Treasure Box

Yeah!!!!!!!!!! I can finally start my unit!  I had to wait until my student teacher was finished.  I feel sooo behind.  I started this past Monday by introducing my Treasure Box.  It was a great way to peek my students interest.  We sat in a circle around the Treasure Box.  We had a great conversation on the items inside.  I was so surprised at how many children were amazed at the buttons!  The tea brick created some funny remarks as well. 
I included all the items from the conference as well as additional ones.  I have a copy of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence.  One student asked if it was the real one!   I told him I would be in big trouble if it was!  I also added photographs of the founders and signers from the Library of Congress.  From previously teaching Pennsylvania history, I had lots of books to include to the box.  My fourth graders liked to read the "Who Was..." books.  So I added Benjamin Franklin to the list.  My students love to read so they were very excited about the books!  I have a map of the original 13 colonies and a current map of the U.S. for the students to compare as an activity in their notebooks.  I have a file on bibliographies which include George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Roger Sherman.  

In a future lesson I have planned, I will be reading from Signing their Rights Away to demonstrate that this process wasn't an easy decision for these men.  That even though they wanted freedom that they knew it could come at a price.  I want to include factual information for my left-brain students and allow my right-brain students to create a picture of these events for a particular signer. 

"Pause and Ponder"....I like being able to connect my Treasure Box with my curriculum.  We do cover these topics in First Grade but very briefly.  I could tell from looking at my students faces that they will really enjoy this so much more than sitting in front of their text books alone.

The Shoemaker-Tea Party...memory?

I liked this story because it proves that sometimes it takes a reflection or memory of an event to bring acknowledgments, learning experiences, and history to life.  This book wasn't so much about the Boston Tea Party as it was about the events as recalled my an ordinary poor man.  George Robert Twelves Hewes, a shoemaker during the Revolutionary War time recalls the events around the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party.  I loved learning that it wasn't originally called that until years later.  More important is discovering the significance of the life of one man during a time in which so many men become famous for their actions, lack of actions, and ideas that brought forth a new nation. 
I really enjoyed reading about a different aspect of this time period.  As a historian, Young has brought light to events and people that were replaced with events such as The Fourth of July and people like George Washington.  There is always side story that is not taught in the history text books.  This is the part of history I want to learn about, the supplemental events.

War- Wood

Short and Sweet.  This is what comes to mind after I read this book.  Chapter 5 is nice and to the point.  We learned a brief overview of The State Constitutions, The Articles of Confederation, and the most detailed of the three, The War for Independence.  I like how Wood kept his reflections brief and unbiased.  He persuades us that the most important thing about the Revolution is the road to Democracy.  In this chapter we see the progression from the State's need for independence away from England, to the need for centralized government without tyranny, to the events leading up to the war.  I like how the details were kept to a minimum so that I found it easier to follow and not get bogged down with too much information.  As far as his work as a historian, I like how he used a lot of primary resources.  Overall, reading the book I didn't think I would read as much as unidentified sources as I did.  There is so much information out there on the Revolutionary War that I would expect more direct quotes.

Carol Berkin- A Brilliant Solution

I have to admit, at first I didn't think I would enjoy this book.  I had a hard time keeping up with all the facts.  I found myself rereading pages to fully understand what was going on.  The chapters are lengthy and filled with a lot of information.  So I put it down.  When I returned to the readings with a more clear mind, I found myself  being pulled into the story.  The sub-titles and quotes at the beginning of each chapter help paint a picture as what was to come.  I was amazed at how difficult a time the founding fathers had it establish and agree upon a constitution that would  benefit all.  Berkin did a great job at getting into the heads of the men to see what their view were on creating this new government and how it effected their lives.  She shows us how these men were real men and not the demi-gods we know them as.  Also, how they had so many issues to address such as secrecy, trust, tyranny, communication, avoidance of monarchy, compromises, and egos.  I learned about the struggles of creating the three branches of government without corruption.    In her book, Berkin provides us with an understanding that the core purpose of the convention was to find solutions to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and to create a centralized government by men who brought such a variety of backgrounds, knowledge, and historical character.

