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Tuesday, July 26

The Button Box & the Early Islamic Empires

 "It helps to remember those who hurt and betray as numerous and deep as the sands outside holy Mecca.  And like the sands, they are beneath us - though they may burns the soles of our feet.  The burning serves as a reminder to travel as quickly and light over these threats as possible on the way to our blessed destination.  Do not let enemies, or the foolish, distract or dissuade you.  Keep your eyes on the right path." ~The Button Box


A Bit of Islamic History

Islam is the third of the major monotheistic faiths, meaning those whose followers believe in one God.  Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all trace their origins to the teachings of prophets who received revelations passed down as holy scriptures.

Based on the teachings of the Qur’an, the holy scripture of Islam, Muslims trace the origins of their faith to the first prophet, Adam.
  Though it was said that God had revealed himself to Adam, Islamic belief is that no one has seen God, not even Prophet Muhammad.  The Qur’an teaches that God repeatedly sent prophets to humankind with the same basic message of belief in One God and of the necessity to worship and act according to strong moral standards.  This religion teaches that earlier scriptures were sometimes lost or altered, or were superseded by later revelation.  Therefore, Muhammad, the final prophet, completed God’s message to humankind.

The Prophet Muhammad is said to have been a man born about 570 CE in the city of Mecca, a caravan stop on a trade route that ran along the western side of the Arabian Peninsula between Yemen and the Mediterranean region.  Orphaned at an early age, Muhammad spent his youth in the care of his socially prominent grandfather and uncle.  He worked as a caravan trader, which led to his marriage to the wealthy widow Khadijah.  He was known for wisdom and honesty.  

At about the age of forty, after years of spiritual searching and meditation, he reported receiving a revelation through the Angel Gabriel in a mountain cave outside the city.  These revelations continued for the following twelve years, between about 610 and 622 CE.  The revelations were transmitted by Muhammad to his followers in Arabic, and they were memorized and committed to writing during his lifetime.  These words were known as the Qur’an. Muslims believe this text to be the direct word of God, whose name in Arabic is Allah.

The word Islam means “peace through submission to God.”  The Qur’an teaches that all prophets were Muslim in the sense that they were models of submission to God and seekers of truth.  Islamic teachings lay out a way of life based on moral values and commandments.

The Five Pillars of Islam are:
  • To testify to belief in One God and the prophethood of Muhammad
  • To pray five obligatory prayers each day
  • To fast from dawn to sunset annually during the month of Ramadan
  • To pay annual obligatory charity
  • To make the pilgrimage to the city of Mecca at least once in a lifetime

A Bit of Umayyad History

The Umayyad dynasty was the first great Muslim dynasty to rule the Arab kingdom. Before the Umayyads, Islamic rule was non-centralized. The Umayyads, headed by Abū Sufyān, were a largely merchant family and were centered at Mecca. In the first Muslim civil war, there was a struggle for the caliphate role, with a murder of the third caliph and then the emergence of Muʿāwiyah, then governor of Syria, as the first Umayyad caliph.

Umayyad rule was divided between two branches of the family: the Sufyānids (reigned 661–684) and the Marwanids (reigned 684–750). The Sufyānids centralized authority in Damascus, and the Syrian army became the basis of their strength. Muslim rule expanded to Khorāsān, garrison cities were founded as bases for expeditions into Central Asia and northwestern India, and the invasion of northwestern Africa was begun. They also conducted campaigns against Constantinople (Istanbul), which were directed against the Christians. Civil war brought Sufyānid rule to an end in the year 684.

Under ʿAbd al-Malik - of the Marwanid line - the Umayyad caliphate continued to expand. Muslim armies continued to invade India and Central Asia. Arabic became the official state language, Arabs replaced Persian and Greek officials, and new Arabic coins replaced the former money system. Communications improved with the introduction of a regular post service from Damascus to the provincial capitals, and architecture flourished during this time.

Decline began in the year 717 with the disastrous defeat of the Syrian army by the Byzantine emperor Leo III. New financial and political reforms placed all Muslims on the same footing, regardless of ethnicity, and this led to financial crisis and feuds between southern (Kalb) and northern (Qays) Arab tribes. Eventually, with the dilution of their armies from expansion on so many different fronts (France, Anatolia, Central Asia, and North Africa), the Umayyad dynasty came to an end.

