We are fairly new to notebooking. I know that History is probably one of the easiest subjects to notebook, but I am wondering what you use as a spine to notebook with or do you just bounce around? And if you use a spine then how do you incorporate the notebooking pages?
We're not using a spine, but we do try to cover topics in one time period before moving to a new time period. For example, right now we're working through renaissance/reformation period with books by Diane Stanley.
LDS homeschooling mother to 7 age 10, 7, 6, 4, 3, 1, and 3 mos, 3 babies in heaven. Our family blog is Our Busy Homeschool. Our youngest son has spina bifida, clubfeet, Arnold Chiari II, and hydrocephalus, learn more about his journey at Mason's Spina Bifida Journal.
I really enjoy the chronological, classical, and christian view of history put forth in the Mystery of History series. It is our "spine" that I've added ancient history notbooking pages, Knowledge Questmaps, Draw and write through History, and other books to.
I've been doing Mystery of History Vol. I with my girls. I have them notebook one thing a week from the three readings. (They are ages 8 &10. If they were older they'd do more.) I purchsed the ancient history notebooking pages and they really enjoy using them. Sometimes I combine copywork and a drawing from the Draw and Write thru History series if it correlates wth the lesson. Sometimes we do "bullets" and just write important facts on a page that has pictures. The pictures Debra includes on the page are wonderful. Sometimes we will just look through the pages and talk about the pictures that go with our lesson. I have had the girls summarize what we've learned and draw a picture. They have made lists of pharohs, dates, dynasties, etc. We have read Bible stories and re-written them in our own words and drawn pictures or used available Bible pages with pictures. I try to change how I have them notebook and I don't feel pressured to use every page that could be used. I hope some of these ideas help. I feel Debra's pages are an important part of our learning history.
If you would like to use a spine, you would choose one based on level. I am assuming since you said "starting" you are meaning younger children? If you are using a spine or not, I would use a list of topics you want to cover. Simply go through the spine or list in order. Then if your kids are younger, orally discuss what you read, either you or child would write a narration (or appropriate copywork/dictation). Then you could have child illustrate or use figures on page. Later, map the appropriate areas. For younger kids, k-3, I would aim for 2 history pages and 1 geo page per week. If you are using a spine, all your go along titles do not have to be notebooked, unless those are the ones you choose to do. I wouldn't try to make a page about everything if you are voracious readers... But i would keep a list of "books read" or movies watched or placed visited in your history folder. Now if your child is older or just loves to write, I would add a timeline activity and maybe more notebook narrations, copywork, coloring, etc. I put a list of the topics covers or spine TOC in notebook, so we remember what we covered down the line....
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