history

Be Exalted O God

October 14, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

We sang this chorus in Church this morning so I thought I would share it with you. It’s rather a nice song. Simple in details, deep in wisdom if you take time to ponder it.

A native of New Zealand, Brent Chambers is the author of this lovely song. Working as an independent paint-contractor, this Bible college graduate has written more than 500 songs.

Lyrics

I will give thanks to Thee
O Lord, among the people
I will sing praises to Thee
Among the nations
For Thy steadfast love is great
Is great to the heavens
And Thy faithfulness
Thy faithfulness to the clouds

CHORUS:
Be exalted, O God
Above the heavens
Let Thy glory be over all the earth
Be exalted, O God
Above the heavens
Let Thy glory be over all the earth

Praise the Lord, Sing Hallelujah

October 7, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Praise the Lord, Sing Hallelujah is based on Psalm 148.

Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights above.
²Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
³Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
⁴Praise him, you highest heavens
    and you waters above the skies.

⁵Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for at his command they were created,
⁶and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree that will never pass away.

⁷Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
⁸lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,
⁹you mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
¹⁰wild animals and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
¹¹kings of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
¹²young men and women,
    old men and children.

¹³Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
¹⁴And he has raised up for his people a horn,
    the praise of all his faithful servants,
    of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Praise the Lord.

With music part of his life from an early age, it’s no wonder that William J Kirkpatrick has music be part of his life. Even though he spent time as a carpenter, his passion was for music. He learned to play a variety of musical instruments including violin, organ, fife, pipe organ and vocal. He held a variety of positions over his life, most of them centred around his love of music. His compositions are still well-known today.

Lyrics

1 Praise the LORD, sing hallelujah,
from the heavens praise his name;
praise the LORD, our great Creator;
all his angels, praise proclaim.
All his hosts, together praise him,
sun and moon and stars on high;
praise the LORD, O heavens of heavens,
and the floods above the sky.

Refrain:
Praise the LORD, sing hallelujah,
for his name alone is high,
and his glory is exalted,
and his glory is exalted,
and his glory is exalted,
far above the earth and sky.

2 Let them praise the LORD their Maker:
they were made at his command.
God established them forever;
his decree shall ever stand.
Let the earth sing hallelujah:
raging seas, you monsters all,
fire and hail and snow and vapors,
stormy winds that hear his call. [Refrain]

3 All you fruitful trees and cedars,
every hill and mountain high,
creeping things and beasts and cattle,
birds that in the heavens fly,
kings of earth and all you people,
princes great, earth’s judges all;
praise his name, young men and maidens,
aged men, and children small. [Refrain]

World War 1: Pre-War Alliances

October 6, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Do you recall that we are learning about the World wars this year? Last time we learned about the assassination of ArchDuke Ferdinand. Over the past week the lad has been studying up the Pre-War alliances.

The lad read from these books.

The story of the first world war for children.
The war to end all wars.
The First world war.
First World War.
Canada in World War One.
Roots of the conflict.

Maps

We discovered this map of the Pre-war alliances. We thought about creating our own small one but the lad wants to add flags to the large map that he is working on. This is his brief run down on what he wants to do.

This is the progress he has made this week.

The lad took the time to explain what some of the countries are.

Videos:

We watched some videos, in particular these from The Great War

There are three parts, I’m not linking them all here. 🙂 but it’s a fascinating series so you really should check them out. We found videos 2 and 3 ran together.

Vocabulary Learned:

Nationalism: an extreme form of patriotism, especially marked by a feeling of superiority over other countries

Militarism: the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.

Imperialism: a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Anti-Semitism: hostility to or prejudice against Jews.

Taking it further:

We had a science class this week. We did electrolysis (taking the hydrogen out of water). The lads were fascinated and found it a lot of fun. The lad has been busy expanding his knowledge of this process since then.

I was talking with the lad today about how the war was like electrolysis. You had countries that naturally were drawn together and yet you can change one thing and they are forced apart. You should have seen the startlement in his eyes and his understanding deepened. Neat way to connect dots I thought.

