| Author | |
MamaFence
Forum Pro
Joined: May 19 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 139
|
| Posted: July 14 2011 at 3:52pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
History is not my strong suit, in the least. I need help!! I'm considering Story of the World, but I'm also looking at the books listed in Mater Amabilis. Here are my questions: what will be simplest? It feels like there are so many books listed with MA, especially when I look at how many geography books there are. Isn't it a lot, to have study of so many countries' geography, in addition to national history, and ancient history? I truly feel exhausted considering it all.
I also discovered History Through the Ages today, which looks really great! Does anyone have some experience with this?
Oh yeah, it would help to know the ages of my children. My older will be 2nd grade, and one starting K. I know history is very informal for the K. Thanks!!
__________________
Gina, mother to 4
DD 7yr (11.04)
DD 5yr (6.06)
DS 3yr (6.08)
DS 2yr (11.09)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MamaFence
Forum Pro
Joined: May 19 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 139
|
| Posted: July 16 2011 at 9:15am | IP Logged
|
|
|
anybody?
__________________
Gina, mother to 4
DD 7yr (11.04)
DD 5yr (6.06)
DS 3yr (6.08)
DS 2yr (11.09)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Grace&Chaos
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 07 2010
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1261
|
| Posted: July 16 2011 at 9:27am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hi Gina, Your two sound very young. I've made up my plans for history using several booklists and sources because I was planning for a sixth and third grader but for yours I would keep it very simple.
I've used history pockets before and added lots of picture books. I was looking at Homeschool Journey for their Jr. History notebooks. Actually, I'm still thinking about it for my first grader. I like how all the notebooking is there and I could just have him listen in on my 3rd graders reading.
Not sure I helped, but just some thoughts. 
__________________
Blessings,
Jenny
Mom to dds(00,03) and dss(05,06,08,09)
Grace in Loving Chaos
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MamaFence
Forum Pro
Joined: May 19 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 139
|
| Posted: July 16 2011 at 9:34am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks. On second (or 3rd or 4th look) at the MA plan, it really isn't so many books. I think I was glazing over the 2yr plan for awhile and just saw all the books for both years suggested at the level 1A. The history portfolios look neat! Thank you for linking to that...I will check it out more.
__________________
Gina, mother to 4
DD 7yr (11.04)
DD 5yr (6.06)
DS 3yr (6.08)
DS 2yr (11.09)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
cathhomeschool
Board Moderator
Texas Bluebonnets
Joined: Jan 26 2005
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7303
|
| Posted: July 18 2011 at 9:33am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have friends that used History Through the Ages and they loved it. The notebook her daughter was making is just lovely. But I think you could do the same thing with Story of the World or Mater Amabilis if you go through the material slowly, narrate and illustrate as you go, and use the extra reading and craft/project ideas (and/or find extra ideas for each time period on your own by looking at project and picture books at the library).
We used Story of the World with my younger two. It was in a group setting so we moved fairly quickly through the material. My kids enjoyed listening to the CDs and doing the crafts, but they didn't retain much at all because it was not "deep." My high schoolers still remember some of the history we covered in 1st grade because we moved slowly and deeply. I started with History Links and then branched off and made up my own stuff. We used lots of picture books and crafts and projects. We narrated and drew and took photographs of what they built.
What is simpler? To me, anything you choose can be simple if you don't rush through it and push yourself to the next thing. Go at the pace that is best for your family and ask yourself if you want a general survey of history and geography at this age or if you want to really get to know the regions and history. That would help determine your pace and which material to use. You also don't have to do it all at the same time. You could focus on one culture in ancient history this month and then next month set that aside and work on geography using the book suggestions, songs, maps, puzzles, games.
__________________
Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MamaFence
Forum Pro
Joined: May 19 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 139
|
| Posted: July 18 2011 at 10:05am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thank you, Janette! I am starting to think that I will probably end up making our own timeline/book of centuries, because so many of the ones to order seem to be based off certain books. If I use different books, I'm likely to get frustrated with the "package" and do my own thing anyway (knowing myself  ). I also need to look at the history pages offered at Notebookingpages.com (where I am a member)...I might be able to do it all from there!
