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kbfsc
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| Posted: July 26 2012 at 9:25pm | IP Logged
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Hi friends,
I will begin teaching history at our curricular co-op next month, and I'm puzzling over how to introduce WHY we study history. Perhaps it's a more intense topic than 3rd-5th graders need to consider... but, as a history major myself, I remember this kind of "introduction to history" class as one of the most important and foundational classes we took. That big-picture, lay the groundwork kind of thing. I've gotten some helpful ideas from History Links. In addition, I would just love a good picture book that can in some way tackle the topic. Everything is better in picture book form, I think.  Have you seen such a book? Any recommendations out there?
Thanks for your help!
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Kiera
happy mama of ds '02, dd '03, ds '06, dd '09 and little ones in heaven
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guitarnan
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| Posted: July 26 2012 at 9:32pm | IP Logged
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I'm a total history buff (married to a history major!) and I have never seen a picture book like this.
I think you should write it.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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MaryM
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| Posted: July 27 2012 at 3:24am | IP Logged
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Nothing is coming to mind for me either. The idea of presenting the "why is it important to study history" is a great intro but seems probable that it would have to come from your own explanations or personal stories. Maybe there is a game that could be played to illustrate this. I'll keep thinking...
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kbfsc
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| Posted: July 27 2012 at 6:09am | IP Logged
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Thank you for pondering this with me! I tend to get a little abstract in my thinking sometimes... which gets difficult to translate to little ones!  Even so, I maintain that this is an important thing for us to think about.
The image I keep thinking of is one that a friend shared with me long ago, and in a different context - it is of *walking backwards* through life, or through experiences. She was referring to the importance of this posture as it relates to keeping ever in mind how good & faithful God has been in our lives. When we "walk backwards," we don't see the unknown future, but rather all of God's good work in our lives. Somehow this relates to the study of history in my abstract mind... If we "walk backwards," and continually ponder the past, we see God's loving presence and work on a much broader scale, we are encouraged by culture's great successes and we can learn from culture's failures.
Not sure any of that could possibly make sense to young ones, or if I could translate that to a picture book (although I LOVE the idea, Nancy, and my husband immediately said, "THAT'S your project this year!" ).
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Kiera
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: July 27 2012 at 10:40am | IP Logged
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I can't think of a particular book but wonder if some of the "grandparent" books.. you know where the grandparent tells the story of when they were young or when the child is recounting the story of a grandparent or such... might not provide the story for you to add discussion to.
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: July 27 2012 at 1:07pm | IP Logged
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I would also say that the purpose of history is to understand our lives the context of our lives today. I really try to make history relevant for my kids by pointing out references in their every day lives...for instance, historical references in their favorite shows or when Popeye's Chicken has a deal called "The Louisiana Purchase".
I think it gives young children a more concrete purpose for studying history than the broader, more philosophical reasons...which of course are important, too.
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amarytbc
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| Posted: July 27 2012 at 1:31pm | IP Logged
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I've used this book for a similar purpose in our homeschool. While it does not directly answer the question you asked, it does something better--it causes them to think about history. Children love to discuss why and how changes occur from page to page. It would be easy to lead the discussion in whatever direction you want to take with the group.
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: July 30 2012 at 11:28am | IP Logged
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Another idea is to utilize the Montessori Great Lessons - they emphasize the development of history, how we are the same as people that came before us (love, stewardship, same needs and tendencies), but we also build on the discoveries they made. The Great Lessons include references to math and language as well, so that these subjects are placed within their context. There are some more secular sources available on the internet for free; and I have Catholic-versions on my blog. :)
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Donna Marie
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Not a picture book, but (a teacher's guide) something that really helped me with this age group, I found using the RC History products and book lists. You may find a book or three you may want to use listed on Sonya's site. I LOVE the walk-in to history that Sonya Romens does in RCHistory Connecting with HIstory Vol 1.. With the way she starts out, you get a sense of history and reminds me a BIT of the Montessori (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd) approach. One of the recommended sources is Sophia Cavaletti's History's Golden Thread, as a matter of fact. (A book I read myself but hand to an older student to read) But back to the teacher's notes in CWH... I have my children reproduce the diagrams that she has in the teacher's notes into their history binders. It's like a peg for future discussion, so to speak.
The other resource that she has helps ME as well as the children is 2000 Years of Christianity by Gloria Thomas (Warren Carrol)Because of the visual layout, we have a better understanding of the peoples that we cover during that century . It is an oversized spread that has prompted some great discussion and comparison (coupled with Sonya's discussion prompt questions) It is written to an older audience, but I used just the pictures in it to have my discussions/narrations with them. It especially helps the visual learners much the way a stained glass window would generate conversation about the figure represented there. There are 2 versions of this, a small one and a larger one. The link I have listed above is for the much nicer and detailed larger one.
Oh yes, one more thing...for that age group, I love to read aloud Marigold Hunt's Life of Our Lord for Children. It is very much a living book and it gives you a sense of God's working through the Old Testament as a preparation for His coming in the New. It helps them form connections. And to boot, it is very Catholic and helps us to understand HIS story much better seen through the lenses of faith! 
Gee, I hope I make sense. And maybe not exactly what you are looking for, but I will throw it out there in case something strikes some interest for you. It is late here and I have been so busy this week. If you have questions, of course ask! 
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kbfsc
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| Posted: Aug 14 2012 at 6:31am | IP Logged
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Thanks, all! I have loved looking through your suggestions.
The book that is readily available to me and that we will try is one of the "grandparent" books as you suggested, JodieLyn, Twice Yours (Gurley). I'm not totally satisfied with it... but I think we can discuss the book and shed some light on this abstract topic, *why* we study history. The grandfather's story in this book is meant to give context to the little boy's life - it's that idea of looking backwards for the sake of making right now make more sense. We'll see if that translates for my kiddos at co-op...
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Kiera
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Amber-v
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| Posted: Sept 06 2012 at 8:05pm | IP Logged
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I ran across a book at the library that while it isn't exactly what you are looking for, it made me think of this topic.
The book is called The Finest Horse in Town by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and illustrated by Susan Gaber. The author originally set out to write a book about her two great-aunts who owned a dry goods store and the finest horse in town around the turn of the century in Maine. She wasn't able to find out enough information about her great-aunts to write a story, so ended up writing a book with several "what-ifs" , speculating a bit about their horse and who took care of it while they worked in their store. The book keeps coming back to the theme of what we do know and we can't know when we study history, emphasizing that they do know that the sisters owned a horse because "an old watchmaker told us what he remembered. And he was there."
The book is not in print anymore, but it seems to be available used for not too much and perhaps might be at your library too.
Amber
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4Real Forums : Across Time and Place
Topic: picture book for WHY we study history?
