Hello! We started Classical Conversations this year, so those of you in this program might help, but I'm sure others can help, too. We cover a history sentence every week. At first I was hoping to do the bare minimum since we just started this adventure of homeschooling. DS is 5 and in the K group. I also cover some math and reading/handwriting, our memory work for CC and that's about it. I can keep him focused at the table for about an hour in the morning and that's it. We try to sit and do reading in the afternoon, I've been trying to read The Chronicles of Narnia set to them, but haven't gotten far with that yet. I am working on doing more in the afternoon, but it seems we ALL lose focus by then and can't seem to get good quality work done. I figure this is a good time to sit and read together because it doesn't take much focus from the kids, they can play legos while I read, or curl up next to me and just relax. So, my question is what kind of history read aloud should I get? I realized that with this history sentence, we're just learning a quick fact about history and nothing more. This week's sentence talked about William the Conquerer and his defeating of king Harold of England started fuedalism. I thought...what the heck is fuedalism?? So, I realized I should probably do some history read aloud with them to learn more about this sentence we are trying to memorize. CC suggests Kingfisher and SOTW, but I just don't know. It seems like these books are huge volumes with hundreds and hundreds of pages! Are these geared toward younger ones or what? Thanks for any suggestions!
A Child's History of the World by Hilyer. I really think this is one of the best for very young children. I might add that I LOVE the Genieve Foster books, but am not sure your children are there yet. http://www.amazon.com/Childs-History-World-V-M-Hillyer/dp/0899669387 (Don't let the price scare you! I got a copy a few years back used, paperback, for $10. My friend is using it right now!)
SOTW has been a HUGE hit in our house...but my 5yo quickly loses interest. I have not pushed it with him since I am not really concerned about him doing history regularly until next year, but every chapter does have at least one coloring page. If we do these, I have the kids color them after the reading, but I don't see why you couldn't have them color while listening. The thing is...which year would you get? It sounds to me as if the era in history you're doing would fall in volume II...these history sentences...do they come up chornologically?
