I don't know about everyone else, but I start thinking about the new year with my children's weaknesses in mind. Currently, our is history. So that is a major subject focus this fall. We will be taking another look at the world around us. We have come to a census (more or less) that it's time to put things "in order". So my Husband and I put together a few creative things to make history and current events more meaningful for BOTH my read/write child and my hands on/auditory child.

This one I wish I would have thought of years ago - I went to our local dollar store and bought each of them a scrapbook and some pages to fill. In each scrapbook they need to place one world event and one local event for each week. There is some other criteria, such as including a map. My husband's overseeing this since he can oversee them on a flexible basis - that and he's the history buff. So far both my girls are really enjoying this. One has decided to devote her scrapbook to animal news and the other to scientific discover news. Did you know that scientists now think they can determine when a volcano will next erupt by the composition of the lava rocks?!

Ever since my husband has started on his rotating shift schedule the girls and I have made the nights he's gone into a "girl's night".  On these girl nights, from fall to spring, we do a 'side study' with movies. Follow me. . It gets educational.
Last fall to spring we did musicals. In total we watched 32! Is it overkill? Not really when you consider my girls are both in theater. They now know the play and time frame to every song they are asked to sing. Well, almost. We missed Les Miserable. (Oops, we’re doing that this week) We have learned a ton about social dress, customs, music, dance, and cultural themes - all over a bag of popcorn and an evening in. And my point was?

This year we are doing a historic unit study on the Renaissance time period.

To do this we are using The History of the World, Book 2 : The Middle Ages. There are 42 chapters. Each chapter chronologically lists a major event in that time period of history. Not only that, but it covers every continent. These short 3-8 page summary chapters are packed with easy to read information that we will read and watch a movie on. For example, the chapter on China we can watch The Last Samurai or we can watch a historic documentary - or both. I have also listed out possible activities for each child to do with each chapter.  (There is a book you can get, but  it is more of a map study and that's not what we are going for here. The base maps are already included with the text.) I am excited about history this year! It's not my most loved area of study. What can I say, twelve years of public schooling to undo.

Along side this, they are each doing formal lessons. My oldest is doing a course in American History through The Jubilee Academy. My youngest is doing a semester study on the constitiution with a workbook.

Also , our  homeschool group is doing the same time frame (fortunate happenstance? Hmmm...) So we will be attending a renaissance fair, doing medieval games, activities, and my personal favorite; a Chistmas time trip to Medieval Times Restaurant.

Gosh, that's just one subject. No wonder my kids think I'm tough.

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