Beverley Naidoo, South Africa & Tapestry of Grace

What happens when you move? You sort. And sort. And sort. I sorted through things as we packed, getting rid of what we no longer need, and now I'm sorting through things as I unpack!

I came across a book today while unpacking my school room that I thought I could add to my my children's reading list this year. We are doing Year 4 of Tapestry of Grace, which covers the time period from 1900 to the Present. The book is Journey to Jo'burg by Beverley Naidoo. As I researched to find the time setting for this book, I found that she's written several other highly recommended books. I thought I would share, first of all, so that I don't forget about them! Secondly, I thought someone else might find it useful.
Please keep in mind, other than Journey to Jo'burg, I haven't previewed the books and plan to preview them before letting my children read them.

Out of Bounds, TOG Y4, Units 3-4, 1950-2000

Recommended for Grades 6 and up. (Also available on Kindle)

Journey to Jo'burg, TOG Y4, Wk 31 - 1985 (This is when the book was first published)

Recommended for Grades 6 and up.

Chain of Fire, TOG Y4, Wk 32 - 1986 (This is when the book was first published) (Out of Print)
Sequel to Journey to Jo'burg


No Turning Back, TOG Y4, Wk 33 or 34
Recommended for Grades 4 and up. (Also available on Kindle)



There is also the sweetest children's book! I am going to have to purchase this one! I just fell in love with the preview on Amazon.

S is for South Africa

Boer versus Briton 1880-1902

I am in the process of adding South African history to our homeschool studies, integrating it with Tapestry of Grace. The Boer versus Briton (Anglo Boer War) section of All About South Africa would fit into TOG Y4.


Books to look for:
Ring Around the Moon by Maretha Maartens
Place Among the Stones by Jenny Seed
The Policeman's Button by Jenny Seed
The Spy Hill by Jenny Seed

Links:

Photographic Record of the Anglo Boer War
Anglo Boer War website

Field Trips:
Battlefields
"Luthuli Farewell Square is named in honour of early trader Lieutenant Francis Farewell and liberation struggle leader Albert Luthuli. Monuments here include statues in honour of Queen Victoria, a Boer War memorial, a Cenotaph honouring the fallen in both World Wars among other memoria. The square is opposite the eThekwini (formerly Durban) City Hall." (As a side note, eThekwini City Hall was built in 1903, so also a great visit for this time period.)
Battle of Magersfontein - Kimberly
Kruger House Museum - Pretoria

Dear America & Tapestry of Grace

I just became aware of the Dear America books, a series of historical fiction books, aimed at girls ages 8-13. Each book is written in the form of a diary of a young girl during a different era of US History. They also made some of the books into episodes that are available on Netflix. I am excited to read & watch some of these with my daughter as we study the coinciding time periods in Tapestry of Grace! 

Following is a list of the episodes that are available on Netflix, along with a link to the actual book (some of which are even available on Kindle!),the week I plan to use it with Tapestry of Grace and a link to the discussion guide from scholastic. There are a lot more books available, but this is where we will start!

• 1620 (Y2, Wk 21) - A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple, Mayflower, by Kathryn Lasky (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)

• 1763 (Y2, Wk 29) - Standing in the Light: The Captive Diary of Catharine Carey Logan, Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania, by Mary Pope Osborne (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)

• 1777 (Y2, Wk 31-32) - The Winter of Red Snow: The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, by Kristiana Gregory (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)

• 1836 (Y3, Wk 12) - A Line in the Sand: The Alamo Diary of Lucinda Lawrence, Gonzales, Texas, by Sherry Garland (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America) 

• 1847 - (Y3, Wk 13) So Far from Home: The Diary of Mary Driscoll, an Irish Mill Girl, Lowell, Massachusetts, by Barry Denenberg (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)

• 1859 (Y3 Wk 21) - A Picture of Freedom: The Diary of Clotee, a Slave Girl, Belmont Plantation, Virginia, by Patricia McKissack (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)

• 1864 (Y3 Wk 24) - When Will This Cruel War Be Over?: The Diary of Emma Simpson, Gordonsville, Virginia, by Barry Denenberg (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)

• 1903 (Y4 Wk 1) - Dreams in the Golden Country: The Diary of Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish Immigrant Girl, New York City, by Kathryn Lasky (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)

• 1919 - (Y4 Wk 7) Color Me Dark: The Diary of Nellie Lee Love, the Great Migration North, Chicago, Illinois, by Patricia McKissack (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)

Tapestry of Grace Books

I have been searching for books for TOG Y4, and I thought I would share the free books I have found. I will update this list as I find more. At this point all of these books are on the Kindle. If you don't have a kindle, you can download a Kindle app for an iPhone, iPod or PC for free. Here is a link for a PC download!

I will update this list as I find more!