tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77461040872866255922024-02-19T05:28:12.101-08:00History for ChildrenInspiration for enjoying history with your children.Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.comBlogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-31236275669452563082011-07-29T09:50:00.000-07:002011-08-27T07:00:26.058-07:00When 2 Million Children Became Unemployed<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5u4xQiNH_GZtlGFBTs6Qb5ZHTsU8mFJLE7yzK1-QkOQy8Qb6WBEYKKluW7A8YCSTKUpyWwFKXFkNE89NR_yUZDTPpmr1_K9QtZiNx1xitDKyJv8WG3RlOPbv3uxgBDAfyo2iNlRkMwc/s1600/Kids+at+Work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5u4xQiNH_GZtlGFBTs6Qb5ZHTsU8mFJLE7yzK1-QkOQy8Qb6WBEYKKluW7A8YCSTKUpyWwFKXFkNE89NR_yUZDTPpmr1_K9QtZiNx1xitDKyJv8WG3RlOPbv3uxgBDAfyo2iNlRkMwc/s320/Kids+at+Work.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Can’t get your kids to clean their room or take out the trash without grumbles galore? Maybe a session with this book will whip them into shape. <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Work-Lewis-Crusade-Against/dp/0395797268?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Kids at Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor</a></i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0395797268" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> is a biography of Hines disguised as a 20th century photo documentary of how two million American children, some as young as three, where spending their long, dreary, hazardous days. It’s in fact brimming with his amazing photos of kids in coal mines, canneries, cotton fields and factories. I guarantee your child will be <i>fascinated!</i> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6BHy618HguZPZayFpzQgp8M9EEtOUVp2A1pANilHqV66hx-F_X85WKiSVeHmmhkA5JvaKHV0tv5UEME-3LYewLpGcrFLOzR5Zc8AY_l1X5HNrGa4vnzGj1sEBkiD-rG40xAZ2z8fPg8/s1600/Kids+at+Woor+-+oyster+shucking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6BHy618HguZPZayFpzQgp8M9EEtOUVp2A1pANilHqV66hx-F_X85WKiSVeHmmhkA5JvaKHV0tv5UEME-3LYewLpGcrFLOzR5Zc8AY_l1X5HNrGa4vnzGj1sEBkiD-rG40xAZ2z8fPg8/s320/Kids+at+Woor+-+oyster+shucking.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>When we first purused this book, my daughter was about seven and still asking for me to peel her boiled shrimp. Then we saw the photo on page 42 of little four-year-old Mary who shucked two pots of oysters a day! Well, I was quick to point out, “Shannon, if little Mary could shuck all those oysters, you are certainly capable of peeling a few shrimp!” And she did. <br />
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It is a little eerie seeing eleven-year-old boys tend a blazing hot furnace with <i>no</i> adult supervision, so it may be crazy for me to say, but I can’t help but sense some pride in the faces of some of these capable children. Could twelve hour days have been scaled back to five hour weeks in lieu of cutting work out of children’s lives all together? Clobber me if you will, I'm just wondering. My son is 14 this summer and had high hopes of making money working at a marina near our house, but because of the child labor laws, he can’t be considered for employment until he is 16. My boy grew up around boats and helped bring a boat from the Bahamas to Florida in rough seas when one of the two adults on board was laid up with a bad back. He's earned his boating license, has several hours of flying time and scuba dives. He is quite capable of fueling a vessel, tying a line and helping passengers get their supplies on and off boats...but now he has to wait two more years in order to be paid for it. <br />
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On another note, we have a fig tree in our yard. It produced vast quantities of figs this year. My eleven-year-old daughter and her friends scrambled for every opportunity they could get to pick the fruit...because they loved doing it. I’ve heard that Georgia farmers were having a hard time finding fruit pickers this year because the state has scared illegal immigrants away. Why aren’t high school and college kids stepping in to fill the void? I remember my father’s tales of picking apples in upstate New York when he was a kid looking for a buck. <br />
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Well, I think <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Work-Lewis-Crusade-Against/dp/0395797268?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Kids at Work</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0395797268" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> will be a great conversation starter at your house too. The book sums it up this way: “Hine’s images of working children stirred America’s conscience and helped change the nation’s laws. With his box camera and his sympathetic eye, he made a dramatic difference in people’s lives. In a real sense, the face of America never looked the same again.” <br />
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<b>Ages 6 and up</b><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">Activity:</span> For goodness sakes, learn how to peel your own shrimp:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BydBRDSIrbM" width="560"></iframe>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-81823488997384870192011-05-11T07:02:00.000-07:002011-05-11T07:02:35.089-07:00A New Look at Ancient Rome<p><br />
You know you can Google Earth any location on this planet today, but did you know you can Google Earth a place from back in time? Take a look at Ancient Rome...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MqMXIRwQniA" width="425"></iframe>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-48460733841223703302011-05-06T11:57:00.000-07:002011-05-06T12:01:54.426-07:00England Week - Industrial Revolution<p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5y-t0S1jruwEOOqC8nOjDVM6KQXQ1kTh8XLOFEQuiYp73KDepY-0S5joFB775f75Mr42pib5FBcNWhvmg91zQHfq44hvNRVPZX_q1vpikEpO_GzX6KCwGG7Z4uQLcBWIFv0ao-ju8OE/s1600/Samuel+Slater%2527s+Mill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5y-t0S1jruwEOOqC8nOjDVM6KQXQ1kTh8XLOFEQuiYp73KDepY-0S5joFB775f75Mr42pib5FBcNWhvmg91zQHfq44hvNRVPZX_q1vpikEpO_GzX6KCwGG7Z4uQLcBWIFv0ao-ju8OE/s200/Samuel+Slater%2527s+Mill.jpg" width="157" /></a></div>Like the actual industrial revolution, this book originates in England but then spreads into America. One key to that spreading thing is a man named Slater.<br />
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He grew up around the mills of England, and worked in them from the age of fourteen to twenty-one. That is when he finished an apprenticeship and wanted to open his own mill. But coming up with the money was a problem. He’d heard the United States awarded about $500 to the designer of a cloth-making machine and was sure there were opportunites for him there. However, the English, being protective of their healthy profits, made it illegal to send textile machinery, or plans for it, out of England. In <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Slaters-Industrial-Revolution-Turning-American/dp/0382099478?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Samuel Slater’s Mill: And the Industrial Revolution</a></i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0382099478" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> you’ll learn how young Slater played the part of a farmer to get out of England with all those machinery designs safely tucked away—in his head.<br />
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The book goes on to describe Slater’s partnerships, machines, workers (lots of children), and his growing business. It grew so much, in fact, that he was worth the amazing sum of $1,200,000 when he died! The effects of this sixty-year revolution are also discussed from the population’s shift from country to city and from farmer to wage earner as well as the pressure put on the south to produce more cotton with slave labor. <br />