I think that in order to be a historian that goes beyond creating a text book on history you must be able to find a different viewpoint of events and show the reader that history is more than dates and people.  From the books I've read so far, I have seen a variety of writers.  Hakim's version of history by far is my favorite.  I like how she writes for the various learners.  I need a history book to allow me to come back again and again without the feeling of having to reread chapters over and over to understand. 

Hakim vs Wood

I think both books have pluses and minuses.  The real question is what is the purpose behind my reading?  If I'm reading for entertainment I would choose Hakim hands down.  If I'm reading for straight facts then I would select the Wood book. As I stated on previous posts, I really liked the Hakim book but found myself distracted so often that I would have to set the book down and come back to it.  The Wood book was not as easy to read as far as flow.  However, it got right to the point.  I tried comparing black fighters and slaves in each.  Once again, I had to reread Hakim because I found my self reading all the side bars.  I read right through Wood's version and had a clear idea what point he was trying to make.  I am not the typical reader though.  Someone else might not be so distracted by side bars and pictures as I am.  As for using either book in my class, Hakim's book would be the better between the two.  Overall, I really wouldn't use either one unless I am reading directly to my students.  (First graders!!!!)

Hakim

I have to say that this book was very easy to read.  I felt at times as if I was having a conversation with the author.  The language was easy to follow.  I liked how some things would be explained off to the side.  I get distracted easily though so sometimes I caught myself getting side tracked from the story.  I loved the use of pictures and diagrams.  Being a visual learner, I need that extra support to picture the story as I'm reading it.
As I was reading, I liked that we were being taught about different aspects and viewpoints.  For example, when Hakim would discuss the women and their roles.  Then she went into how the blacks were represented.  I liked how it just wasn't one viewpoint throughout this entire book.  We weren't just walked through how the loyalists felt or how the patriots saw things.
I also liked how we were introduced to so many people that were involved in the history of our country.  There were names that I have never heard of before.  I liked how the book went beyond George Washington, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin.   I found it interested how the feelings and fears of the signers were made known.  I didn't realize that they feared for their lives after signing the Declaration of Independence.  Also, how John Adams felt that women should have been given more roles in history than what they did. 
I think students would enjoy reading a book like this versus one that just stated facts.  I feel it gives another side to history that is part of the unknown.  Now can we be really sure that's exactly how our founding fathers felt?  Probably not.  I did enjoy reading this type of history book.  To me, it seemed more likely that students would follow along in a format such as this one.  It was also easier to pick up and put down without the feeling that I was lost or had to review what I had previously read.  That's important for time factors. 
Overall, I really liked this type of story.  I liked to be entertained when I'm reading.  I look at history as very educational but as entertainment as well.

Teaching for Historical Literacy

Looking back at everything that I have taught, I would have to say I enjoyed teaching (and learning) about PA History to my fourth graders the most.  Even though our daily schedules were so tight, I found a way to squeeze in time for History class.  The pressure for high PSSA scores is evident in every school district, that History and Social Studies is put on the back burner.  This article helps address this and introduces some strategies to help "mesh content-rich curriculum with good literacy practices,"...history lessons become more meaningful and not memorized data for the test. 
I believe that the passion a teacher shows for what they are teaching will pass onto the students and increase their students desire to learn.  History is such an amazing subject.  Every child loves to be read to or listen to stories.  I know I have read my share of bedtime stories to my own daughters. 
The more children are involved in the learning process the more they will process.  Using a variety of resources including various texts, maps, trade books, letters, photographs, and artifacts that the children can physically interact with enhances the experience. 
Too often Social Studies is a name given to the time spent on holiday crafts.  I am looking forward to this class and learning about more creative ways to incorporate history into the class room!  Linking the past to the present is exciting for children and adults!

Happy Easter!!! I decided to take advantage of some down time to work on this class.  So far so good.  I still have to add the RSS feed.....not sure what that is yet.

Well, this is interesting!!! I somehow opened two accounts.  I guess I need to work on this thing a bit more!!!!