One more explanation of the English Civil War

This video with pictures and text was a good explanation of the causes of the English Civil War, and certainly helped my student's teacher understand.

Memory work help: English Civil War

This week's history fact may be helped with the tune of O Christmas Tree:

In 164-2
the English Civil Wa-ar
was fought be-tween
King Charles the First
and Pa-a-arliame-ent
ending with the execution of
the king and es-tablishment of
the Commonwealth led by
Oli-ve-er Crom-well.

English Civil War for Kids

YouTube has this two-part video series (about 9 minutes each) on the English Civil War,some selected portions of the movie Oliver Cromwell put together, and also a four-part compilation of David Starkey's documentary on the British monarchy, focusing on Oliver Cromwell and the Civil War (more well-done, in my opinion, than the two-part series above, but only slightly more interesting). Here's a page by the BBC to explore various aspects of the war.

If you're wanting to renact the warring sides with army men or, well, your kids, here's some basic info to help as well as a fun word find and some maps.

Scripture memory songs

There are a number of mp3s that may help with our memory work: From Steve Green's Hide 'Em in Your Heart Vol. 2, there's Matthew 6:19-21 and 6:25,26,34a. Seeds Family Worship also has Matthew 6:20-21 ("Treasure" from Seeds of Purpose) and 6:31-34 ("Seek first," also from Seeds of Purpose). If I'm doing my math correctly, that doesn't leave many verses left without music! Nice.

More helpful resources

Amazon has a few periodic table placemats that may be helpful for the memory work coming our way.

I haven't tried the board game Periodic Quest, but it seems to have high reviews. Of course, you can always get the Periodic Table shower curtain on Amazon. Nothing says "I'm a homeschooler" like a Periodic Table shower curtain, now, does it?

Also, for Netflix subscribers, I'd personally recommend America: The Story of Us produced by the History Channel and Liberty's Kids: The Complete Series, both available to Watch Instantly. The former is a twelve-episode live-action reenactment of American History (PG level violence, for the most part). Liberty's Kids (rated TV Y7) is an animated cartoon that used to air on FOX and tells, through 40 24-minute episodes, the story of the Revolution. My kids love it, and have never role played American history so frequently!

Silence by Endo (Japanese Historical Fiction)

Thinking about Japan this week caused my mind to venture back about four years ago when I was in a book club.  We read Silence by Shusaku Endo.  It was a book that really made me think - on many levels - intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally.

To keep from reinventing the wheel, here's an exerpt from Amazon's webpage (that says it's from Wikipedia).  I've bolded the main part.

Silence (沈黙, Chinmoku?) is a 1966 novel of historical fiction by Japanese author Shusaku Endo. It is the story of a Jesuit missionary sent to seventeenth century Japan, who endured persecution in the time of Kakure Kirishitan ("Hidden Christians") that followed the defeat of the Shimabara Rebellion. The recipient of the 1966 Tanizaki Prize, it has been called "Endo’s supreme achievement" and "one of the twentieth century’s finest novels". Written partly in the form of a letter by its central character, the theme of a silent God who accompanies a believer in adversity was greatly influenced by the Catholic Endo's experience of religious discrimination in Japan, racism in France and debilitating tuberculosis.


-Julie

Seeds Family Worship aides

Totally Tots has quite a few printables to go along with the Seeds Family Worship CDs. I haven't compared what she has with the CC memory work but thought it would be a wonderful resource no matter what.

In September

At the library:

The first and third Mondays at Thompson: Chess Club for ages 5-18 from 4-5pm (race home from Comm. Central.  :)

Starting this Tuesday, Sept., 6 at 2:30 at Terry - just for homeschooled elementary students - Book a Trip with Dewey.  They ask that you register to reserve your spot.

Arkansas Skatium homeschool skate day:
Starting THIS Tuesday, Sept., 6 from 2-5pm.  Ice skating from 2-3:30 then roller skating until 5. It's the first Tuesday of the month, through May.

-Julie

Week 5 review crossword

Week 5 Crossword

K4 and K5: Big Bird in Japan

Younger students may enjoy the breadth of Japanese culture they find in Big Bird in Japan (it's a YouTube video, so plan accordingly :).