The last Umayyad, Marwān II (reigned 744–750), was defeated at the Battle of the Great Zab River. Members of the Umayyad house were hunted down and killed, but one of the survivors, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, escaped and established himself as a Muslim ruler in Spain, founding the dynasty of the Umayyads in Córdoba......this story is where we find ourselves in 'The Button Box.'

A Bit of Abbasid History

The Abbasid caliphate overthrew the Umayyad caliphate in 750 CE, and reigned until it was destroyed by the Mongol invasion in 1258.  Their leadership was also based on dynasty, but their social hierarchy had a more inclusive government, and it was located in the capital city of Baghdad. The distinction between Arab Muslims and non-Arab Muslims diminished, with Persian culture exerting a greater influence than religion.

The Abbasids promoted commerce, industry, arts, and science.  During their rule, Islamic art and culture flourished, and this was the beginning of the 'golden age.' They are famous for inaugurating the Islamic golden age. Religious scholars developed systems of law, and many people converted to Islam, for a variety of reasons, one of which was because there were heavy taxes levied on NON-Muslims. 

Instead of focusing on North Africa, the Mediterranean, and southern Europe (like the previous empire), the caliphate turned eastward.  With the rise of the Abbasids, the base for influence in the empire became international, emphasizing membership in the community of believers rather than Arab nationality.  Spanning over four thousand miles, the Abbasid empire was impressive but difficult to maintain.  As people converted to Islam, tax revenue collected from non-Muslim subjects dwindled.

A Bit of Fatimid History

The Fatimid dynasty tried unsuccessfully to oust the Abbasid caliphs as leaders of the Islamic world.  This group took its name from Fāṭimah, daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, from whom the Fatimids claimed descent.  They were a rival religious movement—the Shiʿi branch of Islam—and dedicated to the overthrow of the existing religious and political order in all of Islam.  They were, in the eyes of their followers, the rightful caliphs, both by descent and by divine choice the legitimate heads of the universal Islamic state and community. 

For more than a century, the Fatimid rulers pursued their goals.  At times they were compelled to reach some agreement with their Sunni rivals, because of things like war on the frontiers, trouble in the Mediterranean, unrest at home or in the provinces, but such arrangements were always temporary.  The caliph was not only an emperor: he was also an imām—the spiritual head and embodiment of God’s infallible guidance to humankind.  In the Fatimid state, religion became a third branch of the government, together with the traditional military and leadership establishments, as an institutionalized state religion.

One reason the dynasty began to decline was their adoption of a religious doctrine that was unacceptable to the Sunni majority.  Then, the coming of the Crusaders indirectly sealed its fate, for in the great 12th-century contest between Islam and Christendom, there was no room for dissension on the Muslim side.  The end of this dynasty came in 1171 when the last caliph died.  Saladin became the real master of Egypt, and the Fatimid caliphate was formally abolished.


Read
  • The Button Box
    • After Jewish fifth-grader Ava and her Muslim best friend Nadeem are called hateful names at school, Ava's Granny Buena rummages in her closet and pulls out a glittering crystal button box. It's packed with buttons that generations of Ava's Sephardic ancestors have cherished. With the help of Granny's mysterious cat Sheba, Ava and Nadeem discover that a button from the button box will take them back in time. Suddenly, they are in ancient Morocco, where Nadeem's ancestor, Prince Abdur Rahman, is running for his life. Can Ava and Nadeem help the prince escape to Spain and fulfill his destiny, creating a legendary Golden Age for Muslims, Jews and Christians?
  • Rayan's Adventure Learning the Five Pillars of Islam
  • Umayyad, Abbasid and Ottoman Caliphates

Watch

Make / Do

Vocabulary
  • caliph
  • caliphate
  • Mecca
  • Mohammed
  • Quran
  • Shia
  • Sunni
  • mosque
Think
  • Besides conquest by armies, how was Islam spread?
  • Which of the aforementioned empires treated its non-Muslims subjects most fairly?  Why did you choose this one?

Monday, July 25

7 Reasons to Read Diverse Children's Books - FREE Read Around the World download

A good, age-appropriate book can help develop empathy and understanding of what it’s like for people who have a different race, culture, religion, or socio-economic status...

Why read diverse children's books?

