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JennGM
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| Posted: July 27 2011 at 5:11pm | IP Logged
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We’ve been immersed in learning about the Civil War as we’re celebrating the 150th anniversary of the war. Manassas was celebrating the anniversary of the First Battle on July 21, 1861.
We’re almost to the War for American Independence right now for the upcoming school year. But I can see that it would be good to study the Civil War in context – the next 3 years will be all sorts of living history opportunities, and I’d like to group it with living books and such.
I’m just wondering if anyone else has studied out of order for similar reasons. Please share your experiences. If you know of good reasons why this wouldn’t be a good idea, please share, too!
We’re entering 3rd grade (year 1A), about Year 2 for American history, and doing Ancient Egypt this year, following most of Mater Amabilis.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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kristinannie
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| Posted: July 27 2011 at 5:22pm | IP Logged
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I really think that this is one of the best things about homeschooling! I don't think it will matter if you get out of order a little bit if your kids are going to benefit from learning about something that is relevant right now. I think you have a great idea! If my kids were a little older, I would be doing something similar!
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Donna Marie
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| Posted: July 27 2011 at 6:56pm | IP Logged
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Yes we always study out of order. I always take advantage of their enthusiasm about a subject so we get more out of it. Keeping a timeline book really helps understand progression and place in time. We will often cover different time periods at the same time...like Ancient Greece, Early Christendom, and learn about the Declaration of Independence.
I stopped worrying about doing things on time and in order years ago...we are too "different" for that  haha
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: July 27 2011 at 7:42pm | IP Logged
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I don't think we've ever studied anything in order. 
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Betsy
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| Posted: July 27 2011 at 7:59pm | IP Logged
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I have been thinking about this in-depth as my school year has started.
Although CM recommend studying history in order, she also recommend studied a few history threads at the same time. To accommodate for this she recommend (starting around 5th grade) using Century Charts, Times Lines and Book of Centuries. I am just putting the finished touches on these and I am looking forward to introducing them to my kids tomorrow. Each is brilliant in it's own way to help scaffold history, especially when it's taught out of order.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 27 2011 at 8:14pm | IP Logged
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Betsy wrote:
I have been thinking about this in-depth as my school year has started.
Although CM recommend studying history in order, she also recommend studied a few history threads at the same time. To accommodate for this she recommend (starting around 5th grade) using Century Charts, Times Lines and Book of Centuries. I am just putting the finished touches on these and I am looking forward to introducing them to my kids tomorrow. Each is brilliant in it's own way to help scaffold history, especially when it's taught out of order.
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Betsy,
You answered so beautifully!
We usually have a central study of a particular period of history going on - and this is what I build our main booklist around. Beyond that, there is always a different period of history we're studying con-currently. This can be for various reasons, but your Civil War study is an excellent example of how we might branch off. Those tools that CM offered (BOC, Century chart, history narratives, illustrations) assisted in tying studies together, and assisting the student in making their own cross-topic & cross-period connections - scaffolding as Betsy says. These history *tools* are really quite helpful in crossing periods and subjects with ease because they begin to provide a framework.
As far as personal experiences with this (studying 2 periods of history at one time), there are so many ways this could look even in the same home. You could allow it to unfold naturally, or you could build booklists and allow it to unfold in a more structured way. I've done both depending on the period of history, the different activities we have access to, the length of time we might be studying it, the reason we're studying (like the anniversary of the Civil War which goes on for 3 years), etc. You can read about the alternative period weekly in addition to your main period, or a week out of the month to the exclusion of the main period of history you're studying, or devote a month or two to this study in particular....or....or. Goodness, there are so many different ways this type of concurrent history study could unfold and for the most part the different variables influence how I might approach it/introduce it to my children.
Regardless, I'd say go for it!  CM not only studied a particular period of history for a year, but she also had her students study national history, too. What you are doing sounds EXACTLY like that - studying your focused/chosen period of history and some national history, too.
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Jen Mackintosh
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guitarnan
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| Posted: July 27 2011 at 9:43pm | IP Logged
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We began homeschooling with Ancient Rome...because we'd just moved to Italy. We doubled back and did Egypt, Greece, etc. two years later.
To this day, ds remembers amazing details about Roman history because we studied it when we could visit the sites he was learning about.
Go for it, Jenn...it's the perfect time.
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Grace&Chaos
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| Posted: July 27 2011 at 11:47pm | IP Logged
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I started out really focused on a four year chronological rotation. Well, I think we've naturally evolved to the idea of one set time period to focus and I'm o.k. with any branches that might come from our other topics/interests. I'm also relaxed knowing that I won't restrict us to a four year rotation, if we are just naturally enjoying something.
I've got my oldest started on her BOC. I'm thinking of creating a family one for the younger ones until they reach about 4th grade and have their own. Like mentioned already, this is wonderful for letting us record all our different studies and their time periods. It's our museum and we get to put the pieces where they belong.
For the first time we're going to give a second strand of very relaxed national history a try. The people around me I mention this too think it will be too difficult but I think we already naturally do this anyway. Especially around special national holidays and events. There is always a celebration, memorial, or article about our country. It's perfect for a living education to go with that flow.
Can't wait to hear how it goes Jenn
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Carole N.
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| Posted: July 28 2011 at 4:15am | IP Logged
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Jenn, you should go for it since you have such wonderful opportunities to take advantage of in your area. As Nancy said, it will have amazing impact on your boys to see the place where civil war events occurred. Having historical sites close at hand will help to make history more tangible.
If you can find a place for a timeline, that will also help immensely. I think this lends itself to placing people and events in a framework. And I would include everything on the timeline from history to music to literature to art to science. And if you start off your study of history with the civil war, then the boys will know where it happened in the greater sequence of time.
Have fun! We will be thinking about you and envying the wonderful opportunity you have.
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leanne maree
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| Posted: July 28 2011 at 5:40am | IP Logged
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we had always studied history mostly in order until dd started reading books in diary form therefore giving her an interest in various times of history.
So now we just keep loosely to the timeline and allow freedom to explore
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4Real Forums : Across Time and Place
Topic: Going Out of Sequence
