We are digging into the [sc:BIP ] and enjoying it too. Enjoying history? Is that possible? Oh yes.
Week one spans from Creation through to right before Noah. The children enjoyed creating a book detailing the days of creation but the best part of the week was creating animals out of play dough and trying to give them names. While that might sound easy, it is harder than you think.
I am having a small problem with getting the children to stay focused during the narrations, but picked up the corresponding [sc:BIP] coloring pages and hope that will help next week. I also talked to my friend Stacey of Layered Soul who works with Bright Ideas Press, and she had some great suggestions including just hitting the highlights of each lesson (since my children are young and will probably study this again) and investing the the [sc:BIP] audio.
The Mystery of History Timeline
We also prepped our timeline for the study.
I shared several ideas for making your own history timeline but decided to go a different direction, taking the suggestion of Marci at The Homeschool Scientist who mentioned to me that she used a cardboard project board.
Marking every two inches on the board in pencil, I placed the first strip of duct tape between the 2- and 4-inch mark and alternated from there. This was so simple and took about ten minutes total… even with four children constantly asking, “Whatcha doin’ now, mommy?”
An outline for the male and female figures is available in the [sc:BIP] text. I made a few copies and then cut and taped them onto a single sheet. Then, I made several copies on card stock. Is it sexist that I made copies of more men than women?
Using the cutting board, I quickly cut the figures apart but did not cut them further since the [sc:BIP] text mentions the children might need to draw additional items on the figures and will need the space. To make life a little easier for myself, I divided the boys from the girls and placed them in plastic storage bags so I can easily grab what we need.
Other shapes are also needed from time to time so keep some blank card stock or index cards available.
Need other ideas for your Mystery of History study? Follow Bright Ideas Press on Pinterest!
I love the idea of the timeline. We’re using Story of the World right now and have an ever-expanding wall timeline. The kids seem to enjoy the timeline, but we’re running out of space! LOL
I can imagine! Timelines can certainly grow into small communities. LOL
My older kids worked through MOH and learned so much. It took us 2 years to go through the first book because we kept running down rabbit trails to learn more. I still have the timeline! I am looking forward to using MOH with my younger children. Have fun on your MOH adventure.
Thank you, Niki. And might I add that I think it is so amazing that you allow your children to learn in a delight-directed way. So often I get caught up in checking the calendar. What a great reminder that learning is about following our children and not so much telling them what to study.
We love using MOH! I did the same with a project board, but drew lines in Sharpie. I second the audio files – they’ve been a lifesaver for us! I also downloaded timeline figures from another source for $5 or $10 since my son does not like to draw. He colors them in and fills in the date on the bottom before gluing them on the timeline. We started the second quarter of Volume I a few weeks ago. Hope you enjoy it as much as we have!
Fabulous ideas, Damsel! Thank you for sharing your insights. 🙂
Hi,
This is our first year using MOH. I have a K5 and 1st grader. We are doing a very small co-op with a family that has a 1st grader and 2nd grader and we both felt this would be good for all the ages. Both families are planning on making a timeline and I was wondering were you got the pictures of the blank people. I ordered the premade timeline and I really don’t like them for the younger children. I think they will have more fun making there own guys.
Thanks,
Rachel
I am using the blanks from inside the text. I just made copies on card stock and they work really well.