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SeaStar Forum Moderator
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Posted: Jan 14 2010 at 3:22pm | IP Logged
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I recently had the chance to look through SOTW Vol 1.
I know my ds would really enjoy hearing about history this way- read as a story. I don't even think he would realize it was "school work" if we just read it as a chapter book. It would be just another interesting book for him.
I was interested to know if anyone has done anything different with Vol 1 other than read it out loud. Is there somewhere a list that might have picture books to supplement it (I found one for Vol 2 but not one).
Any other ideas or suggestions? HOw do you use it in your home?
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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Mimip Forum All-Star
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Posted: Jan 14 2010 at 6:43pm | IP Logged
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Melinda,
There is an activity book to go with the Volume and it includes all sorts of maps and book resources. My best friend swears by the audio cd's. She just pops them in plays and then stops, kids narrate and then continues.
We tried using it but my kids aren't really interested and we'll be moving on to RC History in the summer.
__________________ In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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SeaStar Forum Moderator
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Posted: Jan 14 2010 at 9:16pm | IP Logged
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Thanks, Mimi-
This title is very new to me, so I'm just investigating. I searched on Amazon for the activity book you mentioned, and that was helpful. It got mixed reviews- one to find as a cheap used copy if possible
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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teachingmyown Forum All-Star
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Posted: Jan 14 2010 at 10:38pm | IP Logged
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We listen to the Jim Weiss recordings. The kids just soak it in and enjoy it. When we finish, we will just start again. Of course, they "narrate" all about it to me although they don't know it's narration.
__________________ In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Paula in MN Forum All-Star
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Posted: Jan 15 2010 at 5:35am | IP Logged
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When we used them, I'd read the selection, then do any of the activities from the activity book. I tried to look at the resource list a week or two ahead, and request any additional books from the library.
__________________ Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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LisaD Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 6:43pm | IP Logged
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I just received SOTW Vol. 1 and the corresponding activity book today. After reading through the first couple of chapters, I'm really hoping that this will be something my kids enjoy. So far, I've been a real dud at making learning history something my kids enjoy. The activity books looks very helpful to me, too, since I often need a bit of a nudge for coming up with ideas that will span the age ranges of my children. I also got a test booklet with tests for each chapter, for my 5th grader, who really likes things like quizes.
I'm planning to try having my oldest read each chapter on her own, and reading each chapter aloud to my next two in age. The idea of being able to put the audio CD's on their iPods or on the car stereo is quite appealing, though...
__________________ ~Lisa
Mama to dd(99), ds(01), ds(03) and ds(06)
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mom2mpr Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 7:13pm | IP Logged
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Oooohhh...we loved the CD's in the car. We did history on the way to piano lessons a few years ago. The kids loved it. We also had a day of history at home when I picked activities and other books to read from the activity guide. We really enjoyed Story of the World 1 and 2. I am looking forward to doing it again with dd, maybe this fall.
__________________ Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
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Erin Forum Moderator
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Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 7:15pm | IP Logged
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Volume 4 has just arrived here and looking so far I'm very impressed. I then regretted not buying the Activity book, I went back to Peace Hill Press had a good look at their samples and decided it was just what I need (let's hope it is ) You can even buy them as ebook's now.
My plan is that we will read a chapter as a spine and then add in living books too, for most of my children reading extra books is the same as breathing and of course we'll be using the activity book too.
__________________ Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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Mackfam Board Moderator
Non Nobis
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Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 7:54pm | IP Logged
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Erin wrote:
My plan is that we will read a chapter as a spine and then add in living books too, for most of my children reading extra books is the same as breathing |
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This is what we did, too.
I used the SOTW volume I CDs to offer a bit of context on a period, while our primary history still came from living books. I did not use the activity guide - we found keeping up with our Book of Centuries and mapwork was enjoyable enough and didn't feel we needed to add anything else. Like Anne, I found that we enjoyed listening to the CD's a lot when we were on the go in the car. The kids liked to follow along in the book, but we all preferred the Jim Weiss narrated CD.
I used Blackline Maps of World History and they complement SOTW nicely.
For weaving in living books, I made a booklist from various sources, but a couple of good starting points are:
** Reading Your Way Through History
** recommended reading for RC HISTORY volume I for grades 1-3
HTH!
__________________ Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Marcia Forum Pro
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Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 9:30pm | IP Logged
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We are reading our way through Vol 1 again. we did a little coop with three other families once a month as we read through the first three volumes over three years...this year we decided to go back to the beginning rather then plug through modern history.
I found the book lists in the activity books very helpful for ILL. The activities were great starting points, but often we took off on rabbit trails of our own. Right now we've got a great study of Ancient Greece going on.
After I read aloud, I use the book in a CM way to have them narrate (through a play or orally) back. We also add in sacred history that might correspond. Lastly we then listen to the audios in the car after we've read aloud together. I think we tend to miss things when we only listen to the audio. But that's just cuz in the car there's always someone talking or suggesting we all look out the window at something interesting! :)
__________________ Marcia
Mom to six and wife to one
Homeschooling 10th, 7th, 5th, 2nd, PreK and a toddler in tow.
I wonder why
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Erin Forum Moderator
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Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 11:00pm | IP Logged
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I originally wasn't going to get the Activity Guides as I thought they would be rather fluffy, but when I took a look at the sampl they were just what I was looking for. Keep in mind though Volume 4 is aimed at the older group grades 3-8. Although my guide hasn't arrived, so I'm hoping I won't be disappointed.
