Teaching History using a Spine Book

Old Testament - Ancient Egypt Spinebooks
Ancient Greece Spinebooks

Teaching History using a Spine Book? What's the use of a Spine book?
Living books sounds exciting and memorable; Historical fiction is great!...BUT... how do I keep the study connected- as a whole; as a story? Good question..

Teaching History with a Spinebook helps to keep the study connected.

What is a Spine book?
It is the Spine. It is a book which can be used to tie the stories together. It may even be a textbook which moves in a chronological way. As you read through the pages, you jump off and explore the topic in further detail - read novels about the topic/person/event, make projects, learn a skill (jousting- see below), go on an excursion, and when ready, head back to the spine book to continue through the study of the time period. The spine book enables you to steer your own homeschool history course.

Some spine books are written to a younger audience - so this is useful especially when you are teaching history the first time around. In later years, teaching history can be developed by reading the writings of the time period itself- the primary sources and the Great Books, along with a more advanced spine such as Streams of Civilization.
You may even use a few spine books in your study of one historical period.

Ways in which a Spine book can be used.

• You can use a spine book to keep you on track. This book will keep you moving through your homeschool history course at the rate you choose.
  
  It may be a collection of stories of famous people (such as the Famous Men Books).
  
  

  Famous Men of the Middle Ages By John H. Haaren, Addison B. Poland & Leigh Lowe / Memoria Press

  As you study the Famous Men of a time period, you may stop, investigate them more, read a historical fiction novel about the character, research him/her on the internet, write about them, make something and then go back and visit the next character in the spine.
  
  Or, the Spine book may be one which leads through events such as the Story of the World Curriculum.

  This curriculum set consists of the narrative book Story of the World which is divided into lessons. Each narrative is read to the child. Following the reading, you can choose to ask for a narration (written or oral), do a project or activity which is written in the activity book or even read further information in the recommended reading list provided chapter by chapter. Once again, this story book is your spine, and even though it is written in a way that you may finish a chapter per week, you do not need to stick to anyone else's time-frame, but just enjoy researching and continuing with the material until you are ready to move on.
  
  

• You can use a spinebook as a tool to teach outlining history. This may be an important skill you want your children to learn as they study the homeschool history course you have decided on.

  The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia, Revised Edition By Houghton-mifflin

  
  Some books such as the Kingfisher History Encyclopedia (upper primary), and Streams of Civilization, Volume 1 (high school years) are written in formats which can be used by the student as a practice in outlining and so produce their own outlined synopsis of history. A child can take one double page spread of this type of book - read the paragraphs one at a time, find the topic sentence and the supporting sentences within the paragraph and use this to write an outline of the paragraph. They can then choose to follow one interest from that page and read more about that in the week. You may choose to spend longer on some pages, depending on the interest shown and also on your time.
  The high school student will need to read chapters or larger selections rather than single pages to move through history. It is desirable that the high school student has been studying history in their earlier years and laid a foundation of what is to come.
  
  
  

• The high school student who is following a text such as

  Streams of Civilization, Volume 1 By Mary Stanton / Christian Liberty Press Most history textbooks are written from a secular viewpoint, but this introductory text is different! Providing a comprehensive look at Western, African, and Asian civilizations from creation to 1620, it affirms the biblical view of creation (though it discusses evolution) and gives your kids insight into other cultures and religions from a Christian perspective. Includes vocabulary questions, exercises, maps, and black-and-white illustrations. Ideal for grades 9 and up. 410 pages, hardcover from Christian Liberty Press.

  can read a portion of the text; outline it; and then use that as a springboard to find further information on one character. Teaching history in this way, allows the student to place an author in his/her context in history and in the world. Read the primary sources of the characters or events in that section.Write notes when reading the primary sources. Discuss the primary source; Who is the author? What is he saying? How does this stand in the light of scripture? Write an essay on it; Then move on to the next section of the text.

Spinebooks used in History Curriculum

Some history curriculum such as Tapestry of Grace, and Truthquest History use a number of books to complete their curriculum. They will mostly list a spinebook which keeps you on track, but this will not necessarily be used each week. Rather, the curriculum is used to keep you on track and tie the loose ends, and the spinebook is used when it fits with their arrangement of topics.

The Story of the World is a curriculum which consists of a spinebook which is a narrative to be read aloud, and an activity book which describes what else can be done after the reading - narrations, projects and further readings.



