Help me with Veritas Press Legends and Leagues

[MyLife]

We used VP L&L Primer last school year and loved it. So, I just knew that continuing with the North, South, East, West books would be a great hit. However, I'm finding it a bit boring. Here's how I currently schedule it...

 

Day 1...Read chapter in book, work on a worksheet or two

 

Day 2...finish up any worksheets related to the chapter in the book

 

The issues. It's not very engaging, and the story line is chopped up.

 

Throw some ideas at me.

[Kiara.I]

We're loving it.  BUT, I'm using it with a 10 and an 8, as we found it "late".  I wonder if it's just that it works better for slightly older children.

[My4arrows]

We've just starting using it a few weeks ago and I'll typically add in a few things. I'll find extra books from the library and put them in our book basket to read when they want. I try to add in some sort of art project or hands on thing to go with it. Well also do a recipe, watch a video, have a read aloud that takes place there. I also try to find stories about children who live there and what school is like there. So we add a lot it, make sure they understand where it is on a map daily and get to know the count and culture.

[Lori D.]

Just looked at the samples. The complexity of story and vocabulary look like a better fit for grade 3-5 to me -- I would probably hold off and use these in about 2-3 years when both students are at a better-fitting age for the books and the family could do the program all together. JMO. :)

 

I also see from your signature that your student is only 7yo so I'd immediately drop worksheets. Unless the student loves workbooks/worksheets, I can't think of a faster way to kill the love of History or Geography than "busywork" like worksheets.  :eek:

 

If wanting to stick with the program this year (rather than save until older as previous posters suggest), I'd reduce the Geography to just 2-3x a week, do the whole reading in one longer "block" session to reduce choppiness, drop the worksheets, skip a day, do a second lesson in the same way, skip a day, and then on the third day do some fun hands-on extension activities with BOTH children:

 

- history/geography sticker book or coloring/learning page

- use a map and a globe to help locate where events happened, and show where in relationship events were to where your family lives

- recreate an item of the historical time from clay

- look up online for a craft idea relating to your place/culture

- dress up and enact an event or cultural aspect

- watch a fun educational video/feature film set in the culture

- play a game from the culture

- make a food from the culture

- listen to traditional music from the culture

- read a library book that extends the learning about the culture (picture book of myths of the area is esp. good, as the illustrations are often in the art style of the culture AND the stories give you a sense of what's important in the culture or the way the people think) 

 

Have fun adapting! :) Warmest regards, Lori D.

Edited August 22, 2017 by Lori D.

[NotesFromTheParsonage]

I was looking at using this for my lower grammar kids! It says the first book is for Grade 1, is that doable or not, in your opinion?

[Lori D.]

I was looking at using this for my lower grammar kids! It says the first book is for Grade 1, is that doable or not, in your opinion?

 

Welcome! From your post count, I see you are relatively new here! :)

 

No personal experience with Legends and Leagues, but looking at the sample pages, it does look like the primer (the original Legends and Leagues) is written at a gentler/more simple level than the East/West/North/South books. It certainly looks from the handful of sample pages from the intro of the book that a 1st grader could handle it -- don't know what the rest of the book is like, but the original poster's student enjoyed it as a 1st grader. :)

[My4arrows]

I was looking at using this for my lower grammar kids! It says the first book is for Grade 1, is that doable or not, in your opinion?

I used the first book with my kids last year. It was review for them and my pre-k was fine with it. It's all pretty simple stuff, so if you've done any geography before it's nothing really new.

We went through it quickly and then started the other series. If you plan on going through it together then the older series is ok to use for first. Its simply written (the story) and then the workbook can easily be done together and orally. My k kid is doing this with us and has no issue.

[MyLife]

Just looked at the samples. The complexity of story and vocabulary look like a better fit for grade 3-5 to me -- I would probably hold off and use these in about 2-3 years when both students are at a better-fitting age for the books and the family could do the program all together. JMO. :)

 

I also see from your signature that your student is only 7yo so I'd immediately drop worksheets. Unless the student loves workbooks/worksheets, I can't think of a faster way to kill the love of History or Geography than "busywork" like worksheets. :eek:

 

If wanting to stick with the program this year (rather than save until older as previous posters suggest), I'd reduce the Geography to just 2-3x a week, do the whole reading in one longer "block" session to reduce choppiness, drop the worksheets, skip a day, do a second lesson in the same way, skip a day, and then on the third day do some fun hands-on extension activities with BOTH children:

 

- history/geography sticker book or coloring/learning page

- use a map and a globe to help locate where events happened, and show where in relationship events were to where your family lives

- recreate an item of the historical time from clay

- look up online for a craft idea relating to your place/culture

- dress up and enact an event or cultural aspect

- watch a fun educational video/feature film set in the culture

- play a game from the culture

- make a food from the culture

- listen to traditional music from the culture

- read a library book that extends the learning about the culture (picture book of myths of the area is esp. good, as the illustrations are often in the art style of the culture AND the stories give you a sense of what's important in the culture or the way the people think)

 

Have fun adapting! :) Warmest regards, Lori D.