Marcia wrote:
Lastly we then listen to the audios in the car after we've read aloud together. I think we tend to miss things when we only listen to the audio. But that's just cuz in the car there's always someone talking or suggesting we all look out the window at something interesting! :) |
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We have been listening to Gombirch's Little History of the World and I think we miss a bit, but then I'm a visual learner, but my boys are auditory.
The reader for Gombrich is not Jim Weiss, though we have his Shakespeare CD and love it!
__________________ Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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SeaStar Forum Moderator
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Posted: Feb 02 2010 at 6:42am | IP Logged
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Thanks for all the great suggestions and links!
I have heard there are some sticky points in Book Three about the Reformation... how did you all handle that from a Catholic perspective?
Did you still listen to the audio cds as is for that part?
We are a long way from volume three here, but I'm trying to research and plan ahead so as not to be surprised....
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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Bookswithtea Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 02 2010 at 7:57am | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
Thanks for all the great suggestions and links!
I have heard there are some sticky points in Book Three about the Reformation... how did you all handle that from a Catholic perspective?
Did you still listen to the audio cds as is for that part?
We are a long way from volume three here, but I'm trying to research and plan ahead so as not to be surprised.... |
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Not book 3, its book 2 that is problematic. I think I only skipped the first chapter or two of SOTW III (William of Orange situation is much maligned ). Here is my review with notes on how to deal with vol. II.
Story of the World Volume 2 Review
We use these extensively, for late elementary/early junior high. We use them like Jen suggested above, with lots an lots of living literature to complement. Its perfect as a gentle spine that isn't boring. I swear by the Jim Weiss audio cds. My kids will often re-listen to them just for fun. I like the maps in the activity guides, and sometimes when I have a much younger child listening along, I use the coloring pages, too. I don't usually do all the activities. One thing I do like about the Activity Guides is that they've already done all the work to key them to a number of very popular Kingfisher/DK/Usborne spines. I use the Usborne Ecyclopedia of World History for upper elem/early jr. high, but if I had a younger child, I'd be glad for the notes keying it to the Usborne Book of World History, which I also own.
I wish I could find science as tidy and useful as these spines.
__________________ Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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SeaStar Forum Moderator
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Posted: Feb 02 2010 at 5:20pm | IP Logged
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Thanks, Books- I got your links. They will be very helpful!
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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MaryM Board Moderator
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Posted: Feb 02 2010 at 6:04pm | IP Logged
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Just a note to say that I uploaded ~Books review as a document link in her post above. You can download it from there directly.
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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Marcia Forum Pro
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Posted: Feb 02 2010 at 6:11pm | IP Logged
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thanks for sharing your review books with tea!
__________________ Marcia
Mom to six and wife to one
Homeschooling 10th, 7th, 5th, 2nd, PreK and a toddler in tow.
I wonder why
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Martha Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 02 2010 at 7:47pm | IP Logged
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I'm very laid back on history and science in the young grades.
Over a period of a week/chapter:
I read it out loud while he/they do a coloring sheet or activity from the activity guide.
read other related books that are age appropriate (the AG has recs)
do one maybe two activites/project suggested, pending difficulty and time constraints.
That's it. The goal is to enjoy and build familiarity and develop a concept of time. Remember they are going to hear that information at least once more, if not several more times before graduating high school!
__________________ Martha
mama to 7 boys & 4 girls
Yes, they're all ours!
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Erin Forum Moderator
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Posted: Feb 02 2010 at 8:08pm | IP Logged
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Valerie mentioned in this thread that she has a doc up at her blog
__________________ Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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mariB Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 03 2010 at 5:51am | IP Logged
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I highly recommend the Story of the World cd's.
Our kids listened to them over and over again. We recently went to the metropolitan museum of art. I was really impressed with what our 10 year old daughter knew. Her comments on greek and roman culture, medieval, etc surprised me. Even our 6 year old knew some things!
__________________ marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years
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vmalott Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 03 2010 at 8:54am | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
=Is there somewhere a list that might have picture books to supplement it (I found one for Vol 2 but not one). |
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Well, there are two sources in print that suggest books, names the activity guides and the book that started it all, The Well Trained Mind. I believe the lists in the AGs are copyrighted so you're not "supposed" to copy them elsewhere. From what I can tell, the lists given in the SOTW AGs are derived from the reading and history lists given in TWTM book...it just makes it easier to pull things together.
That said, that doesn't mean that you have to stick with the books the author suggests using. There are plenty of people online who willingly share what has worked for them. There are also curricula that use SOTW as the spine for their history program. Some are more expensive than other (I'm thinking Sonlight?). Anyway, I'll share some links below.
Resources For SOTW (various spines/curricula aligned w/SOTW)
Literature to Supplement History (this is nice as it suggests age levels beside the book titles)
A Book In Time (this has a variety of lists for time periods/suggested age level)
History Odyssey (lesson plans, Level 1 uses SOTW as a spine. You can download several lessons in the "Try Before You Buy" to get a look at some suggested books, etc.)
Biblioplan (multi-level plans using suggested texts from TWTM)
Gotta get going!
__________________ Valerie
Mom to Julia ('94), John ('96), Lizzy ('98), Connor ('01), Drew ('02), Cate ('04), Aidan ('08) and three saints in heaven
Seven Times the Fun
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