Early American History - intermediate

Usually as I'm preparing for the beginning of our school year, I write up a post about what our plans are and what books we'll be doing. Mostly to help me keep it all straight in my brain, but also because I get so excited about new books and all the amazing things we're going to be learning! Well, I never got around to doing any of those posts for this school year, but now that we've just passed our halfway mark, I think I shall. I'd like to do a series of posts, in no particular order, starting with this one here; What my Year 5 and Year 7 students (ages 10/11 and 12/13, respectively) are currently reading for history. In general, I start with Ambleside Online and then tweak it to fit our family. This is loosely based on Year 4, but because my students are older than the intended audience, we've decided to condense the year's history readings into 2 terms, then begin Year 5 in our final term.

For our history spine, I chose to replace H.E. Marshall's This Country of Ours with  H.A. Guerber's The Story of the Thirteen Colonies. We have been reading Guerber's books since way back when we studied Ancient Greece and they have never disappointed. We actually began this one last year, as the founding of most of the original 13 colonies fell into the time period of the reformation, and will finish it at the end of our second term, coming up in just 4 weeks(!). I really enjoy Guerber's writing style, and so we will begin with The Story of the Great Republic in term 3, and on into next year.



I would have loved to find some original publications of these, since you know how I feel about vintage books, but at the time I could not. I hesitated to buy these versions from Nothing New Press because I knew them to be edited, but the wonders of the internet allowed me to view Christine Miller's entire preface in which she carefully explains which changes (and why!) she has made. After that, I bought with confidence, and as I said, have not been disappointed.

Next up are Genevieve Foster's books, George Washington's World, and Abraham Lincoln's World. If you came here from Instagram (I'm @bibliobites, hello!) you might have seen me declare my love for GW's World a couple weeks ago. These books have been on my radar for many years now, but I had not managed to work them in before, and now I regret all that time lost, when we could have been friends, lol! While there is plenty of American history in here, I chose these books primarily for the presentations of what else was going on in the world during this time period. I might have continued with The Struggle For Sea Power, from M.B. Synge's fabulous Story of the World series, as we read the previous three books in as many years, but again - I really wanted to use Foster's books, they're just that good. Honestly - I wish I could have used them all, but that would have been overkill and redundant.



Another note about older editions vs new: You'll notice I have the "expanded editions," published by Beautiful Feet Books, in which Genevieve Foster's daughter, Joanna, has added more stories to her mother's original text. I have not done an in-depth comparison, but a friend recently found a (vintage hardcover!) version of GW's World, and it appears to me that what Joanna has done is round out the conversation by adding the voices of some Native Americans and African-Americans, as well as a few more discoveries and inventions. Overall, I feel the additions definitely added to the book's appeal, though I wish I could get the newer editions in hardcover, my paperback is already looking worn!

Oh, and again, we spread GW over two terms, and will do the same with Lincoln, carrying him over into our next school year.

Abigail Adam: Witness to a Revolution - I'll begin by saying I've not read more than a few lines of this. Maybe I should have, because it is the book my children complain about the most. However, it seems that their complaints are mostly about how 'unfair' they think the Adams' lives were: "it's like they're not even married!" "He's been away for THREE YEARS!" Which, of course, cannot be helped. And yes, I tired to help them see what a sacrifice it was for the greater good, and that we need people like that - so that the rest of us can stay home cozy and safe. Not sure they bought it, but I tried. I also like how this is one of the more academic and 'grown-up' books that we've used thus far, and important transition as my teen nears high school.  We're nearing the end of this book, and will begin Of Courage Undaunted soon.



Of Courage Undaunted is the story of Lewis and Clark, of course. Honestly, there are so many good books out there about Lewis and Clark, but that's a discussion for another post. I chose this one this time for two reasons: 1. I like the cover art, and 2. AO had already scheduled it out, saving me the trouble of doing so. However, I DID enjoy Daugherty's The Magna Charta, and these same students gave great narrations from his Poor Richard last year, so I felt like this was a pretty safe choice. Safe and pretty:  win-win.



