(Oops! We read these books and did these things, but never shared them with you. So sorry.)
Lesson Plans:
In the History Block
Spine texts to provide historical background for big kids for this section of history could be Abraham Lincoln's World, Expanded Edition or The New Nation: 1789-1850 A History of US Book 4 or From Sea to Shining Sea: The Story of America (pp. 311-315).
Middle and little kids will get their historical background from the If You... book series. If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon, If You Were a Pioneer on the Prairie, and If You Grew Up with Abraham Lincoln will be used over the course of the next eight weeks.
Crafts and activities for the first four weeks of study can be taken from Westward Ho! An Activity Guide to the Wild West and Pioneer Days: Discover the Past with Fun Projects, Games, Activities and Recipes can be used for the second half of the unit.
*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)
Little Ones
~Children will listen to the rest of If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon over the course of the week. Read the selections to the children and keyboard as the children dictate a narration. Place the narration in a Book of Centuries*.
Consider having the children design quilt squares that represent pioneer life and then narrating or writing on the back of the square.
~Choose 2 or 3 activities from Westward Ho!. These could be spread throughout the week or completed in one co-op day.
~Children will listen to SweetWater Run: The Story of Buffalo Bill Cody and the Pony Express, Bewildered for Three Days, Ride Like the Wind: The Story of the Pony Express .
~After reading America: A Patriotic Primer, work 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 the rest of If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon over the course of the week and Mom will keyboard as the children dictate a narration. Place the narrations in a Book of Centuries*. Alternatively, they can listen when it's read aloud to the younger children.
~Children will read or listen to Riding the Pony Express and The Trailblazing Life of Daniel Boone.
~Choose 2 or 3 activities from Westward Ho! . These could be spread throughout the week or completed in one co-op day.
~Play with Pioneer Family Paper Dolls or Wild West Toob figures.
~After reading America: A Patriotic Primer, work 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 to the rest of If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon over the course of the week or they might read it aloud to younger siblings.
~Children will read Gold Rush Fever: A Klondike Story
~Children will read from Abraham Lincoln's World, Part I again this week and narrate in writing for their books of Centuries AND/OR
~If you are using From Sea to Shining Sea, read pages 311-315 narrate in writing for their Book of Centuries AND/OR
~ Children will read from The New Nation (History of US Book 4) and narrate in writing for their Books of Centuries.
~Choose 2 or 3 activities from Westward Ho! . These could be spread throughout the week or completed in one co-op day.
~After reading America: A Patriotic Primer, work 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 should 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 G is for Golden: A California Alphabet to the child.
- Do the activities for the Kansas quarter found here .
Middle Ones:
- Read the large print rhymes in G is for Golden: A California Alphabet to the child. 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 Kansas quarter found here.
Big Kids:
- The child can read all of G is for Golden: A California Alphabetto himself. For each state, draw a detailed map. Choose one historical topic of interest for each state and research it further. Write a well organized essay on that one topic.
In the Language Arts Block
Family read aloud: (Mom reads or listen on audio) Daniel Boone: Young Hunter and Tracker and/or Buffalo Bill
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 and 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 from Gold Fever, Boom Town, and Nine for California. If this is too challenging, have him practice reading from a clean, printed copy of his own narration of the stories.
Copywork and studied dictation for those who are able:
From "The Ballad of William Sycamore"
"But I was cradled on twigs of pine
In the skin of a mountain lion."
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.
Family read aloud: (Mom reads or listen on audio): Daniel Boone: Young Hunter and Tracker and/or Buffalo Bill
Middle Ones
Readers:(note several of these are picture books which can be read in a short time to younger siblings)
Gold Fever! Tales from the California Gold Rush
Family read aloud: (Mom reads or listen on audio): Daniel Boone: Young Hunter and Tracker and/or Buffalo Bill
Narration:
For at least two of the reading selections, listen as the child carefully narrates the story. Mom should keyboard at least one narration a week and encourage the child to begin to write his own narrations.
Consider having the child write a newpaper article for a northeast town like Boston that reports on the events and activities surrounding the Gold Rush.
Copywork and Studied dictation:
Copy and memorize:
From "The Ballad of William Sycamore":
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.
Big Kids
Readers:
Gold Rush Fever: A Klondike Story
Gold Fever! Tales from the California Gold Rush
Child will write a narration when complete.
Family read aloud: (Mom reads or listen on audio): Daniel Boone: Young Hunter and Tracker and/or Buffalo Bill
Copywork and Studied dictation:
Copy and memorize:
From "The Ballad of William Sycamore"
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.
Poetry (Pick and Choose)
R is for Rhyme
The Ballad of William Sycamore: 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
Schoolhouse Rock: America Rock
Read about American composer Aaron Copland and listen to performances of his music on this CD. Take a month to get to know him, his style, and familiar pieces you may have heard before.
Art:
M is for Masterpiece
Read brief biography of Albert Bierstadt who we will study for this month.
Picture Study: Kern River Valley, California
Serendipi-tea Time
Choose tea time recipes from either of the two activity guides recommended or from the Little House Cookbook.
