A Chapter Book on Sequoyah: Talking Leaves

Talking Leaves

by Joseph Bruchac

I was chatting in one of my Facebook groups about how much I love James Rumford's picture book Sequoyah: The Cherokee Man Who Gave His People Writing when someone told me I should read Talking Leaves. (The group is Living Books for All Peoples, and I have learned a tremendous amount there; I highly recommend it.)

The book is written from the perspective of Sequoyah's teenage son. When Sequoyah returns to Uwohali's village, they had been separated for many years. Before long, Sequoyah's papers and scratchings bring him under suspicion for witchcraft, a dangerous charge within the community. Uwohali is drawn to his father, but is wary of the peculiar symbols. 

Uwohali's relationships with family members are important aspects to the story. I love when stories are woven around such strong bonds.

That brings a smile to my mother's face, in spite of her concern. If you want to make your mother happy, tell her that you like the food she has made for you. (p. 102)

The book shows how Sequoyah convinces his family and a few key people that the Cherokee can benefit from the power of the written language, just as white people do. Then, they must convince the village.

Joseph Bruchac is an author I trust to portray Native American characters and communities with accuracy and compassion. Not only is this a wonderful book of family and the astounding creation of a syllabary for the Cherokee language, but it reveals the world of the Cherokee at the time of Sequoyah in a valuable way.

It's a chapter book written at a late elementary or middle school reading level, a good choice for independent reading. I plan to assign it to my youngest, Second Son (sixth grade, Level 3 Year 1), as he studies American history this year.

There are some violent scenes (especially when Sequoyah describes a battle) and quite a bit of tension. If you have a sensitive child, you may want to pre-read or read aloud so you can adjust if necessary.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links. I borrowed this book from our library, but then found a copy at a recent library sale.

Truth for a Modern World: Lights in a Dark Town

Lights in a Dark Town: A Story about John Henry Newman
by Meriol Trevor

This is a delightful novel of mid-1800s Birmingham, England, where Emmeline and her mother become friends with Father John Henry Newman. Through conversations and experiences shared with Father, Emmeline and her friends encounter the theological arguments and actions Newman recognized as the response to the modern world.

"The present critics of Christianity are not stupid, and what clever men argue today, ordinary men accept the day after. Especially as people increasingly judge everything by what they think is scientific reasoning. They look at the world and find no evidence for a loving Creator. Indeed, they have some justification, for the world as we see it can be interpreted in various ways."

"But doesn't that mean the atheists are right?" Emmeline said, puzzled. 

Father Newman smiled. "No, why should it? Christianity is not a deduction from the world we see. It's a history--almost a drama--about a person. We accept, we obey Him. And we find He is true." (pp. 225-226)

He concludes: 

"There are many other important things to do and say, but this seems to me the most fundamental, for in the end it is the idea people have of the world and their place in it which affects everything they do." (p. 226)

Second Daughter (Level 3 Year 2, seventh grade) read this book near the end of her world history for the year. I think it's written at a level good for a fifth to eighth grade student to read independently, but it would be appropriate for all ages as a read-aloud. I love St. John Henry Newman and am very pleased I had a reason to buy this book for our home library.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I purchased this book new. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links.

Playing at Math: Multiplication and Fractions

Multiplication and Fractions: Math Games for Tough Topics

(Math You Can Play)

by Denise Gaskins

I have to interrupt my little written narrations of reading over the past year or so to tell you about this great book of math games. I've written about a few of Denise Gaskins's books before: Let's Play Math and the combo book Counting and Number Bonds and Addition and Subtraction. This is another games book, but for older students.

My kids almost all struggled more with math as soon as we encountered multiplication and fractions. For the most part, they understood the concepts, but remembering all the multiplication facts was difficult. For fractions, it was recognizing the ones that were the same when they were simplified or had different denominators.

For my younger kids, I scheduled a games day when we'd just play the next game in this book. Some games were more fun than others, but with a loop (going back to the beginning when we finished the book), we got lots of practice with different facts and they knew their favorite games would come around again. I appreciated how the games depended almost entirely on things we had at home (like regular decks of playing cards) or free materials Denise Gaskins offers on her site if you purchase the book. There are also variations for most of the games to make them easier or more difficult.

The information she provides before the games and when introducing each one is really helpful for parents who are trying to understand how their children are thinking and guide the children to consider how all the multiplication problems and fractions are inter-related. The games give lots of practice with the facts themselves, which helps kids remember them, but they are designed to also encourage kids to explore how numbers are related to each other.

Some kids really thrive with games, and many children simply need a solid dose of math facts practice every day. This book was one tool in our homeschool to ensure we were getting some practice in.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links.

All the Angel Stories: A Book of Angels

A Book of Angels
by Marigold Hunt

I originally bought this book when the advisory board for Mater Amabilis was considering it as an in-print substitute for reading in Advent or Lent. We ended up suggesting a different book, but since I had it, I read it with Second Son this year. I read a weekend ahead, and he read it independently and narrated it to me.

Marigold Hunt, of course, is marvelous. A Book of Angels has a tone similar to A Life of Our Lord for Children, The First Christians, and St. Patrick's Summer. (I somehow missed ever reviewing A Life of Our Lord for Children.) She speaks directly to the reader, a child of heart if not in years, sharing retellings of stories from the Bible and our faith.

There are thirteen chapters, covering basic information on angels, their appearances in the Bible, their role in history, and the hints of their future roles based on the book of Revelation.

Hunt does not follow only a literal reading of the Bible. In the chapter The Beginning of Everything, she writes:

Just what they did, whether it was eating forbidden fruit, like Adam and Eve, or something quite different, we don't know. But we know why they did it. What tempted them was the Devil's promise: "You shall be like gods, knowing good and evil." (p. 17)

Again, the chapter on Job does not assume Job is literally true.

At the beginning he put a conversation between God and the Devil to show how God happened to be so hard on Job. Of course, the Devil doesn't really go up to Heaven and stand among the angels, chatting with God. But poets are allowed to invent things like that. (p. 99)

I think there's one full page illustration for each chapter. My favorite one is that of Gabriel appearing to Mary . Mary's face is just lovely.

This may be my favorite Marigold Hunt book, though it would be a tough competition with St. Patrick's Summer, which Second Son also read this year. It's shorter than St. Patrick and would be appropriate for even younger children. (Mater Amabilis recommends St. Patrick's Summer for Level 2 Year 2, fifth grade.) The focus on angels gave a new perspective on salvation history, from beginning to end.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links. I purchased this book.