Or, even better...create my own pages using the programs I have on the computer. 
__________________
Gina, mother to 4
DD 7yr (11.04)
DD 5yr (6.06)
DS 3yr (6.08)
DS 2yr (11.09)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MamaFence
Forum Pro
Joined: May 19 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 139
|
| Posted: July 18 2011 at 10:38am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Update: There is a book of centuries set of pages at notebookingpages.com, and I already have the membership there, so that's what I'll use! And, I think I'll just follow the MA guidelines for history this year. I keep telling myself "it doesn't have to be over the top to be right for us, and it doesn't have to be perfect at grade 2". 
__________________
Gina, mother to 4
DD 7yr (11.04)
DD 5yr (6.06)
DS 3yr (6.08)
DS 2yr (11.09)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: July 18 2011 at 10:51am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Gina,
I haven't read all of the posts in your thread responding to your question, so I apologize if I'm going to be redundant.
With a 2nd grader and K'er, a formal history plan would probably be overwhelming for them. Your children are still very young and I promise there will be time for formal history, but right now most of their history should come in the forms of stories, which can convey history best anyway!! My own preference would be to use the vehicle of living picture books. I would look around here (search in the picture book archives) and using the MA site and find some great historical picture books (there are MANY!!!) and stick with that to a large extent. If you like, you could even plan by looking for picture books that work with a particular period of history, though this isn't necessary.
I'd save Story of the World for when the kids are older.
A book of centuries really isn't begun until 4th grade (or sometimes 3rd grade depending on the student), and there are some good reasons I've found for that, one of which is that a child has a growing understanding and sense of *time*, which is very abstract to them the younger they are. Since a book of centuries is really to help place events/people in a particular place in history, it's purpose is to communicate *time* and the significant happenings that have taken place within time. This is sort of lost on a young child, though I cannot place a definite age on when this tool is most appropriate to begin using since all children are unique, as is their understanding of the concept of time. But, in order for it to be special and the intended treasure which follows a child throughout all the years of their education, they need to be the ones to add to it....they need to write in it, illustrate it, choose what they add, etc. At young ages, you'll likely be doing a lot of that for them, and the point of the delightful BOC could be lost on them. Then, when it's finally time for them to take off on their own with the BOC (around 4th), it may seem like something mom always did for them rather than a treasure a child can now begin to build and take pride in. And finally, one more reason I like to wait - fine motor skills have really started to take shape by 4th grade. Handwriting and illustrating skills have progressed enough that a child will not be grotesquely embarrassed by their chicken scrawl and beginner handwriting/illustrating attempts when, at 16, they begin to look back through their BOC and enjoy the variety of the additions they've made to it.
I do not use a book of centuries with my 2nd graders - I just read, and we narrate, and occasionally they draw something for me. They love re-enacting a story they read about with finger puppets or dress-ups, or sometimes it just comes out as part of their natural play.
I do enjoy bringing in historical songs, or music that communicates history, and my young people really like this too.
Hope this is a help, Gina.
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MamaFence
Forum Pro
Joined: May 19 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 139
|
| Posted: July 18 2011 at 11:52am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Jen, thank you so much! I appreciate all you've said. My older daughter really enjoys drawing pictures about what she's learned and read, so I think we'll have a decent notebook of history, even without an official timeline or book of centuries. I didn't know that it can be better to start a timeline later; so many things I've read this weekend suggested that parents do a timeline with every age. It's good to know otherwise, so we don't become overwhelmed!
__________________
Gina, mother to 4
DD 7yr (11.04)
DD 5yr (6.06)
DS 3yr (6.08)
DS 2yr (11.09)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MamaFence
Forum Pro
Joined: May 19 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 139
|
| Posted: July 18 2011 at 11:53am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oops, I posted before I asked this: how do you find good historical songs or music? I suppose once it's more recent history (in the last 400 years or so) that's not too hard. I can't image what we'd listen to for ancient history! See how little I know, even. 
