My son and I have been struggling through his ancient history textbook. The language is too advanced for him and I think it goes off on tangents more suited to a high school intellect than a middle school one. He was getting lost in the information and completely missing the main ideas. So . . . . . a web search to the rescue!
Check out Odyssey Online. It provides wonderfully illustrated interactive units on the Near East, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Africa and the Ancient Americas. It teaches using a fusion of art, architecture, myth and social and military history. It’s a highly visual experience. Note – some children with distractibility problems find it easier to concentrate if they listen to instrumental music. This site has just that and the music is beautiful. The site is provided by the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University, Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester and the Dallas Museum of Art so you can be confident of the quality and veracity of its information.
I watched a light bulb go on in my son’s head and he started writing an essay on Greek architecture all on his own! I put the textbook away at the very back of the curriculum and felt a huge weight come off of my shoulders. Whew!
