| Author | |
rm4mrfrus
Forum Pro
Joined: March 27 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 282
|
| Posted: July 17 2006 at 1:15pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
I am dipping my toes into using the CM approach for history with my 10 ds and 8 dd (and my 6 ds but we will mostly do fIAR with him). Before this I just either kind of shrugged off history or tried to do a few of the CHC projects.
This morning my ds10 was reading a picture book about the history of the national anthem and hopped up to tell me that he wants to do a unit on Ft. McHenry...well I asked him to broaden that to the War of 1812. (he is becoming interested in ships and sailing because he is currently reading SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS....I had started it as a read aloud but was too slow for him so now he is reading it on his own)
Could you hold my hand a bit and offer suggestions for running with a study on this era?
I started peeking around and so far this is all I have as far as books to read.
I thought I would order
1) Cleared for Action by Stephen Meader (the 4 books)
2) Downright Dencey by Snedeker (maybe, not sure how this would fit in)
3) Read saint stories about the Cure of Ars and St. Catherine LaBoure
What else would you do? I think we could manage a field trip to Md. at some point.....
I'm so excited about doing this in theory but as I try to put it in action, I am becoming a bit overwhelmed!
Thanks so much!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
|
| Posted: July 17 2006 at 1:22pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
My boys (11, 6 and 4) all *loved* The Charlotte Years by our own dear Melissa Wiley.  The feeling for life at that time is so beautifully expressed in Melissa's charming books - and like I said, I have boys (very typical boys), and they ate up all the details! 
__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys 
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
rm4mrfrus
Forum Pro
Joined: March 27 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 282
|
| Posted: July 17 2006 at 1:24pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oh Dawn, I totally forgot to write the Charlotte years on my list!!! And I even have them out from the library right now!! Thanks for reminding me!!
__________________
Hollee married to dh in 94,
ds(96), dd(97), ds(00), ds(02), ds(03) and dd(05)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
PDyer
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 25 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1043
|
| Posted: July 17 2006 at 1:49pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
rm4mrfrus wrote:
| What else would you do? I think we could manage a field trip to Md. at some point..... |
|
|
Don't forget about the Battle of Lake Erie! We are going to be visiting Put-in-Bay next month. My son studied the War of 1812 last spring. I know he enjoyed Berton's The Battle of Lake Erie and The War of 1812: Second Fight for Independence by Alden Carter.
__________________
Patty
Mom of ds (7/96) and dd (9/01) and two angels (8/95 and 6/08)
Life at Home
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: July 17 2006 at 1:57pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have to put my plug in for Our Lady of Prompt Succor (pronounced Sucker  ) more here. I don't have a living book on this, but the Battle of New Orleans is part of the War of 1812, and Our Lady saved the city from impending disaster...not the first time.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
ALmom
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 18 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3299
|
| Posted: July 17 2006 at 9:51pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Carry on Mr. Bowditch would be a great read.
Janet
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmom
Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2120
|
| Posted: July 17 2006 at 11:11pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
We studied the War of 1812 this past year. My 2nd and 3rd dd's are the same ages as your children. Our reading list included:
Chapter Books:
Little House by Boston Bay by Melissa Wiley
On Tide Mill Lane by Melissa Wiley
The Road from Roxbury by Melissa Wiley
By the Puddingstone Dam by Melissa Wiley
Washington City is Burning by Harriette Gillem Robinet
The Smuggler’s Treasure (American Girl History Mystery) by Sarah Masters Buckey
Once on this Island by Gloria Whelan (and two sequels)
Whispers of War: The War of 1812 Diary of Susanna Merritt by Kit Pearson
Non-Fiction History Books:
The War of 1812 by Anne Todd
The Star-Spangled Banner by Debra Hess
Sections on War of 1812 in History of US
Historical Picture Books:
By the Dawn’s Early Light by Steven Kroll
Abigail’s Drum by John Minahan
The Battle for St. Michael’s by Emily Arnold McCully
The Star Spangled Banner by Peter Spier
Cornstalks and Cannonballs by Barbara Mitchell
Dolley Madison Saves History by Roger Smalley
__________________
~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Shari in NY
Forum Pro
Joined: Nov 23 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 358
|
| Posted: July 18 2006 at 7:14am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I just read The Battle of Lake Erie by F. van Wyck Mason to my 10 year olds. It is an old book and reads a bit like a Landmark history book. It really highlights the heroism of Commodore Perry and conteracts Joy Hakim's terse "Commodore Perry, bigot" that she highlights in The History of US. Apparently, he balked at employing black sailors, not an unusual position for the day but he had to use them due to lack of anyone else and later commended their bravery.