__________________
Gina, mother to 4
DD 7yr (11.04)
DD 5yr (6.06)
DS 3yr (6.08)
DS 2yr (11.09)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
ekbell
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 22 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 747
|
| Posted: July 18 2011 at 1:02pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
First of all there are serious practical problems finding out what ancient music was like (no recordings or standardized musical notation). What recordings exist are just reconstructions or best guesses except for the varieties of religious chant which have a living tradition to help make sense of the notation.
The teacher's manual for _Light to the Nations Part One_ has a lengthy list of suggested recordings which does include a handful for ancient times (I think it's my favorite part of the manual).
However I've found that my youngest children tend to find such music 'boring', I think mostly because it's so far from 'regular' music. They show much more interest in music once we get to Renaissence and later.
So for a first go-through I'd show relevant artworks when feasible since such artworks are reasonably easy to find (google search works wonders if you don't have an art history book), quite accessable (many children quite like ancient art) and visual artworks last better and so are not subject to the same limits as the musical arts. I wouldn't worry about music until Gregorian Chant at the earliest (and I'd look for chant CD's for children).
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MamaFence
Forum Pro
Joined: May 19 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 139
|
| Posted: July 18 2011 at 4:00pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks, we'll stick with art, then, for now!
__________________
Gina, mother to 4
DD 7yr (11.04)
DD 5yr (6.06)
DS 3yr (6.08)
DS 2yr (11.09)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: July 18 2011 at 4:18pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
ekbell wrote:
| First of all there are serious practical problems finding out what ancient music was like (no recordings or standardized musical notation). |
|
|
This is very true, but when I'm doing early history introductions with younger children, we begin with studying the Old Testament starting with Creation. I don't dig into the Egyptian civilizations, etc. with littles, preferring to save that for when they are a bit older. Finding sweet music like Father Abraham works well for this and it's also a good time to sing/learn the books of the Bible.
Now, we don't spend a ton of time in one period, so if we hop around to another period and that period naturally offers some good music, we enjoy it with our reading.
And art of the period is wonderful to enjoy alongside a period of history! 
Enjoy planning, Gina!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SuzanneG
Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5465
|
| Posted: July 18 2011 at 4:49pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
MamaFence wrote:
| My older will be 2nd grade, and one starting K. I know history is very informal for the K. Thanks!! |
|
|
History should also be informal for the 2nd grader too.
Focusing on stories of PEOPLE and famous events for this age group is perfect!
Also, at that age, I prefer stories about the saints and also meaty, literary fables and fairy tales read aloud. This all sets the stage for more advanced "history" in the upper elementary years.
We love Fify Famous Stories. And, all of William Bennett's illustrated "Children's" series....Children's Book of America, Children's Book of Faith and Family, Children's Book of Virtues, etc.
I started "studying a time period" just last year when I had a 4th, 3rd and 1st grader. The first grader listened to picture books and a read aloud and some of the non-fiction info...if she was interested. So, she tagged along with what we were doing....but I never did that with my oldest in 2nd grade.
Of course, if your 2nd grader is just DYING to learn about mummies, then of course go for it! But, don't feel like you "have to."
__________________
Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MamaFence
Forum Pro
Joined: May 19 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 139
|
| Posted: July 18 2011 at 11:32pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks AGAIN for the wonderful information! I was reading about classical methods a few weeks ago (which seem similar to CM to me, and I know there has to be a clear difference, but I'm not seeing it  ), and in the book (Well-Trained Mind), it felt like history was much more important early on. Well, that is a big difference. They start a 4-yr cycle of history beginning in 1st grade, with the ancients. That's where MA starts with history for the equivalent of 2nd grade.
It is good to remind myself that I really don't have to make myself crazy and being a more formal study of history at this age.
I like the idea of "Father Abraham" for Bible history. Fun song! I am also going to add to my list the books you mentioned, Suzanne.
__________________
Gina, mother to 4
DD 7yr (11.04)
DD 5yr (6.06)
DS 3yr (6.08)
DS 2yr (11.09)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
Forum Locked) 
4Real Forums : Across Time and Place
Topic: Time to create my history plan
