Presidential Rap

The raps in this video are pretty bad, but I'm sure your kids will be thrilled to improve on them. Please post them for us to see when they're done.

Gandhi - The power of one

There are a certain amount of people in history that every child should know. Today, my children were introducted to Gandhi. Granted this movie is long 190 minutes, but it is well worth the view time. Today, I exempted the kids from all of their other homework (mind you DD had already done Social Studies and volunteered at the library and DS did his Math, Writing, and Reading - so it was only a partial repreave) and we watched Gandhi which I had taken out from the local library.




Gandi had come up this morning at Bible Study as we discussed what it meant to walk in Jesus' footprints. Maryann said that she thought Gandhi had in fact responded that in a way that although he wasn't Christian that since he tried to act in way similar to Jesus that in fact he had walked in his footsteps. Now whether Gandhi indeed said this or not did not really matter to me. What mattered was that I realized that I did not know much about his life especially as they began discussing his early work in South Africa and so I was inspired to learn.

I'm not sure that the kids will further their studies on him right now, but I will certainly try to find some of his writings to read. Perhaps I can even find a book that I can apply to the 2009 reading challenge.

This also led me to another question: What people in history do you think all children should know at least a little about?

Inauguration 2009

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Today’s quote is by one of the great authors of my home state of Connecticut, Harriet Beecher Stowe. One of her homes is right here in Hartford.

I did not really know much about Harriet until I attended a fund raiser tea by a local library. At the tea, the curator spoke of woman who I would have loved to have met: a writer, an abolitionist, a feminist. She shared a few pieces of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, one of Stowe’s most memorable writings. As I sat and listened, I pledged that I was going to read this classic. I believe that we may have read excerpts in high school, but never the whole novel. That summer as we traveled to Kentucky, I read Uncle Tom’s Cabin as I had promised. As Eliza escaped across the broken ice of the Ohio, so I drove across it. It was truly surreal.

Later that year, I dragged the kids to the Harriet Beecher Stowe Museum. I was absolutely in awe of this woman. She would have been a force of nature in any era, but in her lifetime, her feats are even more amazing. I encourage you all to get to know her a little better. Here are a great way to do that:

Visit one of her homes:
http://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/index_home.shtml
http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/sw18/index.shtml

Read about her:
http://www.sparknotes.com/biography/stowe/

Read her works:
http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/s#a115

Today in History

As homeschoolers, we are always looking for ways to ignite curiosity. One of the ways to do that is just keep lighting the fire in as many different directions as possible and see what areas take light. As interesting way to do that is by starting your day with "Today in History" type ideas or math problems of the day, or some of these interesting daily tidbits.




You may also want to add some of these websites which can give you great jumping off points for daily learing:

Today in History - Library of Congress
Today in History - Yahoo
Today in History - the History Channel - they also have a way to subscribe to a daily newsletter of this day in history
Today in History - History Net

Not only may your kids find this interesting, but you may learn something yourself.

I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.
-Albert Einstein

Lost to history

History and memory . . .we often think of things lost to history meaning 1,000’s of years ago i.e. how the pyramids were built, what was Easter Islands purpose, but what about hundreds or even a generation.

I was just listening to the history channel which was talking about the cornerstone on the White House. A stone that was placed with much pomp and circumstance, a brass plate was even put to it, but today the location us unknown. Under President Truman there was even a study by the corps of engineers to find it but to no avail.

What about even in your own life? Talk to your parents, your siblings – there will already be facts lost, ideas that no one is quite sure of, memories that people diffiantly disagree about. . . My answer write, photograph, tape . . .

How will / do you keep memories alive and accurate?

Getting Ready for Halloween

First of all a disclaimer: I am not a fan of Halloween myself. To me, it seems like a made up holiday that focuses on Pagan ideas. In a really great year with perfect weather and neighbors having outdoor parties, I can tolerate it, but when it is cold or damp, my interest is completely lost. I think my enthusiasm dissipated somewhere between trying to divvy out the 26 pounds of candy (on average) that the kids would bring home from trick or treating and the costume mania that consumes everyone during this period. Families are now actually spending an average of $98.00 between costumes and candy and I personally believe that this is a conservative estimate given some of the costumes that I see around. What happened to white sheeted ghosts? Robots made from cardboard boxes? Baseball players sporting their Little League Uniforms?