  1. Develop early relationships.  Reading books about diversity helps children learn to show kindness without judgement, better understand cultural differences, and nurture meaningful relationships in the classroom and on the playground.
  2. Bring current events to life.  Seeing news stories can be jarring for children, especially if they have no frame of reference for that region or culture.  Reading a book can help them develop empathy and better understanding, and it can spark age-appropriate conversations.
  3. See the similarities.  Not every multicultural book spotlights diversity as a different experience.  Sometimes it's about demonstrating a human truth - that we're not as different we think.
  4. Learn a new language.  Granted, you won't become fluent from reading diverse books, but exposing children to other languages at an early age primes those neurons for further linguistic development later on.  Many diverse books are sprinkled with words and phrases from the featured culture.
  5. Explore your roots.  Every family has a unique set of ancestry and heritage, particularly American families, which tend to have many different sets of roots.  Taking the time to further explore those origins can put a personalized spin on learning about other cultures.
  6. Dive into history.  Books set in another country will often have historic information, geographic details, and illustrations or photos.  Learning about these cultures and their history can open new doors and spark even more learning.
  7. Travel the world.  You don't need a passport to explore faraway regions and lands...all you need are the pages of a book.  Good books will have characters that feel so life-like, you can relate to them and learn from their experiences.


What's included in the FREE download?

Read Around the World includes children's literature featuring:

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Australia / Oceania
  • China / Japan / Korea
  • Southeast Asia
  • Latin America
  • Middle East


Full-Year Diversity Literature Class for Teens

The World Literature course includes:
  • The Boys in the Boat
  • A Long Way Home
  • I Am Malala
  • The Alchemist
  • Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
  • Crime and Punishment
  • Refugee
  • The Book Thief
  • Midnight's Children
  • The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind


Cultural Family-Style Learning



Upper Grades Diversity Units

Monday, July 18

A Loyal Foe + War of the Roses

The Wars of the Roses was a period that saw the deaths of kings, the extinction of royal dynasties and the brutal slaughter of much of England’s nobility, but they were much more than a simple fight to the death between two royal houses...

The Wars of the Roses were fought between two families: the House of Lancaster (who were represented by a red rose) and the House of York (who were represented by a white rose). The two houses were both branches of the royal House of Plantagenet. It was a Civil War that lasted for thirty-three years (1455-1487) and caused much death and destruction. At the start of the Wars, Henry VI from the House of Lancaster, was King.

The reasons behind the wars were complex. Both houses claimed to have a right to the English throne as descendants of King Edward III. It didn't help that the current king, Henry VI, was mentally ill and was being advised by corrupt and unpopular nobles. Henry VI was a very weak king, and the House of York wanted to seize power from him.


His cousin, Edward IV (House of York) was an excellent king, but had a weak claim to the throne.  When Edward IV died, his brother became King Richard III.  Richard is accused of killing Edward IV’s sons—his own nephews—so that he could become king.  Richard III locked away the princes in the Tower of London, and is believed to have ordered their murder.

Richard III was a Yorkist, and there were still many Lancastrians who did not support him as King - they supported Henry Tudor instead.  Henry Tudor was a Lancastrian from Wales who killed Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field.  He thus became Henry VII, the first Tudor King.  Richard III’s remains were found in 2013 near the location of Bosworth Field.

Henry VII was the first Tudor King.  He managed to bring peace to England after defeating Richard III.
 One of the main ways in which Henry VII, a Lancastrian, achieved this was by marrying the daughter of Edward IV from the House of York.  This union between the two warring houses, Lancaster and York, was represented in the Tudor Rose, which is a white rose surrounded by a red rose.

Timeline 
  • 1455 - The Wars of the Roses begins with the Battle of First St. Albans on May 22, 1455.  At this battle, Richard of York defeated the army of Henry VI.  Richard put Henry VI in prison and became the "Lord Protector" of England. 
  • 1460 - The Lancastrians win a major victory at the Battle of Wakefield on December 30, 1460.  Richard of York is killed. 
  • 1461 - Richard of York's son, Edward IV, defeats the Lancastrians at the Battle of Towton.  Edward IV is declared king of England.  Queen Margaret flees to France. 
  • 1470 - The Earl of Warwick and Queen Margaret forge an alliance.  They return to England and restore Henry VI to the throne. 
  • 1471 - Edward IV gathers a new army and once again defeats the Lancastrians at the Battles of Tewksbury and Barnet.  He sends Henry VI to the Tower of London where Henry VI dies in April of 1471. 
  • 1483 - Edward IV dies and his twelve-year-old son, Edward V, becomes king.  However, his uncle, Richard III, has him sent to the Tower of London where he disappears from public view.  Richard III becomes king of England. 
  • 1485 - Henry Tudor defeats Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth on August 22, 1485.  Richard III is killed and Henry is declared king. 
  • 1487 - The House of Tudor, Led by Henry VII, defeats the House of York at the Battle of Stoke Field.  This brings the Wars of the Roses to an end. 