Since historical fiction is probably my favorite genre, we are constantly reading it over here. Last year, when we studied the Renaissance, I was able to read aloud a whole list of great historical fiction to enhance our learning. This year, we wanted to read the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, which is wonderful, but I *do* feel like we're missing so many great books we could be reading about this time period. However, I did assign a few, as you may have noticed in the very first picture. My son is reading Johnny Tremain, In Search of Honor, and Crossing the Panther's Path, one per term, respectively,



Johnny Tremain is on nearly every booklist there is, so I'll not waste too much time here, other than to say - it's definitely worth your time. In Search of Honor is a story of the French Revolution, and it turned out to be better than I expected. It has a clear Christian message, but did not feel fake or forced. It has been several years since I read Crossing the Panther's Path,  but I remember being totally enthralled when I did.  It's the true story of Billy Calder, a boy of British and Mohawk decent, and educated by French Jesuit missionaries, who joins Tecumseh and his band as they attempt to regain control of their homelands. Another story full of honor and bravery, and facing difficult choices with integrity.



My daughter recently finished Calico Captive, and begun The Reb and the Redcoat. The former is sometimes overshadowed by Elizabeth George Speare's more well known titles, The Bronze Bow, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and The Sign of the Beaver. I'm not really sure why, as it is just as well done as any of those. I like that, like The Reb and the Redcoat, it shows familiar events from a point of view not often presented in children's literature from American authors. I had a hard time choosing between Calico Captive and Lois Lenski's Indian Captive, so I let my daughter choose, and she was happy with it.

                            

And I think that's it! I hope to share what my younger children are reading for history this year, and well as what my older ones are doing for other subjects, because it's really fun and helpful to me, but I also have very modest hopes that it may one day be helpful to someone else. So stay tuned!

Renaissance and reformation: literature and free reads

We don't always coordinate our literature selections to the history period we are studying in our homeschool, but as our students get older it happens more frequently. This year, I have chosen two main novels of enduring literary and historic value for my Year 8 student to read. It is my hope that the rich vocabulary will proffer a vivid picture of the times and places described, and that each will speak truths about human nature, and of the relationship between God and man.  

Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley - If ever a book gave a flavor of the times, this is one. Set in Elizabethan England, the ins and outs of 16th century religion, politics, and warfare all come into play in the hero Amyas Leigh's life. Amyas sails and explores, fights Spanish invaders in Ireland, and in the end, gets the girl; his integrity and faith guiding him through it all.


I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed) by Alesandro Manzoni - another book that is new to me, Amazon had this to say about it: " The Betrothed's exploration of love, power and faith presents a whirling panorama of seventeenth-century Italian life and is one of the greatest European historical novels."

(Both of the above books are also available free in Kindle or ebook format.)

And because I can't keep my daughter in books, I have also added these rather easier reads to her schedule this year: 
The King's Fifth by Scott O'Dell (1541) - recounts the adventures and trial of Spanish mapmaker Julian Escobar in the New World. So good, truly.

The Explorations of Pere Marquette by Jim Kjelgaard (1670) - okay, this is actually a non-fiction title, from the much acclaimed Landmark Series; this book recounts the travels of French Jesuit Marquette (and his friend Joliet) as they explore the Mississippi river and environs.

A Parcel of Patterns by Jill Paton Walsh (1665) - I picked up this small volume one night and could not put it down until the last page. Based on the true story of how the Plague devastated the English village of Eyam, it is a haunting story of love and loss, but also a thoughtful look at the convergence of religion, politics, and science in the 17th century. 

And because my 4th, 6th, and 8th grade students are all studying this same time period, I have chosen a few books to read aloud that we can all enjoy, though every book on this list would make an excellent free read choice as well. All are appropriate for younger children as well, though they may find The Black Arrow a bit dull.  

The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson (1460-61) Set during the War of the Roses, young Dick Shelton finds himself betrayed by his treacherous guardian, and torn between conflicting loyalties with the houses of York and Lancaster, as he seeks to become a knight and rescue his lady love. Truthfully, this should have been a part of last year's studies, but hey  - I can't always get it perfect.

The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt by Day by Scott O'Dell (early 1500s, during the reign of Henry VIII) - while his uncle is merely out for profit, young smuggler Tom Barton sees that the writing of one Martin Luther, and William Tyndale's hopes of an English Bible, are changing the lives of English men and woman and ushering in the dawning of a new age.

Unknown to History; The Captivity of Mary of Scotland by Charlotte Yonge (1567) - it seems that every British child knows the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, but if I ever learned it, I've forgotten it. Through the story of the Talbot family and their foundling daughter, Cicely, we read here of Mary's captivity and her conflicts with Queen Elizabeth I.  (available free for Kindle or ereader)

Red Hugh, Prince of Donegal by Robert C. Reilly (1580) -  an exciting and adventurous tale based on a true story from Irish history - that of Red Hugh's capture, imprisonment, and escape from his Elizabethan English enemies. A story of bravery, loyalty, and perseverance.

