Thursday
Mar082012
Science and History Inspired Reading
Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 5:00AM
We have been doing a lot of reading in our house.
I haven't been reading aloud as much this week because it has been causing bad headaches for me. I have an appointment for an eye exam - I've worn contacts for YEARS. I am nearsighted. I think, however, that since 40 came knocking at my door my close up vision is getting worse. (I can remember my dad having to take off his glasses to read, or hold things far away -- that's me now!) I'm hoping an adjusted prescription will help!
Last week we went off on a tangent to learn about Louis Pasteur. To make it seem less tangental, I purchased a unit study and we are continuing our study this week. The study centers around Pasteur's Fight Against Microbes, which we are enjoying so far.
History is always so interesting for the kids... and the recommendation from Story of The World to read St. George and The Dragon was PERFECT. I haven't read a picture book this beautiful to the children in quite some time.
We finished our chapter in SOTW about Knights and Samurais (GMan read Sam Samurai - which he LOVED... I just discovered these books at the library and there are so many to choose from!!)If you are studying Medieval times and chivalry, you want to include St. George and The Dragon. This version, retold by Margaret Hodges, is a Caldecott Award winner, and for good reason. The illustrations on each page are mesmerizing, and they go along with an equally enchanting story. I'm so glad I added this book to our library.
Moving ahead in history just a bit we have Who Was Marco Polo? and The Adventures of Robin Hood to be devoured next. I am thankful for Susan Wise Bauer and her thoughtful suggestions in The Story of The World Activity Guide. The books suggested never disappoint us.
Miss B has taken her own detour into WWII history and read Hitler's Daughter and Number the Stars already this week. I'm not sure what spurred this interest, but I'm trying to provide her with as many books as possible.
My sister-in-law, a middle grades science teacher also got her started on this Everest series by Gordon Korman. I had to find the rest of the books in the series from the library. She told me today, "You can't just read the first book and STOP... you have to find the rest... PLEASE!" I am happy to oblige.
I've been feeling a bit jealous lately of all the time my children have to READ. I need to carve out some more time for me to read things that interest me... I need a good work of fiction to just lose myself in --- any recommendations??
I'm linking with Amy for Read-Aloud Thursday:
Reader Comments (10)
And I am more than happy to make a recommendation to you for your OWN personal reading!
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (a MUST READ!)
Anything by Wendell Berry. Jayber Crow and Hannah Coulter are the best I've read so far and great ones to start with.
Peace Like a River and/or So Brave, Young, and Handsome by Leif Enger
That should get you started! :-)
Oh, and I'm sorry about the linky. I'll add your link if you haven't already.
There are so many great WWII books! I think I read The Hiding Place for the first time in 5th grade. If you haven't read that one yourself, read it before you read any of my other recommendations! (Oh, and Unbroken is a WWII book, too, but not appropriate for children.)
The best fiction book I've read so far this year is City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell. It's an amazing story based on the life of the author's grandparents as missionaries in China. One of the few books that really deals realistically with a mature happy but imperfect marriage and also with a spiritual life.
For something completely different, try Before I Go to Sleep. It's a thriller and I haven't finished it yet but so far it's absolutely unputdownable.
Love Saint George and the Dragon. I am jealous of my kids reading time too-hours and hours a day. Oh what I wouldn't give....
I just finished reading The Forgotten Garden, which I enjoyed. I also read The Life of Pi, which is interesting. St. George and the Dragon is a great book! I just started reading a new book last night, I will let you know how I like it.
St George & The Dragon is such a beautiful book - we've enjoyed others by the same author, and we've enjoyed several titles from the Who Was series! I second the recommendation for The Forgotten Garden - I couldn't put it down, and then my mom loved it too!
We loved St. George and the Dragon. I picked up Louis Pasteur's Fight Against Microbes somewhere and my daughter has read it. I have not. Maybe I should read that one to my son? Thanks for the tip.
St. George and the Dragon and Number the Stars are favorite in our house.
You put a fear into my 40 yr. old heart when you mentioned your eyes. I'm hoping I can hold out for a few years yet. Since I can't wear contacts and too chicken for LASIK, I will have to succumb to bi-focals!
oh, the pushing 40 eyesight. *sigh* i feel it coming, too...
love the recommended reading with sotw, too. our library is pretty pitiful, though. hunting them down has me in burn-out mode, so i'm just trying to finish the reader and activity book right now. hoping sonlight's nice brown box will be the answer for us next year. ;)
I love St. George and the Dragon. I would like to check out the book on Pasteur since I don't know much about him. Thanks for the suggestion.
So much good reading! I, too, am a bit jealous of my girls time to just read!! Curling up and simply reading is my favorite thing to do, but I don't find enough time for it for myself...my girls spend LOTS of time at it though :)