Shari
Psalm 122:6
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
rm4mrfrus
Forum Pro
Joined: March 27 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 282
|
| Posted: July 18 2006 at 4:58pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oh wow! thanks for all these suggestions. I am going to print it off and send my requests to the library tonight so we have the books when we start school. Now if you don't mind some more questions..besides reading the books, what do we do to make this a well rounded real learning unit study? How do I do this all the way round so to speak?
these books look great! thanks so much!
__________________
Hollee married to dh in 94,
ds(96), dd(97), ds(00), ds(02), ds(03) and dd(05)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmom
Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2120
|
| Posted: July 18 2006 at 11:05pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
rm4mrfrus wrote:
| Now if you don't mind some more questions..besides reading the books, what do we do to make this a well rounded real learning unit study? How do I do this all the way round so to speak? |
|
|
Hollee,
I didn't want to leave your question unaddressed, but I'm afraid I don't have any wonderful ideas for this particular unit. Some time periods of history lead themselves to lots of hand-on activities, I think. (Making catapults/designing castles for middle ages, drawing hieroglyphics/building a pyramid for ancient Egypt, etc.)
For the War of 1812, we ended up simply reading, reading, and reading. Of course, oral narrations and writing assignments can easily be incorporated, but I can't think of a single hands-on activity that we did. I had hopes of going to Fort McHenry in Baltimore, but our weekends got so busy during that time that we couldn't fit it in.
One idea is to make a simple lapbook about all you learn through your reading. Maybe someone else will have some better ideas for you. Sorry!
__________________
~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MaryM
Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
|
| Posted: July 19 2006 at 4:09am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hollee,
Glad you asked, as the hands-on aspect was what I had been brainstorming anyway. Thanks for the great book list Irene (many titles were new to me).
When we study a time period/historical event I try to included food, art or craft, domestic or practical skill, poetry, music or field trips to make the material come more alive for us. It isn't always possible or desirable to do everything, but it is fun to have some variety.
Flag & Ft. McHenry
We haven't extensively done the War of 1812 period yet, but we did do a Flag Unit Study over the last month. Several things we did could be included in a War of 1812 study because part of our focus was on the Star Spangled Banner & Ft. McHenry. The particular things from the study that might be helpful are related to the Mary Pickersgill who made the flag that flew over Ft. McHenry - the picture book, The Flag Maker is great for telling that story. There are links to other Mary Pickersgill information in that thread as well as a great one for the Star Spangled Banner site through the Smithsonian Institute and some for Ft. McHenry.
Some specific things you could do that would be hands on for this part of the study are:
-Measure out and mark the dimensions of the Ft. McHenry flag outside (math). You could look at proportions compared to a typical flag.
-Discuss flags as symbols and means of communication would be fun as well. There are some flag communication links on the above mentioned thread.
-Design your own flags (and even sew them).
-Take a local trip to find an American flag flying somewhere and have the children write their own version of a "Star Spangled Banner" - i.e. there feelings about seeing the flag flying, images it brings to mind.
Sailing
The "Age of Fighting Sail" was hugely popular here with my older boys. The War of 1812 is great for covering that as it looks like you are already planning to do. Go with that.
-Find out what sailors of that time period would have eaten - make recipes that fit the time period. One cookbook I've heard great things about is Lobscouse and Spotted Dog which is a companion to the Master and Commander books. Though not directly covering the War of 1812 they are about the age of fighting sail.
-Study the USS Constitution and take a virtual tour.
-Listen to some music of the era and about "Old Ironsides." Other music - "All Our Brave Tars"
-Use the Oliver Wendell Holmes poem, Old Ironsides for dictation, copywork or memorization.
