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anncap
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Does anyone have any ideas on studying the 20th century? My 12yods, who loves history, wants to learn about more modern times, especially the wars. I had ordered Paul Johnson's books on Modern History and the American People, but they are way over his head. He's a good reader, but there is too much background info and references that he doesn't possess. I honestly don't have time to break down the book into chunks and do it with him.
Has anyone studied this era and how did you do it? What materials did you use? Thanks, Ann in Tucson
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Ann in Tucson
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Kathryn UK
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Ann, I've been working on a modern history course for 13-14 year olds for Mater Amabilis ... it isn't finished, but I'm intending to get what I've done so far online in the next few days, so take a look at the Mater Amabilis site next week (look under Level 4). Like you, I struggled to find a spine that would work for this age group - as you say, many books are just too much, even for a strong reader - but I eventually found the Witness to History series published by Heinemann. The text isn't that detailed, but what I really like about them is that it is supported by lots of extracts from primary sources - newspaper reports, letters, speeches, eyewitness accounts and so on. The series covers most of the major conflicts of the 20th century, including World War I, several aspects of World War II, the Vietnam War, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and even the Iraq War. I think they make a good spine for modern history for 12 to 14 year olds, and can be padded out with further reading and some of the source material available online. I have lots of additional book suggestions for the 20th century, which you will be able to find on the MA site.
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Mary G
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Have you tried chapters of Weigel's book, Witness to Hope -- it's also on DVD (in a very stripped down version). This is a great living book about the history of the 20th Century from the East -- lots about the Wars, Communism, etc....
Weigel writes very clearly and if you chose the chapters, your son would get a great overview of what was going on in the world thruout the entire 20th century -- he goes up to the millenium, so that should work.
Hope this helps!
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MaryG
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Marybeth
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We always had to do an oral history presentation in seventh and eighth grade. We had to interview people and ask them 20-25 questions about their years growing up and life at that time. It was always very interesting days as we learned about classmates' relatives/neighbors and their lives.
My Grandpa (before he died) would yearly address my Uncle's AP/Honor History classes and talk to them about the Great Depression. My Uncle said the kids would go wild hearing the stories and really enjoyed asking questions. He said the rabbit trails from my Grandpa's talk could have lasted them the entire semester!!!!
God bless,
Marybeth
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anncap
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Thanks for the great ideas! Kathryn, I will definitely check out the MA site and your book recommendation. That does sound like the kind of thing my ds would enjoy. I really do want a spine that he can read on his own and organize his learning. Mary, I do have Witness to Hope and loved it. Now that you mention it, I remember saying how much history I learned while reading it. I'm going to go and check out the table of contents again today. Marybeth, your suggestion is interesting also, I'm just sure that my ds would wish for some war heroes for relatives! 
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Ann in Tucson
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anncap
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Kathryn,
Wow! I looked at the Mater Amabilis site and you and Michele have done so much! Before I spend more $$ on books, dare I ask how "politically correct" the Jennings book is and the Witness to History? I suppose there is hardly a way of escaping it when we're talking about more current events, however, I'd hate to be groaning and having to explain our different point of view for every topic of the last 40 years.  They look good; I'm just wondering. Thanks, Ann
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Ann in Tucson
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Elizabeth
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I second the suggestion for Witness to Hope. This is, hands-down, my favorite example of a living book for history. 
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Kelly
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And I'll second the "Witness to History" series that Kathryn mentioned (yiasou, Kathryn, ti kaneis?  ) I have several of these: WWI, WWII, Afghanistan, Collapse of Communism, Arab-Israeli Conflict, Great Depression. While I haven't been over them with a fine-tooth comb, what I have read looks pretty good. Oh yeah, there's some PC stuff, but from what I've briefly glimpsed, it's not too bad at all. These books are very kid-friendly. If Paul Johnson was too much (and he can be ponderous), I'd say these might be just what you're looking for. Each volume is slim, but packed with info.
Another option you might consider are the Jackdaw packets. They have a lot on current subjects. Just be warned, they are patently PC---choose judiciously!
Kelly in FL
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anncap
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Thanks, Kelly!
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Ann in Tucson
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Kelly
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Another history series that covers some Modern History is "Puritans' Progress: A Catholic Perspective" by Anger, Chojnowski, Mancuso and Novak. Vol. 3 covers 1849 to 1921; Vol. 1922 to 1941; Vol. 5 1942 to 1969. They are slimmish volumes, but not dumbed-down. The only caveat is that they are published by Angelus Press, which is involved with the Pius X crowd. That being said, I believe I read, years ago, that the author's involvement with Pius X stemmed more from being a Feeneyite (which I believe maintains no salvation outside the Church---I'm probably oversimplifying here  ) than from anything else. I have seen nothing egregious in these books, neither PC or PX in nature (tho it doesn't mean it's not there, I just haven't seen it). On the whole, I like what I HAVE seen of these books and think they might provide a good "spine".
Kelly in FL
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Kathryn UK
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As Kelly says, the Witness to History books are not too PC - and as good as you are going to get with a secular history book, I think. The books make a conscious attempt to show all sides of an issue, and begin with a "How do we know?" section explaining how historians work and how different sources have different types of bias. This is an extract from that section in the Afghanistan book:
"This book uses both an historian's account and a wide selection of primary sources to tell the story of Afghanistan since 1978. Since this is mostly a story of war, many of the primary sources tend to support one side or the other. This is true whether the source in question comes from an important national figure, like a US National Security advisor (see page 19) or simply an ordinary Afghan caught up in events, like the teacher in Kabul (see page 33). Sometimes a source is trying to make a political point, like the writer in the government newspaper (see page 11), at others he or she is simply trying to express what it felt like to be there, like the Soviet soldier sent to fight or the young woman forced to wear particular clothes (see pages 17 and 39). But even biased sources can contribute to the wider historical picture. They can reveal people's prejudices allowing us to understand why people act in the way they do. Many primary sources, like the ones in this book, often provide the most dramatic picture of what it was really like to live through certain times or events."
I haven't seen the Jennings book myself (US history books aren't so easy to find over here ), but it was reviewed for us by someone whose judgement I trust. Unfortunately I can't find her comments 
(Kala efcharisto, Kelly, kai esi?  )
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Erin
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Kathryn UK wrote:
Ann, I've been working on a modern history course for 13-14 year olds for Mater Amabilis ... it isn't finished, but I'm intending to get what I've done so far online in the next few days, so take a look at the Mater Amabilis site next week (look under Level 4). Like you, I struggled to find a spine that would work for this age group - as you say, many books are just too much, even for a strong reader - but I eventually found the Witness to History series published by Heinemann. The text isn't that detailed, but what I really like about them is that it is supported by lots of extracts from primary sources - newspaper reports, letters, speeches, eyewitness accounts and so on. The series covers most of the major conflicts of the 20th century, including World War I, several aspects of World War II, the Vietnam War, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and even the Iraq War. I think they make a good spine for modern history for 12 to 14 year olds, and can be padded out with further reading and some of the source material available online. I have lots of additional book suggestions for the 20th century, which you will be able to find on the MA site.
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The link here to Witness to History no longer works and I did a search on Amazon and can't seem to find them. Are these books still in print?
Dd13 an avid reader wants to do modern history from the French Revolution to the end of the second World War. She particulary likes to read history novels and is not keen on spines. Does anyone know of spines with hands on activities for this age group?
I have some novels for this time period, I'm happy to share titles here if anyone else is needing ideas.
I love the idea of Witness to Hope, it never even occured to me.
Any ideas for movies?
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Erin
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4Real Forums : Across Time and Place
Topic: modern history
