''The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.'' -- Nietzsche
''I have no country to fight for. My country is the earth, and I am a citizen of the world.'' -- Eugene V. Debs
Making A Statement
Jan. 13, 2007
WWII
As I mentioned in my last blog, I am doing a unit on WWII for the older kids at Jake's "school". I certainly picked a heavy topic. There is so much out there that you could spend a whole year covering WWII, but I have to do it in seven one-hour classes. I'm picking out key points that I feel are of importance, and filling in the gaps with more in-depth information. I'm going to be focusing a lot on America itself during the war, and I'm even going to give them one whole period where they get to watch old Looney Tunes propaganda cartoons from the time. I'm going to have a creative assignment where they "collect scrap for the war effort" - I'm going to have them bring me all the aluminum, brass, and copper they can find, and I'm going to take it to the scrap yard. The money from the scrap yard will be put toward a FIELD TRIP to the Holocaust museum in Terre Haute. I definitely understand now why so many history books just give you the tip of the iceberg.
Since I am definitely a pacifist, I feel one way to prevent future war is to teach the youngest generation about past wars. If you make them see how terrible war really is, maybe one day human beings will have enough sense to stop all this fighting, and live in peace. I'm going to have the kids keep a history journal, where they write about the emotions that they feel after learning about these things. One thing I am going to present is a survivor's account from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I am also going to present to them arguments for and against the United States dropping the atomic bombs, and let them write their feelings in their journals.
And one thing is for sure - after I do this unit, I'm definitely going back to working with the younger kids for a while! I think next session I want to teach phonics to the 4-6 year olds. That reminds me! I got a book in the mail today that I ordered from Paperback Swap. "Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons." This book is a piece of crap, and I don't recommend it to anyone. I looked at it and right away I could tell all it is going to do is make things more confusing for kids. Abeka's phonics method WORKS and so that is what we are going to use. (Coupled with watching Between The Lions every day! I hope that show has won many AWARDS.)
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I believe in homeschooling from birth on. From the day my son was born, I've done everything I can to teach him about how the world works. Life is school. Learning is life.