The first recorded reference to Halloween actually appears in 1911 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, but the term “trick or treat” did not appear for the first time in print in 1934. There are conflicting reports of how the idea of Halloween developed. Some relate it as far back as Celtic ritual of Samhain. Samhain was the Celtic New Year, a time to celebrate harvests. Samhain actually began at dusk on October 31st and signified the beginning of the dark period of the year. During this day, the break between life and death was shattered and spirits could roam the earth. When Celtic lands were Christianized, this holiday melded into All Saints Day. Others related it to the Roman celebrations of the dead, Feralia, Paternalia, and Lemuria. They may have blended with Samhain as the Roman Empire spread across Europe. However the celebrations of the dead developed, they were sternly squelched under the Puritan rule in the New World and do not seem to reappear until early in the 20th century. Treating seems to relate back to the medieval idea of souling; when poor people would go door to door requesting and receiving soul cakes in return for prayers for the giver’s dead family members.

One of the most interesting and one of my husband’s favorite family traditions is the jack o’ lantern. Legend has it that jack o’ lanterns relate back to the story of Jack. Jack was a troublemaker who tried to trick the devil into not taking his soul. There are conflicting stories of exactly how he accomplished this task, but the devil did agree not to take possession of his soul. So when Jack finally died, his soul was too sinful to rise to Heaven and had been barred from Hell. Left to roam the earth, he asked the devil to help him find his way. The devil sent a flame to light his way. Jack captured it in his favorite food, the turnip, and thus the Jack o’ Lantern was born. When this tradition came to America, pumpkins were larger and more plentiful and therefore become the preferred vegetable to be carved. However, in some parts of the world turnips and beets are still carved instead of pumpkins.

Certainly, no matter what its origins, Halloween is here to stay. I recommend you run to the store so that you can spend your portion of the between 5 and 6.9 billion dollars getting ready for for the holiday. We’ll keep our lights on for you.

Unit Study - Dear America: A Line in the Sand

Dear America – A Line in the Sand: The Alamo Diary of Lucinda Lawrence (Gonzales, Texas 1836)
By Sherry Garland
Age: 11-14

Additional Reading:
Illustrated Alamo 1836: A Photographic Journey by Mark Lemon, Craig r. Covner
The Alamo by Tamara L. Britton
Remember the Alamo: Texians, Tejanos, and Mexicans Tell Their Stories by Paul Robert Walker
Alamo: An Interactive History Adventure by Amie J. Leavitt, Mickie Ross

For adults to read along:
Three Roads to the Alamo: The Lives and Fortunes of David Crockett, James Bowie, and William Barret Travis by William C. Davis

Field Trips:
The Alamo – San Antonio, TX
Goliad State Park & Historic Site – Goliad, TX
Town of Gonzales – Gonzales, TX
Sam Houston Memorial Museum – Huntsville, TX
Crockett Tavern Museum – Morristown,TN
Pioneer Farms – Austin, TX

Video:
The Alamo – DVD
PBS: American Experience: Remember the Alamo
Discovery Channel: The Alamo: The Five Hours that Changed History

Websites:
http://www.thealamo.org/main.html - The official website of the Alamo
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/alamo/index.html - The PBS site laying out the film and related historical information. Includes teacher lesson plans, maps, and timelines.
http://www.shsu.edu/~smm_www/index.html - Includes recipes, info on Texan Flags, and pictures from the time period.
http://www.geocities.com/the_tarins@sbcglobal.net/adp/archives/archives.html An extensive history of the mission itself. Include maps, lesson ideas, and lots of detailed history.
http://military.discovery.com/video/alamo.html Video Clips about the Alamo and some of the more famous men lost there.
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/ Learn not just about the Alamo, but the entire history that built Cinda’s state.

