Ancient History for the Grammar Stage

I know I posted the kids' ancient literature list from last year, but I don't think I ever posted our history reading list. We use Susan Wise Bauer's Story of the World as our history spine, and then supplement from there. I love this approach to teaching history. There are many ways to teach history, but I want to raise my kids with the awareness that there is much more to the world than our little corner and our present time. Traditional "social studies" starts with the child and then goes out from there, which to me just reinforces a child's natural tendency to believe the world revolves around them. ;) I'm also a fan of teaching history chronologically, so my kids can see where the stories they hear fit. So we start at creation and go to the present day, over a four year cycle. These were our favorite books from last year's study of ancient history. We didn't read every word of the Eyewitness books, but they have good illustrations.

1. I Can Be An Archeologist, Robert Pickering
2. Me and My Family Tree, Joan Sweeney
3. The Nile River, Allan Fowler
4. Egyptian Gods and Goddesses, Henry Barker
5. How the Ancient Egyptians Lived, Jane Shuter
6. Seeker of Knowledge, James Rumford
7. Who Built the Pyramids, Jane Chishol
8. The Great Pyramid, Elizabeth Mann
9. Tut’s Mummy, Judy Donnelly
10. Ancient Egypt, George Hart (Eyewitness)
11. Great Wonders of the World, Russell Ash
12. Hidden Army, Jane O’Connor
13. Buddha, Demi
14. Great Wall of China, Leonard Fisher
15. Long is a Dragon, Peggy Goldstein
16. Ancient China, Arthur Cotterell (Eyewitness)
17. The Librarian Who Measured the Earth, Kathryn Lasky
18. Ancient Greece, Anne Pearson (Eyewitness)
19. Alexander the Great, Demi
20. In Search of Troy, Piero Ventura
21. Selections from The Great Philosopher, Mary Gow
22. Romulus and Remus, Anne Rockwell
23. The Roman Colosseum, Elizabeth Mann
24. Roman Numerals I to MM, Arthru Geisert
25. The Romans, Peter Hicks
26. Who Was Julius Caesar, Nico Medina
27. Augustus and Imperial Rome, Miriam Greenblatt
28. Cleopatra, Diane Stanley
29. Ancient Rome, Simon James (Eyewitness)
30. Pompeii, Richard Platt

Medieval Literature for the Grammar Stage

This year we studied medieval history and literature. We read SO MANY books. Here are our favorites!

1. Favorite Medieval Tales, Mary Pope Osborne (various – long)
2. Across a Dark and Wild Sea, Don Brown (Ireland)
3. Patrick, Tomie dePaola (Ireland)
4. Little Oh, Jim LaMarche (Japan)
5. The Warlord’s Puzzle, Virginia Walton Pilegard (China)
6. Book of Norse Myths, D’Aulaire (Scandinavia and Germany – long)
7. Three Golden Oranges, Alma Flor Ada (Spain)
8. Marguerite Makes a Book, Bruce Robertson (France)
9. Puss in Boots, Malcolm Arthur (France)
10. Little Red Riding Hood, Harriet Ziefert (France)
11. The Fly on the Ceiling, Julie Glass (France – about Descartes)
12. Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow, Robert San Souci (England)
13. Robin Hood, Annie Ingle (England – short chapter)
14. Knights of the Round Table, Gwen Gross (England – short chapter)
15. The Kitchen Knight, Margaret Hodges (England)
16. Sir Cumference and the First Round Table, Cindy Neuschwander (England – math story)
17. St. George and the Dragon, Margaret Hodges (England)
18. Chanticleer and the Fox, Barbara Cooney (England)
19. Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare for Children, E. Nesbit (England – long)
20. The King’s Chessboard, David Birch (India)
21. Savitri, Aaron Shepard (India)
22. Moon Rope, Lois Ehlert (America)
23. Stories from Dante Told to the Children, Mary MacGregor (Italy – long)

In particular, I recommend the first and last titles on this list. Mary Pope Osborne (of Magic Tree House fame) does a fantastic job retelling Beowulf, Robin Hood, Sir Gawain, and more for the elementary-age child, and she has a beautiful way with language. Stories from Dante Told to the Children provides background, author information, and a summary of The Divine Comedy--no easy feat. In fact, unless you just love Dante, this version is about all you need to know as an adult, too. ;)

Thomas: Four Months

Thomas is rocking four months. I didn't really, but it seems like I forgot how much fun babies are. There's nothing like baby snuggles. Thomas loves to smile and talk and he has quite a fan club in his siblings. I highly recommend having just one more baby after you have older kids. ;) Thomas is happy and healthy and goes along cheerfully with whatever the rest of the family has planned. He loves a crib nap, but he can make do with the car seat, stroller, or Ergo nap, too. He loved his first trip to the beach and did well on his first long-ish drive. He is by far the biggest of my babies -- 15 lbs, 6 oz. For reference, at a year, Annie was 18 lbs, Sophie 17, and Nora 19. He is wearing size 3-6 month clothes but not for much longer! Thomas started sleeping in his room a few nights ago, but he is still getting up every three hours to nurse. He's hungry when he wakes up, so I feed him and then he goes right back to sleep. All my babies slept through the night by age 1 and I'm okay with waiting for it to happen.

Thomas's Dedication

Thomas was dedicated to the Lord a couple of weeks ago. Our family is so very thankful for this precious son. What a good gift from God he is. We are also thankful for all our family who came to support us!

Isaiah 12:2
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust,and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.

Last Day of School

We had a great year of school! I love having my kids home with me and being their teacher.

Sophie: finished kindergarten

Nora: finished preschool

Annie: finished second grade

Jacob: finished second grade

Trying out my new portrait lens...

I'm trying to learn how to use the new lenses I got for Christmas. Here are some of the better shots I took at the botanical gardens recently. Obviously there is lots of room for improvement. Jacob loves to ham it up for the camera. Annie's freckles are out with the sun. And Sophie and Nora have gotten to be such big girls! One bonus snap of babycakes, too.

Two Years Yesterday

Yesterday was David's second heaven birthday. We celebrated and remembered with a family day. We took doughnuts, a birthday balloon, and blue hydrangeas out to David's grave. Then we went to the botanical gardens and enjoyed the beauty of God's creation. We finished up the day with homemade pizza and playing in the sprinkler, and took some time to look through David's scrapbook and his memory box and remember the joy and grief of his life.

This is not the way you anticipate spending your child's birthday. I'd rather have him here. I'd have loved to throw a fun party and celebrate him being two. I'd love to hear his cute little baby voice and watch him play. But those dreams are not to be. I have to trust the Lord has dreamed better ones, and that in His grand redemption plan all these sorrows will come undone. For one day death itself will work backwards.