Story of the World, Volume 1, Chapter 3

We have both the book and the CDs. I don’t plan which one we do first, the reading or the CD. It just so happened that we listened to Chapter 3 in the car a couple of weeks ago, coming back from Knoxville. When I finally got around to reading Chapter 3 to them, they were listening to me while playing on the carpet.

I asked my son, the first grader, the comprehension questions. He answered me while rearranging his LEGO bricks. I’m happy with that. I don’t always ask him to do narration at this point. 

I had the clay, the paper for the papyrus scroll, the cuneiform alphabet, the hieroglyphs, and all the other materials sitting on the table. I told them to come so we can roll out the clay. They came. Fast. They started working with no hesitation.

Clay tablet out of Sculpey, letter opener to write in cuneiform, rolling pin, and  cookie sheet I ruined by baking the clay without aluminium foil lining

Clay tablet, letter opener to write in cuneiform, rolling pin, and cookie sheet I ruined by baking the clay without aluminium foil lining

We decided to write HBP, short for Happy Birthday, Patty – an aunt who is having a birthday this month. We thought we should surprise her with a birthday message in cuneiform. Then, we wrote her name in hieroglyphics. I mean, why give her only one message in an ancient form of writing when we could give her two?

Cuneiform letters take a lot of space and our clay tablets were rather small. For clay, we used Sculpey – very easy to use, but it stains the baking sheet. I learned the hard way. So either use aluminium foil or an old tray that you strictly use for baking clay.

I got the dowels at Walmart. For paper, I used an 8” x 14” piece of paper.

We read Mummies in the Morning. We will not read this book again. Too spooky!

We called it a day. A few days later, my son refused to do the map work and coloring sheets. I’m OK with no coloring – it’s never been his thing and it actually feels like busy work to me. But I wanted him to do the map work. How to inspire and motivate a boy to color in his map of Ancient Egypt?

I got online and asked my trusted Facebook SOTW support group how I can motivate my son to do his map work. Many people wrote in confessing they had similar problems, mostly with boys. They just focus on the crafts and comprehension and let the map work go. Others suggested I offer a special set of markers or paints, maybe that will spark a renewed interest in map work (which he has done before without any problems, by the way).

Doing her map work - she never has a problem with this kind of projects

Doing her map work – she never has a problem with this kind of projects

We just happened to have a new set of markers, because I had gone shopping for school supplies for the new school year the previous week. So, the next day, I said, “Would you do your map work for history if I gave you the new set of markers?” It worked like a charm.

I am so thankful for this Facebook SOTW group (for Volume 1). Everybody is so ready to help out with their experience and things they have learned. That’s what I love about homeschoolers – they are always ready to support each other.

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3 thoughts on “Story of the World, Volume 1, Chapter 3

  1. Hi, just wanted to say thanks – I am doing SOTW with my daughter (2nd grade) and it helps to see how and what other people did, and also the mention of the group (I have asked to join).

    • Yes, it is. httpss://www.facebook.com/groups/209134975927549/ That’s the link for Volume 1. And here’s the link for a general one. httpss://www.facebook.com/groups/221594334519361/

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