Vocabulary:

Ruckus (9/9)
Democracy (9/6 – later)
Delirium (9/20)
Dissidents (9/20)
Dictator (9/22)
Grievances (9/22)
Dragoons (9/30)
Ford (9/30)
Fandango (10/2)
Presidio (10/6)
Premonitions (10/27)
Ornery (11/15)
Cahoots (11/15)
Morale (12/3)
Harboring (12/6)
Forlorn (12/23)
Puncheon (12/24)
Churned (2/1)
Joshing (2/4)
Adobe (2/8 – later)
Garrisoned (3/6)
Palisades (3/6)
Sacristy (3/13)

Arts & Crafts:
-There is a brawl over a whittling knife. Learn knife safety and try whittling something yourself. (If you are not comfortable with your children using a jackknife, try using a plastic knife and either a bar of soap or a bar of canning wax). (9/10)
-Make homemade soap.
-Try your hand at creating a braided rug (12/24)
-“Mama started a new quilt. She let (Lucinda) choose the color for the border.” Draw and plan out a quilt. Depending on your interest and talent create your imagination. Create it with cut out paper, perhaps create just one square of your plan, or if you are really daring, create your entire quilt.
-See if you can find a farm, yarn store, or museum that cards and spins fibers. Visit and see how it is done. See if you can help with part of the process.

Writing:
-Lucinda says on September 15th that her biggest fears are Comanche raids, rattlesnakes, and black widow spiders. Do a little research on each. Which of these would be your biggest fear and why? Be sure to support your position.
-Lucinda read an editorial bout how cruel Santa Anna is. What is the difference between an editorial and a regular newspaper article? Read the editorial page of your newspaper for a week. Choose one of the editorials to respond to. Write a letter to the editor about it.
-On January 6th, there is a conversation between two neighbors, Wilis, and Papa in which one of the neighbors said that they are going to move back to the states. “I’ve got no business fighting in a war. Why, I’ve got a wife and six children. What would they do if I got kilt?” Willis stood up suddenly and says right to the main’s face, “Well, if something ain’t worth fighting and dying for, then I say it ain’t worth having.” He stomped off. Papa says, “Was I ever that young?” the neighbor says, “IF wars were lift up to old codger like me and you, Aaron, I reckon armies would be put out of business.” Take either Aaron and Papa’s side or Willis’. Who do you think is correct and why? Write a persuasive essay to convince others of your opinion.
-Cinda compares the Mexicans march on the Alamo to David and Goliath. Reread the story of David and Goliath in the Bible. Decide if this is a reasonable comparison. Write an essay to show the similarities or differences.
-On December 6th, Cinda’s family finds out that San Antonio is being overrun. The family fears for Uncle Isaac’s family. Cinda tells Green that Uncle Isaac will put up a sign to that their house will not get attacked. She wishes that she could believe her own lie. Is lying ever ok? If so, when and why? If not, explain why not.
-On December 20th, Mittie and Cinda discussed what to give their families for Christmas given the many shortages. Reread this entry. Write an entry in your diary about all the things that you are thankful for.

English:
-Cinda memorized a sonnet as they worked on school work trying to pass the time as the Mexican’s invaded their town. Find out what defines a sonnet. Then choose one. Memorize it and recite it.
-On December 18th, Lemuel brought home a black crow. Cinda is concerned that maybe this is a bad omen. Does this foreshadow what is to come? What other foreshadowing did you notice in the book?

History:
-Research one of the following people and introduce him / her to others through either a power point presentation, a character monologue, or a traditional report:

General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
Stephen F. Austin
William Travis
Davy Crockett
Sam Houston
Col. Burleson
Ben Milam
General Cos


-Comanche Indians are mentioned several times in the book. Where was the Comanche territory as compared to Gonzales and the Alamo? Find out about the nation’s traditions and culture. Share what you found with others.
-Find a picture of the “Come and Take It” Flag. What did this flag stand for?
-The Alamo was once a mission. Find out what a mission is. Create a model of the Alamo.
Cinda was very excited about having mistletoe above her doorway for Christmas. Research the tradition of mistletoe. Where does it originate from?

