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Youngest bored by history studies
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I had 3 in school last year a 6 yr old, 9 yr old and 11 yr old. We did module 2 Ancient Greece. This was the 1st year I required the 6 yr old to listen to history. He didn’t listen too well, thought it was boring, and gave narrations resulting from this lack of interest. (Also alot seemed over his head…)
He now thinks history is boring. Looking at module 3 Rome, I don’t think he will like it any better. I think I may read some American history just to him. (I have the CLP books that go with Bigger Heart’s for His Glory so maybe we’ll just do the history portion of that?) I not sure I really have time for this though. We will have 6 children in the fall and I have trouble fitting it all in.
He really wants more science and particularly more exparaments than he had this year. He did Pond and Stream with me this year and didn’t think it was enough. I have Science in the Beginning by Wile which my olders didn’t ever really like so we didn’t do. I did a random lesson with him to see what he thought and he loved it! He wants to do that next year. He has always loved science and nature study. He has joined in on nature study for years, has a pet tortoise, likes me to read nonfiction animal books to him always.
Point here I want to focus on science with him, but I don’t want him to think history is boring.
Any thoughts anyone?
Five in a row instead? That is what I used for DD6 the past couple years and she is now interested in history. DS9 gleaned a lot from five in a row when he was 7-8. I have access to a good library system though.
This year DD6 also did the 101 Bible story book from LHFHG, they also use history stories for children which is short and sweet. I would pick something simple that you can put in a basket to read that he likes listening to (maybe the CLP books from Beyond would work), or just make a list of picture books that you want to read to him, and focus on his interests (science).
Hmm I like the idea of a list of picture books or five in a row. We have 6 shelves of picture books….he does like to read those. I could do some D’Aulaire biographies interspersed with other books to give him some hooks. I have most of them. I also the grade 1-3 American history books from module 5 of SCM. Maybe I’ll see if I can find a cheap older copy of a five in a row and mix it with these books? I bet he and little sister 4.5 would like that….I was planning to read to them each morning before school anyway;) Thanks for the ideas.
I really like the SCM early elementary books for Ren/Ref, Early American/World, and Modern American/World. I found the ancient history books to be a little less engaging for younger grades, and because I didn’t want to miss all the other fun books, I read history books with my youngest separate from my older two, though my youngest was often around to hear the older kids history reading as well. We made it to ancients when he was older and we didn’t miss some of my favorite early elementary books from the other years either:)
Being 6, I would pic and choose books to read with him and not worry about try o fit it into the history cycle. I remember when my oldest was in 1st grade trying to figure out he history cycle with younger siblings, making it more difficult than needed and as they got older things just worked out. Into highschool my older two have done a lot more interest let independent history, but we still pull out the suggested SCM books to fill in. Such great selections!!
That sounds like a good idea! 6 bookshelves!! You could also plan a few chapter books to read aloud that he is interested in. DD6 was slow to appreciate the burgess animal stories (the reprinted Dover ones like Reddy Fox, Grandfather Frog, etc). She loved them after she got to know the characters.
He does like chapter books already and little sister 4.5 would probably like the Burgess animal books too. She has always loved to be read to. I think I will block out 1/2 hr in the am for littles morning time for the 7,4, 2 yr olds. Then do the Rome SCM module in the afternoon. The big kids don’t like to do the history module in the morning anyway….it takes them too long to get to the rest of their school. Does the following sound workable? Numbers in () are times per week.
Bible verse(5), composer(1), artist(1), poetry(1), hymn(3), character(2), Spanish (2) for about 1/2 at breakfast time and right after.
Everybody clear table and get ready for school. Bigs finish chores and start independent school while littles and I sit on the sofa.
Me 1/2 hr or so with littler ones Bible story or devotion (5), five in a row activity + book (5), chapter story book (3), D’Aulaire biography or SCM picture book (2). This is all a bit above 2 yr old but he probably will like the picture books…
Teach all about reading to the 7 yr old right after this and he does copywork and goes to play till his math time.
