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SOTW1 - extras


fraidycat
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Ok, so it turns out I'm lazy. Or disorganized. Or both.

 

We have not read even one of the "extra" books recommended with SOTW1 - because I'm too lazy to see if the library has it, go to the library, check it out, keep track of it and get it back on time. So I'm going to purchase a few of them.

 

That said, I have a 5th grader, and 1st grader.

 

We do have both the Kingfisher and Usborne Encyclopedias. In your opinion, what other books are the "must reads" to go along with SOTW1. Especially for the 5th grader. For the little guy, I'm just going for exposure, and IMO, SOTW w/maps and a few activities is enough - if he cares to listen in on DD's extras, he is welcome.

 

ETA: I'm not necessarily looking for a specific reading level. I'm looking for books that are engaging and really help to get the "story" across. About one or two books from each civilization - picture books are fine and higher reading levels are also fine - they'll most likely be done as read alouds, at least for the first pass through. She can re-read anything she wishes to later.

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Wow there are SOO many, I can't even begin to guess which are the best. Even the books below my 5th grader's reading level can provide so much extra info and good pictures to look at from each culture. 5th grader is using this for her lit this year to go with ancients: http://www.classicalhouseoflearning.com/logic-stage-literature.html But I love to get a big stack of library books from SOTW recs, so I am no help probably :)

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Below reading level is fine. I'm just looking for one or two books from each civilization. Maybe one picture book and one other? Engaging is more what I'm looking for, rather than a certain reading level. Even higher reading level is fine - they'll most likely be done as read alouds.

 

ETA: I should have been more clear in my original post. I will edit now.

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:lurk5:

 

 

I'm the same way. I haven't bought the Kingfisher Encyclopedia yet, but I'm seriously considering it since she has all the references conveniently laid out. We JUST did our first SOTW chapter the "right way" (or close to it) for the first time this year. Originally I didn't have the activity book but now I realize how helpful it is and am SO glad we are finally going to get somewhere with SOTW. It's only Feb, right? :svengo:

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My kids love the Good Times Travel Agency series. These kids (siblings) travel back in time to the various civilizations, running into various kinds of trouble. There's a book for each of the main civs. They are packed with info, there is the dialogue of the kids and then sidebars of info. Perfect for 1st, and I don't think they'd be too young for your 5th.

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Check out the You Wouldn't Want To Be series. Specifically:

-A Mammoth Hunter

-A Sumerian Slave

-An Assyrian Soldier

-A Pyramid Builder

-An Egyptian Mummy

-Be Cleopatra

-Be Tutenkhamen

-A Greek Athlete

-An Aztec Sacrifice (Or is that SOTW2?)

-In Alexander The Great's Army

-A Slave in Ancient Greece

-A Roman Gladiator

-A Roman Soldier

-Live In Pompeii

 

Fill in with Outrageous Women of Ancient Times and Horrible Histories (books and BBC on Youtube)

 

For living fiction, we liked Theras and His Town, The Golden Goblet, and Mara, Daughter of the Nile.

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Maybe I can be of some help!!! I have religiously interlibrary loaned and read or pre-read every single book up to chapter 16 or so and then we started to drop SOTW and go on a US history and Native American rabbit trail!!! And I also made notes so I will know which books to use again. We've been getting back into SOTW though so I'm sure I'll pick up my project soon. My likes may be different than yours however. (I still suggest getting things at a library before spending the money. And used is pretty cheap at Amazon.) What I would buy or have bought and would get at the library again next time is below. Some are better for young children. Here's a list for the first part of the book. These are the ones I found essential and the others recommended didn't get much interest.