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<b>Ages 9-12</b><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">Acivity:</span> Watch this video and then weave your own textile creation.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LbtKnvc_9No" width="425"></iframe><br />
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<p>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-83089731895001596202011-05-05T14:23:00.000-07:002011-05-05T19:21:50.208-07:00England Week - The Plague<p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETy4y1zjo913k0QKX1TXno-GXA66KI8QHr31WEwNPlViTxvWZKkThDWRaNZhjHDW5oMpocQvC2puAvDj-wl7qQCJzfYddrurYX-3c4G6FYltGOBGWyam5OyHwzVpF0NQFZoxtPH-x-Eg/s1600/nell_of_branford_hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETy4y1zjo913k0QKX1TXno-GXA66KI8QHr31WEwNPlViTxvWZKkThDWRaNZhjHDW5oMpocQvC2puAvDj-wl7qQCJzfYddrurYX-3c4G6FYltGOBGWyam5OyHwzVpF0NQFZoxtPH-x-Eg/s320/nell_of_branford_hall.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>Finding <i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_402576678" target="_blank">Nell of Branford Hall</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0803723938" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i> was like finding a little jewel. First and foremost, with no draggy parts nor dull characters, it was a pleasure to read. Then I was impressed with how it sprinkled in just a snippet of the Glorious Revolution, the Royal Society and other English history. But of course, the main course here is the plague...<br />
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It started with rumors that the dreaded disease was in Amsterdam and would get to England eventually. By the time Nell makes her first visit to London the plague has arrived. While there she has a major transportation problem. Her carriage wheel breaks and when she and an escort go in search of a hackney coach to hire they discover they are in the most disease ridden area of the city. Oh, the sites she sees! Ghastly. With great relief she finally returns to Branford Hall. But alas, the plague arrives in her beloved Branford Village. The villagers concoct a plan to deal with the plague. But will Nell’s dearest friend, Kate, survive?<br />
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The one oddity to me is that Nell’s uncle, a doctor, knows with certainty that the disease is spread by fleas. I believe this wasn't figured out until after the fact. But I'll say this, young readers will never again think of the plague without thinking of fleas.<br />
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<b>Ages 10 and up</b><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">Activity:</span> Play <a href="http://www.learner.org/interactives/middleages/healtact2.html">medieval doctor</a>. Try to diagnose and cure three patients. Read about their symptoms and then decide what treatment to prescribe.<br />
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<p>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-18999754124412682832011-05-04T06:14:00.000-07:002011-05-04T06:14:57.201-07:00England Week - Cathedral<p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGkOek-hIZH9DQUITWvHD_2ChcXIFtDito73N88Rj-SxSFhwv-qCdCI9ju8MHvfqE2G4mV8g3T7fD9ax8aEoUHiY0DdwM8dggu_K9gPYuhYgj2LCBO5FlxpaJ-4h0N4jNWXFs5jOBls0/s1600/Salisbury-Cathedral-Wiltshire-England.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGkOek-hIZH9DQUITWvHD_2ChcXIFtDito73N88Rj-SxSFhwv-qCdCI9ju8MHvfqE2G4mV8g3T7fD9ax8aEoUHiY0DdwM8dggu_K9gPYuhYgj2LCBO5FlxpaJ-4h0N4jNWXFs5jOBls0/s400/Salisbury-Cathedral-Wiltshire-England.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>One of the predominate topics from my inspiration for this week’s theme, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sarum-Novel-England-Edward-Rutherfurd/dp/0449000729?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sarum: The Novel of England</a></i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0449000729" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, was Salisbury Cathedral. This amazing structure was built between 1220 and 1258. In trying to find a related book for children, the closest I could come was <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cathedral-Story-Construction-David-Macaulay/dp/0395316685?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction</a></i>. It follows the process of building a cathedral in France, so is not based on an English style cathedral (does Westminster Abby come to mind?), but hey, you’ll get the idea.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuQRi5k5UHe1uLaxJNr38WvOXpPoo8SifHjzIpKXF0ErLoekU7o3BpCCE2DszYoedQxfBjHsEl9g5J0YSo7OZwyfJWepJALEGmppSyTd6B6KJdsX5o_cUjU17zypSfkTaYbFW62LIipc/s1600/Cathedral....jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuQRi5k5UHe1uLaxJNr38WvOXpPoo8SifHjzIpKXF0ErLoekU7o3BpCCE2DszYoedQxfBjHsEl9g5J0YSo7OZwyfJWepJALEGmppSyTd6B6KJdsX5o_cUjU17zypSfkTaYbFW62LIipc/s320/Cathedral....jpg" width="234" /></a></div><span class="subliminaltext">This book is laden with pen and ink illustrations as is David Macaulay’s custom. He shows us, in amazing detail, 80 years of cathedral creating effort in just about 80 pages. And what an effort it was: design the plans, harvest the wood, quarry the stone, ready the site, build the foundation, erect the walls, hoist the trusses, install the windows and cast the bells and so much more. Like the pyramids, the Great Wall of China, and today’s skyscrapers, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cathedral-Story-Construction-David-Macaulay/dp/B000ND5UQI?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Cathedral: the Story of Its Construction </a></i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000ND5UQI" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />will leave you in complete awe of human achievement.</span><br />
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<b>Ages 9-12</b><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">Activity:</span> Create your own <a href="http://www.squiglysplayhouse.com/ArtsAndCrafts/Crafts/StainedGlass.html">stained glass window</a>.<br />
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<span class="subliminaltext"></span>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-29760960655620572412011-05-03T07:01:00.000-07:002011-05-04T06:05:57.541-07:00England Week - Queen Elizabeth<p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAdNeCGOXHuEz1lSLiFExnuXHkvMXvUXuoL-I0aGn4BuTu9c-l8mqpDFRQZC9arxAJmCZ1Wa4Ql4L6ur6xsLmr9nfBLNfmS7c32WXqOJREFNIouchpF4mZ7aEM2XUD3QCMfiJ2ADQzmk/s1600/Good+Queen+Bess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAdNeCGOXHuEz1lSLiFExnuXHkvMXvUXuoL-I0aGn4BuTu9c-l8mqpDFRQZC9arxAJmCZ1Wa4Ql4L6ur6xsLmr9nfBLNfmS7c32WXqOJREFNIouchpF4mZ7aEM2XUD3QCMfiJ2ADQzmk/s400/Good+Queen+Bess.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>What was so good about Queen Bess? As you’ll learn in <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Good-Queen-Bess-Elizabeth-England/dp/0688179614?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Good Queen Bess: The Story of Elizabeth I of England</a></i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0688179614" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, a lot. As the book jacket states, her “strong will, shrewd diplomacy, religious tolerance, and love for her subjects won the hearts of her people and the admiration of her enemies.”<br />
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The wives of Henry VIII, the sister named Mary and the Catholic/Protestant power play can be a little murky to understand but this book proceeds through Elizabeth’s life in an organized fashion and makes all that stuff crystal clear. And the icing on the cake? The illustrations! They’re a treat. <br />