 I Will Adventure by Elizabeth Janet Grey - (1596) - I randomly picked up this out-of-print book at a sale, and am glad a did. A quick and easy read, the story follows Andrew, who is sent from his home in Canterbury to become a page to his London uncle, but what he really wants is to be apart of the exciting theatrics of Mr. Shakespeare.  

The Children of the New Forest by Frederick Marryat  (1647) -  Set in England during the time of the Civil War, four children, whose royalist father was killed fighting for King Charles, flee their burning ancestral home, and take up residence with Jacob Armitage, a keeper in the New Forest. An exciting and detailed look at a very volatile time. 

Master Cornhill by Eloise Jarvis McGraw - (1666) Full of detail about life and customs in 17th century London, this story centers around Michael, orphaned during the great plague, and left to fend for himself in the city. He befriends a balladeer, a map maker, and his lively housekeeper Susanna, but that only seems to make it worse once the Great Fire sweeps through London, threatening them all...

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (1687) - 16 year old Kit finds it difficult to adjust to life with her uncle's family in Puritan Connecticut, after growing up in sunny Barbados. The colonists, in turn, have a hard time understanding her different ways, especially after she befriends a Quaker woman that is already regarded as a witch. I originally intended to assign this book in Term 3, but decided instead to read it aloud to all my children - I believe everyone from the 7 to 13 year old will enjoy it, and I don't doubt the younger children will pick up more than I expect!
Disclaimer: I am NOT an Amazon affiliate. Clicking the above links will get me nothing. though it may give you helpful information :)

Renaissance & Reformation History

I've been deep in planning mode for the 2015/16 academic year for many moons, and now have all our books chosen, scheduled, and (mostly) bought. We mainly follow Ambleside Online and my oldest daughter will be doing Year 8 this year. Two years ago, we began our study of world history with the ancient Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans; last year we delved into the middle ages, and now Eldest Daughter (and two of her younger siblings) will be exploring the tumultuous years of 1400s - 1600s - the time of European Renaissance and Reformation. As always, I'm excited about the books we'll be reading this year (I mean, if I wasn't, I wouldn't be using them!) and would like to share them with you, along with a little bit about why each was chosen. I'm even MORE excited about the public-domain primary-source documents that Ambleside has included in their YEAR 8 schedule. I can still hear one of my college professors waxing on about how significant primary source documents are, and how important it is to base any real research on them, and I am so glad the AO advisory took the time to dig up and include them in middle and high school history studies. I'll probably not go into them too much here, so be sure to check them out in the Year 8 link above.

The New World - Churchill 
This will be our main text, or spine, for this year. This book is the second volume in Churchill's four volume set, A History of the English Speaking People. We read the first volume this year, and even though my daughter found it a little dry, I feel that it's well done and important enough to stick with. So to help it go down a little easier, and to round out our studies, I am also assigning

The Story of the Renaissance and Reformation - H.A. Guerber and Christine Miller
 I may or may not have mentioned this before, but I love Guerber's writing. LOVE. And if I had an infinite amount of time and a lot more money, then I would buy her Story of the English and the Story of Old France, and pick and chose my favorite chapters to assign, throwing in a few from Marshall's A History of Germany (which I DO own). But really, what would be the point, when Christine Miller has done it all already, and thrown some helpful maps in, in the bargain? My daughter and I are really looking forward to this book.


The Voyage of the Armada - Howarth
The first of three non-fiction titles we will be reading during the year, these are not boring textbooks! this one recounts one of the seminal events of this period in history - from the Spanish point of view. I was hooked after the first few pages. 

Homes in the Wilderness - Margaret Wise Brown
Yes, THE Wise Brown of Good Night, Moon fame! It was a little surprising to see her name as editor of this collection of pilgrim journals from William Bradford and others, but this important document was only helped by Brown's updated spelling and Mary Wilson Stewart's simple illustrations. 

A Coffin for King Charles - Wedgewood

I've not read this book yet, but it is said to be a well researched account of one of the most shocking events in English history - the trial and execution of King Charles I, written in magnificent prose.