Government:
-Lucinda’s father is frustrated by reports that Santa Anna wants the people of Gonzales to turn over their disabled 6 lbs cannon. He says, “ This is the beginning of the disarming of the colonies. If we give up the cannon, next thing you know, Santa Anna will want our hunting rifles, then our pistols, then our Bowie knives, then our whittling knives.” Why does this bother him? How does this relate to the 2nd amendment of the US Constitution?
Extra Credit: Find out where the term Bowie knife comes from.

Science/Technology:
-Lucinda’s family picks cotton. Find out about the cotton plant. What part do they use to make clothe? Make a thumbnail board (picture board) that describes the process.
-Mr. Roe died of smallpox, as did some of Cinda’s cousins in Nachitoches, LA. Research smallpox. What are the symptoms, causes, cure,etc?
-On December 18th, Lemuel brought a black crow home with a broken wind and cared for it. Find an animal rehabilitation hospital near you. Arrange a tour to see the work that they do.

Cooking:
-Due to the war, food was very scarce for Lucinda’s family. Much of what they ate they had scavenged for. Plan to go pick food at a local orchard. Cook something with the food you picked.
-On November 5th, there is a very descriptive passage about cutting apart a pig for food. Look in a cookbook to find all the different meat that can be cut from one animal. What are the differences in the cuts of meat? What should you consider when you choose a cut of meat?

Geography:
-On a blackline map of Texas, mark at least five town locations and two rivers that exist in the book.

Music:
-Listen to some fiddle playing. Imagine that Davey Crocket is playing for you.

Physical Fitness:
-Find a pair of castanets. Try playing them and dancing to some Mexican music.
-Several dances are mentioned in the book: the Virginia reel, the cotillion, the waltz, and the polka. Learn one and perform it for others.

Mission / Action:
-The Volunteers were often stealing from the townspeople because they were so hungry. Hunger is still a problem today for many reasons. Research hunger in the world today. Find a way to help and do it.

Website Wednesday - The Alamo

http://www.thealamo.org/main.html - The official website of the Alamo

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/alamo/index.html - The PBS site laying out the film and related historical information. Includes teacher lesson plans, maps, and timelines.

http://www.shsu.edu/~smm_www/index.html - Includes recipes, info on Texan Flags, and pictures from the time period.

http://www.geocities.com/the_tarins@sbcglobal.net/adp/archives/archives.html An extensive history of the mission itself. Include maps, lesson ideas, and lots of detailed history.

http://military.discovery.com/video/alamo.html Video Clips about the Alamo and some of the more famous men lost there.

Look for a Unit Study related to the Alamo on Thursday.

Unit Study - Eleanor Roosevelt

Please note that this unit study has more activities than are necessary to complete a study of Eleanor Roosevelt. Please pick and choose activities to meet your needs and interests.

Ages – 12-16

Quotation: “If anyone were to ask me what I want out of life I would say – the opportunity for doing something useful, for in no other way, I am convinced can true happiness be attained” Eleanor Roosevelt

Scripture: ”For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. “ Matthew 25:35-36 (KJV)


Books & Periodicals
Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery by Russell Freedman
Who was Eleanor Roosevelt? By Gare Thompson

Cobblestone Magazine’s Eleanor Roosevelt edition – The teachers guide to this edition can be found at http://www.cobblestonepub.com/resources/cob8611t.html
Time for Life : Eleanor Roosevelt: First Lady of the World

Field Trips
* Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum – Hyde Park, NY
* Arthurdale, WV – the first “New Deal” Homestead Community - http://arthurdalewv.org/
* National First Ladies Library – Canton, OH
* The White House – Washington, DC – special arrangements need to be made well in advance of your trip
* Franklin Delano Roosevelt National Memorial – Washington, DC

Writing Topics:
* How do you think Eleanor’s life may have been different if she had lived today?
* Even Eleanor was concerned about appearance. If you could be beautiful / handsome or smart, which would you choose and why?
* When her husband, as a NY senator, originally came out for the women’s suffragist movement, Eleanor was shocked, “ for I took for granted that men were superior creatures”. Later in her life, she was a staunch supporter of the suffragist movement. What do you account for the change in her position?
* Eleanor Roosevelt is famous for her response to a questioner at one of her public appearances. “Do you think your husband’s illness has affected his mentality?” “I am glad you asked that question. The answer is Yes. Anyone who has gone through great suffering is bound to have greater sympathy and understanding of the problems of mankind.” Do you agree with her assessment? Why or why not? Give specific examples.