The picture books are 6 filled shelves of one bookcase….so not six bookcases but lots of books;) A couple of the shelves are mostly nature/ animal picture books.
I am having a bit of trouble trying to imagine juggling 3 in school a very eager to read and do math 4.5 yr old a toddler and baby….the oldest in dyslexic so no one is very independent….
7 yr old who loves science is being very slow to learn to read too….
What about a basket for the littles (6&under) for when you’re nursing? Throw in a short book for 2 yr old (BFIAR type book- super short but they get their attention tank filled?). You get to what you get to! Do you use baby carrier? I always used a moby wrap (sometimes I still put the 3 yr old in it 😂). Five in a row was/is often on the couch with just discussions. 6 & 4.5 & 2 & 0….that is a lot of young children! I had a year of 8, 6, 6, 3, 0 and that was hard enough. If you have a rolling cart- I use that instead of a basket for what I want to get to with my younger ones wherever necessary (couch/table/floor/etc).
https://www.amazon.com/Fun-Water-Bubbles-Heidi-Gold-Dworkin/dp/0071348239
DD6 loves these books- full of simple hands on experiments. I can send you inside pictures if interested. I used these in leui of science in the beginning because even at 5 she could open it and decide on experiments she wants to do and set up many of them 😉. Maybe you have something similar already.
Grades 1-6, I did NOT use the spine. I read from the grade-specific books, we looked at The Stuff They Left Behind, and we listened to Jim Weiss stories from the time period. Grades 7+, I used the spine plus the grade-specific books (and The Stuff They Left Behind). This system works perfect and really encouraged a LOVE of history in our house.
The elementary grade-specific books for Ancient Rome (Detectives in Togas and Mystery of the Roman Ransom) are SUPER FUN – in fact, my son regularly re-read them on his own a couple times a year for a good four years or so. Of all the time period elementary grade-specific books, those two are hands down the best!!!!!
The only Jim Weiss story CD I found for Ancient Rome was Julius Caesar, and I would highly recommend it.
I have thought about having his sister read Detectives in togas aloud to him. She thought that might work.
I use a Moby wrap….I have 2:) how do you wrap an older child, Raine? I’ve done it on my back, but it is akes a bit of wrangling….
Mostly on the back, sometimes like normal in the front and just make it a little looser. Not fun but sometimes he (sometimes even dd6- she’s tiny though 😂) just needs more attention and they’ll ask me. During school it was always on the back once he turned about 2.5. Couldn’t get much done otherwise. He’s a super busy boy- and dangerous.
Thanks Raine I may try the Moby longer/ more next year.
Here are my current thoughts;) I have a year of playing Skillfully and I love it but haven’t used it to it’s fullest ever. I will pull books from my shelves that go with each month in that curriculum to read in the AM.
For instance September is “The World I live at in” and “wonder” I have a global art book, a children’s atlas, a sticker atlas, a world floor puzzle, DK children just like me around the world ECT. We will spend a month reading about the 7 Continents. Perhaps I’ll throw in some hot air/ airplane/ train/ boat books too just for fun/ travel wonder too.
This shouldn’t cost much and maybe we can also do 1 fun activity from the book also. It has chore focus stuff too and even the 2 yr old will like lots of it. It says 3-7 after all.
So littles am time is Bible story or devotional (I have 1 I like), book on AYOPS theme, AYOPS activity and maybe another short book…
I think this sounds doable and fun and hopefully leaves little 3 with some play adventure to do while I start bigs math time;)
That sounds amazing! I’m starting to use my resources to their fuller extent this year and it is so nice to not have to learn something new😊
Thanks everyone for talking me through this. I am excited now and less overwhelmed…. It is so easy to try to add instead of just make use of what I have and remember why I wanted to use it anyway;)
BTW rainne how many children do you have if you don’t mind my asking? It just seems like you’ve come up with se good littles and biggers ideas;)
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