Living History

We have found a history curriculum that so far we love.  It's called "The Story of the World."  Book 1 studies Ancient Civilizations and the series continues through ... I'm not sure how far.  Anyways, we're just in Book 1 and loving it.  The book is a historical fiction w/ very short chapters so the kids can see someone their age during that time frame.  Our first lesson was "What is history?"  so we read the chapter discussing a little about family history and keeping records and also archeology.  We focused on archeologists because that's where the fun project came in.  The storybook has a supplemental activity book that suggests books to pick up from the library and activities to bring the lesson to life.  The archeological dig was what got my attention.  Randomly I had two terra cotta pots that didn't make it past our last yard sale so the kids painted their own pots.  (Alex was bummed she didn't get a pot too but was content when the paper kept coming out and she could make her own mess w/ the paints.) 

After they were dry, the kids dropped their own pots on the back porch ...

and we collected the pieces.  I found the perfect spot to bury them ...

and the kids to to dig in the dirt to find their pieces.

Even Calvin had fun hanging out.

They separated their pots by colors ...

and we glued (and used some scotch tape) to put them back together.  We never did finish glueing because by the end of digging and getting frustrated with the glue, we realized how much work archeologists really do.  They don't know exactly where to dig like we did and they don't get to just barely uncover the surface.  But we got the idea and that was what counted.

So after we had fun w/ this project, I got the great idea that I should start a history group.  We have a few homeschooling families in the ward and a few of the gals liked the idea.  But then I got lazy and busy and kept putting it off and was never sure how to get it all together.  Finally this past week, I took the plunge.  The previous Thurs. at gymnastics class, Andrew and Kel sat and listened to our chapter on Nomads.  Kel didn't find it boring.  In fact, he kept talking about wanting to be a nomad wanting to move around all the time, sleeping in tents, etc.  Emma (his mom) even mentioned that he'd talked about wanting to be a nomad.  So it was settled.  If her 2 kids will find it interesting w/ my 2 kids, it would be fun to have them over to read the chapter and do some activities to go with it.  First we read the chapter, then we colored a map of the Fertile Crescent (the Tigris and Euphrates River) and a picture of a Shaduf (the first irrigation system.  Kind of like a well and then drop the bucket on the crops.)

We located the rivers on our world map and attached a storydisk picture of a crescent moon to remind us Fertile Crescent.  

Then I turned on YouTube (there's so much you can find there--just be cautious to preview w/ your little ones around.  Sometimes I have to quickly turn off to avoid some swearing I wasn't expecting.) where I'd found a video on putting together a Yurt.  (Emma tried to tell Kel that there are Nomads today but he kept saying Sis. Gilson said they lived a long ago.  I had to make sure I showed him his mom was right.  My kids and I had watched a documentary on Netflix's Browse instantly a while back called Wild Horses.  It turned into a video w/ Julia Roberts traveling w/ a mongolian nomadic tribe.  Very fascinating, even if we did get bored after a bit.  But I'd remembered about them putting up their Yurt (or Ger) so we found a shorter 5 min. segment on YouTube.

Then we headed outdoors.  We were to build a shelter out of whatever we could find.  I was hoping to build a teepee out of tree branches, but nothing was quite big enough.  The kids used some wood and towels to make a shelter for the babies.  Stuffed animals kept finding their way outdoors.  This is Kel and Mila with Andrew.

Then we built the big tent.  The kids took turns climbing the tree to tie some thin rope that we pretending we'd weaved from animal hair.

We used patio chairs, but like always, we got the idea.

Sheets and safety pins helped keep the masterpiece together.

And this was where they had their picnic.

Kel and Mila, thanks for joining our History class.  Hope to see you next time.