Research?

Normally after a week of research the lad works on a research project to further his knowledge, but this week he said all the questions he had got answered by the different books he read or by the videos we watched. He was able to narrate why the different countries had the alliances they did. For instance Britain made one with Belgium because Belgium was a way to protect a piece of their lad. He compared this with the Canadian sale of Alaska to the USA because the USA wanted to protect a point of entry. People liked Russia because of it’s sheer size. And some of the other countries liked each other because of proximity or what they could gain etc. It’s always good to listen to a lad explain his understanding. We’ve decided we’re going to have him start writing a report of everything he is learning so we can track it better.

Ancient Wonders: Then & Now

October 4, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Imagine that you could see a building from the past as it was meant to be… taking you back to the then. Now that you see that… see the now. Can you see that old building more clearly now? Ancient Wonders: Then & Now is a lift the flap book by Lonely Planet kids that helps us to understand these ancient wonders better. Let us delve into this review hmm?

From the cover?

From the Colosseum and the Great Pyramid of Giza, to Machu Picchu and Stonehenge, take an interactive our through the world’s greatest ancient wonders.

Discover what remains of them today, then open gatefolds and lift flaps to see what they once looked like and learn about the ancient civilizations who built them.

What do you get?

12 Ancient wonders from around the world. Easter Island, the Colesseum, the Great Pyramid of Giza and more.. walk into the lives of those building these wonders, and into the glory days of each build.

Two large fold out pages, combined with relevant text and lift the flap elements is sure to keep the reader engaged with what they are seeing and learning about.

I love how books like this always spur me on to learn more, so like always I took to youtube where I learned this about Easter Island.

My Thoughts:

I really like this book, those huge fold out pages and the well-written text help me to make the connection between the place now and the place it would have been in its heyday. Did you know the huge colesseum had 76 doors and now-a-days you can find actors roaming the outskirts?

The book is printed on a heavy cardstock almost board book quality paper. This hardcover book is well made and the pages easily lie flat. This book would be an excellent book to supplement a study on the Ancient Wonders of the world. I really like how it brings what you see now into the history of the past, bringing the past to life.

Ancient Wonders: Then & Now
Stuart Hill Author
Lindsey Spinks Illustrator
Lonely Planet Kids
Hardcover, 24 pages,
History, Architecture, Geography
Lift the flap, hands-on
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Teen Trailblazers

September 29, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

You know how it’s great to see people you can look to for inspiration? To see possibilities shown to you that maybe, just maybe, you haven’t considered before? In Teen Trailblazers we find 30 girls for young teen women to look to for inspiration.

From The Back Cover:

True stories of young women who made a big difference! From authors to activists, painters to politicians, inventors to icons, these inspiring teenagers are proof that girls can change the world.
Joan of Arc. Anne Frank. Cleopatra. Pocahontas. Mary Shelley. Many of these heroines are well-known. But have you heard of Sybil Ludington, a 16-year-old daughter of an American colonel who rode twice as far as the far better-remembered Paul Revere to warn the militia that the British army was invading?
This fascinating book features 30 young women who accomplished remarkable things before their twentieth birthdays. Visually compelling with original illustrations, this book will inspire the next generation of strong, fearless women.

What do you get?

30 Stories of young ladies engaging actively in the world around them:

Imagine….being a slave and writing poetry in a time when such things weren’t welcome.
Imagine… being 16 and riding for your life to get military assistance in the middle of battle.
Imagine…being pregnant and fighting side by side with your husband in battle.
Imagine….inventing a product still used a century later

Each chapter is set up in a similar manner, the individual, what they are known for, birth/death if known, notable things they did, and a quote.

The rest of the chapter goes on to talk about the work that this young lady did and why it is notable. Presenting information to help the reader consider all the factors involved, like the slaves involved in making indigo, how Paul Revere gets remembered for his ride and yet a female counterpart isn’t known, what difference might it make if the reader got involved in their community and more.