A Living Catechism: St. Patrick's Summer

St. Patrick's Summer: A Children's Adventure Catechism 

by Marigold Hunt

I bought this book years ago to read aloud to the kids, but they ended up listening to it at Children's Adoration at our parish instead. The moderators of Mater Amabilis have recently suggested it as an alternative catechism book for fifth grade (Level 2 Year 2). Second Son, my youngest, was just starting Level 2 Year 1, but I thought this would be a good year to schedule catechism because I didn't know how it would go in a Covid year at our parish. They ended up meeting every Sunday in person, just as planned, but Second Son read through the book as well. 

In St. Patrick's Summer, two young children are prepared for First Communion by miraculous visits from St. Patrick in the answer to prayers from their faithful (but tired) catechist. He teaches them about the beginnings of the Catholic faith and the meaning of the Eucharist in a way that makes the faith not only alive to them, but relevant to their daily lives.

The explanations are excellent. Very often they give a basic idea but encourage the reader to learn more as they grow; they leave lots of room for nuance and a deeper understanding as children mature.

This is a great book for kids to read independently in Level 2. Second Son read and narrated about half a chapter once a week. Some chapters are longer and were divided into three readings. It would also be a good book for First Communion preparation, but parents may want to read it aloud.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links. I purchased this book.

A Maasai Shares his People: Facing the Lion

Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna

by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton with Herman Viola

This fascinating little book was written by a young man who travelled long distances in Kenya to attend school, spending long stretches of time away from his nomadic family. Eventually, he attended college in the United States and now teaches in the Washington, D.C. area, often leading groups of Americans on trips to Kenya. His is a unique voice to tell Americans what life is like for the Maasai. Late in the book is a fabulous conversation between the author and his mother, who could never really grasp his modern life of travel between Kenya and the United States.

Mater Amabilis suggests a study of Africa in Level 2 Year 2 (fifth grade), and I think this book is perfect for that age, though it's not listed in the syllabus.

It does relate a few difficult experiences. Once the author and a few other boys were tracked by poachers who definitely intended harm, but they ran for almost twelve hours straight to escape. The description of his initiation ceremony is also very clear about the process of circumcision.

The photographs provided by the author in the color insert are wonderful.

My other children did not read this book, but I'm going to assign it to Second Son next year. He reads very quickly so I think I can even add it to the books he'll already be reading without bothering him too much. You can read about some of the other books he'll read in this post.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links. I checked this book out from our library.

An Illustrated History of the Pilgrims: The Mayflower

The Mayflower: The Perilous Voyage that Changed the World

by Libby Romero

illustrated by Olga Baumert

This is a lovely new book on the Pilgrims made with the collaboration of Plimoth Plantation. The illustrations are beautiful, depicting details about life on board the Mayflower and on land in vibrant colors. Native Americans are portrayed with dignity. Some acts of the Pilgrims, like confiscating corn they found in empty villages, is described. They later make restitution by paying for the supplies.

It's more than a picture book, so you would have to read it aloud to younger children. A Level 2 or Level 3 student would be able to read it independently and narrate it.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop are affiliate links.

A Study of Virtues: How to Be a Hero

How to be a Hero: Train with the Saints

by Julia Harrell

I bought this book as a baptismal anniversary gift. It's a book in three parts, each one devoted to cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance), theological virtues (faith, hope, love), and "Little" virtues (humility, obedience, patience, gentleness). Each chapter first defines the virtue, tells the story of a saint who exemplifies the virtue, includes a short prayer, and some leading questions encouraging the reader to grow in that virtue.

The saints are a good mix of familiar and less common ones: Pope St. John Paul II but also St. Charbel Markhlouf, for example. 

There were two points I noted that might need discussion. In the story for fortitude and Saints Peter yu Tae-chol and Agatha Yi, I would have appreciated, for this age, an explicit statement in the text that turning yourself in during a persecution is not necessary; that God wants us to live. Later, in the chapter on love, Bl. Chiara Badano visits a friend with chicken pox when everyone else stays away because they are afraid to catch the disease. A year ago, I wouldn't have noticed it, but in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, I think you might want to mention that it is also sometimes an act of charity to act to limit the spread of disease. Those are good opportunities for discussions, though.

The chapter on Bl. Dina Belanger was one of my favorites, one I think particularly suited to children. Her obedience to her spiritual director and her parents in the timing of her entrance to religious life is rewarded with a glimpse of the way God can work in our lives.

The description recommends it for children aged 9 to 11. That seems about right to me. I've added it to my son's list for spiritual reading this year; he's 10. It's an excellent book on the virtues, though it does seem a little bland sometimes compared to some of the more beautiful older books we have read. I'm not replacing anything in our lessons, just adding this as an option for him to take to adoration and read silently before Jesus in the Eucharist.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I purchased this book new. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links.

American Geography in Level 2 using the Geography Coloring Book

Last week I shared a set of lesson plans incorporating The Geography Coloring Book with the Mater Amabilis™ geography books in Levels 1A, 2, and 3. You can find those lesson plans here.

A friend in the Mater Amabilis™ Facebook group asked if I had considered adding assignments for American Geography in Level 2. This two-year course uses four books by Holling Clancy Holling: Paddle-to-the-Sea, Seabird, Tree in the Trail, and Minn of the Mississippi. These are magnificent books, illustrated with colorful details, spreading a delightful feast of geography, history, and the natural world.

One of the resources recommended for American Geography in Level 2 is a set of four maps designed to accompany the Hollings books. I've always used the map set, which is just lovely, but my friend pointed out that many people do not have wall space for big maps like those. Also, if you have already purchased The Geography Coloring Book, you wouldn't need to invest in another resource.

So I devoted a little time to creating mapping assignments in The Geography Coloring Book for the Hollings books in Level 2 American Geography. For each book, read one chapter a week. Most weeks have mapping assignments that correlate with the text. I also added some coloring for states not specifically included in the books so that by the end of the two years, a student will have colored each of the individual states.

My youngest is starting Level 2 next year, but I've already bought the map set, so if you use these plans, please let me know how they work or it they need any changes!

Level 2 Year 1: Paddle-to-the-Sea

Ch. 1

Color Canada (just the letters) on p. 10

Ch. 2

Label and color Lake Nipigon on p. 10

Ch. 8

Lake Superior on p. 10

Ch. 9

Michigan on p. 10

Ch. 11

Find Duluth, MN and Superior, WI on p. 10

Ch. 12

Find the Apostle Islands on p. 10

Ch. 13

Label Isle Royale and find the Keweenaw Peninsula on p. 10

Ch. 16

Color Ontario (just around the edges is fine) and find Sault Ste. Marie on p. 10

Ch. 17

Color Lake Michigan and Indiana on p. 10. Find the Straits of Mackinac, Gary, IN, and Chicago, IL.

Ch. 18

Maryland and New Jersey on p. 7

Ch. 19

Connecticut and Delaware on p. 7

Ch. 20

Color Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair on p. 10. Find Saginaw Bay and Detroit, MI.