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If you have any desire to learn about Queen Elizabeth, this is the book for you.<br />
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<b>Ages 9-12</b><br />
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<div style="color: #20124d;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #20124d;">Activity: </span>Give this <a href="http://www.myimagehosting.com/135836GlJf-129242.pic">Queen Elizabeth crossword puzzle</a> a try.<br />
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<p>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-73241734480326592722011-05-02T06:36:00.000-07:002011-05-02T07:54:12.703-07:00England Week - Stonehenge<p><br />
Okay, so a lot of attention has been on that island “across the pond” recently what with the royal wedding and all. But if you can hang in there for just one more week, I’d like you to focus on jolly ole England a tad longer.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsvj7VeVygqOu4SxCScHaO1D2OX4A7sMoDRo_LOxiuhlAvQw5yaDMs4vZEr8ALFBn9WB-iwYUycpXepHblSD9-gsksHlJ_bxcQsvvbZ1frYCQA-G2yCR6hKdIOTOKVv8kcPBzzTyK7yk/s1600/sarum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsvj7VeVygqOu4SxCScHaO1D2OX4A7sMoDRo_LOxiuhlAvQw5yaDMs4vZEr8ALFBn9WB-iwYUycpXepHblSD9-gsksHlJ_bxcQsvvbZ1frYCQA-G2yCR6hKdIOTOKVv8kcPBzzTyK7yk/s200/sarum.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>My inspiration for this week’s theme came from reading <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sarum-Novel-England-Edward-Rutherfurd/dp/0449000729?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sarum: The Novel of England</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0449000729" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i>. This saga starts back before there was even an English Channel in the days of prehistoric man, and doesn’t end until the 1970’s. Even at 900 pages, it’s a page turner. The author has an amazing talent for creating interesting, believable characters as the history of England unfolds. I was keen on how Mr. Rutherford introduced people with similar traits to those in the past. The short and stocky Stonehenge mason displayed the same characteristics and talents as the stone cutter working on <span class="P11 SB" id="m_it">Salisbury Cathedral centuries later. </span>Anyone with an interest in history will get a lot out of this novel.<br />
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And while you’re reading Sarum, how about getting your kids hands on some great books about Stonehenge, Queen Elizabeth, Cathedrals, the Plague and the Industrial Revolution? Then you and your children can discuss these topics while your enjoying your afternoon crumpets and tea.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbWMEtCbIUA3zuTb5BGGpT9tOtk7r9rJI7jDhqcNgKJLKDVtbuVRMUBWr_sF_rK4tl0fubw_9hmu4YjvXazx_EK5Kd8NQb_qZF-2DwLJx9-pD0tEL1J_TLhFbsvUxvvqCNw_Z4Dg42Uo/s1600/If+Stones+Could+Speak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbWMEtCbIUA3zuTb5BGGpT9tOtk7r9rJI7jDhqcNgKJLKDVtbuVRMUBWr_sF_rK4tl0fubw_9hmu4YjvXazx_EK5Kd8NQb_qZF-2DwLJx9-pD0tEL1J_TLhFbsvUxvvqCNw_Z4Dg42Uo/s320/If+Stones+Could+Speak.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>For starters, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stones-Could-Speak-Stonehenge-Geographic/dp/1426305990?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">If Stones Could Speak: Unlocking the Secrets of Stonehenge</a></i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1426305990" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, is a fabulous book published by none other than National Geographic. It follows an archeologist as he tries to understand what possessed ancient Brits to place massive stones in a circle. After studying a predecessors notes he decides to look at it with fresh eyes and invites a Madagascar archeologist, who is unfamiliar with the site, to Stonehenge. This is a must own book for any child interested in archeology. They will learn how people are able to make contrasting interruptions and see how the ground contains hints of the past, if only you’ll look properly. As the author himself states, “This is a book about questioning what others believe to be true, not accepting ideas just because famous people say they are right.” You’ll have to read the book to see what secrets were unlocked :-)<br />
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<b>Ages: 9-12</b><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">Activity:</span> Build your own Stonehenge. Here’s an idea using <a href="http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/activities/moreactivities/stonehenge-tips/">legos</a>, and here’s a more ambitious <a href="http://fun.familyeducation.com/outdoor-games/ancient-world/35028.html">backyard version</a>.<br />
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<p>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-83976338025947318202011-05-02T06:28:00.000-07:002011-05-02T08:17:45.698-07:00Osama bin Laden: 3/10/57 – 5/1/11<p><br />
Well, no doubt, the subject of Osama bin Laden may come up today. While googling for some child friendly learning opportunities, I uncovered an <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1223409/My-bizarre-terrifying-childhood-father-Osama-bin-Laden.html">interesting interview.</a> In it, Omar bin Laden, tells what it was like to grow up with Osama bin Laden as his father. Your children will learn that life with you isn’t so bad after all!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLooNR0s6E5tZwS3X3RXrRgFu1FmebLK-BXcKvVQg7u7o-HQ-nQOGP6OxQVj0FqtS79w_n0_SkxzxEl1UQTcRR1uV5CyxIvDdLF7RzbsKTivOqIhhgem34Vd1DgjUMur2Vq3KTwt_xJu0/s1600/Growing+Up+bin+Laden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLooNR0s6E5tZwS3X3RXrRgFu1FmebLK-BXcKvVQg7u7o-HQ-nQOGP6OxQVj0FqtS79w_n0_SkxzxEl1UQTcRR1uV5CyxIvDdLF7RzbsKTivOqIhhgem34Vd1DgjUMur2Vq3KTwt_xJu0/s320/Growing+Up+bin+Laden.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>It turns out, Omar, who was 20 on that fateful September day in 2001, has published a book along with his mother titled, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Up-bin-Laden-Osamas/dp/0312560877?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"></a><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Looming-Tower-Al-Qaeda-Road-11/dp/1400030846?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Growing Up bin Laden: Osama’s Wife and Son Take Us Inside Their World.</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1400030846" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i> Now I haven’t read that one, but I can vouch for <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Looming-Tower-Al-Qaeda-Road-11/dp/1400030846?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11</a></i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1400030846" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />. This was a fascinating, well researched, trip through bin Laden's mind. I reviewed it <a href="http://historyforchildren.blogspot.com/2009/07/all-about-al-queda.html">here</a> along with a children’s book about Al Qaeda.Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-66031035926751286592011-02-25T13:57:00.000-08:002011-02-27T17:21:23.001-08:00Space Shuttle Discovery Launch<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0T3YpkF4wdv6zFw-_fBYNt32HrNbA_2JPa61T2PJVgqsPFlO0wPugso8iX5sNnLGtIRoK8goid2EmXqyvZbZYDBTSO7YNXW3otHcu61AwS1P1RqhsFTnrgpBlkp4OCUwphvCjae3Rjs/s1600/challenger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0T3YpkF4wdv6zFw-_fBYNt32HrNbA_2JPa61T2PJVgqsPFlO0wPugso8iX5sNnLGtIRoK8goid2EmXqyvZbZYDBTSO7YNXW3otHcu61AwS1P1RqhsFTnrgpBlkp4OCUwphvCjae3Rjs/s400/challenger.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Yesterday I took the kids to see the end of an era. We got a good view of the last Discovery launch. It was thrilling to hear the countdown, see the smoke billow up, then the shuttle lift off and soar away with a roar. The only down side was the three hour traffic jam afterward.<br />
