Teaching With Timelines
June 1, 2008
Written by: Katie
This is our new system for school. The Sonlight is going on ebay. I bought this:
And did this:
And checked out these:
And that’s school.
I’ve become disenchanted with the boxed curriculum. It is partly the material I don’t like, partly the price tag and mostly the schedule. I just don’t like being told what to do. I know, it’s immature of me. Deal with it.
So I bought the timeline figures for $20 and I thought “How fun, I’d love to learn history in chronological order.” and I also thought “This would be so much easier for me.” and I also thought “I bet the kids would enjoy this too.” So there I was. Thinking. And then I was all thunk out and I had this great idea and I just knew it would work and away we went tra-la-la, off to one of my most favoritist places in the world, the library.
These are the things we were studying when this picture was taken.
The Tower of Babel c. 3500-3300 BC
Sumerian Civilization begins 3500-2500 BC
Menes c. 3100 BC
Sumerian Cuneiform c. 2800 BC
The Epic of Gilgamesh c. 2750 BC
Stonehenge c. 2700 BC
Cheops (Khufu) c. 2600 BC
Egyptian Civilization begins c. 2575-2500 BC
The Sumerian Royal Standard of Ur c. 2500 BC
We had already studied-
The Creation c. 5000 BC
The Dinosaurs 5th and 6th days of Creation
Adam and Eve c. 5000 BC
Cain and Abel c. 5000 BC
Jubal and Tubal-Cain c. 5000 BC
Enoch c. mid 4000s BC
Methuselah c. early to mid 4000s BC
Noah and the Flood c. 3500 BC
The Ice Age c. 3500-2500 BC
We ended up watching 3 or 4 movies about Egypt and learned quite a bit. So we study about 10 new items and I go to the website for the library and search. Each time all kinds of choices have come up. I choose the ones that look the most interesting and away we go. Could it be any easier? Jenna reads to herself and some of the boys do as well. I read some out loud to the smaller kids and everyone learns the same thing at the same time which makes for great playtime and conversations here in the Bettendorf household.
So like I said, our school is better than yours….ok, I didn’t actually say that. I didn’t really think that either. What I *did* think was Gosh, I wish everyone knew the secret to teaching with timelines. This is GREAT!! and look now I’ve said it too. There you go, now you know. Thanks.
June 1st, 2008 at 5:12 am
You know, that’s the way I learn things too.
Hubby bought a book that (lightly) covers the last 2000 years (okay, very lightly), and it has been fascinating to read through.
Seeing what followed what and the concequences of events has made history more “real” and easier to understand for us all here.
You’re onto a winner :)
June 1st, 2008 at 6:08 am
I use a time line too… so there. LOL °Ü°
BUT — I really wanted to say, that’s why I like My Father’s World because we all are learning the same thing at the same time and it makes for great dinner conversation. ;) I like learning things chronologically as well. I’m so glad you found something that you like.
June 1st, 2008 at 6:43 am
I once read that the biggest lie of the 20th century was that (paraphrase) children could not learn in the unique circumstances of their own homes. What rubbish. Every home/family is unique and the teaching/learning will be unique as well. If what you teach matches the “unique” needs of your “unique” learners, then you and your school really are cool - boxed curriculum or not! The Weavers follow and love your blog(s) - my wife and daughter made a quilt for your quilt drive - and we lift your family, as well as many others struggling with cancer issues, up in prayer frequently. God bless you.
June 1st, 2008 at 6:43 am
If you are studying Egypt, a GREAT read aloud is The Golden Goblet. I think that might actually be from Sonlight, I don’t know. But my kids loved it and we learned so much!
Timelines are good…we will be using them with Mystery of History this fall.
June 1st, 2008 at 7:32 am
I’m so glad you took the step to start this! I believe it’s the best way to learn history so you don’t end up like me, totally confused about what happened when and lead to what. :) I think the jumping around helped to turn me off to history because I couldn’t wrap my brain around it and make the pieces fit.
