Middle Ages literature for 2nd grader-need suggestions!

[Catherine]

I found TWTM recommendations for this age group vague-is it me? We have a Robin Hood, and will bet St. George and the Dragon, and a retelling of Beowulf, and of Sir Gawain. It seems like the year's focus was very heavily on Shakespeare. We will do some Shakespeare, but what is missing? Any ideas for historical fiction or retellings of other great stories that are not included on SWB's second grade list? We are a predominantly secular family, but will learn or study almost anything : )

[starlashine]

King Arthur? We are reading a retelling from Kingfisher this year. Canterbury Tales will be a read aloud. I am also going to focus on biographies in the second half of the year, got a bunch of Diane Stanley ones. Also doing Hans Christian Anderson fairy tales and the Blue Fairy Book. I just finished planning out history/literature readings for second grade, so if you need more specific suggestions for biographies or other literature. my pm box is always open.

[Kathleen in VA]

Door in the Wall

The Making of a Knight

Castle Diary

[Lori D.]

Readers -- Non Fiction

- Journey Through History: Middle Ages (gr. 2 level) -- Gloria Verges

- Knights (All Aboard Reading level 2) -- Catherine Daly-Weir

- Gargoyles (All Aboard Reading level 2) -- Jennifer Dussling

- Joan of Arc (Step Into Reading level 4) -- Shana Corey -- biography

- Days of the Knights: A Tale of Castles and Battles (DK Reader level 4) -- Christopher Maynard

 

 

Readers - Historical Fiction:

- Sword in the Stone (Hello Reader level 2) -- Grace MacCarone

- Viking Adventure (Bulla) -- gr. 2-3 level

- Eric the Red and Leif the Lucky (Schiller) -- gr. 3 level

- The Sword in the Tree (Bulla) -- gr. 2-3 level

- The Minstrel in the Tower (Skurzinsky) -- gr. 2-3 level

- The Apple and the Arrow (Buff) -- gr. 3 level

- Tales of Robin Hood (Allan) -- gr. 3-4 level

- Robin Hood: Tale of the Great Outlaw Hero (DK Reader level 4) -- Angela Bull

 

 

Readers - Silly Fun:

- Good Night, Good Knight (Thomas) -- gr. 1-2 level

- Get Well Good Knight (Thomas) -- gr. 1-2 level

- Take Care Good Knight (Thomas) -- gr. 1-2 level

- Happy Birthday Good Knight (Thomas) -- gr. 1-2 level

- Dragonslayer Academy series (McMullan) -- gr. 3-4 level

- The Good Knight Night Book (A Picture Riddle Book) (Engelman and Riggs)

- The Knight and the Dragon (Paola)

 

 

Read Alouds - Historical Fiction:

- Saint George and the Dragon (Hodges) -- lovely picture book

- The Door in the Wall (de Angeli)

- Adam of the Road (Gray)

 

 

Read Alouds - Non Fiction:

- Brendan the Navigator (Fritz) -- early medieval monk who may have been the first European to discover the New World

- Living in Castle Times (Usborne First History series) (Gee)

- Castle Diary (Platt)

- Illuminations (Hunt) -- beautiful alphabet book showing aspects of medieval life

- If You Were There: Medieval Times (Mason)

- Usborne Time Traveler (the section on Medieval Europe)

 

 

Activities:

- Dover stained glass coloring book: Castles = http://store.doverpublications.com/0486430480.html

- Dover stained glass coloring book: Cathedrals = http://store.doverpublications.com/0486240274.html

- Dover stained glass coloring book: Heraldric Designs = http://store.doverpublications.com/0486410439.html

- Knights & Castles: 50 Hands-On Activities to Experience the Middle Ages (Hart, Mantell, Kline)

[sagira]

Impressive list, Lori D.!

 

Check this one out also:

 

http://www.tanglewoodeducation.com/bkshb.htm

[LNC]

I would highly recommend Favorite Medeival Tales by Mary Pope Osborne for your age group:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Favorite-Medieval-Tales-Mary-Osborne/dp/0439141346

[Catherine]

Thank you especially to Lori for taking your time to write out such a thorough list. I confess I've spent so much of August trying to put together tenth grade on very short notice that my second grader's supplies have been overlooked. This will really help me.

 

 

Catherine

[Nestof3]

I have lists on my blog -- my boys are 7 and 8.