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Study America Saturday ~ Yes, Virginia, American History is Memorable!


Brynne started her U.S. States studies this week, starting with Virginia. We read about the state, and she completed a coloring page and  a notebook page including all of the state symbols.


Then we started our "License Plates of America" and she glued on the Virginia license plate to our state map. We'll add to this each week.


Finally we read the book Give Me Some Apples and I'll Bake You a Pie by Robbin Gourley. It is the story of Edna Lewis as a young girl growing up on a Virginia farm. She grew up to be a successful chef using her knowledge of fresh fruits and vegetables to create her recipes. We made an Apple Crisp from a recipe in the back of the book.


Dawson and I finished reading Blood on the River by Elisa Carbone. In fact, we read the last two sections in one day because we wanted to finish it so bad. It was a really good book based on the life of Samuel Collier who was Captain John Smith's page on his trip to the New World to found Jamestown. Dawson and I both highly recommend this book.


I remember distinctly when Dawson was in the 4th grade. That was the first year they used textbooks to read a unit, answer questions, and take a test. He had a really hard time with this and so he and I did his homework together every night. I remember that he was learning about Jamestown and it was so boring and fact-related. I had a hard time following it and I didn't remember a thing after we were done.

By reading Blood on the River, I learned more about the voyage, the early explorers, John Smith, Pocahontas, and the creation of the New World, than I have ever learned. And, I don't believe I will ever forget it. I even remember the dates! But it's not about me. Did Dawson learn it, too? He said there is no comparison between learning from a textbook and learning by reading and doing.

America is exciting!

Dawson did notebooking pages on The Mayflower Compact, The Boston Tea Party and The Shot Heard Around the World.

He is learning a lot.

If you have an American History lesson you would like to share, be sure to link up! Post my little button on your post and refer back here.

Comments

  1. I shopped at Target tonight & found state fact flash cards in the dollar bins.

    We are currently reading (aloud) Archimedes & the Door of Science. I remembered your recent post about Apologia & thought you might be interested in this book for Dawson. My girls are enjoying it, especially my 13 yo. I'm not for sure what you are looking for, but I thought I would pass the name of the book along to you. :)

    Your studies look wonderful! I can't wait until we start our American history.

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  2. I'm SO enjoying your studies! I'll have to see if our library has the book for my oldest. He REALLY enjoys (and remembers) everything he reads about History. Such a better way to study! (I remember disliking History ALL through school. It wasn't until I was an adult and homeschooling that I learned to like it!) I can't wait to link up! We start next week!

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  3. I will have to check out the book Blood on the River...we are a couple weeks away from Jamestown and my oldest adores a good book. It sounds like this one would work great! :)

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  4. We're starting our US history studies this week. Do you want geography stuff as well?

    ReplyDelete

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