You can learn a lot of history through the well told story of one person's life. To this end, we will also be reading these biographies this year:

A Man for All Seasons - Bolt
A two act play about the Lord Chancellor who refused to compromise and was executed by Henry VIII.
                Utopia - After reading ABOUT Sir Thomas More, we'll also be reading this classic work          BY him, which, though not strictly a book of history, nonetheless had historical value. 
 
The Life of John Donne - Izaak Walton


Please note, the above link is NOT to an Amazon book listing, but to an online text from Project Canterbury, a "free online archive of out-of-print Anglican texts and related modern documents."
This short selection has the distinction of being written a contemporary of Donne's, and includes excerpts from many letters written by the latter.



Galileo's Daughter - Sobel 
I read this years ago, and while it was occasionally a bit slow, for the most part it is a fascinating look at the Medici's Florence and the mythic "father of modern science," through correspondence with his daughter, the nun Maria Celeste.

Did you notice that I didn't mention a few of the books pictured? We'll get to literature (including poetry!) and free reads in my next post.



And once again, please remember that I am NOT an affiliate with Amazon or anyone else. Any links provided are simply for reader ease, I currently receive no compensation for keeping any part of this blog. :)



 

Early American history with historical fiction

I was cleaning my desk and found a list I had scribbled out when someone asked me about living books for early American history. And, because I must have been in a fastidious mood that night, I even arranged the books in chronological order. It's too good of a list to just throw away, and I will lose it in a heartbeat if I try to save it, so I am posting it here for all posterity. Know too, that for purposes of this list I defined "early American history" roughly as the time from Columbus to about the year 1800. 

Pedro's Journal by Pam Conrad  (1492-93) the fictional diary of a ship's boy on Columbus' vessel  Santa Maria.

Walk the World's Rim by Betty Baker (1527+) A 14-year old Indian joins Cabeza de Vaca's expedition through the Southwest.

Conquista! (1541) - an early chapter book about a young native American who encounters his first horse.

The King's Fifth by Scott O'Dell  (1541) - recounts the adventures and trial of Spanish mapmaker Julian Escobar in the New World.

The Lost Colony of Roanoke (1587) - a non-fiction title from Jean Fritz, recounting the mystery surrounding one of the earliest attempted colonies in the New World. 

Landing of the Pilgrims by James Daugherty (1620) - One of the highly esteemed Landmark Books, tells of the coming of English Puritans to Plymouth.

The Scarlet Letter (1642) - an excellent  literature selection for older students, this powerful psychological novel explores themes of sin, guilt, and redemption in the early Massachusetts Colony.


The Explorations of Pere Marquette (1670) - another non-fiction Landmark title, this book recounts the travels of French Jesuit Marquette (and his friend Joliet) as they explore the Mississippi river and environs. 

The Witch of Blackbird Pond (1687) - 16 year old Kit finds it difficult to adjust to life with her uncle's family in Puritan Connecticut, after growing up in sunny Barbados. The colonists, in turn, have a hard time understanding her different ways, especially after she befriends a Quaker woman that is already regarded as a witch.

Madeline Takes Command (1692) - with her parents away, 14-year old Madeline is left to defend a fort on the St Lawrence River against an Indian attack.


Om-kas-toe (early 1700s) -fictional tale of the Blackfeet tribes first encounters with the horse.

Amos Fortune, Freeman - Spanning the whole of Amos' life, from 1710 to 1801, in which he is kidnapped in Africa and sold into slavery in Massachusettes, where he dreams of and plans for freedom for 45 years.

Indian Captive (1743) -well done fictionalization of the story of Mary Jemmison, who is captured in a raid as a young girl, and lives out the rest of her life with the Seneca Tribe.

Calico Captive (1754) - more engaging historical fiction, recounting the trials of Miriam Willard, who is taken from her home in New Hampshire during a raid, and sent to Quebec during the French and Indian Wars. 

The Last of the Mohicans (1754-1763) - paints an excellent picture of frontier life and struggles that made up the French and Indian War, this a must read for high school students. And though I don't often recommend adaptations, THIS ONE is particularly good. 

Sign of the Beaver (1768) - 13 year old Matt faces teh task of guarding his family's new cabin in the wilderness bravely - until a wandering stranger steals his gun and leaves him feeling vulnerable. But a friendship with Attean, a boy of the Beaver clan, teaches him more than just practical survival skills.

A Light in the Forest (1769) - not just another story about a white boy living with Indians, this well crafted story explores the ways in we create any identity for ourselves.


