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Maryan
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| Posted: Aug 13 2007 at 9:01pm | IP Logged
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Two weeks ago I posted a question here about using RC History with my 1st grader -- or wondered if I should wait to start when I had at least two using it.
The consensus from the great feedback was to wait for more than one since that is one of RC's strength.
So then I was pondering some of the suggestions and also read in another thread
macmom wrote:
| We do history in 4 year cycles (ancients, medieval, renaissance to American Civil War, modern). |
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I like the idea of keeping things somewhat chronological, so I'm thinking about doing this plan... and humor me because I'm trying to figure out WHAT history to study before I start RC in two years.  
- First I'd consider last year's narrations on the Old Testament our brief study on part of the ancients in which we even spent quite a bit of time doing an Ark of the Covenant project and spent some time on Moses and Pharoah using these props. We didn't spend tons of time on Egypt or many of the ancient civilizations... but I'm thinking we can revisit them in a few years.
- This year I'm studying the New Testament as part of our religion studies. So I'm thinking about moving last year's religion narrations and this year's narrations into a Book of Centuries together. We don't have a Book of Centuries yet -- so just putting them in would be a little mini-review of that time period.
- Then in addition to the New Testament stories, I would supplement a few projects on the Romans since that was during Christ's time.
So ultimately, it's following RC ideas loosely to sort of keep the chronological order going...
But here's where I need help and I like seeing the big picture...
I'm thinking that we would celebrate the American holidays -- Columbus, Thanksgiving, President's Day specifically -- and I guess stick them the Book of Centuries in WAY out of order. Valerie recommended a book that had American stories to use that was from MA's kindergarten lesson plans that seemed neat.
But is New Testament, Rome, and various American holiday stories and crafts fine for this year  Would you move past Rome to....?
For 2nd grade, I was thinking about just hitting the highlights of medieval and renaissance and New World exploration for second grade in 12 week segments each. So it would be just the fun stories and projects.
So then I would start from Creation again using RC History in 3rd grade.
Feedback And, sorry, I know I'm being a little too planned here... but for me, if I have a destination it helps the trip - IFYKWIM.
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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folklaur
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| Posted: Aug 13 2007 at 9:40pm | IP Logged
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....what about maybe a "cultural geography" for history this year? Learn about children from other countries, find the country on a map, learn a little about the country, tie in crafts from that country and ethnic foods and recipes...
...and next year, you could do a simplified and relaxed "World History" a la "A Children's History of the World"....
Then you could move on to RC History…and go chronologically...
When they are littler (I would say at least up to third grade) - I don't think they remember the "history" itself as much as the activities you do with them...
just a suggestion...feel free to ignore 
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Aug 13 2007 at 9:58pm | IP Logged
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What about doing a little family history? Have him do a timeline of his own life, including birth, baptism, birthdays, special trips, etc. And then extend it back to mom and dad's lives, then grandparents, etc. It may give him an good intro into what a timeline is all about in a meaningful way.
This is something I am thinking about doing with my 6yo dd this year.
That and celebrating holidays, etc. Really anything you do at this age should be fun and light and will be just fine.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Cheryl
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| Posted: Aug 14 2007 at 2:04am | IP Logged
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I struggled with deciding about history too this year. First, I had decided to do FIAR with my dd 5. Then I thought about using RC History or Sonlight books for my older two. I finally settled on FIAR for everyone with a bit of CHC thrown in for ds 8. (CHC called for a tour of 9 countries for 3rd grade.) I didn't think my younger two could handle much more than FIAR and I don't think I could handle two different histories right now.
I think CHC does a study of states in 4th grade, then in 5th-8th they alternate US and world history. I figure by then the two middle dc will be old enough to handle RC, Sonlight, CHC or whatever I choose. It was a hard decision. I think I'd personally rather be reading about US or World history, but I think my younger dc would prefer the picture books. I probably will throw in some US History for the holidays and some individual country's history where I can.
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Cheryl
Wife to Bob ('97)
Mom to Matthew 13, Joseph 11, Sarah 10, Rachel 6, Hannah almost 4 and Mary 1
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MichelleW
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| Posted: Aug 14 2007 at 12:13pm | IP Logged
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Maryan,
I think what you suggest is perfect for the year. I started on the 4 year cycle of history way too early and I regret it. I wish we had kept it simple and fun those first couple of years. If I had it to do all over again, I would do exactly what you have planned.
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Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)
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4Real Forums : Across Time and Place
Topic: Okay -- help again... please
