What's included
1 live meeting
45 mins in-class hours per weekHomework
1 hour per week. Students are expected to read each weeks reading (on Book List) before coming to class.Class Experience
US Grade 4 - 6
I love history and find that reading about it can be be (almost) as exciting as a trip in a time machine would be. Each week, learners will come to class having read the book for that weeks discussion. (Thats 46 books in a year!) We will take a look at the author, the time period it was written (if different from the setting), and learn about what the characters and setting tell us about that moment in history. Learners will be given the opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions about the story and historical context. The first part of class will consist of a short lecture about the historical context, author, and any relevant information about the book. The second half of the class will be open discussion. Class is kept at a small size to ensure every learner will have an opportunity to share. (If your learner does not like public speaking, they are always able to share through the chat box.) Please see the Parental Guidance statement below. This is an Ongoing - weekly class, so learners are able to jump in any time or skip any books that they (or parents) do not wish to read. This class will be from an historical context, not a literary one. Come and join us as we take the challenge to read a different book each week! Week of 2024 July 1 NO CLASS July 8 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - Wiliam Kamkwamba July 15 A Night Divided Jennifer Nielson (CSM REVIEW) July 22 Kira-Kira - Cynthia Kadohata July 29 One Crazy Summer - Rita Williams Garcia August 5 Sounder - William H Armstrong August 12 The Mighty Miss Malone - Christopher Paul Curtis August 19 The War That Saved My Life - Kimberly Brubaker Bradley August 26 The Boy in The Striped Pajamas - John Boyne (NO Friday class) September 2 Chains - Laurie Halse Anderson (Friday class will also discuss The Boy in the Striped Pajamas) September 9 Weedflower - Cynthia Kadohata September 16 A Single Shard - Linda Sue Park September 23 NO CLASS September 30 Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna - Michael Berry October 7 Troublemaker - John Cho October 14 Illegal - Andrew Donkin, Eoin Colfer October 21 Brothers Keeper - Julie Lee October 28 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett November 4 The War That I Won - Kimberly Brubaker Bradley November 11 The Secret of Nightingale Wood - Lucy Strange November 18 Escape From Aleppo - N.H. Senzai November 25 NO CLASS December 2 Nazi Saboteurs: Hitler's Secret Attack on America - Samantha Seiple December 9 Sophia's War: A Tale of the Revolution - Avi December 16 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck (CSM 13+) December 23 NO CLASS December 30 NO CLASS 2025 Dates Week of: January 6 Iceberg - Jennifer A. Nielsen January 13 Refugee - Alan Gratz - CSM Age 11+ January 20 Bud not Buddy - Christopher Paul Curtis January 27 Like the Willow Tree - Lois Lowry February 3 Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Paterson February 10 Once - Morris Gleitzman February 17 The Bridge Home - Padma Venkatraman February 24 Waiting for Anya by Michael Morpugo March 3 The Lunimous Life of Lucy Landry - Anna Rose Johnson March 10 I, Robot - Isaac Asimov March 17 NO CLASS March 24 Maybe - Morris Gleitzman March 31 Amil and the After - Veera Hiranandani April 7 Old Yeller Fred Gipson April 14 When Clouds Touch Us - Thanhha Lai April 21 Fever 1793 Laurie Halse Anderson April 28 Soon - Morris Gleitman May 5 Number the Stars - Lois Lowry May 12 The Lost Year - Katherine Marsh May 19 May 26 Daniel's Story - Carol Matas June 2 June 9 June 16 Across So Many Seas - Ruth Behar June 23 NO CLASS June 30 NO CLASS July 7 July 14 When My Name Was Keoko - Linda Sue Park July 21 July 28 I Can Make This Promise - Christine Day August 4 August 11 August 18 August 25 September 1 Wheels of Change - Darlene Beck Jacobson September 8 September 15 September 22 September 29 NO CLASS October 6 October 13 My Brigadista Year - Katherine Paterson October 20 October 27 November 3 November 10 Finding Junie Kim - Ellen Oh November 17 November 24 NO CLASS December 1 December 8 December 15 December 22 NO CLASS December 29 NO CLASS
Other Details
Parental Guidance
In this class, we will be discussing all aspects of history. This will include topics of death, racism, slavery, discrimination, sexism, violence, and war. There may be some derogatory language in some books. All discussions will be at an age appropriate level. Some of the books listed are recommended at age 10 or 11+. Parents are advised to check reviews of each book. Commonsensemedia.com has great reviews and age suggestions. All topics will be discussed from in a historical context.
There may be some Youtube videos that are seen during this class. I will share my screen and learners will not need to access them on their own.
Supply List
Learners are expected to obtain their own copies of the books (either through purchasing them or the library).
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree from Louisiana State University
I have been an educator on Outschool since February of 2018. I have my MBA and MHA, both of which have taught me the value of conducting research and asking questions. I have a passion for history and learning. You can usually find me in the middle of 2-3 books or watching a documentary.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$15
weekly1x per week
45 min
Completed by 74 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-12
3-7 learners per class