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This has me thinking about watching one of our favorite movies again, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/October-Sky-Special-Jake-Gyllenhaal/dp/B0006FYOTC?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">October Sky</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0006FYOTC" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i>.<br />
<p>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-6925030063542167332011-02-21T13:50:00.000-08:002011-05-11T06:21:34.039-07:00Free George Washington Quote to FrameThis quote is particularly appropriate for George Washington. I learned about his love for farming in <i><a href="http://www.myimagehosting.com/135836GlJf-128099.pic">George Washington Plants a Nation.</a></i> This artwork is available <a href="http://www.myimagehosting.com/135836GlJf-128099.pic">here</a> for you to print out and frame. Hang it along side these quotes by <a href="http://historyforchildren.blogspot.com/2011/02/free-abraham-lincoln-quote-to-frame.html">Abraham Lincoln</a> and <a href="http://historyforchildren.blogspot.com/2011/01/benjamin-franklin-quote-print.html">Benjamin Franklin.</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvI6UI8FPkkAkUvVzHBCdy_aShrCXDdB7xKfcgZDmYqbsRFdpGi_X9ucdFpcYJwj4iWgKSHwhcGDf2lXNsBndw858ERug4BL22Jde7ZkZvkNh5voEB9dKARhKdJ5Aa3B1Y9vfywhXvl0o/s1600/George+Washington+in+a+frame+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvI6UI8FPkkAkUvVzHBCdy_aShrCXDdB7xKfcgZDmYqbsRFdpGi_X9ucdFpcYJwj4iWgKSHwhcGDf2lXNsBndw858ERug4BL22Jde7ZkZvkNh5voEB9dKARhKdJ5Aa3B1Y9vfywhXvl0o/s400/George+Washington+in+a+frame+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-70188032842361944792011-02-17T08:38:00.000-08:002011-02-17T08:38:47.835-08:00Learn History with the Beatles, Madonna and Lady Gaga<p><br />
I stumbled across this video at the <a href="http://whyhomeschool.blogspot.com/">Why Homeschool</a> blog:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="385" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kJULC0jsgdA" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="480"></iframe><br />
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Now, I’m no Lady Gaga fan — but I am gaga over this video! It was produced by a history teacher and a technology specialist. On <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/historyteachers">youtube.com</a>, where they offer over 50 videos, they go by the name <i>historyteachers</i>. Children will have fun learning about the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition and the Vikings with the oh-so-clever lyrics set to the tune of popular music by the likes of ABBA, Justin Timberlake, Blondie, Britney Spears and more. Hats off to <i>historyteachers</i> — great work!<br />
<p>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-80153010125725802802011-02-14T14:33:00.000-08:002011-05-11T06:22:14.046-07:00Free Abraham Lincoln Quote to FrameHappy belated birthday President Lincoln! He was born 202 years ago on the 12th. Here is an <a href="http://www.myimagehosting.com/135836GlJf-128008.pic">8" x 10"</a> image I created that you can print out and frame. It matches the <a href="http://historyforchildren.blogspot.com/2011/01/benjamin-franklin-quote-print.html">Benjamin Franklin</a> quote I posted awhile ago.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1e9AeOWoIQOYCTEdCWV-6QQGzDKZIX90pryQuA7ra0-D7T0OGqL5X6Yp91dPCrWml9jUYXKp2HJg6eGsnNtcWLlBJhC6IV-Vf7tH3Dee0Lu4KK48BtZ7KSDFAZ8DwrOvJhDfUlutkbJA/s1600/Abraham+Lincoln+in+a+frame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1e9AeOWoIQOYCTEdCWV-6QQGzDKZIX90pryQuA7ra0-D7T0OGqL5X6Yp91dPCrWml9jUYXKp2HJg6eGsnNtcWLlBJhC6IV-Vf7tH3Dee0Lu4KK48BtZ7KSDFAZ8DwrOvJhDfUlutkbJA/s400/Abraham+Lincoln+in+a+frame.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-24853235678457976082011-02-03T07:54:00.000-08:002011-02-03T07:54:09.487-08:00Black History Month Challenge<p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9HCNOQ_CMcOHSNux9MikfbHRbtuuOpxjqjL-Urbue0cteBsx_27Efq_StLfl0cVH7UAevQSQFu-z3GfTkAbknwxgzJkLQIwfSyhli4Ga1iqct_lGKv9C5trckW-t02Q6WiqnD9AyCWs/s1600/Black+History+Quote+Game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9HCNOQ_CMcOHSNux9MikfbHRbtuuOpxjqjL-Urbue0cteBsx_27Efq_StLfl0cVH7UAevQSQFu-z3GfTkAbknwxgzJkLQIwfSyhli4Ga1iqct_lGKv9C5trckW-t02Q6WiqnD9AyCWs/s400/Black+History+Quote+Game.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Can you <a href="http://www.biography.com/blackhistory/quoting-greatness-quiz.jsp">match the quote with the person who said it?</a> I found this challenge at <a href="http://biography.com/">Biography.com</a>. That site is brimming with all sorts of resources.<br />
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<p>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-83669458332149363532011-01-28T15:26:00.000-08:002011-01-29T10:44:26.758-08:00Great Heights Week - From Trees to Masts<p><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgk2POfXteCARQeHLJGwsScgxBBFGLsuY_2Li49KKtbnGIiyH6SSRLQORDb39HD5JUDD8PvC_ZajAPxXJT0RBWEQPfEkVgA5Zy-NsWp2XcMyo8o9GSiHBuv2RjLHLRy4G00Xj6i9v6tes/s1600/Giants+in+the+Land.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgk2POfXteCARQeHLJGwsScgxBBFGLsuY_2Li49KKtbnGIiyH6SSRLQORDb39HD5JUDD8PvC_ZajAPxXJT0RBWEQPfEkVgA5Zy-NsWp2XcMyo8o9GSiHBuv2RjLHLRy4G00Xj6i9v6tes/s400/Giants+in+the+Land.jpg" width="272" /></a>Like any human I have my weaknesses. Dove’s dark chocolate-covered almonds are one. I also have a hard time resisting clothing or leather goods that have contrast stitching for some odd reason. And then there’s scratchboard illustrations...which brings me to <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Giants-Land-Diana-Appelbaum/dp/0395647207?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Giants in the Land</a></i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0395647207" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />. The illustrations are a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Creme da la creme of scratchboard I’d say. This book is as big and beautiful as the trees it documents. And what are those trees, you ask? Thousand year-old, New England pine trees, growing as tall as a twenty-five story building. They grew so tall and straight that they made ideal masts for England’s eighteenth-century navy. The story goes on to describe how the trees were chosen and plucked (not easily) from the forest and transported (forty oxen) to a river. You can’t help appreciating the ingenuity required to harvest the trees, while simultaneously despairing that the giants are all gone. But the author ends on a positive note, mentioning the promise in today’s woods. Giants are growing.<br />
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<b>Ages 9-12</b><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Activity:</span> Make a tall masted ship out of a milk carton. Here’s what you’ll need:<br />
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Milk or juice carton<br />
Scissors (or box cutters or x-acto knife)<br />
Smaller box to put inside milk carton<br />
String<br />
Straw, stick or tinkertoy<br />
Tape<br />
Card stock for the sail<br />
Paint or markers to decorate<br />