Diana Waring Curriculum as listed below consists of a Teacher's Manual, a Student Guide and an activity book. Book packs (with the literature recommended in the course) are also available.

Ancient Civilizations and the Bible, Revised, 2 Volumes By Diana Waring / Diana Waring Presents How does the Bible mesh with history? Now updated, Waring's best-selling text and teacher's guide take students on a 9-month journey through ancient and biblical history, from creation to the time of Jesus. Lessons include articles; activities; Scripture; suggested book lists; research topics; vocabulary; timeline; outline maps; creative writing assignments; and information on art, architecture, music, science, and drama. Appropriate for all learning styles. One softcover and one hardcover.

Spinebooks across the Time-periods

Here are some examples of Spinebooks which can be used across the time-periods. Go to the History Bookshop for History Recommendations.

Genesis: The Beginning, Ancient World

• Genesis: Finding our Roots by Ruth Beechick, used with Adam and His Kin.
• The Greenleaf Guide to Old Testament History by Rob & Cyndy Shearer.
• The Story of the Ancient World by H.A.Guerber (from Creation to Alexander the Great in 331BC)
• Kingfisher History Encyclopedia
• Streams of Civilization Volume One;
• Ancient Civilizations and the Bible, by Diana Waring

Ancient Egypt

• The Greenleaf Guide to Ancient Egypt
• The Story of the World; Volume 1 - The Ancients 5000 BC to 400 AD
• Streams of Civilization Volume One;
• Ancient Civilizations and the Bible, by Diana Waring

The Classical World: Ancient Greece

• The Story of the Greeks by H.A.Guerber
• Famous Men of Greece and the Greenleaf Guide to the Famous Men of Greece
• The Story of the World; Volume 1 - The Ancients by Susan Wise Bauer
• Streams of Civilization Volume One;
• Ancient Civilizations and the Bible, by Diana Waring

Ancient Rome

• The Story of the Romans by H.A.Guerber
• The Famous Men of Rome and the Greenleaf Guide to the Famous Men of Rome.
• The Story of the World; Volume 1 - The Ancients by Susan Wise Bauer
• Streams of Civilization Volume One;
• Romans, Reformers and Revolutionaries by Diana Waring

Middle Ages

• The Story of the Middle Ages by H.A.Guerber
• The Famous Men of the Middle Ages and the Greeneaf Guide to the Famous Men of the Middle Ages.
• The Story of the World; Volume 2 - The Middle Ages (400 - 1600) by Susan Wise Bauer
• Streams of Civilization Volume One;
• Romans, Reformers and Revolutionaries by Diana Waring

Renaissance and Reformation

• The Story of the Renaissance and Reformation by H.A.Guerber
• The Famous Men of the Renaissance and the Reformation and the Greenleaf Guide.
• The Story of the World; Volume 2 - The Middle Ages by Susan Wise Bauer
• Streams of Civilization Volume Two;
• Romans, Reformers and Revolutionaries by Diana Waring

Colonization and Exploration

• The Story of the Thirteen Colonies
• The Story of the World; Volume 3 - Early Modern Ages (1600-1850) by Susan Wise Bauer
• Streams of Civilization Volume Two;
• Romans, Reformers and Revolutionaries by Diana Waring

Modern History -1700s

• The Story of the World; Volume 3 - Early Modern Times by Susan Wise Bauer
• The Story of the Great Republic
• Streams of Civilization Volume Two;
• Romans, Reformers and Revolutionaries by Diana Waring

Modern History - 1800s

• The Story of the World; Volume 3 - Early Modern Times by Susan Wise Bauer
• The Story of the World; Volume 4 - The Modern Age (1850-1994) by Susan Wise Bauer,
• Streams of Civilization Volume Two;
• World Empires, World Missions, World Wars by Diana Waring

Modern History - 1900s

• The Story of the World; Volume 4 - The Modern Age by Susan Wise Bauer,
• Streams of Civilization Volume Two;
• World Empires, World Missions, World Wars by Diana Waring

Where to from here?

Some parents like to use a spinebook to keep their homeschool history study together, and also like to include the use of Primary Sources to teach History.

Teaching History can also be done by using a -

Chronological Approach

Unit Study Approach

Living Books Approach

How do you teach history? Add your idea here.

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