So, I've decided to reduce Geography to 1x per week and go a little more in depth at the time.

 

Here's my thoughts...

Read the story

Sing memory song while looking at the map

Look at the globe

Read from Children's Atlas of God's World, Children Just Like Me, and Animal Atlas

Pick one or two worksheets to discuss orally

 

I would consider switching curriculums if you had any suggestions.

[MyLife]

I was looking at using this for my lower grammar kids! It says the first book is for Grade 1, is that doable or not, in your opinion?

The first book is definitely appropriate for a first grader, and we really enjoyed the worksheets because they were more hands on, interactive type pages.

[Lori D.]

So, I've decided to reduce Geography to 1x per week and go a little more in depth at the time.

 

Here's my thoughts...

Read the story

Sing memory song while looking at the map

Look at the globe

Read from Children's Atlas of God's World, Children Just Like Me, and Animal Atlas

Pick one or two worksheets to discuss orally

 

 

That sounds good. I think slowing down/going deep, and adding the Children Just Like Me and Animal Atlas will add a lot of interest, and allow you both to time to explore "bunny trails" of interest as they pop up. :)

 

Just me, but I would also be looking for ways to add some hands-on. Ideas to choose from:

 

FREE online world Geography games (helps visually reinforce geography concepts):

- Owl & Mouse: Map Puzzles for Computers and Devices

- Kids Geo: Geography Games for Kids

- Learning Games for Kids: Geography Games

- East Dock Media: World Geography Games

- National Geographic Kids Atlases: Games

- Sheppard Software: Geography Games

 

Purchased "hands-on" (helps kinetically reinforce geography concepts):

- put together a world map jigsaw puzzle

- at meals, eat off of a world map placemat and look for continents, oceans, countries

- interactive World Atlas Sticker Activity Book

 

From time to time, supplement your cultural geography (helps make foreign cultures "real"/tangible):

- read stories/myths from countries (ex: Usborne's Illustrated Stories From Around the World, and Illustrated Myths From Around the World)

- make a recipe from that area of the world (book: Eat Your Way Around the World; free website: Easy Kids Recipes: International Recipes)

- play a game from that area of the world (Around the World in 80 Games; International Games; Their World: Games)

- explore the world online at the National Geographic Kids: Resources

- do activities from Leland Graham's series: A Trip Around the World; Another Trip Around the World; A New Trip Around the World

 

From time to time, supplement your physical geography and mapping -- check out your library for books, or borrow from a friend, or buy used:

 

physical geography/landforms

Geography A to Z (Knowlton)

Rookie Read About Geography: Types of Maps (Wade); Map Keys (Olien); The Seven Continents (Mara)

Explore Earth's Five Oceans; Explore the Continents series (Kalman)

 

mapping -- these are all excellent!

Maps and Globes (Knowlton)

As The Crow Flies (Hartman)

Me on the Map (Sweeney)

Follow That Map (Ritchie)

Where Do I Live (Chesanow)

Henry's Map (Elliot)

Mapping Penny's World (Leedy)

There's A Map In My Lap! (Rabe)

 

You might also have fun putting mapping into practice with a workbook such as Maps Charts and Graphs (A (Places Around Me) and/or B (Neighborhood) and/or C (Communities)) -- or other. There are a number of good ones out there. (One we really enjoyed -- and we were not usually big on workbooks -- is The Complete Book of Maps and Geography. It's geared for grades 3-6, and we spread it out over 2 years, along about gr. 3/4 or 4/5.)

 

Also try making your own maps -- for example, maps that lead through the house to a fun snack, or pirate maps around the yard that lead to a treasure (like a little box of chocolate gold-foil-wrapped coins). Very fun! :)

 

Past threads with ideas:

"Favorite geography supplements?"