Ch. 21

Color Lake Erie on p. 10

Ch. 22

Color Ohio on p. 10. Find Toledo, Sandusky, and Cleveland in Ohio and Erie, PA. Color Pennsylvania on p. 7. Find Buffalo. NY and Niagara Falls.

Ch. 23

Color New York and Lake Ontario on p. 7. Color in the letters that spell Canada. Find Toronto and Kinsgton in Ontario. Find the Thousand Islands using the map in the chapter.

Ch. 24

Color Lake Champlain and Vermont on p. 7. Find the St. Lawrence River, Montreal, and Quebec.

Ch. 25

Color Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence on p. 5. Find the St. Lawrence River.

Ch. 26

Color the Atlantic Ocean on p. 5. Find Newfoundland and France on a globe.

Level 2 Year 1: Seabird

Ch. 1

Greenland on p. 3. Find the Arctic Circle.

Ch. 2

Maine and Baffin Bay on p. 3

Ch. 3

Labrador Sea on p. 3

Ch. 4

Newfoundland on p. 3

Ch. 5

New Brunswick on p. 3

Ch. 6

Maine and Nova Scotia on p. 7

Ch. 7

New Hampshire on p. 7

Ch. 8

Massachusetts and Rhode Island on p. 7. Find Cape Cod and Nantucket Island.

Ch. 9

Atlantic Ocean on p. 7

Ch 10

Pacific Ocean (just the letters is fine) on the Western Hemisphere on p. 1

Ch. 11

Pacific Ocean (just the letters is fine) on the Eastern Hemisphere on p. 1

Ch. 12

Oceania (Eastern Hemisphere) on p. 1

Ch. 13

North America (Western Hemisphere) on p. 1. Find Greenland.

Ch. 14

Arctic Ocean on both hemispheres on p. 1

Ch. 15

Atlantic Ocean and Equator (Western Hemisphere) on p. 1

Ch. 16

Atlantic Ocean (Eastern Hemisphere) on p. 1

Ch. 17

South America (Western Hemisphere) on p. 1 Label Cape Horn.

Ch. 18

California on p. 11. Find San Francisco.

Ch. 19

Antarctica on both hemispheres on p. 1

Ch. 20

Add Hawai’i (Western Hemisphere) to p. 1

Ch. 21

Asia (Eastern Hemisphere) on p. 1

Ch. 22

Indian Ocean (Eastern Hemisphere) on p. 1

Ch. 23

Africa (Eastern Hemisphere) on p. 1

Ch. 24

Europe (Eastern Hemisphere) on p. 1

Ch. 25

Alaska on p. 9

Ch. 26

Hawai’i on p. 9

Level 2 Year 2: Tree in the Trail

Ch. 1

Add the Tree to Kansas on p. 9 using the map at the end of your book. Color Kansas.

Ch. 2

Color Santa Fe, NM on p. 9

Ch. 3

Oklahoma on p. 9

Ch. 4

Texas on p. 9

Ch. 5

New Mexico on p. 11. Find Santa Fe.

Ch. 6

Colorado on p. 11

Ch. 7

Nebraska on p. 10

Ch. 8

North Dakota on p. 10

Ch. 9

Color the Rocky Mountains, Kansas (KS), Missouri (MO), Louisiana (LA), and New Mexico (NM) on p. 4. Find Canada, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Great Lakes, and the Mississippi River.

Ch. 10

Color Mexico on p. 4. Color Missouri on p. 9. Find St. Louis and the Missouri River. Sketch the Trail from the Tree to Santa Fe on p. 9 using the map from the chapter in your book.

Ch. 11

South Dakota on p. 10

Ch. 12

Arizona on p. 10

Ch. 13

Idaho on p. 10

Ch. 14

Add Council Grove to p. 9. Find the Kansas River, Topeka, and Independence, MO.

Ch. 15

Montana on p. 10

Ch. 16

Nevada on p. 10

Ch. 17

Oregon on p. 10

Ch. 18

Utah on p. 10

Ch. 19

Washington on p. 10

Ch. 20

Wyoming on p. 10

Ch. 21

Find Dodge City on p. 9

Ch. 23

Add Bent’s Fort to p. 11. See the map in chapter 21 to help you add it.

Ch. 24

Rocky Mountains on p. 11. (Just color in the letters.)

Level 2 Year 2: Minn of the Mississippi

Ch. 1

Minnesota on p. 10

Ch. 2

Mississippi River on p. 4

Ch. 3

Trace the Mississippi River with your finger on p. 4. Color the Gulf of Mexico. Add Lake Itasca to p. 10.

Ch. 4

North Carolina and South Carolina on p. 8

Ch. 6

Trace with your finger the area of the glacial ice spread shown on p. 28 in your book on the map on p. 4 in the coloring book.

Ch. 7

Find Minneapolis and St. Paul on p. 10

Ch. 8

Great Lakes on p. 4

Ch. 9

Color Quebec and the Gulf of St. Lawrence on p. 4. Color Wisconsin on p. 10. If you like, add Lake Pepin.

Ch. 10

Color Florida on p. 8. Color Illinois on p. 10. Find the Wisconsin River, Green Bay, the Fox River, and the Illinois River.

Ch. 11

Iowa on p. 10. Find the Missouri River and St. Louis.

Ch. 12

Color Nova Scotia on p. 4. On p. 10, find Rock Island and the Iowa River.

Ch. 13

On p. 9, find the Missouri River, the Ohio River, and St. Louis.

Ch. 14

Kentucky on p. 8. Find the Ohio River. Compare the map on p. 61 of your book with the map on p. 4 of the coloring book.

Ch. 15

Arkansas on p. 9

Ch. 16

Tennessee on p. 8. Find Memphis.

Ch. 17

Alabama and Georgia on p. 8

Ch. 18

Color Mississippi on p. 8. Find Vicksburg and Natchez. Color Louisiana on p. 9. Find Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Ch. 19

Gulf of Mexico on p. 9

Ch. 20

Virginia and West Virginia on p. 8

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links.

A Master Lesson Plan for the Geography Coloring Book with Mater Amabilis™

As I was wrapping up our Mater Amabilis™ Level 1A year and organizing the Level 2 plans for Second Son, my youngest, I realized that over the years I have assigned different maps for the same book and the same maps for different books in The Geography Coloring Book. Because I love things to be nice and orderly, I decided to spend a little time creating a coherent set of master plans for The Geography Coloring Book aligned with the geography books for Mater Amabilis™ in Level 1A Year 2 (third grade), Level 2 (fourth and fifth grades), and Level 3 (sixth and seventh grades).