June 1st, 2008 at 7:38 am
I am realizing I’m not a boxed curriculum gal either. Teacher manuals are something to make you feel behind when you are really not. Now of course sometimes we never move on when we are interested in things. Like last year we just couldn’t make it past the colonial era because there was so much to explore. However, the caveat with that is that now my son can’t seem to understand that the British are now our allies so he thinks we are fighting the British in Iraq. ;) I think we will do the time line thing and regress to ancient times and start from there.
June 1st, 2008 at 9:40 am
We do a time line thing, but use Story of the World. :) We are just a smidge ahead of you. That far back because we have been studying Egyptians for 6 months now!!!! :)
June 1st, 2008 at 11:28 am
More power to ya! I love that everything comes in a box. ONLY when it comes in a Sonlight box though - NOT boxed mac and cheese, LOL!
I came back here to see my dresses …. where are they?!
June 1st, 2008 at 2:21 pm
YES! One of the supreme benefits of homeschooling!! Making the cirr fit your personal family’s style. :):):)
June 1st, 2008 at 4:59 pm
I love it. We are finishing up the Exploring Countries and cultures, from My Father’s World, this summer. I plan to start something like what you are doing, except I’m not sure where I’ll put my timeline. That will be the one question yet to be answered. Maybe where my world map is currently. I was just looking at some stuff about the ancient world on Amazon.
Out of curiousity, how do you search for a particular period? My library is all online/computer for their catalog and I’m struggling to figure out how to search a subject. I can easily find a book title or book author, but sure have a struggle with subjects.
Kendra
June 1st, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Awesome stuff. :)
June 1st, 2008 at 5:15 pm
lol I’m with Adib on this one! I love my boxed Sonlight. Although, if you have the time to track down all that with all those kids then I’m sure the motivation alone will be what makes you all learn a ton!! Happy learning! =)
June 1st, 2008 at 6:45 pm
It looks very much like the chronological timeline we are doing with Mystery of History. I don’t mind lesson plans….I view them as helpful suggestions. There to use if they help, and ignore-able if they don’t. That said, I found Sonlight’s teacher’s guide to be unusually complicated. Seemed to be so much jumping around and reading from too many books at once. I thought it would take me an hour every day just to figure out what I was supposed to do next! It’s an older Core 2 manual that I have though, maybe they’ve changed it since then?
Did you ditch MathUSee and all other subjects too?
June 1st, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Yes, I love my Timeline Figures, too!
I use it with Mystery of History.
And I’ve learned that I was NEVER EVER taught history. Well, maybe one semester in grade 11, but it barely counted.
Looks like fun!
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:16 am
We started Story of the World this year and love it! Of course we have been doing the Egyptians for months now! LOL! We kinda got interested in it and have done field trips to museums and all sorts. We are determined to move on next week though. We don’t have the wall space for a big timeline like that but I just bought a printable timeline notebook software so we can make each of the boys one that they can continue to use throughout their school years and add to. I’m planning on assembling them later this week.
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:49 am
Great something else I want to look into now…LOL!!
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:35 am
Hi I so want to homeschool my 9 and 7 year old. I just need someone point me in a diection. Can you send me a link or links to some good programs. Thank You Pam
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:42 am
direction
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:29 pm
We have timeline books… but I think I need to find a space to put the timeline on the wall… so all of us can look at it all the time. It’s just more fun and memorable that way!
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:28 am
I really want to make the timeline, but here is my question. I would love your thoughts on this, please!!!
If you have someone, like Lincoln for example; wher do you put him on the timeline? Do you put when he was born, when he became president, or when?
Also, for those who don’t have wall space; yo can tape 2 large pieces of poster board together, so they form a folder, and do it that way.
I think your new idea is great, I bet the kids love it and learn a lot. Leena
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:05 am
I am working at a “home schooling school” that does this. We only teach one day a week and teach every subject (except math) based on a period in history. It’s a 6 year program, this year we are starting over and teaching everything from creation to the fall of Rome, all done with hands on learning. I love that you are doing it at home, I am learning so much teaching it!
August 11th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Don’t you just love the timeline? I am really excited because we are just starting Mystery of History which is also set in chronological order, and we are creating a timeline just like yours. Although your timeline seems to contain a few more people than we have.