4Real Forums: CHC Middle Grades Question

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Topic: CHC Middle Grades Question

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time4tea
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Joined: June 02 2005
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Posted: Oct 21 2005 at 3:00pm \| IP Logged

Hi Everyone!

I hope I am posting this in the right place! Here goes - those of you who are using the CHC Middle Grades curriculum suggestions for 7th Grade history (Story of the Republic), would you mind sharing how you are using the suggestions for this program? I like the basic premise of the Timeline of the Republic course, and while I would love to have my 7th Grade ds write 2-3 "5 Question Papers" each week or so, he is such a slow worker at times it is impossible for us to complete that amount of work in combination with the writing from the other subjects he is studying this year. I would appreciate any suggestions anyone may have.

Thanks so mich in advance!

God bless,

Jenny

ALmom
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Joined: May 18 2005
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Posted: Oct 22 2005 at 9:33pm \| IP Logged

Jenny,

I'm glad to know we were not the only ones to have that problem. We tried to use the Timeline of the Republic, but it didn't work with us. Here is what we have ended up with -

Both ds (11 - using From Sea to Shining Sea) and dd 8th grade) are making a timeline together. We use some of the pictures from the back of a geography book we had around plus anything they want to create plus just writing name/event in its proper place. We did our timeline on cardstock 8 1/2 X 11 paper (taped the backs together fan fold style so that it can be conveniently stored or unfurled). As they read living books, biographies or textbooks, they add info to the timeline. It is not the most artistic and does get a bit cluttered, but it is serving the purpose of pulling information together in a sequence. We're planning to make another one to cover the exact same time periods so that European history can go on top of U.S. History.

Our dd had trouble with the idea of the overview paper, and was overwhelmed by the quantity. We have since allowed her to read Christ in the Americas and answer questions as the overview. Then we pick some short papers to do, projects and real books to supplement. Currently we are on an Indian rabbit trail - we've toured Russell Cave to find out more about the Indians in our area, written a report on Crazy Horse and on the Cherokee Indians (presented at a Creative Communications gathering of homeschoolers in our area), made arrows, bows, tried to make pottery the Indian way (including a fire in the driveway to try and cure the pottery from Alabama clay), tried to make arrowheads from flint, tried to make food with acorns (boil water by heating a rock and putting it in the water - had to cease after about 10 rocks as we got a little antsy having a full fledged campfire in our driveway in the city) but as we didn't get the water boiled we couldn't pour boiling water over the acorns to remove the tanic acid. We plan to try again - only this time we'll boil water on the stove.

We are currently at about Chapter 4 in Christ in the Americas and plan to keep the pace we are going - it is enjoyable, she is learning and we may keep it up in the summer as a group event.

The 5 question paper is a good way for us to introduce how you go about analyzing and thinking about history. As soon as we finish the Indian trail, we'll start another paper. Having done several and getting the feel for what you want to find out and that there are plenty of better places to look than the encyclopedia, I think she is feeling pretty confident in putting together short papers on historical people and events and she has begun to make connections. It might be fun to bind these in a book type format in sequence along with pictures of any crafts done - like moccassins she is planning to make and teepee. Her bow and arrows are really awesome imo (she did use part of an extendable dog leash for the string part of her bow because we didn't have the time nor the right materials for a fiber bowstring or the animals. Next time her grandfather goes deer hunting she is going to ask for all the parts he doesn't use and try some more crafts).

I think, looking back, that the biggest problem our dc have had with history is not having that overview in order to tag stuff together. As much as I find textbooks lacking, they are generally better at giving a quick overview of a long sweep of history. With that more in place, the short papers come more easily and she is beginning to connect the people to the bigger events.
I don't know if this helps, but you are not the only one who had trouble with the number of papers in Timeline of the Republic. It is somehow helpful for me to know that it isn't just our dc who found that to be a lot of papers - and they couldn't quite seem to connect events together with that program. I think they just didn't have enough background if that makes any sense. So we are trying to provide the background.

Janet

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