Just a friendly reminder: The Geography Coloring Book is not an essential tool for studying geography. I might even argue it's not the best tool for studying geography within the Charlotte Mason method. It is, however, an easy resource. The student colors the assignments independently, then can show the map work while narrating. Something similar would be asking the child to trace the country borders, rivers, and seas, but I found my kids tended to skip that part if I wasn't sitting next to them. I also personally love coloring maps, so in the usual fashion, I like assigning my children work I enjoy.

Moment of truth: These plans will not be used with any of my children in their entirety. They are plans for a hypothetical child who would start 1A Year 2 next year. These plans would allow for a student to use the same coloring book for the five years without duplicating the maps. (A few years allow options for different books, so there may be one or two countries or activities that appear more than once, but I really tried to avoid duplication.) At the end of five years, there are still plenty of maps left to color if you have a student who enjoys it.

If you are interested in a nice neat printable version of these, I intend to share a link in the Mater Amabilis™ Facebook group.

Level 1A Year 2 Geography and Earth Studies: People & Places
Mapping Lessons for Asia

Post on the Books We Read

Level 1A Year 2 Geography and Earth Studies: Extreme Environments

Map Assignments (for 52 Days by Camel, Jungle Islands, and By Truck to the North)

Level 2 Years 1 and 2 Geography and Earth Studies: American Geography
Mapping Lessons for the Holling C. Holling books (Paddle-to-the-Sea, Seabird, Tree in the Trail, and Minn of the Mississippi)

Level 2 Year 1 Geography and Earth Studies: People and Places

Mapping Lesson for the Americas

Post on the Books for Second Son

Post on the Books for First Son

Level 2 Year 2 Geography and Earth Studies: People & Places

Mapping Lessons for Africa

Post on Some of the Africa Books

Level 3 Year 1 Geography and Earth Studies: Travel

Book of Marvels: The Occident

Level 3 Year 2 Geography and Earth Studies: Travel

Book of Marvels: The Orient

Please do not copy and share these elsewhere, but instead share by linking to this post or to the Facebook group.

Links to Bookshop are affiliate links. You can also find The Geography Coloring Book at Amazon (affiliate link).

An Update to Mapping Activities for the Americas (Level 2 Year 1, Fourth Grade)

This is a revised and expanded lesson plan for The Geography Coloring Book for the Mater Amabilis™ Level 2 Year 1 People and Places Americas studies. You can find the final mapping plans our family used in this post, along with some notes about the books we read.

Our plans were kind of all over the place through the years. If you use the plans in this post, you can follow the master lesson plan (which I'll link here after I've finished and posted it) without assigning the same maps in different years. In comparison to Level 1A, the new plans for Level 2 expand from individual countries more to the continent as a whole.

You would only choose three of these books.

Chúcaro: Wild Pony of the Pampa

Week 1

Forward and 1. Lasso

Geography Coloring Book: Argentina on p. 17

Week 2

2. Ombu

Geography Coloring Book: Paraguay on p. 17

Week 3

3. The Casita

Geography Coloring Book: Uruguay on p. 17

Week 4

4. Currycomb and 5. Tears

Geography Coloring Book: Bolivia on p. 17

Week 5

6. Gitana, the Gypsy and 7. Meat, Mate, Music

Geography Coloring Book: Chile on p. 17

Week 6

8. What the Mayordomo Didn't Know Was Not Worth Knowing

Geography Coloring Book: Ecuador on p. 17

Week 7

9. The Red Kerchief--A Mystery and 10. Something Is Brewing Again

Geography Coloring Book: Peru on p. 17

Week 8

11. The Vaquero Never Had a Chance

Geography Coloring Book: Colombia on p. 16

Week 9 

12. An Urgent Message

Geography Coloring Book: French Guiana on p. 16

Week 10

13. The Patron

Geography Coloring Book: Guyana and Suriname on p. 16

Week 11

14. Bolas and 15. The Match

Geography Coloring Book: Venezuela on p. 16

Week 12

16. Itchy Hooves and 17. To Iguazu

Geography Coloring Book: Brazil on p. 16

The Cay

Week 1

Chapter One

Geography Coloring Book: Netherlands Antilles on p. 13

Week 2

Chapter Two

Geography Coloring Book: Bahamas on p. 13

Week 3

Chapter Three

Geography Coloring Book: Dominican Republic on p. 13

Week 4

Chapter Four

Geography Coloring Book: Haiti on p. 13

Week 5

Chapters Five and Six

Geography Coloring Book: Puerto Rico on p. 13

Week 6

Chapter Seven and Eight

Geography Coloring Book: Jamaica on p. 13

Week 7

Chapters Nine and Ten

Geography Coloring Book: St. Kitts and Nevis on p. 13

Week 8

Chapter Eleven

Geography Coloring Book: Antigua and Barbuda on p. 13

Week 9

Chapters Twelve and Thirteen

Geography Coloring Book: French Territories on p. 13

Week 10

Chapters Fourteen and Fifteen

Geography Coloring Book: Dominica on p. 13

Week 11

Chapters Sixteen and Seventeen

Geography Coloring Book: St. Lucia on p. 13

Week 12

Chapters Eighteen and Nineteen

Geography Coloring Book: Trinidad & Tobago on p. 13

The Secret of the Andes

Week 1

Chapters 1-2

Geography Coloring Book: Peru on p. 14

Week 2

Chapters 3-4

Geography Coloring Book: Chile on p. 14

Week 3

Chapter 5

Geography Coloring Book: the Amazon and its Tributaries on p. 15

Week 4

Chapters 6-7

Geography Coloring Book: the Orinoco and its Tributaries on p. 15

Week 5

Chapter 8

Geography Coloring Book: the Rio de la Plata on p. 15

Week 6

Chapter 9

Geography Coloring Book: the Parana on p. 15

Week 7

Chapter 10

Geography Coloring Book: the Paraguay River on p. 15

Week 8

Chapters 11-12

Geography Coloring Book: the Uruguay River on p. 15

Week 9

Chapter 13

Geography Coloring Book: the other Rio de la Plata tributaries on p. 15

Week 10

Chapter 14

Geography Coloring Book: the Andes Mountains region on the small map on p. 15

Week 11

Chapter 15

Geography Coloring Book: the Guiana Highlands and Brazilian Highlands land regions on the small map on p. 15

Week 12

Chapters 16-17

Geography Coloring Book: the Central Plains land regions (Llanos, Selvas, Gran Chaco, Pampas, and Patagonia) on the small map on p. 15

Where the Flame Trees Bloom

Week 1

Introduction

Geography Coloring Book: Color Cuba on p. 12

Week 2

The Teacher

Geography Coloring Book: Mexico on p 12

Week 3

Choices

Geography Coloring Book: Belize on p 12

Week 4

The Surveyor

Geography Coloring Book: Costa Rica on p 12

Week 5

Lightning

Geography Coloring Book: El Salvador on p 12

Week 6

Samone

Geography Coloring Book: Guatemala on p 12

Week 7

The Legend

Geography Coloring Book: Honduras on p 12

Week 8

Canelo

Geography Coloring Book: Nicaragua on p 12

Week 9

The Rag Dolls

Geography Coloring Book: Panama on p 12

Week 10

Mathematics

Geography Coloring Book: Caribbean Sea on p 12

Week 11

The Ice Cream Man

Geography Coloring Book: Gulf of Mexico p. 12

Week 12

The Feast of San Juan

Geography Coloring Book: Jamaica on p. 12

Week 13

Epilogue

Geography Coloring Book: Cuba on p. 13

Maya Quest: Interactive Expedition

The mapping activities here are on the same map as those for Where the Flame Trees Bloom so a family would choose one or the other of these books or forgo the mapping activities for the second book selected.

