60-day returns • free shipping on USA orders $129+
State History study using Living Books (and intro)
- This topic has 4 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 6 months ago by
.
Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
- Posts
Hello everyone,
I’ve been reading here at this forum for about a year, but this is my first time posting. I’ve so appreciated your widsom and all that I’ve learned from you about the CM method of education. Our family will start homeschooling “officially” this fall as my oldest son enters K. We also have another son who just turned three. And my husband is a public school teacher. (I especially enjoyed reading the thread about “Homeschooling Boys” this evening. :wink:)
ANYWAY – my question is this: in our state we are required to teach one year of state history (New York) somewhere during grades 1-8. I’ve found many state studies available, but none which I would say had a CM flavor. Does anyone know of a study like this? Or a list of living books broken out by state? Does anyone else live in a state that has this requirement? Thanks so much! (And nice to “meet” you all. 😀 )
Sharon
My son will start kindergarten at home this fall as well. Our state requires a semester of state studies in fourth grade and another semester between grades 9 and 12 (preferably 9th). I, too, am wondering about living books in that area. Most of the books written about our state are either designed for public school reports, are scholarly and over my head, or, in the case of fiction, slanted. Living Books Curriculum and Beautiful Feet have guides for state history; unfortunately, only MI (LBC) and California (BF), since that’s where they’re based. Our state’s department of Archives and History has a website with monthly articles and lesson plans for ps teachers. I’ve printed a lot of things from there and intend to use them, but I don’t know if that would be considered CM. I would be interested in what others have done in this area, as well.
Studying your state’s history is a good opportunity for field trips. Visit the historical sites in your area. You will likely meet people working at the sites who are very knowledgable and eager to share their knowledge with you. Maybe you’ll find some people who do re-enactments. That’s real “living history!” Many historical sites have bookshops where you might find some living books, but just the visits alone will be very worthwhile and memorable.
If you wanted, you could create your own living book by keeping a scrapbook of the places you visit, with photos and narrations included.
We have an ongoing project studying the place names in our area – the names of streets, neighborhoods, rivers, cities, etc.
The branch of your local library is likely to have children’s books about local history. Ask the children’s librarian for some good suggestions or browse around and see what you find.
New York is rich in US history. Pick an era in history and then start looking for children’s books on that specific topic – either fiction or non-fiction. I think you might be pleased by what you are able to discover. Don’t settle for dry and boring because there are some great children’s history books out there. You might want to start with Native American tales from tribes in your area.
Have fun!
edited to add: Even though your state requires “one year” of state history in the early grades, you don’t have to cover everything about the state in that one year, and you don’t need to go in chronological order. If you get hooked on the history of the Erie Canal and stick with it for months, that’s fine. Just make sure you include that you covered state history in the paperwork you submit to the district. I include state history every year in my paperwork.
Sharon,
Wow, wouldn’t that be a handy reference to have living books broken out by state!
If you haven’t yet, do consider “Farmer Boy” by Laura Ingalls Wilder as a great living book that takes place in New York. My boys both really enjoyed it. We haven’t been yet but the Wilder Homestead in upstate NY looks like a great place to visit and see the history of rural NY in the mid-to-late 1800’s.
Best,
Richele (just across the border in MA).
I know this is an old thread but I was wondering the same…. I searched by geographic location for new york books https://apps.simplycharlottemason.com/resources/search?geo_setting=new+york&grade_from=0&grade_to=6
Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
- The topic ‘State History study using Living Books (and intro)’ is closed to new replies.