Lugalbanda, the Boy Who Got Caught Up in a War is the oldest known tale from the ancient Mesopotamia civilisation. Older than 5000 years, it was, at first, passed down through oral tradition. An Englishman called W.K.Loftus discovered Urek in 1849. However, it wasn’t until 1888 that an expedition from the University of Pennsylvania uncovered……
Category: Literature Studies
Beatrix Potter Literature Study {Edwardians}
The older children and I studied Beatrix Potter together many years ago, but I never got round to writing about it. This term we have spent many months working on our Beatrix Potter Literature Study. The vast majority of our work was reading all the excellent books out there on Peter Rabbit and his very……
Teaching Literary Devices
I love teaching literary devices, and all my children (including the English shy Thomas) have loved learning about them. I don’t use any worksheets, just teaching them as they come up in the children’s homeschool. My older children were much more avid readers than my younger two and therefore picked up writing styles quickly and……
Shakespeare Unit Study
A Summer Shakespeare Club: Introduction Summer Shakespeare Club: Making Club T-Shirts A Summer Shakespeare Club: Adventure Box A Summer Shakespeare Club: Meeting the Members Shakespeare: Midsummer Night’s Dream – Day 1 Shakespeare: Midsummer Night’s Dream – Day 2 Shakespeare: Midsummer Night’s Dream – Day 3 Shakespeare: Midsummer Night’s Dream – Day 4 Shakespeare: Midsummer Night’s Dream – Day 5 Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet –……
Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet – Act I
Our first Shakespeare Club week was a huge success, so we were all looking forward to this week, assuming it would be equally fab. Unfortunately it really wasn’t. I think this was due to many different reasons: All five children and their mothers (ie me and Lorna) were exhausted from the week before. Honestly, I……
Shakespeare: Midsummer Night’s Dream – Day 3
Midsummer Night’s Dream Day 1 Midsummer Night’s Dream Day 2 Shakespeare Biographical Work (10 mins) Read out-loud Act I, scene 3: John Shakespeare Takes his Son to His First Play from the following Shakespeare book: Midsummer Night’s Dream Act III, Scene I-III (80 mins) Yesterday we had forgone the audio and just watched the video,……
Native American Unit Week 1- The Birchbark House: Neebin (Summer)
The Birchbark House is book one of a four series set of books about a young, Ojibwe girl called Omakayas: This first book is separated into four sections – the four seasons of the year. Each chapter we read we find much to talk about and learn about. In addition there are many parts of the……
Literature Studies: Chaucer – A Play of the Nun’s Priest’s Tale
We only do Chaucer studies once a week on a Tuesday, or at least that is the plan. I have, as always, over estimated what we can fit in, so the children aren’t getting much time to do each activity. Sometimes that is good. The last activity felt pressurised and therefore less enjoyable. This activity……
Literature Studies: Chaucer – A Retelling of a Knight’s Tale?
The first tale I chose to focus on was the Knight’s Tale because it is the tale from which Shakespeare took his inspiration for ‘The Two Kinsmen’ and ‘A Midsummer night’s Dream’. We will be studying Shakespeare for a whole year and ‘A Midsummer Night’s dream is my very favourite play of his, and probably……
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales: Setting the Scene
Although traditionally Chaucer is taught to children older than 12, the Canterbury Tales are far too good to postpone, especially as I will only be studying the Middle Ages once with the older children. Just because it is written in language which may be hard to understand doesn’t mean we should be literary snobs and insist that Chaucer……
Narrating with Little Miss Neat
We’ve been working on Little Miss Neat for the last couple of weeks. One of the activities I am trying to encourage A5 to do is narration. One big regret with my older ones is that I did not do it nearly enough with them. Narration is such an excellent prewriting skill and encourages clarity……
Angelicscalliwags Homeschool Language Arts
The post outlines Angelicscalliwags’ unique approach to homeschooling language arts, integrating reading, writing, and literature within history studies. It emphasizes the organic learning that occurs through various texts—both fiction and non-fiction—alongside engaging, hands-on activities. This dynamic method fosters a love for literature while making complex concepts accessible for children.
Making a Diorama of Dante’s Inferno
Studying Dante’s Inferno can be daunting for learners due to its complexity. Creating a hands-on diorama transforms this literature study into an engaging experience, allowing children to visually explore Dante’s journey through Hell. The project fosters creativity, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of the text while offering memorable, interactive learning opportunities.
Dante Homeschool Literature Study
The Dante Homeschool Literature Study offers a thoughtful approach to teaching Dante’s Divine Comedy, particularly Inferno, to middle schoolers. While challenging, it emphasizes guided exploration, moral reasoning, and rich discussions to engage students. Hands-on projects like creating a model of Hell deepen understanding and cultivate a love for literature in a meaningful way.
Picture Study: Botticelli’s Map of Hell (Homeschool Art & Dante’s Inferno)
A simple but powerful homeschool picture study of Botticelli’s Map of Hell to support understanding of Dante’s Inferno