Most of our school for this week so far just consists of work from yesterday and today. We missed Monday- Wednesday due to attending a camp meeting. What a blessing that was! Anyway, despite missing the first part of the week we have really gained a lot of knowledge the past few days. We were continuing with Mystery of History but I had been studying a geography curriculum to begin this coming year. I couldn't resist beginning it now as it seemed such a waste to delay it. Yesterday we were studying in history the bard, Homer. You know, the fellow who was a writer of Epics and poems from around 800 B.C.? Anyway, so he was from Greece and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to study on Greece. The journey began! We had SO MUCH fun pulling out the encyclopedias and atlases and letting loose. We drew maps and the flag for Greece. We learned of their land and how the people sustain economically.
We learned of what their religion is and some of their culture. What fun! I was thinking of fixing an authentic greek dish and may still but from what was listed in the World Book, it didn't sound very appetizing.
Today we began on India and Hinduim for history. We learned of the Aryans and their fight with the Dravidians and how the nation is separated by the Caste System. Did you know that in this country you are born into your "status" for life. Unlike in the U.S. where you can be born poor but gain great wealth or vise versa... in India, even today in most regions, what you are born into you stay in for life! There are four different levels of this system. How sad! Then while studying what Hinduism is we about flipped that we wouldn't be able to eat most meat if born Hindu because if you wanted a piece of steak you could be eating your Aunt Lula.... yes reincarnated!
The sadest thing about their religion is that it's all hear say from past stories. None of it is from a certain book, unlike our "religion". All their beliefs are from stories passed down through ancestors. There is no certain doctrine unlike christianity.
Anyway, we will be using the notebooking approach to geography and Mystery of History from now through this coming year at least. HOW EXCITING!
I plan on splitting a binder up into continents and then into various countries for each continent.
So today we began with the fundamentals of what geography is, what hemispheres are and how to determine what hemisphere countries are in. We were blessed with a few free dry erase boards and a cork board. What a blessing! These have come in so handy already.
We will continue with some school tomorrow as well since we were out the first part of the week. We have less than four weeks to go and then we are done for a break only to begin back in a few weeks.
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