4Real Forums: Help with early American History Unit

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Topic: Help with early American History Unit

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hereinantwerp
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Joined: Dec 17 2005
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Posted: Dec 04 2007 at 10:53pm \| IP Logged

I am thinking of doing an American History "Main Lesson Block" for my 8 year old. I would like it to be 4-6 weeks long. We have already done an Indians Block and read aloud "Stories of the Pilgrims" so we don't need to cover those.

Here's my booklist so far:

*Leif the Lucky, D'Aulaire
*The Discovery of the Americas, Maestro
*Columbus, D'Aulaire
*Pochahontas, D'Aulaire
*George W., D'Aulaire
*Paul Revere's ride, other poetry (someone recommended the Benets on a past query? I just ordered a copy for 35 cents plus postage!)
*4th of July Story, Dalgliesh
*Franklin, D'Aulaire
*Ben and Me (nighttime read aloud for fun?)

***BIG GAP here, what is essential & basic that I am missing??? (I plan to do Western/Pioneers/Lewis and Clark as a separate unit, I mean more presidents and stuff)

*Harriet and the Promised Land, Jacob Lawrence (I love the paintings and rhythm of this book)
*Lincoln, D'Aulaire

Maybe for nighttime read alouds: A Lion to Guard Us (Bulla), The Courage of Sarah Noble, The Matchlock Gun

Stuff I am curious about if anyone has comments:

Boys and Girls of Colonial Days, is this a good book??

I am very interested in audio stories, he loves these. Has anyone heard the "Little Bear" history story tapes? The "Living Adventures in American History" tapes? Or any learning/memory songs that aren't too obnoxious?? (Bad kids music really grates on my nerves! I do have and like Wee Sing America)

As far as some basic geography/history facts, I would like to approach this through a game or two. My son has very little attn. span for pencil and paper work. What are the best (inexpensive) games? We have the "Scrambled States of America" card game and like it. I also plan to check the library for art/craft projects--he does not like "color in the lines" type of things (like history pockets), but stuff that is more creative and open ended. If anyone has a good suggestion I would love to hear it.

I own several of the Jean Fritz books, but looking through these they look a little complex for him. I might try "Can't you make them behave King George?" because he'd like the funny pictures. But I want to keep the emphasis on STORY, not facts/information. He fidgets w/info but can get easily captured by story/ his imagination! He is very artistic and hands-on. Although he is 8 he is definately at more of a typical 2nd grade "younger" learning level.

Basically I am looking to plan a unit that covers the very basics of US history through stories and hands-on activities--we do not have time or attention for a lot of material. This son is so different than my first one--we did Sonlight 3 & 4 with him but that would never work here! I appreciate any help you can give!

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Angela Nelson

Mother to Simon (13), Calvin (9), and Lyddie Rose (3)

my blog: live and learn

vmalott
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Joined: Sept 15 2006
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Posted: Dec 05 2007 at 6:26am \| IP Logged

The Reading Well has a lot of great audio selections from some Landmark books that are no longer in print. You might be able to find a few titles there to fill in the gap.

Valerie

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Valerie
Mom to Julia ('94), John ('96), Lizzy ('98), Connor ('01), Drew ('02), Cate ('04), Aidan ('08) and three saints in heaven
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lapazfarm
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Joined: July 21 2005
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Posted: Dec 05 2007 at 8:36am \| IP Logged

You can get "Great Colonial American Projects you can Build Yourself" free online. It would probably be TMI for him to read all of the info, but you could scan it for fun project ideas to do with him (cornhusk dolls and the like).We have the print version and really like it.
Get it free here

As far as read-alouds, we really enjoy the "Dear America" series. You might check out "Diary of Patience Remember Whipple," the story of a child (fictional) who comes over on the Mayflower.

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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
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lapazfarm
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Posted: Dec 05 2007 at 8:39am \| IP Logged

My ds also really enjoyed the movie version of the musical 1776. I still catch him singing snippets of it sometimes!

To fill in the gaps between living books you might also check out the book "The American Story" which is really nicely done.

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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning

hereinantwerp
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Posted: Dec 07 2007 at 4:19pm \| IP Logged

thank you, I had not heard of any of these things--will check them out!

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Angela Nelson

Mother to Simon (13), Calvin (9), and Lyddie Rose (3)

my blog: live and learn

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