"Books for world geography"

"Living books for geography"

"Need geography ideas for 1st grade" -- in post #10, Regena has a fantastic list of books to go with each U.S. state

from WTM poster Tracy, at Google Doc: Literature-Based Geography booklist by country

 

 

I would consider switching curriculums if you had any suggestions.

 

As far as Geography programs for the early elementary grades... I can't think of many options beyond Galloping the Globe (K-4) and Trail Guide to World Geography (gr. 2-6). Honestly, there are so many great resources out there for early elementary grades, it's pretty easy to DIY (Do It Yourself). :)

Edited August 23, 2017 by Lori D.

[MyLife]

That sounds good. I think slowing down/going deep, and adding the Children Just Like Me and Animal Atlas will add a lot of interest, and allow you both to time to explore "bunny trails" of interest as they pop up. :)

 

Just me, but I would also be looking for ways to add some hands-on. Ideas to choose from:

 

FREE online world Geography games (helps visually reinforce geography concepts):

- Owl & Mouse: Map Puzzles for Computers and Devices

- Kids Geo: Geography Games for Kids

- Learning Games for Kids: Geography Games

- East Dock Media: World Geography Games

- National Geographic Kids Atlases: Games

- Sheppard Software: Geography Games

 

Purchased "hands-on" (helps kinetically reinforce geography concepts):

- put together a world map jigsaw puzzle

- at meals, eat off of a world map placemat and look for continents, oceans, countries

- interactive World Atlas Sticker Activity Book

 

From time to time, supplement your cultural geography (helps make foreign cultures "real"/tangible):

- read stories/myths from countries (ex: Usborne's Illustrated Stories From Around the World, and Illustrated Myths From Around the World)

- make a recipe from that area of the world (book: Eat Your Way Around the World; free website: Easy Kids Recipes: International Recipes)

- play a game from that area of the world (Around the World in 80 Games; International Games; Their World: Games)

- explore the world online at the National Geographic Kids: Resources

- do activities from Leland Graham's series: A Trip Around the World; Another Trip Around the World; A New Trip Around the World

 

From time to time, supplement your physical geography and mapping -- check out your library for books, or borrow from a friend, or buy used:

 

physical geography/landforms

Geography A to Z (Knowlton)

Rookie Read About Geography: Types of Maps (Wade); Map Keys (Olien); The Seven Continents (Mara)

Explore Earth's Five Oceans; Explore the Continents series (Kalman)

 

mapping -- these are all excellent!

Maps and Globes (Knowlton)

As The Crow Flies (Hartman)

Me on the Map (Sweeney)

Follow That Map (Ritchie)

Where Do I Live (Chesanow)

Henry's Map (Elliot)

Mapping Penny's World (Leedy)

There's A Map In My Lap! (Rabe)

 

You might also have fun putting mapping into practice with a workbook such as Maps Charts and Graphs (A (Places Around Me) and/or B (Neighborhood) and/or C (Communities)) -- or other. There are a number of good ones out there. (One we really enjoyed -- and we were not usually big on workbooks -- is The Complete Book of Maps and Geography. It's geared for grades 3-6, and we spread it out over 2 years, along about gr. 3/4 or 4/5.)

 

Also try making your own maps -- for example, maps that lead through the house to a fun snack, or pirate maps around the yard that lead to a treasure (like a little box of chocolate gold-foil-wrapped coins). Very fun! :)

 

Past threads with ideas:

"Favorite geography supplements?"

"Books for world geography"

"Living books for geography"

"Need geography ideas for 1st grade" -- in post #10, Regena has a fantastic list of books to go with each U.S. state

from WTM poster Tracy, at Google Doc: Literature-Based Geography booklist by country

 

 

 

As far as Geography programs for the early elementary grades... I can't think of many options beyond Galloping the Globe (K-4) and Trail Guide to World Geography (gr. 2-6). Honestly, there are so many great resources out there for early elementary grades, it's pretty easy to DIY (Do It Yourself). :)

Thank you for taking the time to type this all out. I'm going to screen shot and see what I can find at our library. So, thank you!

 

On a funny note, I told my son we were going to be studying geography 1x per week, and he asked if he could do all his subjects 1x per week.

[Lori D.]

On a funny note, I told my son we were going to be studying geography 1x per week, and he asked if he could do all his subjects 1x per week.

 

:laugh:

 

Hopefully, as you do all these fun and interesting supplements, he'll start complaining that you ONLY do Geography 1x per week, and "why can't we do Geography every day?!" (Well, maybe that's a bit of wishful thinking... ;) )

Edited August 24, 2017 by Lori D.