Kaya, An American Girl...

As some of you may know, RileyAnn is very into American Girl.  She's been through most of the books more than once, but wanted an opportunity to read them again and complete a lapbook for each girl's historical time period we study.  Therefore, I've tried to incorporate them whenever possible.  Last year, when we studied Colonial Williamsburg, I made Felicity part of our study. 

Because Kaya is part of the Nez Perce tribe in the northwest part of our nation, I decided to wait until this year and study her with Lewis & Clark, as they encountered the Nez Perce on their expedition.  We used the American Girl Lapbook Templates found here at Homeschool Share. 

Typically, I help her assemble the folders and she completes the rest on her own in her free time.   One of the beauties of homeschooling is being able to teach to your child's strengths and interests.  Each of our kids will tell you history is their favorite subject.  I contribute this to great living books and hands on projects that interest them.

Changes to American Girl...for Better or Worse?

 
Have you heard about the new changes to American Girl?  They've changed the historical doll outfits and created the Beforever line.   RileyAnn is quite upset.  In fact so much so, that she wrote a letter to the president of the company...

Dear American Girl,

In all due respect, I would like to tell you what I think of your new "Beforever" products.  I think that they are cheap, unauthentic, and above all I do not think that they are the highest quality that you can make.  For a long time, I believed that you put your best effort in the making of your products, but now with the launch of "Beforever", I think that you have "dumbed down" American Girl.  I think that your new "Beforever" girl outfits are very unmodest.  I also think that your new mini dolls look terrible and very cheap.  I am very sorry if I have been too negative about "Beforever".  I just thought that you would like to know my opinion.  

Sincerely,
RileyAnn

I don't normally blog about these sorts of cultural, current event issues.  However, I must confess, in looking through the catalog with Riley, I also was disappointed.  The historical character outfits have been changed.  They appear to reflect modern times with extremely short dresses and skirts and tank top built in shirts for the matching girl outfits.  I wonder if Pleasant Rowland, original founder of American Girl Co.,  would approve of these changes?!  I found her reasoning for creating American Girl quite interesting.  It's my belief that she created the dolls, not only to get girls interested in history, but also to fill a need for life like dolls for girls ages 8-12.

As a mom of a tween, I always appreciated the modest innocence of American Girl.  In addition, Riley learned so much about American History at a very young age from simply reading the books.  She knew most of the major time periods and could associate many happenings.  She actually taught me, ha!

I'm sure the change was a marketing ploy, but I wonder if they upset the integrity of American Girl by making the change?  I'd love to hear your thoughts....

UPDATE...RileyAnn received a lovely letter back from AG.  She realizes her opinion is that of a perch in the ocean.  However, she still felt the need to express her thoughts.  

Revolutionary War - Term 3 Book List

Well they say, "better late than never" and that's the way I feel about this book list.  Spring came and went so fast with graduation.  Then  softball, baseball, mixed with haying season here on Drywood Creek and I didn't get to post this. So without further ado, here is our American Revolution family read aloud third term book list....


