Geography/History/Literature Tie-In

Last year I developed a curriculum element for the kids that on the surface may seem simplistic or young for my boys. However, this approach can lend itself to any age because you are choosing the books that it is based on.

We do a lot of reading of historical fiction. We also read biographies and science based history, i.e. stories about the Great earthquakes, or other natural disasters.
I decided last year that for every book we read we would study and draw or label a map for the country or area in the world that was the setting for the book. On one occasion our map inspiration came from a television program we watched together as a family. It inspired a curiosity about the area and so it was studied further and then mapped out.

We took the maps, after they had accumulated, and mounted them on matching background paper and then the kids designed a book. I made up two pages that went with each map on which the kids had to create their own illustration for the book and then answer questions specific to each book. They had to know whether the book was fiction/non-fiction, first person or other. Chelsea made good use of stickers to dress hers up, the boys drew accompanying illustrations on some pages but here is our book list from last year, as it applies to the Map Book.

The Hiding Place - Holland
The Broken Song - Russia
Chariots of Fire - England
Fire in the Hills - Italy

The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds - America- The Wagon Trail
The Earth Dragon Awakes - America - California
Ask Me No Questions - Bangladesh/New York

Anastasia - Russia
Isabel - Spain
(Television Show) - Borneo


Mary Slessor Biography - Calabar, Nigeria
No More Tears - Nigeria

This was fun and the children learned a lot more than they have in the past from working straight from a text book. I am not against text books, I just think that sometimes we get burned out on chronological facts and we need a refreshing break.
This was very effective for us. I loved the discussions that were started from the books we read. I don't think that the kids caught on to the literature lessons they were receiving in the added on pages. They are used to seeing it in the form of lists and labels.

Of course, I have not included everything in this post that went into it but if you are interested you can contact me or draw up a book list of your own and check to see how many are available to you at your Public Library.

Just an idea that you can incorporate into your home school if you so desire.
Becky K.

An Option for Literature - Free Study Guides

This year we read Kenneth Oppel's Book Airborn, Winner of the 2004 Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Literature.

If I had known it was available we would have used the online study guide available here.

In January we will begin reading the sequel to Airborn, called Skybreaker.
We will use the study guide for this.

I wanted to share this with you because, while we enjoyed reading and discussing this book, I wish I had known about the study guides.

The first book in this series, Airborn is about a young man who is an employee on an airship. It is an adventure with a sci-fi feel to it. I read it aloud and we discussed it. While it is not classic literature, it was a great discussion starter, had action and humor. You can read more about the book on Kenneth Oppel's web site.

Since purchasing these books I have seen them in the Library, making it possible to complete this course completely at no cost to you.

I am not familiar with any of Mr. Oppel's other works and so am not recommending one way or another about them. I can simply tell you that our family enjoyed this book.