mytwomonkeys Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 i've asked several question about living books and american history lately... and i apologize. i just need help. i really am trying to use books as our main spine for american history (which i already do with my daughter using HOD), but i'd like to venture off from HOD and follow our own booklist, while still incorporating their extension readers. i am trying to make a chronological list of books, and also incorporate notebooking, mapwork, vocabulary, etc. i found this curriculum and wonder if anyone here has used it. thoughts? TIA. :) ETA - i am open to resources, advice, blogs -- whatever. i don't want to reinvent the wheel here...but i also don't want to purchase an expensive curriculum ....again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeBeaks Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 I own the linked book, but it just arrived last week so I haven't used it yet. It does look very promising for my schooling. It is written clearly for classroom use, with each unit having a suggested "whole group reading" and "small group reading" selections. Each unit also has vocabulary works, discussion questions and some hands on stuff at the end of each unit (for example a recipe for maple syrup candy at the end of the first unit). Some discussion questions and project/writing questions are clearly for a classroom, such as acting out something or doing debate times on two sides of a question. Others will work better for 1-1 discussion as in a homeschool. The resources section with other books is nice. Something that might be of interest to you is All Through the Ages by Christine Miller. I bought that one at the same time, and it was really more what I need. It is just a huge chronological history book list with some information about each book. I can look up "Wild West" and get suggestions for any age, grade 1-3 specific, 4-6, etc up to high school ages for each time period. There are no discussion questions, or anything like in the first one. It is just a detailed book list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 i've asked several question about living books and american history lately... and i apologize. i just need help. i really am trying to use books as our main spine for american history (which i already do with my daughter using HOD), but i'd like to venture off from HOD and follow our own booklist, while still incorporating their extension readers. i am trying to make a chronological list of books, and also incorporate notebooking, mapwork, vocabulary, etc. i found this curriculum and wonder if anyone here has used it. thoughts? TIA. :) ETA - i am open to resources, advice, blogs -- whatever. i don't want to reinvent the wheel here...but i also don't want to purchase an expensive curriculum ....again. I've seen this book and wasn't overly excited by it. You'll note another thread where we're talking about the same thing. I'm actually in the process of putting together a chronological list, which compiles the Betsy Maestro books, the BF Books American history books, plus a bunch of literature. Angela (satorismiles) has also compiled an excellent list, which you'll find in the link below. Mine will be similar to hers while adding in the BF Books and Betsy Maestro books, plus taking out a few that we're less interested in. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=317213 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mytwomonkeys Posted October 13, 2011 Author Share Posted October 13, 2011 I've seen this book and wasn't overly excited by it. You'll note another thread where we're talking about the same thing. I'm actually in the process of putting together a chronological list, which compiles the Betsy Maestro books, the BF Books American history books, plus a bunch of literature. Angela (satorismiles) has also compiled an excellent list, which you'll find in the link below. Mine will be similar to hers while adding in the BF Books and Betsy Maestro books, plus taking out a few that we're less interested in. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=317213 i saw angela's list and bookmarked that too! when you are done with your list, please share it here or pm me. i'd love a copy! :) weebeaks, all through the ages sounds perfect, exactly what i'm looking for! thank you! off to check it out right now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momacacia Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 What about Guesthollow's booklist? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
She Reads a Lot Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Have you looked at TruthQuest American History for Younger Students? It's got a very thorough listing of books by grade level, and I'm finding two months in that the grade levels are quite accurate. I found my copy used for about $10 but it's only $25 new. FYI, her commentary on events is in a conversational style and it's from a Christian perspective. I really enjoy reading the commentary to my son. It's short and to the point. Then we dive into the books. She lists loads of historical novels, which my son is loving. Sounds like you've got access to several other great lists. I just know that this one is quite exhaustive (also contains all of the Beautiful Feet books that I've checked for so far) and could save you some work. Also, there's a Yahoo Group that's pretty active, and I found a PDF on there that gave me a great frame for how to partition the time periods so we didn't spend a month on the Vikings and run out of time for the Revolutionary War. :tongue_smilie: best of luck! christina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I am using The Complete Book of United States History as a spine and added a bunch of books from SL and Guesthollow, as well as suggestions from this board. For example, my lesson plans for the Colonial Times chapter are as follows (subject to tweaking): CBOUSH p 54-66 If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 The Children's Book of America - Pilgrims & the First Thanksgiving CBOUSH p 67-78 Eating the Plates: A Pilgrim Book of Food and Manners, selected sections Colonial Days - various projects The Witch of Blackbird Pond CBOUSH p 79-82 The Courage of Sarah Noble Meet Felicity Changes for Felicity CBOUSH p 83-87 The Children's Book of America - Father Junipero Serra I'm also using the Book of Time and timeline figures (cores D and E) and the Markable Map from SL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaCoop04 Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Try this link: http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/history.htm It has quite a few recommended books for World and US History. Have you thought of using the American Girls series or Dear America? I haven't, but have heard of people doing so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I'm personally not fond of that many excerpts. Sure, sometimes it's worth it to do an excerpt of something you don't have the time for (or that has other parts that aren't appropriate for some reason) for history, but usually I think you're better off reading all of a few really good books than you are reading a couple pages of thirty books like that book seems to suggest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In2why Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I hope you guys that bought the book come back after a bit and let us know what you think. It looks great, and we read quite a few of the early American books and loved them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mytwomonkeys Posted October 14, 2011 Author Share Posted October 14, 2011 these are all great ideas! thank you. i'm taking notes & can't wait to figure it all out! seriously, thanks everyone!! my weekend is full now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.