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An adult should help cut the carton like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHahF9whAZy3xACe7Ch6YnPNZMEu8BT4-aFuth89Gu1azKp6rh7Q9Hdq28TIxAFOLhI1FoqTzOdMKpsxzpsl3G2zv1IxdM49n_LP6RAZxC4adFqNpVMzrAcEDjhyphenhyphenMsOZAMguuA17TgUk/s1600/ship-milk+carton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHahF9whAZy3xACe7Ch6YnPNZMEu8BT4-aFuth89Gu1azKp6rh7Q9Hdq28TIxAFOLhI1FoqTzOdMKpsxzpsl3G2zv1IxdM49n_LP6RAZxC4adFqNpVMzrAcEDjhyphenhyphenMsOZAMguuA17TgUk/s400/ship-milk+carton.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Paint the smaller box that will go inside the milk carton to hold the sail. We used a medicine box. A soap or make-up box would work too. Punch a hole in the middle of the box with a sharp pencil or cut an x with an xacto knife. Glue the box into the center of the milk carton. Cut out a square piece of card stock about 1/2 to 3/4 of the length of the straw or stick. This will be the sail. Decorate the sail as you like with paint or markers. Punch a hole at the top and bottom of the sail and weave the straw or stick (we used a tinkertoy) through the holes. Wrap a string around the top of the stick and tape each end of the string to each end of the boat. We’re calling our boat the U.S.S. Tropicana. And here she sails:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQrpZX1Pu741ra7OPeXwIoMist0NUcnqio_Y3OZZqo7iNZb66siw-1GbnvwGIKophzZOIDVNfnqHFn0JxsWxYHaTXpQP29w7vyALvHWPMH1XH2FlMsHealHmjMHtJoOG9kYmVKCj5rys/s1600/ship2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQrpZX1Pu741ra7OPeXwIoMist0NUcnqio_Y3OZZqo7iNZb66siw-1GbnvwGIKophzZOIDVNfnqHFn0JxsWxYHaTXpQP29w7vyALvHWPMH1XH2FlMsHealHmjMHtJoOG9kYmVKCj5rys/s400/ship2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<p>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-51026137038137529072011-01-27T08:01:00.000-08:002011-01-28T10:40:24.270-08:00Great Heights Week: Goliath....and David<p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDvPlbpETLMRlOOgeD3LGhORYpVvet4fAxWe9TmwSUtixaKWlRbDGj5Dd7xX73vTMiM-FQ94MwyW8WGCDGaEMfyhmrz_6H5Mp8lj50rSHQkmW0x2UeVifZM8M_UkpKywjylNUGdI_TMM/s1600/David+and+Goliath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDvPlbpETLMRlOOgeD3LGhORYpVvet4fAxWe9TmwSUtixaKWlRbDGj5Dd7xX73vTMiM-FQ94MwyW8WGCDGaEMfyhmrz_6H5Mp8lj50rSHQkmW0x2UeVifZM8M_UkpKywjylNUGdI_TMM/s320/David+and+Goliath.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><span style="color: #20124d;">While thinking of tall things for this week’s theme, “Great Heights,” the idea of doing a Goliath post came to me. I checked this <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/David-Goliath-Beatrice-Schenk-Regniers/dp/0531094960?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">David and Goliath</a></i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0531094960" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> out from the library because I just <i>love</i> the cover illustration! And on the inside too the illustrations are as big as life....really good. But when Shannon and I read it last night I didn’t enjoy the writing so much. I mean “old rams skipped and danced in their grave fashion”? It was also annoying how lines were repeated and disturbing how the author included details of David cutting off Goliath’s head at the end. Yuck. Is there a plus side? Well, it is gratifying that the book reeks with the feel and look of life back then. And the fact that there was a conflict at the time of King Saul between the Israelites and the Philistines is certainly substantiated. But best of all, underscored is the lesson that you can conquer any problem if you think smart. </span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;">Ages 6-9</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #20124d;">◊◊◊</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">Activity:</span> Here’s a <a href="http://www.myimagehosting.com/135836GlJf-127396.pic">David and Goliath coloring page.</a><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">Feeling a little guilty about not having a better David and Goliath offering, I looked around for some online sources and I may have struck gold for the older kids. During the 7th century a Byzantine artist created a series of plates telling the story of David. Today, most of those plates are on display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. At the <a href="http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books/">Online Books Page</a> I found a link to a <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_703833037">free </a><a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/publications/david.htm">learning-activity</a> offered by the museum that encourages young people to look more closely at the Museum’s spectacular set of Byzantine silver objects, known as the David Plates. It provides an in-depth exploration of the plates, including their subject—the biblical story of David and Goliath—and essential background information about the culture in which they were made. Also included are maps, teaching strategies, and activities for students. Wouldn’t it be neat to do this activity before a visit to the museum?</span><br />
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<p>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-82353568998797950522011-01-26T16:13:00.000-08:002011-01-26T16:38:01.774-08:00Great Heights Week - The Empire State Building<p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoPutEUyf7sOe92Gt0D7aDHGgmlMAyTN6K126JRaCS545sU_BRvNzZ-rcplSbv8teo2Edycp9oyYtNSQ9LoRLk3QcRQ0FjLeKy9OM4sJLI7Z9sni_xWW7_Ab6xNMsu3CW-iXYzg1kEIQ/s1600/sky+boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoPutEUyf7sOe92Gt0D7aDHGgmlMAyTN6K126JRaCS545sU_BRvNzZ-rcplSbv8teo2Edycp9oyYtNSQ9LoRLk3QcRQ0FjLeKy9OM4sJLI7Z9sni_xWW7_Ab6xNMsu3CW-iXYzg1kEIQ/s1600/sky+boys.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #20124d;">During the depths of the Great Depression a majestic symbol of fortitude arose. And it rose high. In fact it was the world’s tallest building for over 40 years. Besides providing a nation with much needed jobs (seven million man hours!), it also provided much needed national pride. In <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Boys-Built-Empire-Building/dp/0375836101?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building</a></i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0375836101" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0375836101" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />big pictures and minimal text show the process: from the demolition of the pre-existing hotel to the arrival of the steel and then the methods involved in building the skyscraper. This is an excellent choice for children interested in construction.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;">Ages: 6-9</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>◊◊◊◊ </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">Activity:</span> <a href="http://www.papertoys.com/empire-building.htm">Build your own Empire State Building</a> with this project from papertoys.com<br />
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P.S. Older children working on research papers would be well-served to get their hands on two other titles I found. In <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unbuilding-Sandpiper-David-Macaulay/dp/0395454255?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Unbuilding</a></i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0395454255" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />,<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0395454255" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> David Macauley masterfully illustrates the imagined demolition of the Empire State Building. A great way to learn how it was built, in reverse. And <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Empire-State-Building-Reached-Wonders/dp/1931414084?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Empire State Building: When New York Reached for the Skies</a></i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1931414084" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by Elizabeth Mann is chock full of interesting information.<br />
