This year for history, we are doing Mystery of History. All I can say is I LOVE it! The Mystery of History Volume 1 is written from a Christian,
young-earth, perspective, teaching children to see God's hand throughout
history...and how the Gospel of Jesus is the mystery behind all of
history! Written in a conversational style, many lessons are presented
in the form of mini-biographies, integrating fascinating stories with
the events of the time. Covering creation to the resurrection, students
will learn about famous biblical characters, ancient peoples, and
well-known men such as Aesop, Buddha, Pythagoras, Confucius, Emperor
Asoka, Herodotus, Caesar, Hannibal, and Herod.
Arranged by
quarters and weeks, each quarter begins with an "Around the World"
summary of events to introduce the time period; lessons progress
chronologically with each week having 3 lessons, a pretest, review, and
exercise or quiz. The 108 lessons will take a year to complete if you
follow a traditional 36 week school year.
Activities are broken
down by age group and reinforce the material just learned through fun
ideas that engage all learning styles; they're based upon the classical
grammar/logic/rhetoric stages. Review exercises cover the timeline and
map work exercises; quizzes are cumulative reviews that go over material
from the very beginning of the course; the semester-long tests are
similar (though longer), covering materials from 2 quarters (one major
time period). Quarter-end worksheets help students synthesize what
they've learned and keep everyone straight! Suggested Schedules for
different age groups are included, as well as plenty of reproducibles.
Line-listed answers included. 636 pages, activity pages reproducible,
softcover, three-hole-punched and perforated pages. Grades 4-8, but
adaptable for the family. It's the greatest thing I have found so far.
We do three lessons a week. On Wednesday, the kids learned about Stonehenge. Here are some facts about Stonehenge:
• Built in several stages, Stonehenge began about 5,000 years ago as a
simple earthwork enclosure where prehistoric people buried their
cremated dead. The stone circle was erected in the centre of the
monument in the late Neolithic period, around 2500 BC
• Two types of stone are used at Stonehenge: the larger sarsens, and the smaller bluestones. There are 83 stones in total
• There were originally only two entrances to the enclosure, English
Heritage explains – a wide one to the north east, and a smaller one on
the southern side. Today there are many more gaps – this is mainly the
result of later tracks that once crossed the monument
• A circle of 56 pits, known as the Aubrey Holes (named after John
Aubrey, who identified them in 1666), sits inside the enclosure. Its
purpose remains unknown, but some believe the pits once held stones or
posts
• The stone settings at Stonehenge were built at a time of “great
change in prehistory,” says English Heritage, “just as new styles of
‘Beaker’ pottery and the knowledge of metalworking, together with a
transition to the burial of individuals with grave goods, were arriving
from Europe. From about 2400 BC, well furnished Beaker graves such as
that of the Amesbury Arche are found nearby”
• Roman pottery, stone, metal items and coins have been found during
various excavations at Stonehenge. An English Heritage report in 2010
said that considerably fewer medieval artefacts have been discovered,
which suggests the site was used more sporadically during the period
• Stonehenge has a long relationship with astronomers, the report
explains. In 1720, Dr Halley used magnetic deviation and the position of
the rising sun to estimate the age of Stonehenge. He concluded the date
was 460 BC. And, in 1771, John Smith mused that the estimated total of
30 sarsen stones multiplied by 12 astrological signs equalled 360 days
of the year, while the inner circle represented the lunar month
• The first mention of Stonehenge – or ‘Stanenges’ – appears in the
archaeological study of Henry of Huntingdon in about AD 1130, and that
of Geoffrey of Monmouth six years later. In 1200 and 1250 it appeared as
‘Stanhenge’ and ‘Stonhenge’; as ‘Stonheng’ in 1297, and ‘the stone
hengles’ in 1470. It became known as ‘Stonehenge’ in 1610, says English
Heritage
• In the 1880s, after carrying out some of the first scientifically
recorded excavations at the site, Charles Darwin concluded that
earthworms were largely to blame for the Stonehenge stones sinking
through the soil
• By the beginning of the 20th century there had been more than 10
recorded excavations, and the site was considered to be in a “sorry
state”, says English Heritage – several sarsens were leaning.
Consequently the Society of Antiquaries lobbied the site’s owner, Sir
Edmond Antrobus, and offered to assist with conservation.
The kids then did a fun little craft. They made their own Stonehenge. I ordered a kit on amazon.com. You get your here as too!
Stonehenge Model Kit
We are going to put some soil around our "rocks" and then plant some grass to give it that real look. I think they came out pretty good.
The kids also watched a "movie" online that talked about the findings at Stonehenge. If you have time, check it out!
Secrets of Stonehenge.
