After following the bizarre Ahab through "Moby Dick," I picked up "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin." It was free to listen to on Librivox.org. The wisdom through life experiences of Mr. Franklin was an excellent companion to my kids studying about Revolutionary War period of USA history. So, it must be time to move on to something new. I'm previewing "Librivox: Hurlbut's Story of the Bible Part One by Hurlbut, Jesse Lyman." I've read a few other books for entertainment and encouragement, but those don't follow this thread of historical enrichment.
However, Industrialization is the next topic in history for my kids and we'll read aloud "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" by Virginia Lee Burton. This child's story goes along with the SOTW3 Chapter 27 and 31 as well as Our Island Country chapter 96, which we will listen to, complete comprehension questions and maps. All of which I'd love to finish shortly.
Then move onto the story of the Voyage of Discovery about President Jefferson, Sacagewea, Lewis and Clark which takes us west along this growing country setting us up for SOTW4.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Summer of History
My plans to work through math and foreign languages along with history didn't work out. BUT, we are finishing SOTW3 with a summer study of American Colonies and Revolutionary War. We listened to "This Country of Ours", "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin" (for the mommy), "Our Island Story" (pertenent USA chapters) from Librivox.org for free. We were able to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Then recently we visited the Freedom Trail in Boston.
In the later city, the USS Constitution was a hit! I was able to find Liberty's Kids videos at 40% off and we're watching them while waiting in Chicagoland for the next field trip. My kids are doing a valiant job coloring the Dover pages from Colonial and Revolutionary War books. We're reading dozens of books about the Revolutionary War. Lastly, our G2 is enjoying the Felicity books from the American Girl series about Colonial Williamsburg.(Pictures of 3 generations at Old North Church)
Stand-by travel is never free or easy, but useful while home educating these little people over the summer!
Stand-by travel is never free or easy, but useful while home educating these little people over the summer!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
We Got On to Knoxville...
We were able to visit the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge on Thursday afternoon before meeting Gramma and Papa for a visit with old friends in the Chattanooga area. We saw the Incline Railway and Lookout Point with the National Parks atop. The Choo Choo is still here and we found it, grand as always. We also found a fresh dozen Krispy Krema Kruilers - JOY JOY JOY Down in my heart! Now for a hop out of Knoxville on Sunday. We'll just see where we are all going to fit. Details to follow because we want to end up in Boston Sunday night for Daddy's BIG BIRTHDAY. It's an expedition and we are up for it!
We love the element model at AMSE. It's been there since the Daddy was a kid. We were introduced to William Jennings Bryan on this recent trip. We will learn more about him later.
We love the element model at AMSE. It's been there since the Daddy was a kid. We were introduced to William Jennings Bryan on this recent trip. We will learn more about him later.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Art lessons with Carol and Russell
Sit across the table from your subject and draw them without looking down to the paper and without lifting your pencil from the paper. Test your observation skills. It's not as easy as you think.
They are professionals, and you can tell they are practiced in observation.