Week 1

pp. 2-11

Geography Coloring Book: Color Mexico on p. 12

Week 2

pp. 12-33

Geography Coloring Book: Belize on p 12

Week 3

pp. 24-33

Geography Coloring Book: Guatemala on p 12

Week 4

pp. 34-41

Geography Coloring Book: Costa Rica on p 12

Week 5

pp. 44-59

Geography Coloring Book: El Salvador on p 12

Week 6

pp. 60-73

Geography Coloring Book: Honduras on p 12

Week 7

pp. 74-87

Geography Coloring Book: Nicaragua on p 12

Week 8

pp. 88-99

Geography Coloring Book: Panama on p 12

Week 9

pp. 102-109

Geography Coloring Book: Caribbean Sea on p 12

Week 10

pp. 110-117

Geography Coloring Book: Gulf of Mexico on p 12

Week 11

pp. 118-125

Geography Coloring Book: Cuba on p. 12

Week 12

pp. 126-131

Geography Coloring Book: Jamaica on p. 12

Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibottson

This is not one of the Mater Amabilis™ suggestions, but a book my family has enjoyed.

Week 1

Ch 1-2

Geography Coloring Book: Color Brazil on p 14

Week 2

Ch 3-4

Geography Coloring Book: French Guiana on p 14

Week 3

Ch 5-6

Geography Coloring Book: Color Suriname on p 14

Week 4

Ch 7-8 

Geography Coloring Book: Guyana on p 14

Week 5

Ch 9-10

Geography Coloring Book: Venezuela on p 14

Week 6

Ch 11-12

Geography Coloring Book: Colombia on p 14

Week 7

Ch 13-14

Geography Coloring Book: Argentina on p. 14

Week 8

Ch 15-16

Geography Coloring Book: Eucador on p 14

Week 9

Ch 17-18

Geography Coloring Book: Bolivia on p 14

Week 10

Ch 19-20

Geography Coloring Book: Paraguay on p 14 

Week 11

Ch 21-22

Geography Coloring Book: Uruguay on p 14

Week 12

Ch 23-24

Geography Coloring Book: Falkland Islands on p. 14

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

A Challenging but Worthwhile History: This Country of Ours

This Country of Ours

by H. E. Marshall

This Country of Ours is the first option on the Mater Amabilis™ Level 1B syllabus for History, the first year in a three year course of study that continues through Level 1A (first grade through third grade). I started to read it aloud to First Son when he was in first grade and...it was a bit of a disaster. A lot of reasons for our struggles were at play: First Son was not a strong narrator. I was new at homeschooling and at narration myself. I had an exhausting two-year-old. I also had a demanding infant. The book was published in 1917 and is written with an attitude toward Native Americans we now recognize as racist, though it was not intended as such, but I was uncomfortable dealing with that attitude as we read. This Country of Ours is a challenging text, and the early chapters are in some ways the most difficult. 

We had barely scratched the surface when I decided to switch to Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans by Edward Eggleston, one of the suggested alternatives. This was a much better book for First Son at that age and for me, too. 

There are a lot of discussions in the Mater Amabilis™ Facebook group about This Country of Ours and the American history options in Levels 1-3. I heard stories from other families that loved the book and from those that used it in later years. So a couple of years ago, I decided to revisit it. First Daughter and Second Daughter have read the whole book. Second Son just started it in Level 1A Year 2 (third grade).

One of the aspects of the book I really wanted to address was the change in attitude toward Native Americans between Marshall's time and our own. I also wanted to give my readers a more concrete grasp of where these events were taking place. So I wrote a study guide, one that could be printed with a little introduction to each chapter saying everything I would say if I were sitting down to read it aloud to them. I included some maps to study before and as they read. As the girls used the study guide, I fixed errors and expanded it. Over the past few weeks, I added a list of people for each chapter. (My children explained they were having trouble telling people apart, especially in remembering which country or army someone represented.)

Over the past three years, I have read This Country of Ours two or three times, and I have come to love it. The people described are real, with their faults and virtues. The stories are exhilarating, and yet encourage further study. The language is full of rich descriptions. As a teacher of children at multiple levels, I can see myriad connections with This Country of Ours and other books in the Mater Amabilis™ syllabi like A Book of Discovery. These are not explicit, as they would be in a series that referred to early books or chapters, but are there because they exist in reality.

Though I address Native Americans in the study guide, I found a book for Second Son to read from before he started This Country of Ours and to intersperse in his readings to give a completely different perspective on events concerning Native Americans. First People: An Illustrated History of American Indians by David C. King seems to be an even-handed description of life before Europeans arrived and the consequences that followed interactions between Europeans and Native Americans.

Second Son was nine years old before he even started third grade and is a fantastic reader and narrator, so he could handle a little more difficulty than just This Country of Ours. Even so, I let him tell me if I'd assigned too much. If he wanted to only read half a chapter, I let him. Because I knew he was such a strong reader, I knew he'd be able to handle adding First People in addition to This Country of Ours.

I encourage all Mater Amabilis™ families to explore the many different ways to teach American history in Levels 1-3. The website has many options and the Facebook group has lots of people willing to share their own experiences. Here are just a few ideas:

• Read This Country of Ours over three years starting in Level 1B as on the original Mater Amabilis™ syllabus (first, second, and third grades). Use the study guide and read aloud to your student. Divide the early chapters into as many readings as you need so your student doesn't get overwhelmed.
• Read This Country of Ours over three years starting in Level 1A Year 2 and going through both years of Level 2, as Second Son will, with readings from First People interspersed (third, fourth, and fifth grades). Or spread This Country of Ours over these three years but without any reading from First People.
• Read This Country of Ours over two years in Level 2, as Second Daughter did, using the study guide (fourth and fifth grades). (She did not read First People.)
• Read This Country of Ours over two years in Level 3, as First Daughter did, with First People as an independent reading book (sixth and seventh grades). 

As you can see, my own four children have each read (or not read) This Country of Ours on a different schedule.

