NOTICE: This is an older course recorded with Adobe Connect and/or Vimeo recordings. We are currently working to replace the recordings with new Zoom recordings.  Please don't hesitate to email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com with any questions. 

Dear Student,

This course is scheduled to be retired on Nov 30, 2024.  You may continue using this course; however, we highly suggest moving to the new, updated course.  

https://moodle.homeschoolconnectionsonline.com/course/view.php?id=4186

 Please check out the Live courses here: https://caravel.homeschoolconnections.com/catalog/

How to get the most out of this course:

  • Have a notebook ready and available for class notes during each live session.
  • Read the assigned chapters for each week.
  • Watch the class recording.
  • Do the assignments, quizzes, and any extra work assigned for that week.

Total Classes: 6

Duration: 50 minutes

Prerequisite: No class prerequisite. Your student will need Powerpoint or Google Slides to work on the Final Project. 

Suggested Grade Level: 5th to 9th grade

Suggested Credit: 1/2 semester History or Literature

Instructor: Jackie de Laveaga, BA, M.Ed.

Instructor Email: delaveaga.hsc@gmail.com

Course Description: Living History Through Literature is a project-based course series offered to 5th through 8th-grade students. These courses will weave the study of literature into a meaningful and engaging encounter with a specific era of history. In LHTL: Ancient History 4, we meet Daniel, a fierce, hotheaded young man bent on avenging his father’s death by forcing the Romans from his land of Israel. Daniel’s palpable hatred for Romans wanes only when he starts to hear the gentle lessons of the traveling carpenter, Jesus of Nazareth.

Students will explore the characteristics of a great hero while learning about America’s history. Students will study the historical context of the novel and participate in engaging literature discussions. In this project-based course, students will engage in short quizzes and in projects of their choice. Project options will include fiction writing, preparing period-specific food and/or costumes, creating lap books, recreating scenes from the novel (Legos, clay, K’nex, digital drawing, hand-drawing, etc.), building a timeline, mapping, and more.

Course Outline:

  • Class 1: Overview of Historical Context and Novel Introduction

  • Class 2: Literature Discussion; Project Introduction

  • Class 3: Literature Discussion; Cultural Overview

  • Class 4: Literature Discussion; Creative Writing Tips

  • Class 5: Literature Discussion; Final Project Instructions

  • Class 6 Literature Analysis and Historical Connections; Student Project Showcase

Course Materials: The Bronze Bow, by Elizabeth George Speare, ISBN-10# 0395137195 or ISBN-13# 978-0395137192. Purchase new from your favorite bookseller or used from BookFinder.com.

Homework: Weekly quizzes and reading assignments. Each week, students will work on one project-based assignment that will culminate in a final novel project submission (due at the end of week 6). Homework (including novel reading) will take 1.5-3 hours per week. Parents are encouraged to support younger students by reading texts aloud and helping with project planning and execution.