-Learn to tie nautical knots
-Build a fighting ship model
-Have naval battles in the bathtub (or other water source)
-Historical games are a great tool for studying history. Chatham Hill has "Dont Give Up the Ship" and "Frigates" which are specifically War of 1812 and fighting sail strategy games. They are paper games so pretty economical. We have these and they were very popular with my son when he was in that sailing craze. EMA History Games also has a War of 1812 game though I've not see it personally.
NOTE: the Explorers at Sea website where I found the knot tying info has lots of ship info - I just started exploring. It's not specifically from the Age of Fighting Sail - more Age of Exploration oriented, but great general info on ships!
Biographies
Study some of the larger than life characters associated with this time period.
Dolley Madison - First Lady
-A Dolley Madison educational activity from the White House Historical Association.
-Dolley Madison letters to read
-Dolley was known for her hospitality, one of the most famous of all the first ladies. Make her bouillon or host a tea party - both of which she was known for.
Andrew Jackson
-Find out why he is called "Old Hickory," and find out about the hickory tree or see if you can find one.
Jean Lafitte - Gentleman Pirate
-Check pirate thread for some ideas
-Since this is Louisiana and the Battle of New Orleans enjoy the music (zydego?, cajun ? Cay, what would fit that time period?) and the foods (Cajun and Creole) of the region during that time - so distinctive.
Tecumseh - Shawnee Chief who fought with British
-Study the Shawnee tribe and find a craft or skill representative of their culture
-Shawnee scavenger hunt (includes info on Tecumseh)
Also Stephen Meader's The Cape May Packet
__________________
Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: July 19 2006 at 8:21am | IP Logged
|
|
|
1812 Overture would be a fun piece to add. I know it has to do with the Napoleonic wars and Russia, but it adds a world snapshot view, also, in studying in America we have one war, while another rages in another part of the world. And the canons...well, what boy doesn't like that?
MaryM wrote:
| -Since this is Louisiana and the Battle of New Orleans enjoy the music (zydego?, cajun ? Cay, what would fit that time period?) and the foods (Cajun and Creole) of the region during that time - so distinctive. |
|
|
I'm not Cay, and she can correct me if I'm wrong, but New Orleans is almost a separate identity with the Cajun history. Creole cooking, yes, definitely New Orleans. The Times Picayune Creole Cookbook, although first published in 1901, is a good historical picture on New Orleans cooking.
Music, I'm not too sure. This was a port city, taken over several times by different countries, but many aristocratic Spanish and French that lived there.
I'd add in watching Nelson Eddy and Jeannette MacDonald in "Naughty Marietta" might be fun to add for the New Orleans / culture era.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
marihalojen
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 12 2006
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1883
|
| Posted: July 19 2006 at 1:52pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Don't forget Jimmy Driftwood's The Battle of New Orleans! Our absolute favorite version is by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, though my husband does like Driftwood's version and Johnny Horton won several awards with his rendition.
The page I linked to plays the music, no lyrics but also has two additional links at the bottom for the War of 1812 that may be helpful.
__________________
~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
SSR = Sailing, Snorkling, Reading
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
rm4mrfrus
Forum Pro
Joined: March 27 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 282
|
| Posted: July 21 2006 at 1:58pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks everyone so much for all the ideas and books and suggestions! These are exactly what I was hoping to have help figuring out! You all are a wealth of information and I count myself very blessed to have found this community!
__________________
Hollee married to dh in 94,
ds(96), dd(97), ds(00), ds(02), ds(03) and dd(05)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Probably at the beach...
Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
|
| Posted: July 21 2006 at 2:42pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hollee, my guys, their sister and a friend had a bit of fun at Ft. McHenry a few weeks ago...they were joking around with a canon, and took two photos (not too scary, but you might want to look first).
It was fun for them! They took a quick boat ride (by themselves  ) over to the Ft., and roamed all around the Ft. before catching the return boat.