History:
* Eleanor’s lineage can be followed back to the foundations of New York itself and to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Do some of your own research about your family. Try to trace your lineage back as far as you can. You may find http://www.rootsweb.com/ & http://www.familysearch.org/ helpful. Ancestry.com is a wonderful resource but it comes at a cost.
* Eleanor’s uncle, Theodore, became President himself. Find at least five things that Theodore’s presidency is known for.
* After Eleanor “came out”, she was enrolled in the Junior League. Find out what the Junior League organization is and what it stands for.
* When Eleanor joined the Consumers League, she became more engaged with issues of the common people. She was appalled when she was introduced to sweatshops and saw child labor for the first time. Do some research about child labor. How was child labor halted in this country? Where is child labor still an issue? Find out how you may help end child labor worldwide.
* Eleanor and Franklin were married on March 17, 1905, St. Patrick’s Day. Find out the history of St. Patrick’s Day.
Read the US’s Declaration of War for WWI on April 6, 1917.
* “What hopes we had that this League would prove the instrument for prevention of future wars,” Eleanor wrote. What is the League of Nations? Does it do what Eleanor and others hoped? * Create a two sided time line, comparing Eleanor and Franklin’s life (put one on each side).
* Choose one of these components of the Great Depression:
- Hoovervilles
- Black Monday
- New Deal
Research and report your findings.
* Eleanor served as a UN delegate after her husband’s death. In fact she was elected chair of the Human Rights Commission. What does this mean? What affect did she have?

Language:
* Eleanor learned French from her nurse and actually spoke French before she spoke English. Learn to count to ten in French and a few other helpful phrases.

Science:
* Anna, Eleanor’s mother, contracted diphtheria after and operation and died at 29 years old. Her brother, Ellie, died of it also. What are the symptoms, cause, and cure of this disease?
* Polio, infantile paralysis, struck Franklin Roosevelt in 1921 and was a major health concern for all Americans at the time. Polio is now considered eradicated from the US. Read about childhood immunizations. What other diseases have we warded off through immunizations? What are the world issues related to childhood immunizations?

Literature:
* Eleanor’s father was an alcoholic who fought with boughts of depression. For many years, he was even banned from living with his children. Still Eleanor had a deep need to please him. Eleanor once memorized and recited Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s "The Song of Hiawatha". Read the poem. Memorize a portion and perform it.
* When Eleanor was attending the private school Allenswood, one of the headmistress, Mademoiselle Souvestre, occasionally invited students back to her study to read poems and stories or to discuss current events. In this standard, invite a couple of your friends over to recreate such a poetry reading. Invite each attendee to be prepared to read at least two poems out loud. The poetry can be original or one that is already published.
* Eleanor was an author herself. She wrote for many newspapers and magazines. Indeed she even authored her own syndicated column called “My Day”. Read at least three articles penned by Eleanor. Write a critic of her writings.

Economics:
* Compare today to the 1940’s. Find the prices of at least 5 staples (bread, milk, eggs, etc), an average house, and an average salary back then and today.

Geography:
* Print out a blackline map of the world. As you read about Eleanor’s travels, color in the country on the map (Be sure to find a world map from the time period).
* As Eleanor pushed for women’s rights, she held a woman’s only press conference and flew with women pilot, Amelia Earhart. Use a map to calculate how many miles they flew together from DC to Baltimore.
* In her later life, Eleanor traveled worldwide to places like India, Israel, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Iran, Turkey, and Morocco. Choose one of these countries and create a travel brochure that might entice others to visit these places.

