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Erin Lewis
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| Posted: March 11 2011 at 9:52pm | IP Logged
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I was wondering if anyone was using the Connecting with History Program: Connecting with History.
I also was looking at this timeline on the same site and wondering if they can be used together in any way: Timeline
I have a friend using The Story of the the World and loves it, and at first glance it looks similar. I have not done any history this year (just have a child in K), and I am trying to explore the options...
Is history something that needs to be covered this early? I don't remember doing history myself until at least fourth grade. I do plan to do both Old and New Testament reading and studies over the next two years, and that is history in a way. Is that an appropriate way to begin?
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Erin
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guitarnan
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| Posted: March 11 2011 at 10:39pm | IP Logged
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We did not begin formal study of history with my younger child (ds, older, went to Catholic school until grade 5, dd has been learning at home since K) until maybe second grade. She did listen in on our 5th and 6th grade history lessons, but it was not until we started Ancient Egypt (ds grade 7, dd grade 2) that she was officially included in history studies (activities, etc.).
I think OT and NT studies are a great beginning! Young children love, no, adore, Bible stories. They really like learning about Noah and Moses and Joseph...you could always toss in a little history (pyramids, ancient Roman empire) at the appropriate time...
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amarytbc
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| Posted: March 11 2011 at 10:49pm | IP Logged
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CWH was designed to be used as a multi-level program. That is, you can teach the same material at the same to children of different ages. It's overkill for just one young child.
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kristinannie
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| Posted: March 11 2011 at 10:50pm | IP Logged
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I am doing geography and kids around the world for kindergarten. I am going to use:
Around the World in 80 Tales
Global Art
Children Just Like Me
Child's Atlas
I am going to go to the library and get books on different countries. We will focus on one country at a time for as long as my child is interested. We will make some food from that country and learn about how kids live in that country. We will also look at the geography of the region (are there mountains, rivers, etc). It is going to be informal and child led and hopefully lots of fun!
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Mackfam
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| Posted: March 12 2011 at 9:29am | IP Logged
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I'm pretty sure that JennGM and maybe Lindsay (CrunchyMom) used Mary Daly's First Timeline (the one you linked) so she might be able to give you an idea/review of it.
We don't do formal history in Kindergarten - 2nd grade; we mostly just read picture books that expose the child to a variety of cultural ideas, much like Kristin Anne is doing.
Having said that, I have used RC History's Connecting With History program over the years and really enjoy it. It really functions as a reference for me now, but when I first started teaching history it was very helpful in giving me a starting point in terms of my own understanding. I start using it when my kids are in 3rd grade.
I found some threads here discussing RC History to give you some extra input/insight on the program. It might be helpful to read other perspectives.
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Jen Mackintosh
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: March 12 2011 at 9:57am | IP Logged
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I do have the First Timeline, and while I have gotten behind, I think it is a nice simple first history for First Grade.
I had plans to use it alongside Gombrich's Little HIstory of the World (which I really, really like), but that really is overkill for first grade. I don't regret purchasing it in the least, we've enjoyed listening to it on road trips, and my husband even listened to it in his car for his commute, but I think that the timeline and some supplemental picture books (recommended in a pdf on the St. George site which you can link from the product description) are ample.
Having not used the RC History myself, I can't speak for certain, but based on my own experience with trying to do a bit too much for first grade, and pondering what will be doable for second, I'm guessing that Jen's assessment for RC History being a better tool starting around 3rd with your oldest is probably pretty accurate. I think more serious study of history makes sense around that time when a child has a better grasp of time as well as the writing skills to keep up a timeline notebook.
I'm finding that the piece-meal approach has been okay for first as well. You might not need a formal program at all. Children are inspired by the stories of history, or as Nancy said, the historical stories of the Bible as well. I think if you include stories here and there that ignite their imagination, you will have better spent you energy than worrying about whether they understand things chronologically at such a young age.
For instance, my children have been listening to Jim Weiss a lot since their new baby brother brought some new cds, and my first grader has been telling us all about Lewis and Clark exploring the West and Julius Caesar. And we've also talked a good bit about Noah's Ark and Jesus's temptationi in the desert. I'm not terribly worried that he likely cannot grasp the context of these stories, but rather, I'm glad that he is interested and has started internalizing these stories so that in the next few years, when he is ready, they will be there for him to begin assimilating them into space and time which he doesn't quite understand. The boys have been very interested in dinosaurs and other extinct animals lately, but when we try to explain how the dinosaurs lived so much longer ago than the woolly mammoths, they nod a lot, but they don't really "understand" and that's okay, imo.
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*Lindsey*
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| Posted: March 12 2011 at 10:08am | IP Logged
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I am watching with interest! I still can't decide what to do for history next year for a 3rd and 1st grader.
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Lindsey
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Erin Lewis
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| Posted: March 12 2011 at 7:43pm | IP Logged
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Thanks, everyone! I really do like the look of the First Timeline and using it along with corresponding picture books, and then using Bible history as well. I am trying not to overdo it when they are young. My friend who uses Story of the World explained to me that it repeats in a four-year cycle, so they are reading the first grade material again in fifth grade, but at that point they can read it themselves and go into further depth with related activities rather than having it read to them, which they do in first grade. So while it looks like it can be a lighter history program in the earlier grades, I am still hesitant as to how much history I want to get into when my kids are young.
I will haver to revisit Connecting with History in a couple years then... I do know that I want something that is Catholic so I won't have to be on my toes looking for any possible anti-Catholic bias in any history books. I did hear or read somewhere that Story of the World has some bias against Catholics, but my friend who is using it hasn't seen any yet (and she is Catholic).
And this may be a silly question, but what does the RC stand for in RC History... Roman Catholic? Or does it stand for the name of the publisher of the materials?
