History
We are currently finishing up our study of Rome with the first 12 chapter of the second book in our history series Discovery of New Worlds by Synge. I suppose this is as good a time as ever to mention that I prefer this series greatly over the Bauer Story of the World and you can read it free on a number of different sites and devices.
Archimedes and the Door of Science by Bendick was read aloud to the boys by Chris. Chis and the boys really enjoyed reading this book together. The book is written in an engaging and often humorous manner. The content was very detailed but by no means over their heads especially with Chris there to explain and go deeper with each chapter. As a result, they did limit the reading to one chapter a night which allowed the information to sink in, more questions to develop and increase anticipation of what was to come next. Its a beautiful mesh of history and science. I'm going to be adding to of her other books as core the next two semesters of history and science.Then we got a little off track from our Roman Studies and did a mini study of WWII at the request of Jared. Luckily I had been working with my friend Brandy to find child safe books about WWII so I had a good head start; I wanted to get everything from the library so I needed to travel down a couple more rabbit holes and peruse the library shelves to find what I wanted.
October '45: Childhood Memories of War by Besson
This book came recommended. It is simply what it claims to be the honest memories of a seven year old boy living in Paris who grows up during the war. I suggest this as a parental read aloud because of some his memories may need to be explained. Specifically, the incident where his priest comes over after their Jewish neighbors are rounded up and explains it away as their punishment for crucifying Christ. It was(unfortunately is) a view that some have about what happened to the Jews but is clearly un-biblical and needs to be explained/corrected. That said he also talks about his Jewish friend that returns alive after the war ends and how everyone considered him a hero. Like I said, it is simply honest memories with no attempts to politicize his thoughts and feelings as a boy and because of that I think kids can really relate; my boys certainly did and I found them re-reading it.As a comparison to the book above we read three other books in the genre of childhood memories of the war.
The Butterfly by Polacco Patricia Polacco is one of my favorite children's author/illustrator, so I was excited to find this book. This is a true live account, like the others, it describes the memories of her aunt of growing up in Natzi controlled France. Mid story she finds out here mom is in the French resistance when a young Jewish girl shows up in her room late one night. This books paints the Natzi's as much more sinister than October '45. It gives a glimpse of the seriousness of the times for children but doesn't go too far for young audiences. We spent a lot of time after reading this book together contrasting it to October '45. October '45 is a book
about day to day survival and this book is about risking oneself to save
strangers.
The Bracelet by Uchida This is the final book we read aloud during our mini-WW2 study. This books a very simple story of a seven year old girl's experience during WW2. However, it touches on a part of WW2 often overlooked; the Japanese interment camps in the United States. The afterword gives a bit more history than the story but it is a good stepping off point for discussion, about this event and war in general.
You Wouldn't Want to Explore with Lewis and Clark by Morley I had been looking for an appropriate book for the boys to read on this subject. After reading four different accounts, I've decided that, like Daniel Boone, this is a rather dark story. So when I saw the YWTB book at the library I was thrilled; the boys really like this series. I knew they would learn what the needed to know to be acquainted with Lewis and Clark without having to read a long dark book. Yay! Check that off my list. That said, even the end of this book mentioned that Lewis most likely committed suicide at 35 which ended up being the chief part of our discussion time after the boys each read the book.
Geography/Social Studies
Paddle to the Sea by Hollings
My children absolutely adore this book. We read two chapters a week and
at each reading they begged for another (which wasn't granted). The
pictures are beautiful, which led to art projects. The story can serve as a jumping off board to so many other things. Here is a link with
the path mapped out on Google with numerous enrichment activities for
each chapter; we used quite a few (the footprint/snow-shoe exercise was a
big hit). Additionally we read the book The Edmund Fitzgerald: Song of the Bell by Wargin after Chapter 14 and compared this sinking to that of the Titanic (of which they've previously read numerous books). Amazing Erie Canal by Harness is another book that tied in nicely and has beautiful illustrations.
Independent Reading Time
Lance has really learned to enjoy reading, he's going to keep me busy finding new books. Here's what he read this month.
Understood Betsy by Fisher. This is one of my favorite books. It is a beautifully written book about what happens when children stop being controlled and are directed in growing up. It follows the life a little girl who moves from the confined life in the city, to freedom of life in the country. I was so excited to share it with Lance. I was even more thrilled when he both enjoyed and related to the characters struggles and adventures.
Lassie Come Home by Knight This book is on a lot of reading lists but I was a little hesitant having Lance read this alone because of the cruel way the dog is treated at different points in the book. As it turns out, I had no need to worry. Lance enjoyed the book; volunteering to compare it Kavik: the Wolf Dog by Morey that he had read and enjoyed this year.
Swallows and Amazons by Ransome This was a rabbit hole find. I found nothing negative in any of the reviews I could find so I just did a quick scan and handed the book off to Lance. The story is about the adventures of a group of children around a lake during summer vacation in the late 1800s. Lance could not put this book down, every time he got a chance he was off somewhere reading. At the end of his book report he wrote "I would recommend this book to other kids because its an adventure book with lots of action and they describe everything well."
Farmer Boy by Wilder is the book that Jared read this month. This is on a lot of reading lists, for good reason. We started out using the Memoria Study guide but stopped after awhile and just enjoyed the book. It is such a sweet and well written book about growing up and living on a farm. After hearing Jared talk about it, Lance wants to read it next.
Jared also got a number of books from the library about the space program.
The man who went to the Far Side of the Moon: Apollo 11 Astronaut Mike Collins by Uusma This is a unique book that biographs the feeling of the least known of the Apollo 11 astronauts. My favorite part of the book is how he stresses his appreciation for being a part of the mission and has no regrets about not being able to land on the moon. It sets a good example for the boys. Additionally, it has some interesting pictures and pieces of trivia relating to all the astronauts on Apollo 11.
Godspeed, John Glenn by Hilliard Jared read this multiple times and from his reading we all learned a bit more including the unique contruction of the rockets not known even by Chris. This of course led to research and watching some original launch footage on Youtube. A book that gets us all talking is always a winner.*This is Jared's and then Titus' interpretation of the train tracks with the paper from the last page of the Passage to Freedom book:
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