| Author | |
mamaslearning
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 12 2007
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 927
|
| Posted: Oct 21 2010 at 7:33am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
I am driving myself nuts over this and need to stop! I keep second guessing myself about what to study this year. Do I follow the SOTW/classical method of starting with ancient cultures or do I delve into American history or even local history? What about a "tour of countries" approach? I'm so confused, and I know I just need to pick one and move forward, but I can't seem to pick one.
Logically, it seems that starting at the beginning would be the best, but then I think that starting with what we know (our country) would be better. Aaah! Help calm my brain.
Thanks!
__________________
Lara
DD 11, DS 8, DS 6, DS 4
St. Francis de Sales Homeschool
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: Oct 21 2010 at 8:10am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Lara,
I asked a similar question here.
We're doing second grade now. I think at First Grade level there is more of a grasping of what history really is; the order of time. I love the Charlotte Mason approach that keeps the national history running alongside the World history. After all, we're surrounded by our American culture and history every day.
In first I really liked Mary Daly's First Timeline for an overview of a timeline/history/key figures. I would supplement for a few figures, giving a World culture type of integration.
For American history we read picture books and small chapter books according to certain key figures. And being in Virginia we have several opportunities to visit key places during Colonial, War for Independence, and Civil War times.
I decided history wasn't key in first grade as a subject, but more of recognizing the bigger world around us, and understanding the concept of time, geography, different nations. I was awakening his interest to go deeper, to want to learn more, to make it his own.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mamaslearning
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 12 2007
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 927
|
| Posted: Oct 21 2010 at 8:42am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks Jennifer. I somehow missed your post when I did a search. Seeing those approaches really helps out. I just need to stop being so indecisive about this subject. I'm fine with everything else, but history is spinning me in circles. Maybe it's because there is SO MUCH to cover. I guess I need to remind myself that I have 12 more years to cover everything. 
__________________
Lara
DD 11, DS 8, DS 6, DS 4
St. Francis de Sales Homeschool
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: Oct 21 2010 at 9:35am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hi Lara.
Our approach has evolved a bit over the years into something that has become very comfortable and natural.
Our approach is...CHRONOLOGICAL WORLD HISTORY with NATIONAL/LOCAL HISTORY ALONGSIDE.
While we're studying a particular period of world history we periodically take time to jump into an aspect of our national history. We do these at natural points...for example, this year we've been really digging into Christopher Columbus, reading the log of his first journey to the New World, visiting the replica of the Nina and the Pinta that are touring the country, etc, all coordinated around Columbus Day.
Sometimes I do plan to look at an aspect of our national/local history closely for the year. This year for example, we're doing an in depth study of our state's Natural History and it has been very interesting and engaging! However, most of the time there are natural entry points into learning about our national/local history...examples:
** Indians/Pilgrims/Colonial life around Thanksgiving
** Revolutionary War History around Washington's birthday
** A study of the wars this country has fought around Veterans day
ETC!!!!
Our studies don't have to revolve around a holiday either, sometimes an event will spark a local/national study like the Anniversary of the Moon Landing or the 200th Anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. We actually find a lot of inspiration for taking off on some of these national/local rabbit trails from The Learning Calendar from Fat Brain Toys.
Hopefully that gives you some concrete ideas of how a study of history can look.
For first grade history - I don't do much more than reading great picture/living books - I'm pretty relaxed in 1st grade! We start formal history around 3rd grade. Speaking of...my 1st grader is ready to head off to Italy with Papa Piccolo this morning...so time for me to run!
Hope something here was helpful...or reassuring...or not overwhelming!!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CatholicMommy
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2007
Location: Indiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1254
|
| Posted: Oct 21 2010 at 10:46am | IP Logged
|
|
|
It sounds like others have said the same thing I was going to say - get a good overview in first grade (what is history? some long timeline to show it; etc - look at elementary Montessori materials for ideas if you need).
But to have local history at the same time brings history into a very real perspective. While timelines are great for visualizing and making history more physical, being able to see local history also helps to eventually clarify the concepts of "even before all of this", if that make sense.
__________________
Garden of Francis
HS Elementary Montessori Training
Montessori Nuggets
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
lapazfarm
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005
Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6082
|
| Posted: Oct 21 2010 at 12:09pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I am in favor of the "Tour of the Continents" approach for the early years, and don't start chronological history until 3rd or 4th grade. To me it just makes sense for the child to be familiar with the world as it is now, in all of its wonderful diversity, before we dive into history too much.