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Erin
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| Posted: March 12 2011 at 8:04pm | IP Logged
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Erin Lewis wrote:
| I have a friend using The Story of the the World and loves it, and at first glance it looks similar. |
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Erin
I have used both and actually I would not say they are similar.
SOTW is more the 'big picture'. Each chapter covers a history period, covers it very well imo. My boys actually love SOTW and I believe this is because they are more big pciture overview learners.
RC History is more my style, I loved it. But my dc didn't.  There are many lovely books recommended (so it can cost you more if your library is inadequate) and it studies each period well. It did take me a little time to get my head around the different levels with different children, but as you only have the one studying it won't be an issue for you.
Please feel free to ask me more specific questions and I'll do my best to answer.
Erin Lewis wrote:
| Is history something that needs to be covered this early? I don't remember doing history myself until at least fourth grade. I do plan to do both Old and New Testament reading and studies over the next two years, and that is history in a way. Is that an appropriate way to begin? |
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I think OT/NT history is a great way to start. I don't do formal history at this stage, so I would say it doesn't need to be covered this early. We read rich picture books that are set in different history periods and we're all happy. 
ErinLewis wrote:
| I do know that I want something that is Catholic so I won't have to be on my toes looking for any possible anti-Catholic bias in any history books. I did hear or read somewhere that Story of the World has some bias against Catholics |
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So far we have only used SOTW4. I am aware that there are a couple of chapters in SOTW2 and a fair bit of SOTW3 that are from a Protestant worldview. When we read thos books I'm planning on using Valerie's Catholic amendments.
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Erin
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Erin Lewis
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| Posted: March 12 2011 at 8:51pm | IP Logged
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Thanks, Erin! It helps to know what the difference is between this and SOTW.
Erin wrote:
| So far we have only used SOTW4. I am aware that there are a couple of chapters in SOTW2 and a fair bit of SOTW3 that are from a Protestant worldview. When we read thos books I'm planning on using Valerie's Catholic amendments. |
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I am glad to know that there are resources that can be used to fill in any voids left if there are parts with a bias against Catholicism! I'll be bookmarking and sharing these!
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Erin
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ekbell
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| Posted: March 14 2011 at 9:14pm | IP Logged
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Overall I tend to agree that the formal study of history can wait.
Before fourth grade my children's history consists of reading interesting books (lots of bible stories and Saint stories). Loads of picture books, few textbooks. The booklet that goes with the First Timeline contains short and rather charming stories which my children have enjoyed listening to as they colour the pictures and thus has fit in well with my normal methods for early years..
RChistory provides a good list of picture books for the younger lot but there *are* cheaper ways to find such books (searching and asking on this forum being one such way  ).
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: March 15 2011 at 12:07pm | IP Logged
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I follow the history philosophy of The Well-Trained Mind that in grades 1-4 is about planting seeds. (Introducing them to a topic so that when they study it extensively at a later time it seems familiar and less overwhelming.) Therefore I start history two days a week for about 15 minutes each time in first grade. I also follow the four-year cycle of Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern, and Modern history.
First I make an extensive outline of key points that I want to touch on for each topic. It's a bit of work but I will reuse the same outline for first grade again in fifth grade (and with my younger kids). Basically we look through the corresponding pages in the Usborne Encyclopedia of World History and discuss the key points. I really try to make it relevant by relating it to other media (like the Backyardigan's episode of Chitchen Itza Pizza).
This year (second grade), I've been having my daughter read passages from SOTW volume 2 during her independent reading time. Next year I will have her do the same with SOTW volume 3, but I'm planning to implement some stuff from the SOTW activity book.
When my oldest enters 4th grade, my next child will be starting 1st. My plan is to just integrate her into our study of Modern history instead of teaching two different time periods.
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mamaslearning
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| Posted: March 15 2011 at 3:40pm | IP Logged
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I bought both SOTW and CWH for the current year. I ditched both and went with a continent study that eased into a brief history of the US (from Columbus era on, right now we are reading about the pilgrams). I'm also reading aloud the Little House books. It's a basic introduction to general "popular" history. YK, the stories that pop like Columbus, John Smith, Pilgrams, Revolution, George Washington, etc.
I used the Core Knowledgebook as a sort of spine.
My dd started first grade last fall but wasn't ready for SOTW or CWH, but it depends on the child. I plan to start SOTW and the Mater Amabalis American History plan this year for 2nd grade.
I did use The Picture Bible this year for stories in the Old Testament, but I didn't follow it as a history lesson like in CWH.
HTH 
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herdingkittens
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| Posted: April 09 2011 at 9:14pm | IP Logged
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We have worked through SOTW 1, and LOVED LOVED LOVED it. History has become a favorite subject over here. Now I am faced with not using the next volume because of the anti-Catholic sentiments. I wish there was a Catholic (and quite frankly, more accurate) version of SOTW out there. I was looking at Child's History of the World or The Story of Mankind (which is free audio on librivox!) - can anyone compare those with SOTW who has used them?
Anyhow, not sure if History is required for those young ages, but I can tell you that studying it in this way (along with lots of other read alouds) has made lessons wonderfully rich and interesting. Especially Ancient History - our littles have been fascinated by the "stories" and myths. It has really enriched their imaginations and makes great material for playtime. Oh, and we teach History all together (so the 3rd, 2nd and Ker are all learning the same material.... even the 3 year olds get into some of the crafts/activities!  ).
I've learned a great deal myself, as none of this was ever taught in my schooling, even at the high school level, which boggles my mind, because this is exciting stuff!!
CWH looks really good, too. Is it just booklists, or are there activities/printables included?
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4Real Forums : Across Time and Place
Topic: Connecting with History, SOTW...
