materursa Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 Are there any good secular options for doing grade 1 level history besides SOTW? Thanks! Amanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 We use History Odyssey from Pandia Press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
materursa Posted July 2, 2008 Author Share Posted July 2, 2008 We use History Odyssey from Pandia Press. Doesn't level 1 use SOTW as the spine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 Doesn't level 1 use SOTW as the spine?The spine is technically the Usenet Internet Linked Encyclopedia of World History (I *hate* typing that :) ), but yes, it does use SOTW as a narrative (as well as CHOW). Sorry, I tend to think in terms of the SOTW AG vs History Odyssey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genie Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 Are there any good secular options for doing grade 1 level history besides SOTW? Thanks! Amanda K12's history is great, but it is almost word for word the same as SOTW. But I liked it because it was much more visual, which my dd prefers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
materursa Posted July 3, 2008 Author Share Posted July 3, 2008 Thanks for the replies. I was looking for something other than SOTW because I don't want biblical stories presented as fact in my history book, that approach just doesn't work for us. It appears to be quite difficult to find a history book for the youngers that doesn't do this though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Thanks for the replies. I was looking for something other than SOTW because I don't want biblical stories presented as fact in my history book, that approach just doesn't work for us. It appears to be quite difficult to find a history book for the youngers that doesn't do this though...Oh, if that's it, History Odyssey could work for you. These chapters of SOTW are optional, and clearly identified as Bible stories. We did them and Geraldine McCaughrean's two Bible stories books -- I treated them just like I did Gilgamesh or Greek myths. The two activity books used in HO Level 1 Ancients are secular: Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors and Ancient Israelites and Their Neighbors. I'd highly recommend them no matter what ancient history program you go with. The activities are engaging, and the introductory text for each is detailed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragons in the flower bed Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Are there any good secular options for doing grade 1 level history besides SOTW? Are you looking for something on ancient history? Do you want activities, or just a book to read aloud? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
materursa Posted July 3, 2008 Author Share Posted July 3, 2008 Are you looking for something on ancient history? Do you want activities, or just a book to read aloud? Right now, I'm looking for something on ancient history, though, in the coming years, I'll need the rest of it too. I'm focusing on a book to read since that seems to be such an issue, but would consider any activities to be icing on the cake. Thanks! Amanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siloam Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Right now, I'm looking for something on ancient history, though, in the coming years, I'll need the rest of it too. I'm focusing on a book to read, but would consider any activities to be icing on the cake.Thanks! Amanda Amanda, You can use Sonlight Core 1 without the bible component. It uses CHOW and Usborne World History as spine texts. Though CHOW will have an occasional mention of one God, and maybe a few Biblical events (it has been a few years). I know the Greek gods were introduced in contrast to believing in one God. There is a whole yahoo group for using SL secular. I also like the Kingfisher World History book. Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragons in the flower bed Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Right now, I'm looking for something on ancient history, though, in the coming years, I'll need the rest of it too. I'm focusing on a book to read, but would consider any activities to be icing on the cake.Thanks! Amanda Some options, all of which you should double check for Bible references: The Usborne Book of World History Oxford First Ancient History Galore Park Junior History A Little History of the World by EH Gombrich The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem Van Loon A Child's History of the World by VM Hillyer Suzanne Strauss Art's Early Times series (including Greece, Rome, the Americas and China) Peoples of the Ancient World series, including Japan, India and Africa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
materursa Posted July 3, 2008 Author Share Posted July 3, 2008 How would one go about building a curriculum around an encyclopedia for a 1st grade level? Thanks for all the suggestions! Amanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragons in the flower bed Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Snuggle up with your kiddo on the couch to read a two page spread. Point to the related pictures as you read the text. Afterwards, have your kiddo - draw a picture of something he or she learned - describe what's going on in the pictures in her own words, or - act out with his action figures what happened in that historical period It's that simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
materursa Posted July 3, 2008 Author Share Posted July 3, 2008 Thanks dragons... I was hoping for something in the narrative style like SOTW, but that doesn't seem to exist. I've got a few of the history encyclopedias, so I think I'll just follow your suggestions and go with that. Not quite what I had hoped, but will definitely do. Thanks for everyone's thoughts and suggestions! Amanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlashine Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 JMHO, but SOTW 1 has worked just fine in my largely secular home by teaching the bible stories as myths. SOTW is such a great resource that I would hate to see you not use it just on that basis. It would be a lot less work on your part to either cut the 2 or 3 chapters that present biblical stories and use the rest or just present them as fairy tales, or cultural tales, which is how I have gone about it. Of course, I also have been reading bible stories with my son along with history as myths, and plan to put The Blue Fairy Book in our "religion" spot when we are done the book of bible stories. Just my .02. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genie Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 JMHO, but SOTW 1 has worked just fine in my largely secular home by teaching the bible stories as myths. SOTW is such a great resource that I would hate to see you not use it just on that basis. It would be a lot less work on your part to either cut the 2 or 3 chapters that present biblical stories and use the rest or just present them as fairy tales, or cultural tales, which is how I have gone about it. Of course, I also have been reading bible stories with my son along with history as myths, and plan to put The Blue Fairy Book in our "religion" spot when we are done the book of bible stories. Just my .02. I have to agree with Starlashine. I have not found SOTW to have anything remotely pervasive in its religious stance. Is it 100% secular? No, probably not by most standards. But it is SO easy to work with. Hardly any effort at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaik76 Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Have you looked at Mosaic Introduction to World History, Part I? The Instructor's Guide is free, it comes in different versions...for SOTW lovers, and with E.H. Gombrich's A Little History of the World. The program is for elementary students, and so far I have found it to be very thorough. Her website is: http://www.bringinguplearners.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 We are also using Mosaic and we love it. We are secular. As far as the "religious" aspects of SOTW, if you don't want bible stories, just skip those chapters. There isn't a pervasive Christian theme running through the entire book. In fact, that is a criticism I have seen of the book from Christian homeschoolers--that it's not a Christian-based book. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatt2mama Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Wow! That Mosaic-thingy looks awesome! Thanks for sharing that one-off to give it a closer look!:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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