Meet Felicity - American Girl
If You Lived in Colonial Williamsburg by Barbara Brenner
A Window on Williamsburg by Lewis, Walklet, Ford, & Sheppard
A Williamsburg Household by Joan Anderson
Mary Geddy's Day by Kate Waters
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
**The Story of the Thirteen Colonies by H.A. Guerber
**The Story of the Boston Tea Party by Mary Kay Phelan
**The Boston Massacre by Alice Dickinson 
Boston Tea Party by James Knight
Boston Tea Party by Pamela Duncan Edwards
What's the Big Idea Ben Franklin? by Jean Fritz
The Boston Coffee Party by Doreen Rappaport
A Voice of Her Own: The Story of Phillis Wheatley, Slave Poet by Kathryn Lasky
King George's Head was Made of Lead by F.N. Monjo
**The Liberty Tree - The Beginning of the American Revolution by Lucille Recht Penner
Where was Patrick Henry of the 29th of May? by Jean Fritz
Can't You Make Them Behave King George? by Jean Fritz
America's Paul Revere by Esther Forbes
And Then What Happened Paul Revere? by Jean Fritz
Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - illustrated by Paul Galdone
The Battle of Lexington & Concord by Neil Johnson
George the Drummer Boy by Nathaniel Benchley
Sam the Minuteman by Nathaniel Benchley
If You Lived at the Time of the American Revolution by Kay Moore
Sam Adams - The Boy Who Became Father of the American Revolution by Fayette Richardson
Trouble at Otter Creek by Wilma Pitchford Hays
America's Ethan Allen by Stewart Holbrook
Guns for General Washington by Seymour Reit
Uncommon Revolutionary - A Story About Thomas Paine by Laura Hamilton Waxman
George Washington by Ingri & Edgar D'Aulaire
Cities of the Revolution: Charles Town by Susan & John Lee
Katie's Trunk by Ann Turner
Thomas Jefferson: A Picture Book Biography by James Cross Giblin
The Hatmaker's Sign: A Story by Benjamin Franklin retold by Candace Fleming
The Story of the Declaration of Independence by Norman Richards
The Story of the Liberty Bell by Natalie Miller
The Story of Monticello by Norman Richards
The 4th of July Story by Alice Dalgliesh
Seventh and Walnut by James Knight
Journey to Monticello by James Knight
George Washington: A Picture Book Biography by James Cross Giblin
Daughter of Liberty: A True Story of the American Revolution by Robert Quackenbush
Silver for General Washington by Enid LaMonte Meadowcroft
Aaron and the Green Mountain Boys by Patricia Lee Gauch
The Revolutionary John Adams by Cheryl Harness
Buttons for General Washington by Peter & Connie Roop
The Winter at Valley Forge by James Knight
Molly Pitcher by Jan Gleiter & Kathleen Thompson
Will You Sign Here, John Hancock? by Jean Fritz
Abigail Adams by Alexandra Wallner
Betsy Ross by Alexandra Wallner
The American Flag by Michael Friedman Publishing
The Secret Soldier: The Story of Deborah Sampson by Ann McGovern
The Story of Bonhomme Richard by Norman Richards
Fourth of July Raid by Wilma Pitchford Hays
The Story of the Surrender at Yorktown by Zachary Kent
Adam & the Golden Cock by Alice Dalgliesh





As you can imagine by this list, Term 3 did not fit easily into a 12 week box.  It carried over into summer and may carry over to fall.  :))  You may notice Term 2 and Term 3 meshing.  Because the topics were so closely related, there was not a clear dividing line.  The books with asterisks (**) indicate books we did not read fully, rather we referenced or read sections from them.  You can view Term 1, Exploration, here and Term 2, Colonial America,  here.
 



 

I would like to continue this time period with the following resources, but not sure how time will permit....


Steven Kellogg's Yankee Doodle by Edward Bangs
The 18 Penny Goose by Sally Walker
Toliver's Secret by Esther Brady or Tree of Freedom by Rebecca Caudill
The Boy Who Loved to Draw: Benjamin West by Barbara Brenner
Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin by Marguerite Henry
Boston Bells by Elizabeth Coatsworth
A More Perfect Union by Betsy & Guilio Maestro
Shh! We're Writing the Constitution by Jena Fritz
If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution by Elizabeth Levy
Dear Benjamin Bannaker by Andrea Pinkney
Molly Bannakay by Alice McGill
What are You Figuring Now? by Jeri Ferris

If we don't get to them this summer, we will start off with them our fall term.   So many books....so little time :))

Colonial Williamsburg...

Oh how we hope to travel to see the historic sites of the U.S. along the eastern sea board some day!  Williamsburg will be on our list.  The photo shows the books we used to study Colonial Williamsburg.  The girls produced Felicity lapbooks as instructed here.  They really enjoyed this study!