Paul Meets Canon
__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
rm4mrfrus
Forum Pro
Joined: March 27 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 282
|
| Posted: July 21 2006 at 3:58pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
MacBeth,
Thanks for sharing those great photos of the boys with the canon! I can't wait til I show my ds!!! That is exactly the type of picture I could see him organizing with our boys as well (and dd if he could talk her into it!) He is outside right now "practicing marching" with any of the kids he can talk into practicing!!! 
We will have to make sure we schedule in a trip to MD for this study. Ft. McHenry was actually the topic he wanted to study and we broadened it out to include the War. We still have relatives in NoVa we could visit also when we make it up there (not to mention dh's office is in Bethesda! He works from home so there is not often a need to go in there, but I am sure they would appreciate a visit too!)
I'm glad you all had a good time! Any other places you recommend that we hit while we are up there?
__________________
Hollee married to dh in 94,
ds(96), dd(97), ds(00), ds(02), ds(03) and dd(05)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmom
Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2120
|
| Posted: July 21 2006 at 5:34pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
In your trip to Baltimore, you could stretch it to get to the Smithsonian Museum of American History in DC to see the Star-Spangled Banner exhibit. We did not go during our War of 1812 studies because we had seen the exhibit not too long before that.
The big hitch? They are closing the entire museum for major renovations beginning Sept. 4. (See info here). I'm not sure when you are starting your school year, but you'd have to get there in the next 6 weeks or so.
__________________
~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Kelly
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 21 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1211
|
| Posted: July 21 2006 at 10:25pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hollee,
I don't know where you're located, but Chillicothe, Ohio has an outdoor drama that they put on all summer on the life of Tecumseh. Appropriately titled, "Tecumseh!", written by a Pulitzer-prize winning author and purportedly a great show.
Also, Lois Lenski's book, "Indian Captive, the life of Mary Jemison" is a fabulous read-aloud about "people of the long-houses" such as the Shawnee. Even though the book takes place at the advent of the French and Indian war, and involves Shawnee enemies, the Seneca, it's still a wonderful book to read about the Indians and that general time-period. We really learned a lot reading it and I could hardly put it down.
As for Jean Lafitte, you can also find the translation of Jean Lafitte's alleged journal, "The Memoirs of Jean Lafitte" which is an interesting read.
Lafitte, the Pirate" is a little weightier, but good information. I read another one, "Corsairs of the Gulf" or something like that, and it blows the lid off a lot fo the Jean Lafitte legend, like his pirates helping defeat the British in the Battle of New Orleans, but I personally prefer to think the book is wrong it's just too good a story! Even though he was huge scalliwag and a professed slave trader, 200 years later, Lafitte still has incredible charisma! Also, for your enjoyment, you might read Isabel Allende's "Zorro"-she very skillfully ties Lafitte into the world of Zorro. Fun read (for adults).
Kelly in FL
PS Andrew Jackson was our first governor following his successes in the War of 1812.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
rm4mrfrus
Forum Pro
Joined: March 27 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 282
|
| Posted: July 22 2006 at 8:45am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Irene, thanks for letting me know about the museum closing!! I would never have thought that it would be unavailable!! It's been a long time since we've been there....I really like that one but dh and kids ALWAYS overrule me and opt for the Air and Space museum whenever we get to DC!  Truth be told, I am SOO sick of the A&S!!
Kelly,
Thanks for the info on Tecumseh! I'll have to do a map search to see how far away we are from Ohio! Also for the books, I will request them from my library today! They sound great. We have a local story about a girl who was kidnapped by Indians and escaped and got back in time to warn the settlers about an impending war. Mary Draper Ingalls is her name I believe. I read a book about her ages ago. I'll have to see if she ties into the study as well!
They will looove learning about Jean Lafitte...I don't know much about him so I will too! Thanks for all these goodies!
__________________
Hollee married to dh in 94,
ds(96), dd(97), ds(00), ds(02), ds(03) and dd(05)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: July 22 2006 at 8:53am | IP Logged
|
|
|
My dh works in DC and picks up the diocesan paper every week. This morning I was reading about Brookland, called "The Little Rome" and found a connection to the War of 1812. It's little, but I found it interesting. Read the article here. (although next week this link will change).
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Across Time and Place
Topic: War of 1812