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<p>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-17250722742420536052011-01-25T19:01:00.000-08:002011-01-25T19:51:31.976-08:00Great Heights Week - Tallest Man<p><br />
And I thought I stood out like a sore thumb in high school! (I’m 5'10"ish)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbggFU08pAtDWnI8J8R0-LgSXWrEPMqMLJX0QUuF6SmWPmqfDJlXFlcRV6KkMQLtE1yrQ56i3AJ7c6suikJMYctvqINwsLtZCh8Fin7ovpOKYLYxQF7-t-DiJvzRdxnM2uvUEFRlGrEQ/s1600/tallest+man+in+class+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbggFU08pAtDWnI8J8R0-LgSXWrEPMqMLJX0QUuF6SmWPmqfDJlXFlcRV6KkMQLtE1yrQ56i3AJ7c6suikJMYctvqINwsLtZCh8Fin7ovpOKYLYxQF7-t-DiJvzRdxnM2uvUEFRlGrEQ/s400/tallest+man+in+class+picture.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJZcgFFjzXoZh6iKe5-xuzlRVfCOVnTJxh93_uwbikMdbpcet8n2yD9hrxgvYBO3a_D9jtLFf2PU_eEJUvVbJR6bLkaoVoO5LemAqc5J8hoxwdoH13FE7rWgZ2ooEtb9n-f62Ke0IZ3Y/s1600/Robert+Wadlow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJZcgFFjzXoZh6iKe5-xuzlRVfCOVnTJxh93_uwbikMdbpcet8n2yD9hrxgvYBO3a_D9jtLFf2PU_eEJUvVbJR6bLkaoVoO5LemAqc5J8hoxwdoH13FE7rWgZ2ooEtb9n-f62Ke0IZ3Y/s1600/Robert+Wadlow.jpg" /></a></div>My children and I were captivated when we recently read about the tallest man ever in Jennifer Phillips’ book, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1453829474?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1453829474%22%3ERobert%20Wadlow:%20The%20Unique%20Life%20of%20the%20Boy%20Who%20Became%20the%20World%27s%20Tallest%20Man%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1453829474%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E"><i>Robert Wadlow: The Unique Life of the Boy Who Became the World’s Tallest Man</i>.</a> He was the size of an adult by age five and eventually grew to the incredible height of 8'11.1"! You’ll learn of the accommodations he had to make, that an overactive pituitary gland caused his condition and to see Robert, not as an oddity, but as a person—and a likable one at that. A discussion about fitting in with one’s peers would complement this story nicely.<br />
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Besides fascinating photographs, the author also includes a fact page, a timeline and thoughtful questions to explore as well as suggested activities. <br />
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<b>Ages 9-12</b><br />
<b>◊◊◊◊</b><br />
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<a href="http://planetesme.blogspot.com/2010/11/nonfiction-stand-straight-ella-kate-by.html">A review</a> of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stand-Straight-Ella-Kate-Klise/dp/0803734042?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Stand Straight Ella Kate</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0803734042" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i> caught my eye over at the Palnetsme Plan blog recently. This looks like a great choice for all of us tall girls.<br />
<div style="color: #20124d;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_416808208"><br />
</a></div><span style="color: #20124d;">Activity:</span> <a href="http://www.myimagehosting.com/135836GlJf-127728.pic">Print out</a> Robert Wadlow’s shoe print and compare it to your own foot size.<br />
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<p>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-42655913991458201092011-01-24T20:52:00.000-08:002011-01-24T20:54:01.937-08:00Great Heights Week - A Giraffe Adventure<p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18USVrnw6DHRD_kMQlGlgVMRnxGH-ta2GwEDcHifO0Ri6MMfLNhXMAtfqNUa-n9hJfYI9zrJ6QpgRy39OXVSLz0RSez0j1Hopggxhvtyjh_m06yBRi010dxJ-gUrjAhjyPNohbeDJkUI/s1600/Chee-Lin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18USVrnw6DHRD_kMQlGlgVMRnxGH-ta2GwEDcHifO0Ri6MMfLNhXMAtfqNUa-n9hJfYI9zrJ6QpgRy39OXVSLz0RSez0j1Hopggxhvtyjh_m06yBRi010dxJ-gUrjAhjyPNohbeDJkUI/s1600/Chee-Lin.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #20124d;">Eighty years before Columbus made his incredible journey, a giraffe sailed from his African home to China. It was there that he was named after a mythical Chinese creature that was thought to bring good luck. <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chee-Lin-Giraffes-Journey-James-Rumford/dp/061871720X?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Chee-Lin: A Giraffe’s Journey</a></i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=061871720X" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> is a jewel of a book with drop dead gorgeous illustrations. Children will find parts of it sad. Loosing one’s freedom is <i>always</i> sad. But they will delight in Chee-Lin’s special relationships and their imaginations will be sparked by far away cultures in a long ago time. </span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;">Ages 4-8</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>◊◊◊◊◊</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">Activity:</span> Here is a pretty-nifty easy-to-access <a href="http://www.seaworld.org/fun-zone/games/animal-geography/index.htm">animal geography game</a>. You know that giraffes come from Africa, but where do these other animals come from?<br />
<p>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-44944843715651782902011-01-20T11:30:00.000-08:002011-01-24T20:58:41.508-08:00Someone Named Eva<p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZiw4GHdAqMq2Mga0nh1zoBE6QcVxjnD_lLBT8r8e3b7hyQve-n79WtEFFlR9huMNE1aPpZwd8U_S7QrcEsVGlx0lRO7ZKXrN-7bn5PNCWmdNNQ4FKOUdUMrym4XwpofIJ_PS-DwURyc/s1600/someone+anmed+eva.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZiw4GHdAqMq2Mga0nh1zoBE6QcVxjnD_lLBT8r8e3b7hyQve-n79WtEFFlR9huMNE1aPpZwd8U_S7QrcEsVGlx0lRO7ZKXrN-7bn5PNCWmdNNQ4FKOUdUMrym4XwpofIJ_PS-DwURyc/s320/someone+anmed+eva.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>When is a Czechoslovakian girl <i>not</i> a Czechoslovakian girl? When she is dragged from her family and placed in a German repatriation program where she is only allowed to speak German and is eventually adopted by a German family. Only in <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Someone-Named-Eva-Joan-Wolf/dp/0547237669?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Someone Named Eva</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0547237669" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i>, Eva, real name Milada, makes the effort to always remember who she really is. And that someone is from Lidice, Czechoslovakia, where she was the fastest runner in school, loved to star gaze and ride bikes with her best friend, had a big brother, a baby sister, and a beloved grandmother, mother and father. She also had Aryan features, which is why the Germans snagged her.<br />
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But I didn't understand why the people of Lidice, Czechoslovakia were singled out by the Nazis until I read the Author’s Note. Resistance fighters made an attempt on Hitler’s favorite officer, Heydrich, also known as the “Butcher of Prague.” Nazi intelligence thought there was a connection between the village of Lidice and the resistance fighters (wrong) so they took revenge on it’s 500 inhabitants. The men and teenage boys were shot, the “acceptable” children where sent to the repatriation program and the rest of the children and women where sent to work camps. Then the Nazis razed the town, turning it into nothing but a field.<br />
