(Alternately titled, "Everything I Know About Ancient Egypt I Learned From King Tut ")
It's true - I have absolutely no recollection of learning the ins and outs of ancient Egypt in my public school experience. I do remember having the words to the 80's hit song completely memorized. So sad! If I had received a classical education I could have memorized material infinitely more worthwhile!
Sometimes the good Lord has pity on me and sends opportunities to help me out such as sending the King Tut exhibit to the Science Museum in St. Paul just in the nick of time to to get a head start on our education about Pharaohs, ankhs and canopic urns. I do believe we came out of the omnitheater and exhibit with more questions than answers, but this is good! We will have much to discover this year!
First of all, I should explain that the ideas of saving the ancients until middle school was the clincher when it came to deciding which curriculum to sidle up to. Introducing polytheistic cultures in primary grades was my main concern with most classical education programs. My qualm was confirmed after hearing Carole Joy Seid confirm my own thoughts, "The only God kids should know at a young age is the God of the Bible." Even though I though MODG seemed to have way too many years of American history in grade school, I now see the wisdom in how this history curriculum unfolds.
I was a little stumped after opening the syllabus earlier this year to discover that beyond reading about eight really cool living history books, doing some map work, a time line and reading a whole twelve pages of Old World and America, not much more of a framework is provided. Here's what I am adding in to give her studies a spine, providing that Wednesday afternoons remain free for History Fun:
- Story of the World Vol. 1 text, CD, and Activity Book (planning to get halfway through this year)
- SOTW Notebooking pages (I think I printed out these). They give a checklist for completing each chapter is two days per week, complete with narration pages, maps, reading list, and a project record page.
- Draw and Write Through History Creation Through Jonah and Ancient Egypt Drawing Book (to use instead of the SOTW coloring pages)
- Ancient Egyptians and their Neighbors Activity Guide
- Ancient Egypt History Pockets
- Science in Ancient Egypt
- Lift the Lid on Mummies
- Hieroglyphs Stencil Book
- Secrets of the Pyramids Maze Book
- Tutankhamen's Tomb pop-up book
- Famous Figures of Ancient Times (to cut and assemble with brads)
- Egyptian Temple Sticker Book
Will we get to all of this? I have no idea, but my 11yo seems much more excited about Ancient History than American History and I have a hunch she will enjoy all the hands-on projects. SOTW covers much more than just ancient Egypt, including India and China as well. This will be a beneficial addition to the continent studies she completed in 5th grade.
Religion:: To coordinate history with Bible Study we have Veritas Press cards and a handy chart to help line things up. I would also like to somehow coordinate this with Journey Through the Bible. I am a little puzzled as to why the MODG recommendation is to study the book of St. Mark instead of the Old Testament. I am not sure if we will go with that. We are also a bit weary of memorizing the Baltimore Catechism all over again so I think I will finally put the Catholic Book of Knowledge to use and assign a few pages a week. This three volume set was given to me in my teaching days - the school librarian rescued it when the DRE cleaned out everything Pre-Vatican II!
Latin:: Latina Christiana II with the DVDs. (MODG)
Spelling:: Phonetic Zoo.
Grammar:: Easy Grammar 6 and the Great Editing Adventure Vol. 2. (MODG)
Writing:: Finish IEW Level A and begin Ancient History Writing Lessons.
Poetry: MODG Harp & Laurel Wreath.
Math:: Math-U-See Epsilon (fractions)
Science:: A Beka's Observing God's World
Art:: Calligraphy for Kids and drawing for the history notebook.
Music:: I am going to go ahead and use the suggested listening in MODG while she does her seatwork with headphones and a portable CD player. Piano and violin lessons will continue.
Logic:: Critical Thinking Activities
French:: Rosetta Stone
Literature:: Titles from the MODG list.
Ready or not, here it comes!
(from Todd Wilson's Official Book of Homeschooling Cartoons. When I read these I laugh until I cry then I really cry because they are so sad but true!)
