History
History
Let us think about history not so much as a "subject" to be learned in school with difficult dates, places and times, but rather as a "story" which is full of wonder and excitement; full of adventure and intrigue in which real people carry out unimaginable feats. If we think of history in this way, it becomes a vivid picture which our minds hold fast and hunger for more.
Can you imagine what this
old tree could tell about the life and times it has seen in it's
one hundred plus years? Mark history with real things like a tree
which has been standing over a hundred years. We had a great
grandmother who lived to be 103 years old. We still use Grandma
Lykken to mark the pages of history in our minds, and it doesn't
seem quite so far off then. She lived during the times of Laura
Ingalls Wilder, Aleck Graham Bell, Women's Sufferage, and The
Wright Brothers. Can you just imagine the headlines in the local
papers?
If you keep time lines, be sure to add family members to mark time. Two or three lifespans is a whole lot of history in America!
How Do We Organize History?
Here is a very simple method that a Kerri, a homeschooling friend, has shared.
We do a four year cycle for history. The children go through each cycle in elemetary, middle, and high school. I teach all my chi ldren at the same time, adding more diffulcult reading/research assignments for the older children.
Year 1-- Creation, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece
Year 2-- Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation, Exploration
Year 3-- Early American History: Native Americans, American Revolution, Colonial America, Pioneers
Year 4-- Civil War, WWI, WWII, Depression, and modern (recent) history
To this we add the study of Fine Arts, Geography, Literature, Arts and Crafts, and the Bible pertaining to the time period being studied. I hope this helps!
ABC
Books for History
A good while ago I mentioned ABC books on a discussion about writing. My children made one when studying the Middle Ages. We simply cut and laced paper together, but you could use the plastic sheet protectors to make a great book (I will do this next time.) They used fancy Middle-age looking printing and wrote a large letter at the beginning of the page. Then they came up with something related to each letter of the alphabet from our studies.
For example A--Arthur, King of Camelot; F--Falconry, the sport of hunting with falcons. The younger children could leave it at that, adding an illustration. The older children could write one or more paragraphs on each topic. They too could illustrate it. It really requires some major thinking to come up all the alphabet!! Lots of fun memories!!
Diary
Writing for History
Another fun writing assignment was to write a diary entry as a person from that time period. While studying Ancient Egypt, we did this. Both of my children picked King Tut. My daughter (7 at the time) wrote from the perspective of becoming king at such a young age--"Poor King Tut was so bored with his duties and just wanted to go out and play with his young wife--things like tag and baseball!!"
My son (10 or 11) pretended to be Tut on the night of his death, which in Matt's entry was a murder, complete with the entry being written under the bed where Tut was hiding from his murderers. They got him in the end and the pen ran off the page (it is hard to write when you're being murdered) and blood splattered on the page (red paint dribbled.)
Boy, I better do some of these things again--they were fun.
Kerri
Book Catalogs and Organizing Time Periods
I am not ashamed to say that I USE book catalogs. They're just wonderful resources! I particularly like the Greenleaf Press catalog for history because everything is organized chronologically with the best book recommendations for the time period. Some books are even given age levels! I simply take my catalog to the library and try to find the books. If I think they may not be found, I order the books via inter-library loan ahead of the time I plan to use them (if I am organized). At times, I do order books from these good people. They should be rewarded for their time and effort and research.
Another great book catalog for American History is called Bluestocking Press. Included in their catalog are books arranged choronologically plus things like replica maps, newspapers, documents and kits to build covered wagons and forts, and also period music. Contact them at: 1-800-959-8586.
Living Books
We use living books to learn history rather than textbooks. Don't go throwing out all your old textbooks however! USE them as guides into history. We are using the Kingfisher Illustrated World History as a guide into ancient history and on through the ages. Textbooks are great for little tidbits, but we want LIFE!
Reading historical novels opens up the time period. We can actually visualize a busy Boston street with the bustle of colonial merchants, the smell of the salty sea and the sights of a harbor receiving its cargo from Mother England. Then can you see Ben Franklin in his print shop with quill pen in hand busily drafting another proverb for Poor Richard's Almanac?
This is how I want my children to remember history. It can be done by allowing them to read good historical novels or biographies of real people of the time. Not only will one who studies the biography of Ben Franklin learn of Ben, but of all his aquaintances as well...George Washington, Sam Adams, James Madison and more!
I like to use historical novels as our read-aloud stories before bedtime. The children don't even know they are getting a history lesson! They just enjoy the quiet setting of snuggling up next to Mother with a favorite blanket and a good story.
Click up my daughter's booklist. You'll be amazed at how many historical novels she has enjoyed mostly "for the fun of it." Grace's Favorite Book List She also has several book reviews for your enjoyment.
I hope you've found some good ideas here and please let me know if you have any good ideas to share about teaching history!
Jody
Hompage - Home School - A Charlotte Mason Education in Our Home - Kindergarten CM Style - High School - Language Arts - History - Art - Music in the Home - Classical Music Curriculum - Little Bush Backers Election Study - Nature. - Nature With Grace - The Library- Making Books and Booklets with Children
Organizational Tips - Archived Recipes - Back to Basics. - Chickens - Garden - St. Francis on Lawn Care - Homework - Quilt Links - Fall Ideas - Christmas Home - Courtney Herefords. - Books and Boots. - What Does Pro-Life Really Mean