Each chapter has cut outs that talk about additional factors to consider, or points of action, or other people who engaged in similar works who might be better known. In the copy that I received all images were in grey scale, I don’t know if in the final copy the images will be in full colour or not. I would hope that they would be, but I really can’t tell you for sure.

My thoughts:

There are many notable people found within the pages of this book. I loved how ideas for becoming actively involved in one’s community were presented. My hope had been for more variety in people presented like inventors, doctors, teachers, but found many were activists, authors, and actors. The desire I hold dear is that our young ladies to see their intellect and bravery is just as important as their heart for various causes. I wanted to see more balance, 10 activists, 7 authors, and several actors and war heroines, leaving only a bit of room for inventors, business women and the like. Oh wouldn’t it be good to inspire all of our girls, regardless of their interests, to be teen trailblazers, ready to act now?

I suppose if the point of the book is to ensure that young ladies know they have a voice, showing activism and the power of the word spoken and written is a good thing. I’m trying to understand the mindset behind the choices made. It’s good to know that speaking up and doing things matters whether you are male or female. I just want to see more balance presented in the different ways girls can make a difference in today’s world.

This would be an excellent book to leave lying about the house, or using with a careers course, to show girls different options they as they look forward to what they want to do.

Teen Trailblazers
30 fearless girls who changed the world before they were 20
Jennifer Calvert, author
Vesna Asanovic, illustrator
Castle Point Books
softcover, 128 pages, ages 12-18
Middle School, High School, Careers, Women,
Activism, Inventors, Authors, Actors

Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Cleopatra and the Ancient Greeks

September 27, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Have I ever told you how much I enjoy the “for kids” series from Chicago Review Press? They are written for kids and all contain 21 different activities for students to complete. They are fantastically written with loads of pictures and interesting tidbits throughout. Today I am reviewing Cleopatra and Ancient Egypt for Kids.

From the Cover:

Cleopatra has been called intelligent and scheming, ambitious and ruthless, sensual and indulgent. This unique biography captures the excitement of her life story, including portions that have been largely neglected, such as her interest in literature and science and her role as a mother, and allows readers to draw their own conclusions. Cleopatra and Ancient Egypt for Kids also includes maps, time lines, online resources, a glossary, and 21 engaging hands-on activities to help readers better appreciate the ancient culture and era in which Cleopatra lived.

What You Get:

Over the course of 144 pages students are led through the life of Cleopatra, starting with her life as a young princess and closing with the end of the era. Each of the 8 chapters contains up to three activities for students to engage the student in active learning from science experiments to art projects to making food.

Cleopatra worked hard to keep her family on the throne of Egypt and throughout her reign she kept Egypt stable. As a child in the Ptolomy household, she was well-educated. They put a strong emphasis on learning, as Egyptian queens played an essential role in the governing of the land. Cleopatra kept learning all her life. In the pages of the book you learn these facts and more.The student will understand how this tough, smart lady kept a country going in the time of growing Roman domination.

You’ll find 21 different activities to do. Some of them are creating a writing a tablet, build a shadoof, make a garland, create an Egyptian style necklace, mummify a hot dog and many more. Each assignment comes with a materials list and clear instructions to complete it. I loved the variety in the assignments.

You’ll find a timeline at the start of the book from when Cleopatra VII is born, through to the death of Cleopatra and Anthony. Span of some 40 years.

Scattered throughout the pages you’ll find maps, busts, coins, plants and buildings from the era. All those images that bring history to life that normally you’d have to go to a museum to see and piece together, brought all together in one book.

The close of the book lists the Egyptian Dynasties, Additional Resources with grade ranges – not just books but museums as well, and a glossary. All in all a complete walk through of the life of Cleopatra.

My Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoy these books. Every single one I review I keep for my book shelves with the full intent of going through them with my lad.. grade nine is coming yet! 🙂 Very thorough, written so that upper elementary students can understand, complete enough for high school students to work through, filled with ideas for taking rabbit trails, with great variety in hands-on activities. They’d be perfect for doing a history course all year long (each taking about 8-9 weeks to complete).

Others that I’ve reviewed: Albert Einstein, Marine Science, Michelangelo, and Marie Curie.

Cleopatra and Ancient Egypt: her life and world, with 21 activities
Simonetta Carr
Chicago Review Press
For Kids Series
21 activities.
144 pages, trade paperback
History, hands-on learning, upper elementary
Reviewed for Chicago Review Press

Where to buy: Amazon.

World War 1 – Assassination of Duke Ferdinand

September 22, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Week one, last week was a bit of a bust but the lad did some reading on World War 1.
We had a specific focus: the assassination of Duke Ferdinand.

The way we originally set this out what that we’d research for one week, and then the following week we’d follow Rabbit trails and do different projects like art, science, etc. Since last week was a bit of a bust we’re doing two weeks for research and then next week we’ll doing hands on, putting knowledge to work.

I had the lad read six different books about this event. These are the books we used.

Anyways, he really like doing this saying, “it was really interesting reading about it so many times. Everyone says it a bit differently and some will add bits that the others don’t”.

Questions!

Why are people so confused about why the driver what he did? Some say he was part of the Black Hand, others say he was just trying to follow the route, some say he made a mistake and others say he deliberately went down that road.

Answers!?

Answers we came up with
1. Couldn’t they have just talked to him? Different parts of Serbia and places around there had different dialects so maybe his words were misunderstood
2. Could the shock of it all made him partially forgetful? Like in situational amnesia?
3. Maybe he was a part of the Black Hand and he didn’t want anyone to know, so he made up a story and it just got all confused in the rush and busy-ness of the time.

We can’t really know without seeing original documentation.

The lad found a quote that he really liked by the terrorist Cabrinovic “If I had forseen what was to happen, I should have sat down on the bombs and blown myself to bits”

The lad’s response. Okay… so we want to get Bosnia out of Serbia so we can do that peacefully by killing the duke, then Bosnia will leave. INSTEAD people get upset and the ONE PERSON who can calm them down has been assassinated. GOOD THINKING Black Hand!

The lad and I really enjoyed this one. The lad is hoping he did up more videos on the war.

This one helped us understand the failed bomb and the alternate route. Made us wonder how many people were killed by the mis-aimed bomb.

This one gave us this quote by Otto Von Bismarck “One day the great european war will come out some damned fool thing in the balkans”.
And four theories: nationalism, disturbance in the balance of power, Tangled web of alliances, and offensive military theory.

The lad wants to explore those four theories next week.

We didn’t know the Duke’s Wife was pregnant. It made me wonder if that was part of the reason she was killed as well? But the lad corrected me, saying the fellow who killed them had also tried to kill the governor who was travelling with the Duke but missed hitting his wife. Then he took his cyanide pill but it wasn’t strong enough to kill him so he was arrested.

We learned how World War 1 changed history for all time. The seminal catastrophe of the 20th century. It gave us a good perspective on the leaders of the day. We want to watch more of these videos.

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Resources used:

Also using resources from various unit studies. A page here or there from different studies.

Additional links:

black and white map of Europe 1914.

Duke Ferdinand assassination map. Plus details known about this assassination found here. Presentation of events.

The lad’s Research:

The lad chose to research more about the Black Hand. I actually needed to walk him through how to research this group as Black Hand is apparently a game or part of a game as well so he kept getting false leads. Telling him to use the search terms Black Hand 1914, and Black Hand Serbia helped. He did a verbal report on what he learned. Most were imprisoned, they had assassinated someone else, most members came from the army and they existed to unite Serbia and the people belonging to it whether they lived in Serbia or not.

He also worked on his world map. It’s taking longer than he thought it would. But he works on it steadily. He won’t need it completed for another couple of weeks so if it takes a bit it’s just fine.

history

Be Exalted O God