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Shannon and I read this one together and enjoyed discussing it along the way. The constant theme throughout was to never forget who you are.<br />
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<b>Ages 9-12</b><br />
<b>◊◊◊◊</b><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">Activity:</span> I followed a link mentioned by the author to the <a href="http://www.lidice-memorial.cz/default_en.aspx">Lidice Memorial</a>. I noticed this museum on the site where the town of Lidice once stood is sponsoring an annual, international <a href="http://www.mdvv-lidice.cz/en/current/invitation/">art contest</a> for children ages 4-16. Get out your art supplies and send your entry by March 15, 2011.Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-54148235996762238702011-01-12T18:54:00.000-08:002011-01-14T05:45:23.988-08:00Martin Luther King’s Speech<p><br />
With Martin Luther King Day right around the corner, I was reminded of the “I Have a Dream” speech challenge I made available at this time last year. Then it dawned on me. I never even approached my own daughter about trying it. So I just printed it out for her and she did a pretty good job:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgDcPezy411Qlj3lcqKqcz5dmWgDCwf63eQLWDTSqk3ZFI1QQMdmsuXYaithv3EVsrCmYgZ8ZkTIW35SHWOorNmU_ZkbAUW_2ZYT4MEh14Bh5rsm7LUoZygdCuxNumCLo7irJ15tCMEI/s1600/MLK+challenge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgDcPezy411Qlj3lcqKqcz5dmWgDCwf63eQLWDTSqk3ZFI1QQMdmsuXYaithv3EVsrCmYgZ8ZkTIW35SHWOorNmU_ZkbAUW_2ZYT4MEh14Bh5rsm7LUoZygdCuxNumCLo7irJ15tCMEI/s640/MLK+challenge2.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>Even though she wasn’t 100% accurate, she nailed the gist of what he was saying. I especially love her use of the word “heart” in place of “character” in the last blank. There is a link to this fill-in-the-blank challenge at my <a href="http://historyforchildren.blogspot.com/2010/01/he-had-dream.html">old post</a>.<br />
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P.S. The answers are at the link too :-)<br />
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<p>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-92231000389480647672011-01-11T12:07:00.000-08:002011-01-12T11:13:27.374-08:00Newbery News<p><br />
The 2011 Newbery Medal winner and the four honor winners have been announced. Of special interest to me is the fact that the winner and three of the four honor books are historical fiction:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="color: #339999; font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">2011 Newbery Medal Winner</span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jnFUM_ZA4YDI44PtJ5SgUqslQBJ2fKZVnt7CihOxhv9CDVaPJf9md60faqaQF6Z3mWCZfazTIAjYpzzgwYGPj-VT7UJed2FIISEVxJk0vpw_uVXJoqc5JcV6UI3Y-NPvRkFE2-XnjEc/s1600/Moon+Over+Manifest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jnFUM_ZA4YDI44PtJ5SgUqslQBJ2fKZVnt7CihOxhv9CDVaPJf9md60faqaQF6Z3mWCZfazTIAjYpzzgwYGPj-VT7UJed2FIISEVxJk0vpw_uVXJoqc5JcV6UI3Y-NPvRkFE2-XnjEc/s200/Moon+Over+Manifest.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div style="color: #783f04;"><b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moon-Over-Manifest-Clare-Vanderpool/dp/0385738838?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Moon Over Manifest</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0385738838" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i></b></div>by Clare Vanderpool<br />
Twelve-year-old Abilene Tucker is the daughter of a drifter who, in the summer of 1936, sends her to stay with an old friend in Manifest<span style="color: red;"><b></b></span>, Kansas, where he grew up, and where she hopes to find out some things about his past.<br />
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<b>Ages 9-12 </b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="color: #339999; font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">2011 Newbery Honors</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CTtDl6jta2FU-bInL4kUjxjpCGjt0U4BQODqN9mg9i0nJvUcylhAqtWx3oFlio71E9WQjuqxge1vYWORNkMI_xmBWzOuecpX5SyxapUFpFiRTdHEjg81GtAGMK2d1DYeJPoNZoU20_8/s1600/heart+of+a+samurai.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CTtDl6jta2FU-bInL4kUjxjpCGjt0U4BQODqN9mg9i0nJvUcylhAqtWx3oFlio71E9WQjuqxge1vYWORNkMI_xmBWzOuecpX5SyxapUFpFiRTdHEjg81GtAGMK2d1DYeJPoNZoU20_8/s200/heart+of+a+samurai.jpg" width="131" /></a><b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Samurai-Margi-Preus/dp/0810989816?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Heart of a Samurai</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0810989816" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i> </b><br />
by Margi Preus<br />
In 1841, rescued by an American whaler after a terrible shipwreck leaves him and his four companions castaways on a remote island, fourteen-year-old Manjiro, who dreams of becoming a samurai, learns new laws and customs as he becomes the first Japanese person to set foot in the United States.<br />
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<b>Ages 12 and up </b><br />
<div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">Manjiro’s life story is f a s c i n a t i n g. I reviewed another book about him <a href="http://historyforchildren.blogspot.com/2009/04/two-boys-from-asia.html">here. </a></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLr7FCHuPt87K-Hw3mxw2yvbce83lhZnpPJcomDxev8m0mwOlj7QHx1JtKExppfMMZTRLygWDXhiZjBQiNLvD6ER2OjRY_iLoCqLcEEeRLDGeQ8HXP8_wCbeXKLngKq66S1sd5Yq3knCI/s1600/one_crazy_summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLr7FCHuPt87K-Hw3mxw2yvbce83lhZnpPJcomDxev8m0mwOlj7QHx1JtKExppfMMZTRLygWDXhiZjBQiNLvD6ER2OjRY_iLoCqLcEEeRLDGeQ8HXP8_wCbeXKLngKq66S1sd5Yq3knCI/s200/one_crazy_summer.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Crazy-Summer-Rita-Williams-garcia/dp/0060760885?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">One Crazy Summer</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0060760885" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></b></i><br />
By Rita Williams-Garcia<br />
<div style="color: black;">In the summer of 1968, after traveling from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend a month with the mother they barely know, eleven-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive to a cold welcome as they discover that their mother, a dedicated poet and printer, is resentful of the intrusion of their visit and wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp.<br />
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<b>Ages 9-12 </b></div><br />
I noticed over at <a href="http://fourthmusketeer.blogspot.com/">The Fourth Musketeer</a> that this author is so committed to literature for young people that she offers her own short story <a href="http://www.ritawg.com/writing-contest/">contest</a> to encourage and reward young people's writing. Open to kids from 12-19, the winner receives a check for $100, a certificate, and a personal critique by Rita Williams-Garcia!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepgaqCkaOZ-gbUuQnE0U5Gjxe1PosLQEkU8q2gbQSE2nfAiObz-jbDZB9_vtQKh7ZotbtlGe0-W0iQdnrDKSsmpVVI-WDprNT57ZINPNqPKU4O-gYD59JLupruRW_zh2oev_8lYZpZO0/s1600/Turtle+In+Paradise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepgaqCkaOZ-gbUuQnE0U5Gjxe1PosLQEkU8q2gbQSE2nfAiObz-jbDZB9_vtQKh7ZotbtlGe0-W0iQdnrDKSsmpVVI-WDprNT57ZINPNqPKU4O-gYD59JLupruRW_zh2oev_8lYZpZO0/s200/Turtle+In+Paradise.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Paradise-Jennifer-L-Holm/dp/0375836888?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Turtle in Paradise</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0375836888" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></b></i><br />
By Jennifer L. Holm<br />