The study guide I wrote is available in the Mater Amabilis™ Facebook group for families to download and print or to use on a tablet and would be appropriate for reading aloud with children in Levels 1B and up, or printing for children to use independently in Levels 2 or 3. I hope it provides some support for families who might otherwise hesitate to use This Country of Ours.

Incorporating First People with This Country of Ours (perhaps most appropriate for Levels 2 or 3)

Start the year with First People. For This Country of Ours, read about a chapter a day (perhaps increasing to two chapters nearing the end of the third year as the chapters get shorter). Some of the First People readings might need to be broken up as well, depending on your student.

• First People
• Introduction pp. 6-11
• Chapter 1: The Beginning pp. 15-19 (The Ice Age and the Land Bridge, Adapting to the Environment)
• Chapter 2: The Emergence of Indian Cultures pp. 28-33 (The Mound-Building Cultures, Monk's Mound)
• This Country of Ours (TCOO)
• Chapters 1-12
• First People
• Chapter 2: The Emergence of Indian Cultures pp. 68-71 (The Southeast, The Cherokee)
• Chapter 3: First Encounters with Europeans pp. 75-77 (Europeans Explore the Southeast)
• Chapter 4: The European Impact pp. 88-89 (Changes in the East)
• Chapter 5: The Contest for a Nation pp. 118-119 (The Virginia Frontier)
• TCOO
• Chapters 13-21
• First People
• Chapter 2: The Emergence of Indian Cultures pp. 60-67 (The Northeast Woodlands, The Iroquois, The Ojibwe)
• Chapter 3: First Encounters with Europeans pp. 78-79 (First Meetings in the Northeast)
• TCOO
• Chapters 22-31
• First People
• Chapter 5: The Contest for a Continent pp. 120-121 (The Conflict in New England)
• TCOO
• Chapters 32-49
• First People
• Chapter 5: The Contest for a Continent pp. 122-123 (The Conflict Moves West)
• TCOO
• Chapters 50-66
• First People
• Chapter 2: The Emergence of Indian Cultures pp. 42-46 (The Great Plains, The Sioux: Before European Contact, Made from Bison)
• Chapter 2: The Emergence of Indian Culture pp. 48-51 (The Plateau, The Great Basin)
• Chapter 4:  The European Impact pp. 94-98 (Changes on the Plains, The Sioux: After European Contact, Weapons of the Plains)
• Chapter 2: The Emergence of Indian Cultures pp. 54-59 (The Pacific Northwest, The Haida: Before European Conflict, Totem Poles)
• Chapter 3: First Encounters with Europeans pp. 84-85 (Encounters on the West Coast)
• Chapter 4: The European Impact pp. 108-113 (Changes in the Northwest, The Haida: After European Contact, The Kwakwaka'wakw)
• TCOO 

• Chapters 67-72
• First People
• Chapter 5: The Contest for a Continent pp. 126-131 (Last Conflicts in the East, Write it in Cherokee, The Trail Where They Cried)
• TCOO
• Chapters 73-74
• First People
• Chapter 5: The Contest for a Continent pp. 124-125 (Other Indian Struggles to Survive)
• TCOO
• Chapter 75
• First People
• Chapter 3: First Encounters with Europeans pp. 80-82 (The Spanish in the Southwest)
• Chapter 4: The European Impact pp. 100-107 (Changes in the Southwest, The Navajo: After European Contact, The Apache)
• Chapter 5: The Contest for a Continent pp. 134-135 (Indian Losses in the Southwest)
• TCOO
• Chapter 76
• First People
• Chapter 2: The Emergence of Indian Cultures pp. 52-53 (California)
• Chapter 5: The Contest for a Continent pp. 132-133 (The Impact of New Developments)
• TCOO
• Chapters 77-91
• First People
• Chapter 5: The Contest for a Continent pp. 136-143 (War for the Great Plains, What's in a Headdress?, Final Victories, Final Defeats)
• TCOO
• Chapters 92-99
• First People (spread over many days)
• Chapter 6: The Struggle to Survive
• Chapter 7: A People's Revival

Second Son also read some of the supplemental reading during his independent reading time over the course of the year.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links. I have also often purchased books directly from Yesterday's Classics because their reprints are consistently good and the myriad of options on bookseller sites are often impossible to evaluate before purchasing.

My Last Fourth Grader's People and Places Plans: Central and South America

My youngest child, Second Son, is heading into Level 4 Year 1 (fourth grade) next year. I'm going through all our plans and deciding what he'll do and wanted to give an updated and more complete plan for People and Places. Mater Amabilis™ Level 2 Year 1 suggests choosing one book per term out of five options. I have read all five of the options but haven't used all of them in our lessons.

You can read what First Son did on my original post. I've added and removed books over the years, so what Second Son will do is a much smoother plan. For your benefit, I'm including more specific assignments for the Geography Coloring Book. I use this coloring book for all sorts of geography coloring starting in third grade through seventh or eighth grade. It's a bit of an investment, but I think it makes adding geography maps really easy for me.

[UPDATE on June 8, 2020: I created a newly expanded and revised set of lesson plans for The Geography Coloring Book, which you can find here. It's part of a master lesson plan for Levels 1A, 2, and 3.]

The Books (not including ones only First Son read)

Chucaro: Wild Pony of the Pampa by Francis Kalnay - a fun horse story from the Pampas of South America. First Son was more indifferent to this story than I expected, probably because I assigned too much other stuff. (That is a common problem for the oldest in a homeschooling family.) The girls didn't read it, but Second Son will. He likes animals stories, so I'm hopeful he'll enjoy it.

The Cay by Theodore Taylor - I love this book about a boy stranded on an island with a man he learns to love and respect. The girls didn't read this for school, though First Daughter read and enjoyed it on her own.

Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson - This is a lovely story of curiosity and mystery. First Son thought it was boring, but really I think I just asked him to read too much each week. My girls both loved it so much they often read far too many chapters at a time because they were too engrossed to put it down.

Where the Flame Trees Bloom by Alma Flor Ada - These stories of Cuba show the people and place very well for young readers. First Daughter enjoyed these short stories more than Second Daughter did. I think Second Son would prefer more excitement.

The Tapir Scientist: Saving South America's Largest Mammal by Sy Montgomery - I love this book. It's full of fascinating information on tapirs and real-life adventures of scientific work in the wild. I have assigned this to my girls and I think it was Second Daughter's most favorite book of fourth grade. I'm putting it on Second Son's independent reading list and hope he chooses to read it, but I'm not going to assign it.

Second Son's People and Places Lesson Plans

I have never required an actual narration from our People and Places lessons in Level 2 Year 1, but a few years ago I started asking my student to make notes in a reading journal after their reading for the day. They don't have to write a lot, not even sentences, just a few words to help them slow down a little and think about what they read. I only check the journal if they want me to read it.