 

Archaeologists Dig For Clues (young children--fun activity)

It's Disgusting and We Ate It

Prehistoric World Usborne World History (skip if you do not want old earth type science and history. We however love this book to pieces--literally)

The First Dog (for little ones. We're huge Jan Brett fans)

Eyewitness Ancient Egypt (this series of books is really good. Little ones will enjoy the pics, older ones can read it)

Egyptian Treasures Mummies and Myths (audio by Jim Weiss)

Egyptian Myths

Tales of the Dead Ancient Egypt (if your 5th grader likes graphic novel comic book stuff this would be fun)

Curse of the Pharaohs (good for the older student)

Magic Tree House Mummies and Pyramids research guide (good for the younger)

Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors An Activity Guide (love this!)

Ancient Agriculture

The Winged Cat

The Golden Sandal (beautiful!)

The Three Princes

Tales from the Old Testament (audio by Jim Weiss)

Ten Kings and the Worlds They Ruled (really good quick bios)

Gilgamesh the King/The Revenge of Ishtar/The Last Quest of Gilgamesh (these three books are gorgeous)

One Grain of Rice by Demi (any book by Demi is good)

D is for Doufu An Alphabet of Chinese Culture (really interesting and fun)

The Story of Ping (for really little ones)

Anansi the Spider/Zomo the Rabbit/Rhinos for Lunch/ and any African story book by Kimmel or McDermott is good for little ones

Tales from Cultures Far and Near (audio by Weiss)

Life in Ancient Egypt a Coloring Book

Ancient Egypt Ms Frizzles Adventure (a spin off of magic School Bus)

Rimonah of the Flashing Sword (beautiful!)

Temple Cat (for really little ones---like toddler age--my 2 year old loved this book and is convinced all cats should be called temple cat now)

The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt (for older readers)

Tales of Ancient Egypt

Eyewitness Bible Lands (might want to avoid it again if you don't prefer old earth or non-literal bible accounts)

Exodus by Brian Wildsmith

Ancient Israelites and Their neighbors An Activity Guide

Eyewitness Ancient Civilizations

 

If this is helpful I'll add to it as I pick up my project again. :)

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Maybe I can be of some help!!! I have religiously interlibrary loaned and read or pre-read every single book up to chapter 16 or so and then we started to drop SOTW and go on a US history and Native American rabbit trail!!! And I also made notes so I will know which books to use again. We've been getting back into SOTW though so I'm sure I'll pick up my project soon. My likes may be different than yours however. (I still suggest getting things at a library before spending the money. And used is pretty cheap at Amazon.) What I would buy or have bought and would get at the library again next time is below. Some are better for young children. Here's a list for the first part of the book. These are the ones I found essential and the others recommended didn't get much interest.

 

 

If this is helpful I'll add to it as I pick up my project again. :)

 

 

Awesome, Thank you!~

 

Am I the only one who doesn't "get" the Horrible Histories books? Granted, I only pre-read through the Awesome Egyptians one, but ugh. Did not like. At all. It seemed so... disjointed, or something. I was unimpressed. Maybe the kids'll like it though.

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Check out the You Wouldn't Want To Be series. Specifically:

-A Mammoth Hunter

-A Sumerian Slave

-An Assyrian Soldier

-A Pyramid Builder

-An Egyptian Mummy

-Be Cleopatra

-Be Tutenkhamen

-A Greek Athlete

-An Aztec Sacrifice (Or is that SOTW2?)

-In Alexander The Great's Army

-A Slave in Ancient Greece

-A Roman Gladiator

-A Roman Soldier

-Live In Pompeii

 

Fill in with Outrageous Women of Ancient Times and Horrible Histories (books and BBC on Youtube)

 

For living fiction, we liked Theras and His Town, The Golden Goblet, and Mara, Daughter of the Nile.

 

 

Thank you. I can TRY to like the Horrible HIstories books. If not, maybe I can just do video.

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I read the first story from "classic myths to read aloud by William F Russell" today. It is Greek and roman myths. If you have a kindle grab a sample. Ds 5.5 and ds3.5 seemed to enjoy it. We also have an usborne illustrated Greek legends which is nice. I don't have the recommended kingfisher history book but I do an eight book history kingfisher history set I bought for $1 plus other similar buys.

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