Preparing to Start School- Making a History Workbook

We made beautiful memories last year doing history.  Salt maps.  Narration pages.  Maps.  Lapbooks.  Lots of learning and loving and doing.  And I have proof!  It is all piled up in a paper box in my basement.

This year, I created a pre-bound workbook for history.  I am hoping this will keep control of the paper work, cut down on the sheet protectors, and allow myself to let go of the bulkier projects earlier.  It will also give me less to do at the end of the school year.  I will just punch additional sheets we may have had, open the comb binding and in 10 minutes, everything for the year will be in one place.  So much faster than pulling all those sheets out of page protectors!

We use a Charlotte Mason approach to our classical rotation of history.  We read stories, biographies and other texts then record what was learned in the form of narrations and illustrations.  We use black line maps to chart areas we are learning about and salt dough for creating 3D versions for deeper study.  We also try to play games or make other crafts that go along with theme we are studying.

The history notebook I created this year contains space for all of these things, as well as some additional pages copied from Tapestry. A single hanging file folder in a drawer will house anything additional to be added later and any lapbooks we decide to create.

Each week includes-

• A cover sheet stating the week number (corresponding to the lesson in Tapestry not the school year).
• 2 Narration pages from Donna Young.  I print this one on the front and this one on the back for additional space.
• A blackline map from our Tapestry Map Aids.  You could also use maps from the Story of the World activity guide or something you found online.  We have previously used the SOTW Activity Guides and really loved them.
• An Activities and Artwork page, modified from Donna Young.  I used this page, printed on both sides.  To the front I taped on a printed title that reads "Art and Activities This Week."  Then I copied the page.  I plan to attach photos of our bulky projects here with a description of what was done as well as photos from any field trips or games that related to the week.
• Copies of additional worksheets from Tapestry's literature section.