First Term: Chucaro

Week 1

Forward and 1. Lasso

Geography Coloring Book: Argentina on p. 17

Week 2

2. Ombu

Geography Coloring Book: Paraguay on p. 17

Week 3

3. The Casita

Geography Coloring Book: Uruguay on p. 17

Week 4

4. Currycomb and 5. Tears

Geography Coloring Book: Bolivia on p. 17

Week 5

6. Gitana, the Gypsy and 7. Meat, Mate, Music

Geography Coloring Book: Chile on p. 17

Week 6

8. What the Mayordomo Didn't Know Was Not Worth Knowing

Geography Coloring Book: Ecuador on p. 17

Week 7

9. The Red Kerchief--A Mystery and 10. Something Is Brewing Again

Geography Coloring Book: Peru on p. 17

Week 8

11. The Vaquero Never Had a Chance

Geography Coloring Book: Colobmia on p. 16

Week 9 

12. An Urgent Message

Geography Coloring Book: French Guiana on p. 16

Week 10

13. The Patron

Geography Coloring Book: Guyana and Suriname on p. 16

Week 11

14. Bolas and 15. The Match

Geography Coloring Book: Venezuela on p. 16

Week 12

16. Itchy Hooves and 17. To Igazu

Geography Coloring Book: Brazil on p. 16

Second Term: The Cay

Week 1

Chapter One

Geography Coloring Book: Netherlands Antilles on p. 13

Week 2

Chapter Two

Geography Coloring Book: Bahamas on p. 13

Week 3

Chapter Three

Geography Coloring Book: Dominican Republic on p. 13

Week 4

Chapter Four

Geography Coloring Book: Haiti on p. 13

Week 5

Chapters Five and Six

Geography Coloring Book: Puerto Rico on p. 13

Week 6

Chapter Seven and Eight

Geography Coloring Book: Jamaica on p. 13

Week 7

Chapter Nine and Ten

Geography Coloring Book: St. Kitts and Nevis on p. 13

Week 8

Chapter Eleven

Geography Coloring Book: Antigua and Barbuda on p. 13

Week 9

Chapters Twelve and Thirteen

Geography Coloring Book: French Territories on p. 13

Week 10

Chapters Fourteen and Fifteen

Geography Coloring Book: Dominica on p. 13

Week 11

Chapters Sixteen and Seventeen

Geography Coloring Book: St. Lucia on p. 13

Week 12

Chapters Eighteen and Nineteen

Geography Coloring Book: Trinidad & Tobago on p. 13

Third Term: Journey to the River Sea

independent reading: To Go Singing through the World by Deborah Kogan Ray - This is a nice picture book biography of Pablo Neruda.

Week 1

Ch 1-2

Geography Coloring Book: Color Brazil on p 14

Week 2

Ch 3-4

Geography Coloring Book: French Guiana on p 14

Week 3

Ch 5-6

Geography Coloring Book: Color Suriname on p 14

Week 4

Ch 7-8 

Geography Coloring Book: Guyana on p 14

Week 5

Ch 9-10

Geography Coloring Book: Venezuela on p 14

Week 6

Ch 11-12

Geography Coloring Book: Colombia on p 14

Week 7

Ch 13-14

Geography Coloring Book: Argentina on p. 14

Week 8

Ch 15-16

Geography Coloring Book: Eucador on p 14

Week 9

Ch 17-18

Geography Coloring Book: Bolivia on p 14

Week 10

Ch 19-20

Geography Coloring Book: Paraguay on p 14 

Week 11

Ch 21-22

Geography Coloring Book: Uruguay on p 14

Week 12

Ch 23-24

Geography Coloring Book: Falkland Islands on p. 14

First Daughter and Second Daughter's Books 

My daughters read Where the Flame Trees Bloom instead of The Cay and The Tapir Scientist instead of Chucaro.

Where the Flame Trees Bloom

Week 1

Introduction

Geography Coloring Book: Color Cuba on p. 12

Week 2

The Teacher

Geography Coloring Book: Mexico on p 12

Week 3

Choices

Geography Coloring Book: Belize on p 12

Week 4

The Surveyor

Geography Coloring Book: Costa Rica on p 12

Week 5

Lightning

Geography Coloring Book: El Salvador on p 12

Week 6

Samone

Geography Coloring Book: Guatemala on p 12

Week 7

The Legend

Geography Coloring Book: Honduras on p 12

Week 8

Canelo

Geography Coloring Book: Nicaragua on p 12

Week 9

The Rag Dolls

Geography Coloring Book: Panama on p 12

Week 10

Mathematics

Geography Coloring Book: Caribbean Sea on p 12

Week 11

The Ice Cream Man

Geography Coloring Book: Gulf of Mexico p. 12

Week 12

The Feast of San Juan

Geography Coloring Book: Jamaica on p. 12

Week 13

Epilogue

Geography Coloring Book: Cuba on p. 13

The Tapir Scientist

Read one chapter a week. My girls used the same coloring book assignments as in Chucaro. There are only nine chapters in The Tapir Scientist, so you could either double up some of the coloring (coloring one country doesn't usually take very long) or just stop after the first nine assignments.

I have received nothing for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

Egypt for Level 1 and Level 2: The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt and The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone

The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt (Landmark Books)

by Elizabeth Payne

Though we've studied ancient Egypt before, we managed to miss this book that is recommended both by RC History for Connecting with History Volume 1 (for the logic level, but I'm using it with my Level 2 student as well as my Level 3 student) and Mater Amabilis™ Level 1A Year 2 (which would be third grade, though my third grader is not reading it as we're only spending a few weeks on ancient Egypt).

I finished The History of Ancient Egypt shortly before reading this Landmark book and was pleased that I found no important discrepancies. This book brings ancient Egypt to life for young readers. There are many photographs and helpful maps. The writing is inviting and entertaining as well as informative, as I have found with many of the Landmark Books. This is a nice complement to the Usborne ancient history books with lots of vibrant color pictures and diagrams but limited text.

The Mater Amabilis™ schedule for Level 1A recommends just a few pages each reading, but I have my Level 2 Year 2 student reading longer sections. I expect both my daughters to enjoy this book.

The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone: Key to Ancient Egypt

by James Cross Giblin

This book is found on the list for Connecting with History as well. I am asking only my Level 3 student (currently in seventh grade) to read it. It's a deeper presentation of the struggle to decipher and understand the writing on the Rosetta Stone. I love how it includes many engravings by Denon of Napoleon's Egyptian expedition. Although the deciphering was difficult, it is explained simply enough for a young reader. There are many clear diagrams of the hieroglyphs which allow the reader to understand the connections more easily.  I think my fifth grader could read it, though I have only put it on her independent (optional) reading list rather than asking for steady reading and narrations. There are many

I have received nothing in exchange for this post, which includes only my honest opinions. I bought these books used many years ago. Links to RC History above are affiliate links. The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt and The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone are also available at Amazon (affiliate links).

