Chris in CA Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Any ideas for studying California history over the summer? I have the field trips down :auto:, but I'm not sure what book/books to use - we have 9 weeks to cover it, but I'd like it to not feel to much like school thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Did you want a Christian POV? If so, you should find a copy of Lesha Myers' His California Story. I suppose if you read it daily you could finish it in 9 weeks; she did it as a year-long study with her support group in the Concord area. I don't know who publishes it any more :-/ but it was a great book. Beautiful Feet Books has a Calif history study guide; I prefer Lesha's, but if nothing else, BFB will give you an idea of good trade books to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommybee Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 So far I've used books by Randall Reinstedt; Ghost Town Publications. He has a bunch on the basics like the gold rush, missions, and rancheros. He is a history teacher, or was in Monterey and has some good adventure stories. We've been enjoying them. I bought the all at a conference once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommybee Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Did you want a Christian POV? If so, you should find a copy of Lesha Myers' His California Story. I suppose if you read it daily you could finish it in 9 weeks; she did it as a year-long study with her support group in the Concord area. I don't know who publishes it any more :-/ but it was a great book. Beautiful Feet Books has a Calif history study guide; I prefer Lesha's, but if nothing else, BFB will give you an idea of good trade books to use. I just bought the Lesha Myers' book at my local conference, did you enjoy it? It's very similar to what I mentioned above but the Reinstedt books don't have a Christian POV as far as I can tell. I still like them though, they are very interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 It is the one used for 4th grade here. I think it is too long and complicated for a summer study, but my friend who teaches 4th grade says that they don't cover very many chapters of it at all. My recommendation would be the Steward Ship unit study on it. It is designed to cover it in 6 weeks, I believe, although I might be wrong about that. DD was in a coop to study CA history, and they used "Patty Reed's Doll" as their primary fiction, and the teacher provided materials for their non-fiction. There are a lot of great living books set in CA, including "California Blue" which takes place in contemporary Northern CA, and "Island of the Blue Dolphins". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 For something a little different, you might try "American History Through Folksongs" California Songbook. Actually, I'd recommend the CDs instead of the book... I don't have the California one (though I hope to get it at some point), but I do have some of their other CDs. The format of the others (which I believe is the same for all their CDs) is brief historical explanations followed by a song. They're not the most musically enthralling recordings of folk songs, but they're performed simply and clearly. And it's a fascination way to approach history! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 When I was around ten I remember reading "By the Great Horn Spoon" which is all about the California Gold rush, and loved it. After 40 years the plot has faded, but I do remember I found it exciting and fun. Plenty of naughty mis-behavior (of the sort most boys love) if memory serves. For yourself, Kevin Starr's multi-volume history of California is unsurpassed! But might take you more than 9 weeks to get through. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraceyS/FL Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 http://www.statehistory.net/ Has plans in the teachers manual to complete it in 9 weeks. I have it (both the funbook for the younger kids and the regular), we are just waiting for the States to send the info (we are native Californians - so we are doing both FL & CA). I never got CA history - we moved to NM in 5th grade, and then back in 7th. I'm looking forward to doing it - but obviously, no field trips! LOL!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shasta Mom Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Please include him in your studies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I just bought the Lesha Myers' book at my local conference, did you enjoy it? It's very similar to what I mentioned above but the Reinstedt books don't have a Christian POV as far as I can tell. I still like them though, they are very interesting. Do you remember which vendor sold it? It is the one resource I always recommend for California history, and I've had trouble finding it on-line. (psst...I helped proofread His California Story. If she continues to keep acknowledgements from past editions, you'll see my name there:D) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewday Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 It is the one used for 4th grade here. I think it is too long and complicated for a summer study, but my friend who teaches 4th grade says that they don't cover very many chapters of it at all. My recommendation would be the Steward Ship unit study on it. It is designed to cover it in 6 weeks, I believe, although I might be wrong about that. DD was in a coop to study CA history, and they used "Patty Reed's Doll" as their primary fiction, and the teacher provided materials for their non-fiction. There are a lot of great living books set in CA, including "California Blue" which takes place in contemporary Northern CA, and "Island of the Blue Dolphins". We're getting set to start the Steward Ship unit study on CA after next week. It is 6 weeks long. I have Beautiful Feet's CA History TM and would have preferred going with it because of the literature approach, but it would have taken almost a full school year to do and I just wanted to cover it over the summer. Notebookingpages.com has a special on all their state notebooks right now btw! I downloaded mine several months back and am going to have my girls notebook as we go along with the unit study. Notebooking Pages Individual State Study Sets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommybee Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Do you remember which vendor sold it? It is the one resource I always recommend for California history, and I've had trouble finding it on-line. (psst...I helped proofread His California Story. If she continues to keep acknowledgements from past editions, you'll see my name there:D) I bought it from the CHEA booth, but I also know that Area 127 had it and they are an awesome source of supplies for classical Christian studies. It would have been fun to see your name, but it looks like she took that page out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BizyPenguin Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 Gallopade.com. I love their stuff. Good luck choosing!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in CA Posted June 28, 2008 Author Share Posted June 28, 2008 I'd prefer a Christian POV, but time and ease of use is most essential - as I am sneaking this in w/o it actually being "school work" KWIM? My dds want to do the San Juan Capistrano Missin tour and make the model at Michael's Craft Store, so I really want something doable. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in CA Posted June 28, 2008 Author Share Posted June 28, 2008 "Steward Ship" - could you tell me more, like where to buy - 6 weeks sounds great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in CA Posted June 28, 2008 Author Share Posted June 28, 2008 Thanks for the link! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in CA Posted June 28, 2008 Author Share Posted June 28, 2008 thanks, I'll try to remember that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in CA Posted June 28, 2008 Author Share Posted June 28, 2008 no, on my way there now, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in CA Posted June 28, 2008 Author Share Posted June 28, 2008 thanks for the link to the notebooking pages, downloads would be best right now as I'm pressed for time :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 I believe BF has out a study guide for California History....? They would have great book recs, too, I feel certain. I also agree with Shasta Mom's suggestion to read Ishi in Two Worlds. I didn't read it until college and it is very powerful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in CA Posted June 28, 2008 Author Share Posted June 28, 2008 Found "Our Golden California" on the Area 127 website, but not "His California Story" - How does "Our Golden California" rate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina in WA Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 I agree with 2 others that posted here. :) I am sure the other recommendations are great too. :) I was going to suggest State History from a Christian Perspective. I used the WA state history one and it was WONDERFUL! It is filled with different types of schedules so you can use it as much or as little as you like. The other one is Jennifer Stewards California Unit Study. I haven't used it, but I have used some of her other studies and her stuff is GREAT! She has lots of recommended books to go with it as well. If you are into lapbooking, HOAC has a few on California. They come with a research guide, so you don't have to do any extra research. Here is a link to a free state lapbook, but you have to do the research. Have fun! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Hood Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 Beautiful Feet Books has a Calif history study guide; I prefer Lesha's, but if nothing else, BFB will give you an idea of good trade books to use. I tried to find this at their website and couldn't. Could you find a link for me? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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