Lesson Plans:
In the History Block
American Kids in History: Colonial Days
is the primary resource for crafts and hands-on activities for the
first four weeks of this theme. The second four weeks will use American Kids in History: Revolutionary War Days. If you choose, one book could be stretched over the entire eight weeks.
Little Ones
~Children will listen to If You Lived at the Time of the American Revolution pages 52-69 (not necessarily all in one sitting).
~Choose 2 or 3 activities from American Kids in History: Revolutionary War Days "Fall" section. These could be spread throughout the week or completed in one co-op day.
~Children will listen to When Washington Crossed the Delaware and A Picture Book of Thomas Jefferson.
~After reading America: A Patriotic Primer. start working on creating your own Alphabet of America book. Either let this be an individual project, done very slowly or work on it as a family project.
Middle Ones
~Children will read If You Lived at the Time of the American Revolution pages 52-69 (not necessarily all in one sitting). Alternatively, they can listen when it's read aloud to the younger children.
~Choose 2 or 3 activities from American Kids in History: Revolutionary War Days "Summer" section. These could be spread throughout the week or completed in one co-op day.
~Play with Colonial Fashions Paper Dolls
~After reading America: A Patriotic Primer.
start working on creating your own Alphabet of America book. Either let
this be an individual project, done very slowly, or work on it as a
family project.
Big Kids
~These children will listen in to IIf You Lived at the Time of the American Revolution pages 27-52 or they might read it aloud to younger siblings.
~Children will read From Colonies to Country chapters 26-30 and narrate for their books of Centuries. AND/OR
~If you are using From Sea to Shining Sea, read chapter 9 AND/OR
~George Washington's World pages 227-276 and narrate for their Books of Centuries.
~Choose 2 or 3 activities from American Kids in History: Revolutionary War Days "Summer" section. These could be spread throughout the week or completed in one co-op day.
~After reading America: A Patriotic Primer. Start working on creating your own Alphabet of America book. Either let
this be an individual project, done very slowly, or work on it as a
family project. Big kids hsould bring considerable detail to the project. Don't ignore the artistic component!
~The Teaching Company Early American History
In the Geography Block
Little Ones
~Read the large print rhymes in R is for Rhode Island Red
~Do the activities for the Rhode Island quarter found here.
~Together, look at a map of the original thirteen colonies and note the differences on today's map.
Middle Ones
~Read the large print rhymes in R is for Rhode Island Red Have the child choose two or three areas of interest to
research more completely by reading the fine print sidebars. Then, have
him make a four square like the one pictured here.
~Do the activities for the Rhode Island quarter found here.
~Together, look at a map of the original thirteen colonies and note the differences on today's map. Draw the historical map.
Big Kids
~The child can read all of R is for Rhode Island Red and draw a detailed map. Choose one
historical topic of interest for the state and research it further.
Write a well organized essay on that one topic.
~Together, look at a map of the original thirteen colonies and note the differences on today's map. Draw the historical map.
*From the time they are very little, I teach my children to keep
notebooks, journaling what they have learned in history. These
notebooks become the Book of Centuries. At least once a week, I
keyboard their oral narrations for them to illustrate and place in the
notebook. The notebook is organized chronologically, in order to
facilitate the child physically placing an event into the proper time
period. Simply inset a tab divider for each century into the notebook.
The child files narrations, maps, and other drawings behind the tab.
the organization will help them develop a concept of time. (pg 92 Real
learning)
In the Language Arts Block
Family read aloud: (Mom reads or listen on audio): Carry on, Mr. Bowditch or Childhood of Famous Americans: Thomas Jefferson
~Lively Language Lessons
Little Ones
Reading practice for the youngest: Read the Beginner's Bible
with your child. Read one story a day. After reading, the child may
dictate the story for you to print. she can illustrate. these pages
should be saved in a notebook and used frequently for reading practice.
In the beginning, the parent will probably be reading the stories in
the book to the child. Over time, the child will read it aloud for the
parent. when you reach the end of the book, begin again. The second
time, the child will be reading most of the stories without help.
Reading practice for advanced beginners: As much as they are able, read A Picture Book of Thomas Jefferson. Practice reading from clean, keyboarded narrations collected over the last six weeks. Focus on writing : After reading America: A Patriotic Primer.
start working on creating your own Alphabet of America book. Either let
this be an individual project, done very slowly, or work on it as a
family project.
Copywork and studied dictation for those who are able:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.
On Monday, have the child read and carefully copy a model of the above
passage written in the preferred print or script. Tuesday, copy again.
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, take dictation and correct.
Additional reading if desired: We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States
Middle Ones
Readers:
When Washington Crossed the Delaware
A Picture Book of Thomas Jefferson
We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States
Family read aloud: (Mom reads or listen on audio): Carry on, Mr. Bowditch or Childhood of Famous Americans: Daniel Boone: Young Hunter and Tracker
Narration: When you have finished reading the read aloud selections, listen as the child carefully narrates the story.
Copywork and Studied dictation:
Copy and memorize:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
On Monday, have the child read and carefully copy a model of the above
passage written in the preferred print or script. Tuesday, copy again.
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, take dictation and correct.
Additional Reading if desired (not all in one week;-):
Paul Revere: Boston Patriot
The Courage of Sarah Noble
Abigail Adams: Girl of Colonial Days
The Felicity Series
Big Kids
Readers:
The Fighting Ground
We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States
Child will write a narration when complete.
Family read aloud: (Mom reads or listen on audio): Carry on, Mr. Bowditch
Copywork and Studied dictation:
Copy and memorize:
We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.
On Monday, have the child read and carefully copy a model of the above
passage written in the preferred print or script. Tuesday, copy again.
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, take dictation and correct.
These big kids will also use US History Based writing lessons.
Additional Reading if desired (certainly not all in one week!):
April Morning
John Treegate's Musket
Becky Landers: Frontier Warrior
My Brother Sam is Dead
Science:
Read widely from the September Science book basket (on the lefthand sidebar) or work your way through the Ben Franklin Book of Easy and Incredible Experiments
Poetry (Pick and Choose)
R is for Rhyme
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere Read every day, slowly, memorizing the poem together. This is the only poetry for the entire month.
Fine Arts (Pick and Choose)
Music:
M is for Melody
Listen to Take Your Hat Off!
(Don't skip this. It's well worth ordering. Not only are the songs
catchy, but there is quite a bit of information packed into them, all
well-produced. If you have an auditory learner, this CD is essential.)
Schoolhouse Rock: America Rock
Art:
M is for Masterpiece
Read brief biography of Gilbert Stuart
Picture Study:Commodore Thomas McDonough
Serendipitea-Time
Independence Day shortcake (page 40 American Kids in History: Revolutionary War Days)
Liberty Tea (page 88 American Kids in History: Revolutionary War Days)
Comments or Questions?