Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Teaching Pennsylvania History: Part 2: The History of Transportation

Different things students can do:
  • Look for the words in the below outline on the Internet.
  • Visit transportation exhibits at local museums. (Harrisburg State Museum has a great exhibit.)
  • Make a scrapbook of pictures from Internet.
  • Art and writing projects involving Pennsylvania transportation.

1.   Draw different forms of historic transportation
2. Make up a story in which you must travel via a certain historical form of transportation.
3. Write a report comparing two historic forms of transportation. read more

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Revelations about Writing

Education has been my life, first as an elementary, high school, and college student, then as a teacher of kindergarten, VBS, Sunday School, homeschool, and now as public school substitute. I love the process of learning especially the moment Read More

Monday, February 16, 2015

Teaching Pennsylvania History-Part 1

I've been teaching Pennsylvania history for a long time now, first to our four children, and then to other children at homeschool co-ops. One thing I've discovered is that the mass of information to be taught needs organized.

State history study can be arranged chronologically or topically. I always pick the topic way because it is easier to gear the lessons to students’ interests. To give the study a sense of order, I have them fill out a timeline. I use label paper to print stickers with date, subject, and a small picture while using small timelines in group classes. What I really like read more

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Thomas Buchanan Read

(United States Public Domain)


Native Pennsylvanian, Thomas Buchanan Read, born in 1822, had many talents. He painted, sculpted, and wrote in various genres. Although he had a huge following while he lived, most people now only know read more