history ideas

[annegables]

I am in need of history ideas for my rising 5th grader.  So far, 95% of our history has been auditory and I am wanting to do something book-based. We have listened to all the SOTW audio too many times to count. We have done different podcasts (History of Byzantium, etc), Great Courses (Roman stuff), Liberty Kids, loads of field trips, etc. We do lots of history read alouds like Plutarch, Josephus, and Caesar's commentaries. He has read all of Horrible Histories. My concern is not really about what he learns, but that I want him to get more practice in reading history books and, well, doing something with them. 

I have been thinking of just having him slowly re-read Plutarch's Lives for Boys and Girls and doing one-level outlines. Does anyone have any other ideas? I love the format of Plutarch with shorter, interesting stories, and am wondering if there are other books/resources like this that I am unaware of.

[Little Green Leaves]

Do you want to focus on ancient history, or are you interested in other periods too?

I love that you've read lots of Plutarch and Josephus. That's such a cool way to learn. Maybe you could do something similar for medieval history? Read contemporary sources and figure out some appropriate output?  I once read "Two Lives of Charlemagne" -- both by near-contemporaries -- and remember it was really gripping and fun to read. Or, if you're interested in later periods, it gets even easier to find sources.

[annegables]

Thanks! I dont care about the time period. But it is something I want him to be able to read on his own, and he reads decidedly at grade level. Are there any books like Our Young Folks Josephus or Plutarch's Lives for Boys and Girls (primary source, but simplified for children) for the medieval time period?

 

[Little Green Leaves]

14 hours ago, annegables said:

Thanks! I dont care about the time period. But it is something I want him to be able to read on his own, and he reads decidedly at grade level. Are there any books like Our Young Folks Josephus or Plutarch's Lives for Boys and Girls (primary source, but simplified for children) for the medieval time period?

 

I don't know! That's a good question. But I'll bet you can find primary sources either free and online or else used and dirt cheap, so that you can evaluate whether they're right for your son. 

Or, if he wants to study more recent history, it would be easier to find sources for him to read. 

Before COVID, I was thinking about having my son do some kind of oral history project for the coming year -- interviewing grandparents, elderly neighbors, etc about historic events that they can remember. Maybe something like that would still be possible via Zoom. 

edit: Sorry, I just realized you want something book-based. Oral history is obviously not what you're looking for! 

Edited July 20, 2020 by Little Green Leaves

[klmama]

Gateway to the Classics includes a huge number of children's history and adapted literature books free online which were brought in from The Baldwin Project.  A number of James Baldwin's works are available to read online, as are works by other authors.  http://www.gatewaytotheclassics.com/home.php  

[Lori D.]

Builders of the Old World (Gertrude Hartman)
Grades 5-7 level. Out of print (Amazon has 2 that are available for $20). Covers ancients through medieval in 450 pages. (I attached images below.) With line drawing illustrations. At the end of each chapter there are some built in extensions -- "talking together" (discussion questions, which could lead to a writing assignment); "interesting things to try" (activity ideas); "let's read" (list of related books that might be of interest); "quiz yourself" (matching & fill-in-blank questions); plus usually another option such as watching a history film, or mapping activity, or writing a summary, or making a bibliography... This is a really nice little volume 


The World in Ancient Times; Oxford University Press series
Grade 5-9 level. Each book is around 170-190 pages and focuses on a specific area of the world. There is also a teacher guide to go with each, so you can add "output" of discussion, writing, or activities.

Ancients:
The Early Human World (pre-history)
The Ancient Near Eastern World (Mesopotamia, Sumer, Assyria)
The Ancient South Asian World (India)
The Ancient Chinese World
The Ancient American World
The Ancient Egyptian World
The Ancient Greek World
The Ancient Roman World

Medieval & Early Modern World:
The European World, 400-1450
The African and Middle Eastern World, 600-1500
An Age of Voyages, 1350-1600
An Age of Empires, 1200-1750
An Age of Science and Revolutions, 1600-1800

 

K12 Human Odyssey
Three 1-year texts to go through all of World History. (You could go more slowly and spread the 3 texts out over 4 years.) Geared for older middle school, but a very strong 5th grade might be able to handle it. No guide for questions/writing/activities, but you could develop your own ideas of whatever would work best for this student. Examples: make timeline, entries, a weekly narration, a short report (oral or written) on a topic of especial interest to the student from the reading, etc.



