean by it doubling the costs by buying all the books. I am going to see if our Library has any of the books on the list, hopefully they will have a few of them.
It wasn't on the list but in your 2007 post about the list, you added this on at the end so I went ahead and got it. (BTW, the authors are Joanne Williamson and Daria M. Sockey ) I don't mind buying a few books, especially cheaper paperbacks, since I have a 2nd grader coming along who will more than likely use them as well. And when I'm done with it, I can sell it all together. One thing I almost never feel like I'm wasting money on is good books.
Completely off the topic, but have you used Mastering Mathematics before this year? I'm wondering because that's what I'm thinking of using for ds & I'd really like to hear an opinion from someone who has used it.
No, I haven't used it before. I hope it's as good as all the reviews I've read on it make it out to be!
