SOTW4 Modern Age History and Associated Individual Reads

Firstly, Twenty-one Balloons by William Pene Dubois is such a fun story full of all kinds of History and Geography! My kids were not cajoled into reading this book. I merely mentioned it once, never happens here, and they jumped on the opportunity to read this book about Professor Sherman.  My purpose for imposing this book upon my kids was to discuss the explosion of the island of Krakatoa in 1883.  The Story of the World Modern Age brings up this location and its struggles in Chapter Nine.  The fictional story of Professor Sherman's visit to this Dutch East Indonesian location helped my students discuss the historical and political struggles between political powers of the age. 

Secondly, Secret of the Andes, however, did not catch my kids attention even once we relayed the information from their Aunt who studies in Lima and travels throughout Peru this fall semester.  This book by Ann Nolan Clark was a mysterious read for me several months ago as I pondered my sister's travel to a South American country. But proved too, should I say, deep for my 3rd and 4th graders.  The SOTW Modern Age (SOTW4) chapter about Peru and other surrounding countries was Chapter Nine, but I wasn't able to work my kids through the book completely before the moment passed.

Lastly, a success in the INDIVIDUAL READ category! Actually, this story about Brazil which correlated to our SOTW4 Chapter Thirteen is read aloud by Patricia Conolly.  The book is Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson. The audio product I checked out from the library says that it takes 8 hours to hear the whole story, but I can't get these people to sit for more than 15 to 20 minutes per session.  So, it's going to take a week to get through this one, but I will continue to push through this and the chapters of SOTW4 so that we WILL FINISH our history cycle before the end of MAY!

More about our successes and failures in history later; more specifically the rate of stories finished per week AND the use of the outline worksheets and notebook map pages included in the study guide materials.  These steps are taken deliberately in order to prepare these young children for a new cycle AND method of history study next fall.

No matter how you word it...Matthew 28:18-20

¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” NIV

18-20Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." MES


18 İsa yanlarına gelip kendilerine şunları söyledi: "Gökte ve yeryüzünde bütün yetki bana verildi.

19 Bu nedenle gidin, bütün ulusları öğrencilerim olarak yetiştirin; onları Baba, Oğul ve Kutsal Ruh'un adıyla vaftiz edin;  20 size buyurduğum her şeye uymayı onlara öğretin. İşte ben, dünyanın sonuna dek her an sizinle birlikteyim." INCIL

Our Progress through Story of the World in the Modern Age (4)

The Modern Age is fascinating to these three elementary aged kids mainly because we get to travel to interesting places. We visited London and Edinburgh at just the right time for study of Queen Victoria and everything beyond the Victorian era on the timeline. The Sepoy mutiny meant more to us after Bangladeshi and Indian food from Brick Lane on a cold, dark, rainy evening. I still can't afford to take my kids to a Japanese restaurant, but I do let my kids taste the California rolls (I know, not really sushi) when I get them from Whole Foods store.  The stories of history in Japan were helpful for my kids because I really don't study far east information. I get stuck in middle east and stay there.

We of course have visited Istanbul and some of the Ottoman sites discussed in Chapters 2 and 9 in SOTW. We plan to try for Berlin and Prague which gets us closer to the walls of Vienna where the Ottoman Turks were stopped from proceeding westward. 

We know a little about Afghanistan from our Uncle who served with is activated National Guard unit there recently.  The information about "The Great Game" was an introduction to the manipulation that takes place further in the modern history.  And of course, the discussion of Dr. Livingstone will lead to many more stories about missionaries' journeys.

Our visit to Rome last Thanksgiving was special in light of our ancients study several years ago. But, the statues and monumental buildings dedicated to Victor Emanuel I and II were excellent demonstrations from the story about Italy's "Resurrection" in SOTW Chapter 4.  And again, I don't plan to ever undertake the journey to China, but the lessons are valuable in realizing China's role today in the world market.

The Civil War was brought to life by a History Channel video about the history of U.S. But, also from our visit to Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain. Someday we are going to get out to Cantigny to see a re-enactment.  Someday.  We also visited the Museum of Appalachia near Knoxville and learned about the cast iron kettles that were kid sized which had been used to salt food/meats during the summer for use in the winter.  We do live very close to Lincoln's home and museum and will someday visit that site also.

We were reminded of the missionary families we know who serve in Argentina and one who will serve in Uruguay soon during the chapter about South America. We also look forward to news from our aunt who is studying in Peru this semester and what she has learned about the relations/history between Chile, Peru and Bolivia during her study. AND pictures of her visit to the desert described in the SOTW chapter.

The card game from Chapter seven called, "Changing Rules" was a hit for all five of us to play and learn why such dramatic changes in power made a huge difference AND were difficult to keep track of in daily life. We also plan to examine more of the German history when we try for Berlin this month.

Our visit to Promontory Point was solidified by the story of a modernizing world in Chapter eight.  We enjoyed walking around the 2 engines described in the events.  And also remember living in Johnson County Kansas where there were signs everywhere in reference to the trails westward that settlers took when they moved to the wild west.

And still that only brings us to the middle of chapter ten out of 42 chapters!  Someday, there will be an expedition to Egypt... which comes into the picture with the building of the Suez next.  And the Daddy will tell stories of standing atop his "boat" while traveling down the Suez at dusk with the call of the muezzins in the distance.  But for now, we will enjoy this homeschooling family's adventures in Egypt.

Backyard Fun, and Then...

 Drilling a hole in a board with the hand drill.

Building platforms in the tree.

...someone got the mail, and the new lego magazine got all the attention.

Inclined Plane

The physics lesson about inclined planes didn't go exactly how it was supposed to, but we learned something AND we used the Home Depot make and take kit.

For example, the plane was supposed to be 2 rulers at differing angles. So, we used the clamps to anchor the half of our original ramp.  The cars were not heavy enough to be forced down the ramp by gravity. And finally, our rubber bands were too strong even when we tried several sets (Dollar Store bundle of rubber bands used one more time).  So, we tried to weigh the car down with Magnetix. It was not a significant amount of pull until we loaded up one of the cars to stretch the rubber band a whole inch. 

Kid Costumes

A neighbor with my boys and my own little version of the American Girl, Kaya (we call her Purple Feather).

A fun time was had by all. Even after a visit to a friend's church where there were games and candy.  A lesson about Reformation Sunday and Martin Luther was included.