Samples of Builders of the Old World here:

 

Edited July 20, 2020 by Lori D.

[AngelaR]

9 hours ago, Lori D. said:

Builders of the Old World (Gertrude Hartman)
Grades 5-7 level. Out of print (Amazon has 2 that are available for $20). Covers ancients through medieval in 450 pages. (I attached images below.) With line drawing illustrations. At the end of each chapter there are some built in extensions -- "talking together" (discussion questions, which could lead to a writing assignment); "interesting things to try" (activity ideas); "let's read" (list of related books that might be of interest); "quiz yourself" (matching & fill-in-blank questions); plus usually another option such as watching a history film, or mapping activity, or writing a summary, or making a bibliography... This is a really nice little volume 


The World in Ancient Times; Oxford University Press series
Grade 5-9 level. Each book is around 170-190 pages and focuses on a specific area of the world. There is also a teacher guide to go with each, so you can add "output" of discussion, writing, or activities.

Ancients:
The Early Human World (pre-history)
The Ancient Near Eastern World (Mesopotamia, Sumer, Assyria)
The Ancient South Asian World (India)
The Ancient Chinese World
The Ancient American World
The Ancient Egyptian World
The Ancient Greek World
The Ancient Roman World

Medieval & Early Modern World:
The European World, 400-1450
The African and Middle Eastern World, 600-1500
An Age of Voyages, 1350-1600
An Age of Empires, 1200-1750
An Age of Science and Revolutions, 1600-1800

 

K12 Human Odyssey
Three 1-year texts to go through all of World History. (You could go more slowly and spread the 3 texts out over 4 years.) Geared for older middle school, but a very strong 5th grade might be able to handle it. No guide for questions/writing/activities, but you could develop your own ideas of whatever would work best for this student. Examples: make timeline, entries, a weekly narration, a short report (oral or written) on a topic of especial interest to the student from the reading, etc.



Samples of Builders of the Old World here:

 

As a certified upper school history teacher of 8 years, I have to give these recommendations a HUGE thumbs up!  And I hope I can find this post when my littles are old enough to do history. Also, as a homeschooled child myself, I studied Builders of the Old World back in 4-5th grade, which I ABSOLUTELY LOVED!!!!  That and A Child’s History of the World! 

[annegables]

@Lori D. Thank you! What a wealth of resources and this was what I was looking for! 

I just bought Builders of the Old World. I now remember why I took a hiatus from the forum. To save money😂

Edited July 21, 2020 by annegables

[goldenecho]

Since you've been through SOTW several times, maybe something looking at original sources and learning how to use and interpret them and think about history through them?   There's a free resource I know that does that.  It's aimed at Middle School and High School, but it might be worth looking into for your kiddo if you think he can handle it.   With all that historical background, this just might be a way to think critically about history...

http://www.marionbrady.com/

If that seems a bit much, maybe let him go to the library and pick out a book on a historical topic that interests him.  

Or, if you want something more hands on, maybe try a curriculum that combines history and science, like the Science through History curriculum by Jay Wile (Christian curriculum), or the Story of Science (a secular curriculum).

[annegables]

19 hours ago, goldenecho said:

Since you've been through SOTW several times, maybe something looking at original sources and learning how to use and interpret them and think about history through them?   There's a free resource I know that does that.  It's aimed at Middle School and High School, but it might be worth looking into for your kiddo if you think he can handle it.   With all that historical background, this just might be a way to think critically about history...

http://www.marionbrady.com/

If that seems a bit much, maybe let him go to the library and pick out a book on a historical topic that interests him.  

Or, if you want something more hands on, maybe try a curriculum that combines history and science, like the Science through History curriculum by Jay Wile (Christian curriculum), or the Story of Science (a secular curriculum).