Of course, as you learn about each country you will learn a little bit about its history, holidays, etc, but the focus is more on the people and places.
I just started my dd (3rd grade) on Gombrich's Little History of the World this year. I like that she already know something of the places he is talking about and can find them on a map.
Anyway, this year is a world history overview, and next year we will start a more in depth chronological history, dividing the time up into chunks of a few hundred years each year until 9th grade, when we will start all over with a traditional 4 year cycle for high school.
American history we have been doing much like Jenn does, alongside world history, though we will be doing a more concentrated American history when the appropriate time periods come up.
__________________
Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
guitarnan
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 10883
|
| Posted: Oct 21 2010 at 12:49pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
With my son, we started with ancient history and moved forward chronologically - sort of. (We started with Rome because we were living in Italy. We then went back to Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece, then moved forward from there.)
You may find, though, with more than one child, that it's easiest when all are learning at home to have them study the same topics in history together, at their learning levels. That worked well for us, and dd (younger child) has been able to figure out where everything fits on the big history timeline as she's grown older, even though she started history studies out of order.
__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CatholicMommy
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2007
Location: Indiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1254
|
| Posted: Oct 21 2010 at 1:57pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Ah! I forgot about current geography and peoples! In our home, we do that in preschool/kindergarten, so I didn't think of it at all.
If first grade is the first formal social studies, I would do an overview of history while also presenting cultures and geography of now; then begin adding in the other pieces as the child is comfortable.
And they always pick things up from other siblings (in our case from another homeschool family with whom we spend a lot of time).
__________________
Garden of Francis
HS Elementary Montessori Training
Montessori Nuggets
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Erin
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5814
|
| Posted: Oct 21 2010 at 3:35pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I tend to go with what I am passionate about because that shines through. If I started chronological history because I thought I should, when really I can't wait to start American History, I know the dc will pick up on that.
__________________
Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Lori
Forum Pro
Joined: Sept 10 2008
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 257
|
| Posted: Oct 21 2010 at 9:30pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I am doing chronological history with my 2nd/3rd grade boys this year, dividing up Child's History of the World by Hillyer into two years. Then I'll do the more in depth chunks as the years progress, still chronologically, but take time out to do the American History focus.
I'm a very linear-thinking person, so this works for us. I think in the CGS materials they talk about how the Hebrews were the first to talk about/record history in a linear fashion, beginning to "end" (or current time), instead of the circular/seasonal/cyclical approach. That kind of spoke to me for some reason, and has stuck with me.
__________________
Lori
wife to Rob, momma to Michael (18), Mark (12), Eric (9), Thomas (8), and Tabitha (6)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
kbfsc
Forum Pro
Joined: Jan 26 2009
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 216
|
| Posted: Oct 23 2010 at 1:59pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'll second the use of wonderful picture books for first grade history. I'm teaching a first grade American history group for our co-op and loosely using the plans from Serendipity - and the kids are really enjoying it. When I have tried to insert something a bit more regimented and "schooly," like "Ok, kids, everyone sit down and label this map of the 13 Colonies," I lost the kids. Some struggle to read the big names of the colonies, others struggle to write or decide which name goes with which blank. But each and everyone one of the kids will climb on my lap and enjoy reading a few pages of the Jean Fritz or David Alden books about our founding fathers. Those little sponges are just soaking it up and it's so fun!
__________________
Kiera
happy mama of ds '02, dd '03, ds '06, dd '09 and little ones in heaven
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mamaslearning
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 12 2007
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 927
|
| Posted: Oct 28 2010 at 10:28am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thank you for the ideas! After going over my resources and browsing the links and ideas y'all have provided, I think I have a plan I can work with this year.
First, I'm ditching SOTW. She's not ready for it yet, but maybe next year. I am going to loosely follow the history section in the What Your First Grader Should Know book. I also have an American history workbook from OLV that I can use. These two resources will focus my book search and give me an outline for the year. I'll also do a study of each continent and highlight the history and culture of one or two countries (and a Saint or two).
I feel much better now and not as overwhelmed. Now I need to start browsing the library for some good books.
__________________
Lara
DD 11, DS 8, DS 6, DS 4
St. Francis de Sales Homeschool
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Across Time and Place
Topic: First Grade History