Mapping the World Level 2 Year 2: Africa (Fifth Grade)

We use the Geography Coloring Book for mapping activities in geography over the course of many years. In fifth grade, Mater Amabilis™ Level 2 Year 2, First Daughter will repeat the assignments First Son did three years ago.

You can read about some of the books set in Africa I read before First Son did this study.

First Daughter will be reading Safari Journal, Listening for Lions, and A Gift from Childhood. Because she has a tendency to read more than I've assigned, I expect her to finish the three books quickly so I've also listed Mamba Point and The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Young Reader's Edition) (written about later on the blog) as optional books at the end.

[UPDATE June 2020: I have written a master lesson plan for The Geography Coloring Book to avoid assigning the same map in multiple years as much as possible. I'll leave First Daughter's assignments below, but here is the Africa Mapping Lesson Plan for the master list.

These mapping activities can be used with any of the Africa readings. They do not follow a particular schedule. At this age, the student could be encouraged the read the paragraphs for each country as they color.

First Term

Lesson 1
Algeria and Chad on p. 39

Lesson 2
Egypt and Libya on p. 39

Lesson 3
Mali and Mauritania on p. 39

Lesson 4
Morocco and Western Sahara on p. 39

Lesson 5
Draw the border between Sudan and South Sudan and color both on p. 39

Lesson 6
Niger and Tunisia on p. 39

Lesson 7
Benin and Burkina Faso on p. 40

Lesson 8
Cape Verde and Côte D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) on p. 40

Lesson 9
The Gambia and Ghana on p. 40

Lesson 10
Guinea and Guinea-Bissau on p. 40

Lesson 11
Liberia and Nigeria on p. 40

Lesson 12
Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo on p. 40

Second Term

Lesson 13
Angola and Cameroon on p. 41

Lesson 14
Central African Republic and Congo on p. 41

Lesson 15
Democratic Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea on p. 41

Lesson 16
Gabon, São Tomé & Príncipe, and Zambia on p. 41

Lesson 17
Burundi and Djibouti on p. 42

Lesson 18
Eritrea and Ethiopia on p. 42

Lesson 19
Kenya and Rwanda on p. 42

Lesson 20
Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda on p. 42

Lesson 21
Botswana and Lesotho on p. 43

Lesson 22
Madagascar and Malawi on p. 43

Lesson 23
Mozambique and Namibia on p. 43

Lesson 24
South Africa, Swaziland (now eSwatini), and Zimbabwe on p. 43

Third Term

Lesson 25
Congo River on p. 38

Lesson 26
Gambia and Limpopo Rivers on p. 38

Lesson 27
Niger River on p. 38

Lesson 28
Nile, Blue Nile, and White Nile Rivers on p. 38

Lesson 29
Orange and Senegal Rivers on p. 38

Lesson 30
Ubangi and Zambezi Rivers on p. 38

Lesson 31
Lakes Albert, Chad, and Edward on p. 38

Lesson 32
Lakes Kivu, Malawi, and Turkana on p. 38

Lesson 33
Lakes Tana, Tanganyika, and Victoria on p. 38

Lesson 34
Atlas Mountains on p. 38

Lesson 35
Drakensberg Mountains on p. 38

Lesson 36
Ethiopian Highlands and Ruwenzori on p. 38

END UPDATE]

There are 23 lessons using the Geography Coloring Book. I'm scheduling them separately from the novels but concurrently, so she'll read once a week and map once a week (but not on the same day). There are alternative ways to schedule out the lessons, however.

• Spread out some of the coloring so fewer countries are colored on a given day.
• Alternate the coloring book with readings from your selected novels.
• Including assignments to trace or freehand draw maps of the areas using the coloring book.
• Add some tests or exams where the student would label a provided map.

We also use the Concise Atlas of the World, but any atlas you have at home would work. 

Lesson 1

Find the newest country in Africa on p 111 of the Concise Atlas of the World. Draw the changes on the maps in The Geography Coloring Book on pages 37, 38, and 39.

Lesson 2
Read the instructions on how to color the maps in The Geography Coloring Book on the pages before p. 1: How to Use and Color This Book, What the Symbols Mean, A Glossary of Geographical Terminology.

Lesson 3
Geography Coloring Book - Color the Northern countries on p 37 with light colors (see instructions under Africa: The Countries). Be sure to color South Sudan a different color than Sudan and add it to the list.

Lesson 4
Geography Coloring Book - Color the Western countries on p 37 with light colors (see instructions under Africa: The Countries).

Lesson 5
Geography Coloring Book - Color the Central countries on p 37 with light colors (see instructions under Africa: The Countries).

Lesson 6
Geography Coloring Book - Color the Eastern countries on p 37 with light colors (see instructions under Africa: The Countries).

Lesson 7
Geography Coloring Book - Color the Southern countries on p 37 with light colors (see instructions under Africa: The Countries).

Lesson 8
Geography Coloring Book - Color the Colonial Africa map on p 37 with light colors (see instructions under Africa: The Countries).

Lesson 9

Geography Coloring Book - Color the Principal Rivers on p. 38 folowing the instructions under Africa: The Physical Land.

Lesson 10 

Geography Coloring Book - Color the Principal Lakes on p. 38 folowing the instructions under Africa: The Physical Land.

Lesson 11
Geography Coloring Book - Color the Principal Mountain Ranges on p. 38 folowing the instructions under Africa: The Physical Land.

Lesson 12

Geography Coloring Book - Color the Land Regions map on p. 38.

Lesson 13

Geography Coloring Book - Color Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, and Mauritania on the map on p. 39.

Lesson 14

Geography Coloring Book - Color Morocco, Niger, Sudan, South Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara on the map on p. 39 (Don't forget South Sudan.)

Lesson 15

Geography Coloring Book - Color Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, and Ghana on the map on p. 40.

Lesson 16

Geography Coloring Book - Color Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo countries on the map on p. 40.

Lesson 17

Geography Coloring Book - Color Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Congo on the map on p. 41.

Lesson 18

Geography Coloring Book - Color Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe, and Zambia on the map on p. 41.

Lesson 19

Geography Coloring Book - Color Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia on the map on p. 42.

Lesson 20

Geography Coloring Book - Color Kenya, Rwanda Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda on the map on p. 42.

Lesson 21

Geography Coloring Book - Color Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, and Malawi on the map on p. 43.

Lesson 22

Geography Coloring Book - Color Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe on the map on p. 43.

Lesson 23

Concise Atlas of the World - read p 102-105. Look at the maps on p 106-107. Narrate orally.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links.