Tacy @homemakinghabits
November 23, 2010 at 08:57 AM
Great post! I am so with you on this!
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Maria in Chicago
November 23, 2010 at 09:12 AM
This style of learning looks especially fun for U.S. geography. This Illinoisan loves
Sonia’s state paper–and yes, it will always be the Sears Tower, not Willis. 😉
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Battra92
November 23, 2010 at 09:41 AM
When you get around to Vermont I highly suggest you don’t fall into the temptation
of bringing up Ben & Jerry’s. They aren’t real Vermonters.
Instead you should read Real Vermonters Don’t Milk Goats.
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Molly
November 23, 2010 at 10:31 AM
Yeah Illinois! (I live in Chicago. RIght by the “Willis” tower.)
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Jinger
November 23, 2010 at 10:39 AM
Speaking as a teacher with 25 years experience, you are a true educator…guiding
your children to real learning through real books. The best way to learn and
remember!
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Jinger
November 23, 2010 at 10:42 AM
Oh, I forgot to mention FOOD! You remind me of myself when I taught my small
groups of children. I even had the same USA puzzle! I remember clearly when my
students made gumbo in class as part of a unit on Louisiana. Teachers all along the
hallway stopped in for a taste!
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Dmarie
November 23, 2010 at 06:27 PM
Jinger said it! Your methods are impressive, FG. I’ll have to remember these
techniques for the next time I have my granddaughters over.
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Stef
November 23, 2010 at 12:30 PM
WOW! I like the drawing of IL! I’m living there now! Pretty neat! That does look like
fun! My kids are in public school but when we go to our Library, I would pick up
books on different countries and scan thru those with the kids. My kids also receive
a Kids of Courage magazine by-monthly. It is written by The Voice of the Martyrs. We
recently cooked from the little magazine featuring children and families persecuted
in different parts of the world. It was yummy, banana fritters from Malaysia! 🙂 It is a
GREAT way of learning! Go Frugal-Girl!
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Katy
November 23, 2010 at 12:41 PM
When you get to the point of history through regular books, I have a suggestion for
Michigan. The Loon Feather, by Iola Fuller. The blurb says: “‘The Loon Feather’ is the
story of an Indian girl, Oneta, daughter of Tecumseh, destined to grow up with the
incompatible traditions of her own people and of the white traders on Mackinac
Island. She learns French from a ‘black coat’ in a mission school, gradually becomes
bound to the world of her French stepfather, Pierre Debans, and is educated in a
convent in Quebec. Only when Debans, unable to reconcile tribal ways with his
European background, nearly sparks an Indian uprising does Oneta make a choice
between her two heritages.
This was one of my favorites growing up in the 50s and spending some time in
Michigan. There’s a good dose of history, plus it’s a well written story. Includes
things like the fur trade. They don’t carry it in my library, sadly, but I looked it up on
Abebooks.com and they have it for $1.
A good set of books is Childhoods of Famous Americans. I was addicted to these as
a 9-10-11 year old. They move quickly. I think they give a good background for
history and a close look at people’s daily lives. I read them for fun, of course, but
with guidance and supplement they would be even better. They are by various
authors including, Bradford Smith (“Dan Webster, Union Boy”), Augusta Stevenson
(“Paul Revere, Boy of Old Boston”), Helen Monsell (“Dolly Madison, Quaker Girl”). I
actually saw a paperback reprint of the Paul Revere book at the Smithsonian about
10 years ago. (Remembered this one because it was dedicated to my grandfather,
who was a bookseller).
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Tina (Tightwad Mom)
November 23, 2010 at 12:43 PM
What a great way to teach your kid’s! Here in Idaho we are proud of our potatoes
(they are world famous), but we are also know for other forms of agriculture, our
beautiful opals, rugged mountains, beautiful outdoor scenery, and wildlife. Have fun
with your fun geography lessons!
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namastemama
November 23, 2010 at 01:10 PM
What a great idea. We have gone through Story of the World and I want to get into
the 50 states. How do you decide which order to go in? Regional, alpha, etc. Do you
make them memorize capitals too? Thanks for the info.
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laurie
November 23, 2010 at 02:24 PM
I have to say that I do love “schooling” the most when it becomes unschooly.
Children do seem to retain more in a natural setting. Applause on the comparative
questioning. It scores higher with Bloom’s Taxonomy. Keep up the great work. I
always enjoy your posts about homeschooling.
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Barbara
November 23, 2010 at 02:42 PM
Where do you get your ideas for food from the different states? I’ve searched online
to no avail.