<div style="color: black;">In 1935, when her mother gets a job housekeeping for a woman who does not like children, eleven-year-old Turtle is sent to stay with relatives she has never met in far away Key West, Florida.<br />
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<b>Ages 9-12 </b></div><br />
The other Newbery Honor book this year is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Emperor-Other-Poems-Night/dp/0547152280?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b><i>Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night</i></b> </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0547152280" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />by Joyce Sidman. It is a collection of twelve poems that celebrate the wonder, mystery, and danger of the night and describes the many things that hide in the dark.<br />
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The Newberry Medal is awarded to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children as decided by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. Given since 1922, it is named after John Newbery, an eighteenth-century English publisher of children’s books. It was the first children’s literary award in the world.<br />
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</div><p>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-78714141567907837642011-01-07T05:15:00.000-08:002011-01-08T04:59:17.833-08:00How Globes Are Made<p><br />
I have wondered about this....and now I know!<br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qgErv6M19yY?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qgErv6M19yY?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-73541918536344057172011-01-06T06:36:00.000-08:002011-01-09T17:15:24.640-08:00Gutenberg — The Inventor of Printing<p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPq2DZLiD2jndYDtnEg9WSB8el3564vbcfjpwiIdV2cbDJCcUT7gWQ7zjM0x-L-CTBebZsc9iqOBPgzz7sShVMJQrSfL7aSz-Rb-5NHtSw7asSZwMJ-K1WBQf9RG_DQ9mkIkY513mJlE/s1600/fineprint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPq2DZLiD2jndYDtnEg9WSB8el3564vbcfjpwiIdV2cbDJCcUT7gWQ7zjM0x-L-CTBebZsc9iqOBPgzz7sShVMJQrSfL7aSz-Rb-5NHtSw7asSZwMJ-K1WBQf9RG_DQ9mkIkY513mJlE/s400/fineprint.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>How long does it take to print a book? For Johanne Gutenberg it took more than 30 years! What was the hold up? Well, since it had never been done before he had a lot of problems to work out. Many were related to the invention itself: finding the right metal formula for the type, making an ink that wasn’t too runny or too sticky, figuring out how to space the letters and get them consistently raised off the slug and the designing and building of the press itself. His other problems involved money. He dealt with lawsuits, partnerships gone awry, denied inheritances and fund raising opportunities lost (something to do with selling souvenirs to pilgrims traveling to see remnants of the clothes of Christ). <br />
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<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fine-Print-Johann-Gutenberg-Creative/dp/0876145659?ie=UTF8&tag=httphistoryfo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Fine Print</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httphistoryfo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0876145659" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> </i>takes you on a fascinating look at the man who was determined to invent mass–produced printing and persevered. It’s a wonderful lesson in persistence and a very interesting glimpse into 15th Century Germany.<br />
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<b>Ages 9-12</b><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">Activity:</span> Cut a letter in a potato and then print it:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQl5fOYhMqYo1sbaR4ochyphenhyphenCgSp9BsO0pTloRbsZ7-RagXJShkfKqJ1Qv_SyldKCM4UEaVH1XUFdT8gRZDiCRsx5XuGgUXk_VQ_2kCtWquwylLE5W67KbI4Uhy2j6RJyH6hFa_BT39i7ZQ/s1600/Gutenberg+potato+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQl5fOYhMqYo1sbaR4ochyphenhyphenCgSp9BsO0pTloRbsZ7-RagXJShkfKqJ1Qv_SyldKCM4UEaVH1XUFdT8gRZDiCRsx5XuGgUXk_VQ_2kCtWquwylLE5W67KbI4Uhy2j6RJyH6hFa_BT39i7ZQ/s320/Gutenberg+potato+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Okay, this involves a knife, so some parental involvement is probably necessary. Cut a medium sized red potato in half, then cut away anything that you don’t want to print. Remember, you have to create your letter backwards on your stamp.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvG0anjvReuZb82vdAKeRc2HIFXWtEhZG4POI9lYd3XytvFxsl70NGyeWhWDgyPjPiY0i59FEvk8RTU1yFwmT4TJuwnKXjls5jn6TFzEjoEC_RrD5mNuf525bRcnfPUhkKkhS_Stp-KI/s1600/Gutenberg+Potatoe+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvG0anjvReuZb82vdAKeRc2HIFXWtEhZG4POI9lYd3XytvFxsl70NGyeWhWDgyPjPiY0i59FEvk8RTU1yFwmT4TJuwnKXjls5jn6TFzEjoEC_RrD5mNuf525bRcnfPUhkKkhS_Stp-KI/s320/Gutenberg+Potatoe+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Now put some ink or paint on your stamp and press. Viola!Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-71905137754444873902011-01-05T10:01:00.000-08:002011-05-11T06:52:29.793-07:00Free Benjamin Franklin Quote Print to FrameHere’s a little token of my appreciation for you. I've combined some artwork I had of Benjamin Franklin with one of his (many!) quotes and put them together in an <a href="http://www.myimagehosting.com/135836GlJf-127357.pic">8 x 10 layout</a> for you to print out and frame. More to follow...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPamhyphenhyphen0hyphenhyphenmpDBSatet6WTLQyxs4Kz6sWi4NzluCNvGTSQJfd2tdgT9U226W9nSteMrz2rz1aGvDH9TCtE1n1TqWr2CnE14Bjbw68mQeK4Vj3lvI4El4iCcX81NXUQi3pcfbTP3qjDtdkY/s1600/Ben+Franklin+in+a+frame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPamhyphenhyphen0hyphenhyphenmpDBSatet6WTLQyxs4Kz6sWi4NzluCNvGTSQJfd2tdgT9U226W9nSteMrz2rz1aGvDH9TCtE1n1TqWr2CnE14Bjbw68mQeK4Vj3lvI4El4iCcX81NXUQi3pcfbTP3qjDtdkY/s400/Ben+Franklin+in+a+frame.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7746104087286625592.post-24640956977306662072011-01-04T07:19:00.000-08:002011-01-04T07:19:12.815-08:00Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011<p><br />
<span class="product-title">Happy New Year to you all. </span><br />
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<span class="product-title">It’s resolution time! In 2011, I resolve to:</span><br />
<span class="product-title">1. Blog more</span><br />
<span class="product-title">2. Redesign my blog</span><br />
<span class="product-title">3. Discover more great history for children.</span><br />
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<span class="product-title">As we say goodbye to last year, I thought I'd look back on what history titles the publishing world offered children in 2010. This assortment includes one written by the President. It’s a clever introduction to thirteen famous Americans. As a whole, the group is not concentrated on any one era or theme. Titles range from the age of dinosaurs to the invention of the Apple computer. </span><br />
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<span class="product-title">It will be interesting to see what 2011 offers. What are your resolutions?</span><br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httphistoryfo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0531212491&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httphistoryfo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=143010807X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httphistoryfo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0385738811&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Jill O. Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01009505347770344705noreply@blogger.com1