For history I've generally planned a four-year cycle of history. This year we're doing ancient history (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, ...). But what about state history? Well, I use events and holidays, especially this year, Oklahoma's centennial, with lots of events and coverage. When something is coming up, I get a bunch of related books and do a little research. It seems to work pretty well.

What am I talking about? Well, basically we take a little break from our four-year cycle of history stuff and pursue something else for a few days. Or we do both at the same time, because they can choose from any of the lesson-related books piled on our hearth for their "subject-related reading" each day. We tend to read rather than research/study a topic, and do outings and cooking rather than craft projects.

For example, in late April we have an annual '89er Day celebration, all about the land runs. So... time for pioneers, land run, homesteading kids fiction and nonfiction, plus native Americans who were here already, and food ideas. Our conversations, the news coverage, the town parade, and a real wagon train that ends a two-week trek in our town, tie it all together. We read Tree in the Trail this year, a great addition.

Then in late May we love to attend a big chuckwagon gathering and kids festival at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. We read books on frontier and cowboy topics, including cooking, and general Oklahoma stuff. We eat lots of chuckwagon cooking at the festival, and explore the museum too. At some point we really need to watch the musical "Oklahoma!" and learn our state song...

When we got and watched the DVD of "Cars" recently, I talked with the kids about Route 66 and how we've driven along almost all of it across the country at one time or another. We looked up its path across Oklahoma. At some point we'll go to some of the Route 66 museums and historical stuff. This can spin off into the black towns past and present, and how/why there would be black frontier towns.

There's tons to explore. Oil and gas and how it's shaped our state; the Trail of Tears; Indian vs. Oklahoma territories; Will Rogers, Maria Tallchief, etc.; the Chisholm Trail; railroads; and that's just off the top of my head. I look for opportunities like events and activities to spin off for their reading (and mine!) and our family activities. We need to visit the new Oklahoma History Museum; I've heard it is wonderful.

Oh, also in June I'm hosting my nonfiction book club and we want to do something related to Oklahoma history. I explored a bit and decided on Letters from the Dust Bowl. To follow my own interests I'm also reading other stuff about the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression, and the New Deal.

Since the Dust Bowl is still strongly connected with the perception of Oklahoma, I figure why not pick up some kids' books on these topics? Son2 loves a Depression-related picture book I discovered, Potato -- and I have some factual books for Son1 and a book of photographs about and for kids, Children of the Great Depression. Should make for interesting conversations with both boys.

Reading, outings, cooking. That does it for us.