Johnny Tremain (1773) -Bitterly disappointed over an tragic accident that ended his days as an apprentice silversmith, Johnny finds that his new job as a dispatch rider brings him in contact with Boston patriots and the excitement that leads up to the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Lexington.


Early Thunder (1774-75) - a 14 year old boy who has been raised as a royalist begins to questions his loyalties as the event of history unfold in Salem, Massachusettes.

The Cabin Faced West (1784) - a simple story of life on the Pennsylvanian frontier, with a fun cameo by George Washington himself.

The Reb and the Redcoats (1779-80) - An interesting look at the American Revolution, as told from the point of view of a British family who takes in an American prisoner of war.

The Middle Ages for middle school

Once again I have three drafts open on my desktop, yet here I am starting a new post. Anyone who is a writer knows: some stories fight you, and some beg to be written. But I'm not telling stories here, I'm telling you *about* stories. Specifically, medieval stories, since that's where we've been in our history cycle for oh, the last 15 weeks or so (Eep!) I wanted to share our books with you way back then, but I was preparing up until (and past!) the last minute, and we just jumped in full steam ahead. Now that it's Christmas break, I have a little breathing room, so without further ado, here are some of the books my 12 year old 7th grader is reading this year, as we delve into the Middle Ages and study the geography of Europe.

Oh, and you should know that I base our lessons largely on Ambleside Online's curriculum, which you can (and should!) check out by clicking on the link above. However, I make several modifications and changes to suit our family's needs and interests.

My daughter's main history texts this year (or "spines) are:

Winston Churchill's The Birth of Britain
   - Truthfully, she finds it a little dull, but we are sticking with it. It is the first volume of Churchill's History of the English Speaking People, a four volume set.

The Story of Europe by H.E. Marshall 
  - Some people love Marshall's writing. I don't think it is spectacular, but again, this book meets a need, and does it in the simple, storytelling way that we like. I like that dates of important events are in the margins and footnotes, so as not to interrupt the narrative, and that it does not focus solely on Great Britain, like so many other books covering the same time period.




The Story of the English, vol 1
   - I DO love Helene Guerber's writing, and after enjoying her Story of the Greeks and Story of the Romans last year, my daughter begged me to include this books this year. Many of the stories will be ones she had also read elsewhere, but since she wanted to read it, I did not object.

For biographies, I chose:

King Alfred the Great by Jacob Abbott
   - I cannot understand why this book is no longer in print, but it is worth reading about one of the most famous kings in British history. This book is also sometimes called King Alfred of England.

 The Magna Carta by James Daughtery
  - Part biography of King John, part biography of the document itself, I read this book a few years ago, and enjoyed it while also learning a few things. Win.







Saint Joan: The Girl Soldier
  - Another option might be Landmark Books' Joan of Arc. Both of these could be considered rather easy reads for a middle schooler, but not everything has to be Shakespeare. And they are well done besides.

I would have loved to have my daughter read George Makepeace Towle's telling of Marco Polo: His Travels and Adventures too, but there just wasn't room this year. I solved this problem by deciding to read it aloud to my elementary schoolers, while she listens in :D I love homeschooling! If your student is a male, he may prefer reading this story over Joan of Arc's.

And, because I cannot keep my daughter in books, I like to add a few historical fiction titles to her plans. Historical fiction is my all time favorite way to learn history. This year she is enjoying:

 A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver 
  - I thought this book was so much fun - interesting, and informative and clever - much like Eleanor of Aquitaine herself.  A great picture of a dynamic woman who barely got a mention in Churchill's history.






In Freedom's Cause by G.A. Henty
- I could do a whole post on Henty, who was a prolific writer of boys historical adventure stories in the late 19th/early 20th century, but I won't today. This story of Scotland's William Wallace and Robert the Bruce is perfect for my sensitive daughter, who is not quite ready for Braveheart yet.

Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
  - This was an Ambleside suggestion  that I wasn't sure about, since it is an adult book, not one written for kids. So I pre-read and found it fascinating. It's a really engaging look at what we think we *know* and what sources we get our history from. There was maybe a time or two of innuendo, but it was so slight that I'm pretty sure it will go right over my daughter's head. In any event, it in no way detracted from the story, and if I hadn't been looking for it, I might have missed it too.

So, aside from a few primary source texts, this is the whole of my daughter's history curriculum for the year. What do you think? Anything you've read and loved? Read and hated?  Think I should have added something? Or left something out? Let me know in the comments!