Hang in there...just a few more days of school left! We can do it! Anyone else feeling overwhelmed with year end responsibilities?
I'm getting off task - on to the subject of Joy Hakim's book... I will have to admit that I hate to read endless pages of words, so it is refreshing to see that this book is different. I am definitely a visual learner, and my ideal way of discovering history is watching the mini series The Hatfields and McCoys starring Kevin Costner on the History Channel. Do I get any bonus points for that??? As a child, I was more interested in learning history from Schoolhouse Rock than from a boring textbook. I can still sing the tunes! So what I enjoy most of all about Hakim's book is the countless pictures, drawings, and maps that held my attention and interest. Remember, I'm a Kindergarten teacher, so I tend to tie everything together with a picture book.
I was amazed at how many facts and names from my childhood Social Studies classes were brought back to mind, facts and characters that I had learned about many years ago. I found it interesting to match those forgotten memories with photos and paintings. The images made things "real" for me. I also recognized pictures that were included in the fifth grade Social Studies book that I taught from years ago. Page 111 shows a picture describing how slaves were packed into slave ships. I used to have my students lay on the floor side by side for a few minutes and ask them to imagine what it was like to travel in those conditions. They noted how grossly uncomfortable it would be. I didn't realize that this widely reproduced picture is an exaggeration until I read it in this book now! So much for my activity...
I also found the inserted colored boxes on the sides of the pages to hold some worthwhile additional information. I noticed myself drawn to reading those first as I explored through the pages. Some of those inserts are not typically included in your average Social Studies textbook. Who would have guessed that Dr. Jenner, the developer of the smallpox vaccine, tried the first injection on his own son because everyone else was scared to try it. Millions of lives were saved because of his efforts and risk taking. Imagine eating biscuits made only of flour and water like women made for the soldiers. And making love in those times meant flirting! Unique stories such as these make learning history more engaging. The more realistic the writing is, the more curious you become to investigate the past.
