Let Me Tell You About Our Little House Year! This blog uses referral links. Please read my disclosure policy. We spent a year on the prairie with The Prairie Primer. Admittedly, I am somewhat biased. Being a huge Laura Ingalls Wilder fan, I devoured her books when I was young. Imagine having a curriculum centered around her books! I was sold … [Read more...] about Our Little House Year With The Prairie Primer
History
Stories to Tell: Learning from Oral History
Incorporating Oral History Into Your Curriculum As we move into the high school years in our homeschool, my son has begun to study modern history. Many curriculum companies save the twentieth century for later years due to the often harsh and more disturbing events that have occurred. While this is true, one advantage to studying this time period … [Read more...] about Stories to Tell: Learning from Oral History
Living History: Real Teens Meet A Real Hero
Real Teens Meet a Real Hero Our Real Teens Read literature group had the privilege of meeting a real hero. After reading Anne Frank's Diary of a Young Girl and Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, discussing both books, and learning some background history, we arranged a field trip to meet a Holocaust survivor and hear her inspiring and miraculous … [Read more...] about Living History: Real Teens Meet A Real Hero
What is Memorial Day?
Helping Kids Understand Memorial Day Do you know why we observe Memorial Day? Do you know the difference between Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, and Armed Forces Day? Many people confuse the meanings of these holidays and don't know why we really celebrate them. Teach kids that there is more to the three day weekend than barbecues and the beginning … [Read more...] about What is Memorial Day?
Teaching with Timelines
We've been using timelines in our homeschool from the time our kids were in kindergarten, and our soon-to-be college student still utilizes this method of learning. Seeing everything in context is a great way to "connect the dots" of time. Whether you display a timeline on a wall, keep a timeline notebook, or simply use one-pagers with relevant … [Read more...] about Teaching with Timelines
Making History Come Alive
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Making History Come Alive with Living Books for All Ages If you want to make history more meaningful to children, teach them that it is made up of real people, places, and events. Instead of making facts and figures the focus of their lessons, make history come alive for … [Read more...] about Making History Come Alive
Using Primary Resources for High School
Primary Resources for High School History and Government In our state, a half credit of U.S. Government is required for high school graduation. It's not easy to find good homeschool curriculum for a one-semester course on this subject, so we've been creating our own course using several different resources. U.S. History and Government: Readings … [Read more...] about Using Primary Resources for High School
Learning About Presidents: So You Want to Be President?
Picture Books for Learning about Presidents This blog uses affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Which president did not learn how to write until after he got married? Which president was elected to serve four terms? Who bought Alaska from Russia? Did you know that there have been forty-four presidencies but only forty-three … [Read more...] about Learning About Presidents: So You Want to Be President?
Learning About Presidents: Ghosts of the White House
Picture Books for Learning about Presidents This blog uses affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. When Cheryl Harness visited the White House with her niece Sara, she imagined what it would be like for one of the former presidents to take her on an inside tour. My edition of Ghosts of the White House includes the presidents through … [Read more...] about Learning About Presidents: Ghosts of the White House
Hands on Ways to Teach Kids About Voting
Make a Ballot Box to Teach about Voting What is voting? When a group needs to make a decision, it is usually done by voting to see what the majority chooses. This is done by everyone casting a vote for their choice, and then having the votes counted to see which choice the majority desires. In America, adults vote for president every four … [Read more...] about Hands on Ways to Teach Kids About Voting
Learning About Presidents: The Buck Stops Here
Picture Books for Learning about Presidents This blog uses affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. The Buck Stops Here by Alice Provensen, is a picture book of presidential history that begins with George Washington and features the other presidents and their contributions to America. I have always loved picture books, and my … [Read more...] about Learning About Presidents: The Buck Stops Here
Teaching Kids About Elections: Duck for President
Teaching Kids About Elections with Duck for President Duck is running for president, and he needs your vote. Tired of doing chores for Farmer Brown that leave him “covered in tiny bits of grass and espresso beans,” he decides to hold an election to oust Farmer Brown from being in charge of the farm. The creators of Click, Clack, Moo have … [Read more...] about Teaching Kids About Elections: Duck for President
World War II for Kids
Teaching Kids about World War II The World War II era is such an interesting time to study, but many resources are geared toward older kids due to the intense subject matter. In our homeschool, I like to incorporate hands-on activities whenever possible, and I find World War II for Kids to be a complete resource for incorporating activities and … [Read more...] about World War II for Kids
History Revealed
History Revealed: What in the World? This year, my younger two boys are both listening to Diana Waring's History Revealed: What in the World? audio curriculum as part of our history studies. This 12-disc set of audio history lessons is a sweeping look at history from the beginning of the world through the world wars. In her enthusiastic and … [Read more...] about History Revealed
Teaching Historical Literacy
My kids and I tried out a historical literacy course one summer. This blog uses affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. BrimWood Press has a Western Civilization course, designed to teach the fundamentals of history--almost like phonics is to language arts. The publisher lists the fundamentals of history as: Building a mental … [Read more...] about Teaching Historical Literacy
The Hiding Place, Young Reader’s Edition
The True Story of a Real-Life Hero Corrie Ten Boom's remarkable and inspirational story unfolds in The Hiding Place, where the harsh realities of life in Hitler's Europe during WWII are documented. The Young Reader's Edition is an abridged version of The Hiding Place, and it includes illustrations and larger print than my full-length … [Read more...] about The Hiding Place, Young Reader’s Edition
Bonhoeffer Student Edition
The fascinating life of a courageous hero is presented in Bonhoeffer Student Edition Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. This edition is adapted especially for student readers in a much more condensed version than Metaxas' full length biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and it includes sidebars, timelines, photographs, lists, and a … [Read more...] about Bonhoeffer Student Edition
What is Thanksgiving?
It seems like Thanksgiving gets pushed aside in favor of the Black Friday "holiday." But, this holiday deserves to get some attention, and shopping really can wait until Friday. Since I enjoy researching things and learning the "who, what, when, where, and why" behind them, I stumbled upon this book, Thank You, Sarah! and read it with my boys. We … [Read more...] about What is Thanksgiving?
Living History: Honor Flight
Heroes Last week, my husband went on the Honor Flight to accompany veterans from WWII and the Korean War. The flight left early in the morning and returned the same night to a celebratory crowd of supporters. These veterans spent a whirlwind day in Washington, DC, visiting the WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War Memorials and Arlington … [Read more...] about Living History: Honor Flight
Real Teens Read: Hagood Mill Field Trip
To accompany this month's book, Walk Two Moons, our Real Teens Read group packed up and hit the road for a field trip to a historic mill, built in 1845. We were treated to a tour and oral history narrative by Mr. Ed, who is passionate about what he does, and kept us on the edge of our seats as he talked. One of the most significant things he … [Read more...] about Real Teens Read: Hagood Mill Field Trip
