Planning Of Our Year One -History

This post will address our history reading goals for year one term one. I am still reading and trying to understand what Charlotte Mason is saying about history. From my first read through, it seems Miss Mason preferred stories of individual people living in a particular time instead of an overall history read of books. Volume 1 pg 280. of Miss Mason writings reads "Let him on the contrary, linger pleasantly over the history of a single man a short period, until he thinks the thoughts of that man, is at home in the ways of that period. Though he is reading and thinking of the lifetime of a single man, he is really getting intimately acquainted with the history of a whole nation for a whole age."
Also, it seems Miss Mason preferred earlier written history books to the more "modern" written ones. I agree-- modern politics-- sometimes blurs the truth in my opinion.

Back to the task at hand. Okay, let's look at Programme 42 Form IB and see what is offered for history. There are two books listed: Old Stories from British History and Tales from S. Paul's. The first book I am able to order online, no problem, but the second is currently unavailable. What to do. Well, let's look at what Ambleside has on their term one year one schedule. They have Our Island Story. Also under history, AO has Trial and Triumph, and Fifty Famous Stories Retold. Our Island Story is really an overview of English history. This book doesn't contain individual stories of everyday people, but is an excellent book. In Charlotte Mason's writings, she does mention another book, Ecclesiastical History of England by Bede. What to do. What to do. If I look forward a bit, I can see that Miss Mason has in her recommended readings Our Island Story. Chapters in this book will be on our reading list goals for term three of year one. We will wait til then to read from this book. I am going to order Old Stories from British History and Ecclesiastical History of England and schedule 40 pages from one or each and spread them out over the 12 week term.

Trial and Triumph will be placed on our Sunday reading list. Rotating this book with Parables of Nature will give two weeks to focus on each story. I have read that these are some of the more difficult books.

Now, for Fifty Famous Stories Retold. This is a book that will go on our year two reading list. I think my son will enjoy these stories more in year two.

As for American history, I had to think long and hard about this one. I have decided to place on our free reading book list a book on American history, A First Book In American History by Edward Eggleston. My son loves anything to do with American history and I know he will enjoy this book.

As you can see, I am not following AO's schedule for history for year one term one at all. I am okay with this decision. I am excited about our history selections and looking forward to beginning.

So, when I get my books in, I will be able to spread out the readings over 12 weeks. I will post my finalized reading goals for history when I receive the two books.

Isn't this fun? I think so. Next, Bible studies and geography.
Many blessings.