History Lessons

This year, we are using a book called The Story of the World for our history lessons. In the first book, we are learning about Ancient Times, and it will take us two years to complete. The second book discusses the Middle Ages, the third Early Modern Times, and the final book is about the Modern Age. In addition, we are using a supplemental activity book called History Pockets - Ancient Civilizations. We used History Pockets for our American Indian study last year, and Amelya really enjoyed the work. The Story of the World also has a supplemental activity book, and we are trying to complete two activities per chapter.

Our first chapter answered the questions "what is history?" and "what is archeology?" Our activity was to complete an archeological dig. The girls had a great time digging in the garden soil to find lost "treasures," such as a tin tea cup, a broken pencil, a quarter, nickel, and pennies, and a plastic car. Amelya then had to determine what these items told us about the "civilization" they were from; i.e. the people knew how to use metal and plastic, they had a written language, and had a currency.

Our second chapter was about early nomads turned farmers in the fertile crescent of what is now Iraq (along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers). The task was to use found natural objects to build a shelter. Daddy helped with this one, and Amelya decided it could double as a fairy house! Next, we'll be creating "cave paintings" using acrylic paints and brown paper bags.

Stay tuned, as our next chapter involves farming along the Nile River in Egypt and how the farmers used it's annual flooding to maintain their crops!