The bolded is my fly in the ointment. This is how I normally operate, but our libraries are open for picking up hold only, and given the state of things where I live, this isnt changing any time soon.  Thanks for the Marion Brady link- the website looks interesting.

[goldenecho]

On 7/22/2020 at 5:59 PM, annegables said:

The bolded is my fly in the ointment. This is how I normally operate, but our libraries are open for picking up hold only, and given the state of things where I live, this isnt changing any time soon. 

 
I hear you!   Seriously, when bars and hair salons closed I didn't care.   I was a little miffed when they closed restaurants and museums.  But when they closed libraries I shouted "Nooooo!" at the computer. 

So, you could let your kids just browse the book covers from the library online and pick one.   OR, there's this online library where you can actually flip through the books (and hopefully if he finds one he likes its one your library has to put on hold and pick up.    I've been using it to preview books to buy.    I just check out the book online long enough to flip through the pages then return it.   (Amazon has previews you can flip through but usually just the first few pages and only for newer books). 

https://openlibrary.org/

[Kareni]

On 7/19/2020 at 4:23 PM, annegables said:

. My concern is not really about what he learns, but that I want him to get more practice in reading history books and, well, doing something with them. 

Addressing the 'doing something' issue that you mentioned, perhaps he could create a Book of the Centuries.

We began homeschooling when my daughter started 7th grade.  This was my history and reading plan that year; perhaps it will speak to your desire for some output.

"History and Reading

The plan:

To study history chronologically from prehistory to about AD500.

The means:

We'll use Hillyer and Huey's two books Young People's Story of the Ancient World as well as numerous other books and resources.

Typically each week there will be a list of required reading.  There will generally be a novel to be read pertaining to the time period.  There may also be some myths and legends to be read.  There will also be non-fiction books or selections to be read and perhaps a website to visit or a video to view.

You will need to locate any places mentioned on the map, in a historical atlas and on the globe (if we obtain one).  Each week you will make two pages for your Book of the Centuries.  These pages should be work you can be proud of!  They should be well planned, edited and neat.  They can be in your best cursive or done on the computer.  All art work should be done with care.  The pages should pertain to the time period being studied.  Each page should be titled.  Pages might cover such topics as:

A people

A great man or woman (a ruler, artist, explorer, scientist)

An artifact (tools, buildings, type of writing)

A religion

An event

A discovery or invention

A war or battle

The daily life of a people

A map (route of an explorer, location of a people) 

An imaginary encounter between two historical personae

???

You might find information on these topics at home or you may need to do additional research at the library or online. 

Maps should include a legend (which may be printed) in addition to the title.

In addition to your two pages, you should also note five to ten important dates in your Book of the Centuries."

Regards,

Kareni

[annegables]

12 hours ago, goldenecho said:

 
I hear you!   Seriously, when bars and hair salons closed I didn't care.   I was a little miffed when they closed restaurants and museums.  But when they closed libraries I shouted "Nooooo!" at the computer. 

So, you could let your kids just browse the book covers from the library online and pick one.   OR, there's this online library where you can actually flip through the books (and hopefully if he finds one he likes its one your library has to put on hold and pick up.    I've been using it to preview books to buy.    I just check out the book online long enough to flip through the pages then return it.   (Amazon has previews you can flip through but usually just the first few pages and only for newer books). 

https://openlibrary.org/

Oh man, bc this is a nerdy education board, your first paragraph reminded me so much of this quote by Martin Niemoller: 

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

I really, really do not mean to make to make light of neither the Holocaust nor the pandemic, but the parallels in style were too close not to say anything:). 

[annegables]

@Kareni Thanks for that list! I have a rising 7th grader and have been trying to think through something along those lines for him. I am putting your plan in my One Note to ruminate on and tweak accordingly😁

[Kareni]

2 minutes ago, annegables said:

@Kareni Thanks for that list! I have a rising 7th grader and have been trying to think through something along those lines for him. I am putting your plan in my One Note to ruminate on and tweak accordingly😁

I'm glad to be of help. I hope that you and your children will have a great school year.

Regards,

Kareni

[Reefgazer]

I would take a look at the Pandia Press history programs.