Music:
* Eleanor Roosevelt resigned her membership to the Daughters of the American Revolution when they refused to let Marian Anderson sing at their Constitution Hall in DC. Listen to Marian Anderson’s music.

Public Speaking:
* Eleanor Roosevelt became a very popular public speaker. She hired vocal coaches to help her with the pitch and tremble of her voice. What made her a good speaker was her passion for her subject matter. Research a subject that matters to you. Give an oral presentation persuading people to action on your cause.
* Eleanor’s uncle was Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States. Research his Presidency. Pretend to give a press conference on one of the important issues of his Presidency. Be prepared for questions from the press.

Arts & Crafts:
* Eleanor Roosevelt was listed in “the 10 Most Powerful People in Washington” by political commentator, Raymond Clapper. Who do you think the 10 most powerful people in the world are? Create a poster that represents your opinion.
* Find out about fashions of the time period. Create an Eleanor Roosevelt paper doll and show at least three outfits that she may have worn.

Computer Skills:
* Create a power point presentation summarizing al that you have learned. Introduce someone else to Eleanor Roosevelt.

Vocabulary:
* Eleanor lived through both the 1st and 2nd World Wars. Relationships between countries were in flux. Different countries ran their governments in different ways. Look up the following words. Write their definition.

Totalitarianism
Socialism
Fascist
Democratic
Republic
Imperial
Pacifist
Neutrality

Project:
* Eleanor and two of her friends bout a private girl’s school in New York. Eleanor taught American History & English Literature. If you could design your own private school, what would it be like? Be creative. Present your school model in any format you wish. Think about the campus, the faculty, the courses, and the student body.

Missions / Action:
* Eleanor often visited military hospitals to improve moral. Follow in her footsteps. Arrange to visit with patients at a VA hospital.
* Eleanor often worried about people less fortunate than herself. Volunteer to serve at a local soup kitchen.

See Website Wednesday - Eleanor Roosevelt for related websites.

Website Wednesday - Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt is an amazing women. I became interested in her as I worked on the Dear American Unit Study that I posted last week, so I have decided to investigate her a little more.

"One thing life has taught me: if you are interested, you never have to look for new interests. They come to you. When you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else."
Eleanor Roosevelt


I hope that you may find these web sites interesting:


An American Experience: Eleanor Roosevelt – DVD and the related website http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/eleanor/
The website includes a Roosevelt genealogy, copies of her “My Day” article, timelines, maps, and even a tv appearance by Eleanor. It also include transcripts from her FBI file and information on clothing of the time period.

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum - http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/
It is wonderful to visit this location first hand, but if you cannot get to Hyde Park or in conjunction with your trip, visit this website. There is information about both Franklin and Eleanor, curriculum guides, and tons of additional information.

Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kil - http://ervk.org/index.htm
Includes some unknown fact, audio recordings of Eleanor, and information about a workshop that is continued in her name

Biography of Eleanor Roosevelt - http://www.biography.com/search/biography.do?keywords=Betcha+Didn
Specifically check out the videos & Audios to the right upper corner. There are several Bio’s related to her life.

The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project - http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/

National Park Service – Eleanor Roosevelt: American Visionary - http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/exhibits/elro/index.html

Garden of Praise – Eleanor Roosevelt - http://gardenofpraise.com/ibderoos.htm Check out especially the middle of the page where there are some online games that you can play.

The Olympics Begin

8-8-08, 8 pm the Olympics began. What a beautiful opening ceremony? We are watching it now.

It was interesting that dd realized that such a correspondence in day, month, year cannot happen again for almost 100 years (89 to be precise). Next year is 2013 and there is no month to correspond to. DS came out with the fact that white is a symbol of bad luck in China. Where he picked up this fact I do not know.

One of the great things that will come out of this Olympics will be that we all will become more familiar with the Chinese culture, their history, and their beliefs.

Are any of you doing anything special to delve into Chinese culture or the history of the Olympics with your family? What interesting facts have you come across?