Our spine read for this unit is A Loyal Foe (Ivy Bolton)

Get the entire unit in the World History Bundle!

Includes ten unit studies (plus a bonus!) covering World History. Each unit addresses a new topic, spanning from Ancient Hawaii to modern-day. There is also a study of archaeological concepts. Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.
  • There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
  • After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
  • You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
  • There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
  • Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
  • We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.
These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

Product samples:   Motel of the Mysteries & Encounter

Includes:
  • Motel of the Mysteries
  • Island Boy
  • Encounter
  • The Odyssey
  • A Loyal Foe
  • Indigo Girl
  • Gold Rush Girl
  • Around the World in 80 Days
  • Number the Stars
  • To Kill a Mockingbird
  • House of the Seven Gables (bonus)

Sunday, July 10

Invention of Hugo Cabret & Clockmaking

A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery...

Clockmakers were artisans and master craftsmen who designed and built clocks by hand.  They designed the clocks, the components that made them work, and often the tools to create or repair their pieces.  They have to have fine motor coordination and the ability to work with tiny, delicate machinery.  Today most clocks are factory-made, but there are still clockmakers who work in jewelry stores and antique shops repairing old clocks and watches.

Timekeeping devices date back to ancient civilizations, who used the stars and astronomical bodies moving across the sky to track time.  Sundials and water clocks were used by the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, and Chinese.  During the Dark and early Middle Ages, Islamic water clocks, Indian incense clocks, and European hourglasses were invented.  Later in the Middle Ages, some of these techniques were combined to create a mechanical clock.  This invention was based on the bell-striking alarm used in monasteries.

After the invention of the mainspring, it was possible to being create smaller clocks, such as those designed by two of the most famous scientists – Leonardo DaVinci and Galileo Galilei.  They each used the concept of the pendulum, working with different lengths to produce a desired timekeeper.  In 1656, Dutch designer Christian Huygens built upon their designs to create a clock more accurate than any before.

It was a naval disaster in 1707 that changed the future of timekeeping devices.  The Scilly Naval Disaster was one of the worst maritime disasters in British history.  Around 1700 sailors lost their lives to a wreck in severe weather.  The disaster was attributed to several factors, including the navigators inability to correctly calculate their position.  Following this disaster, governments offered a prize to anyone who could discover a way to determine longitude.  The electric clock, invented in 1840, became the new standard.

During the Boer War (1899-1902), the wristwatch became the symbol of masculinity.  Then in the 1940s, quartz timers became the basis for precise measurement of time.  During the 20th century, battery-driven watches, quartz wristwatches, transistors, and precise plastic parts were all invented, bringing accurate timekeeping to the masses.  Today, the most accurate clocks are atomic clocks, which can be accurate to within a few billionths of a second per year.  These are the clocks used to calibrate all other clocks and timekeeping devices.


Our spine read for this unit is The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Brian Selznick)


Access the full unit with the Literature-Based Science Bundle!


Includes nine unit studies covering a variety of science topics presented in literature selections.
  • Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.
  • There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
  • After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
  • You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
  • There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
  • Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
  • We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.
Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!
 

Units include:
  • Misty of Chincoteague & Horses
  • Hugo Cabret & Clocks / Time
  • Caroline’s Comet & Astronomy
  • Fuzzy Mud & Microbiology
  • Hatchet & Outdoor Skills
  • Airplanes & Flight
  • Marine Biology
  • Human Anatomy
  • Plant Dissection

Wednesday, July 6

9 Tips for Teaching Reading with the TGTB Library


When you have one child reading at the age of four and another who doesn't learn until eight, it can be frustrating and a bit concerning.  But remember - every child learns at his or her own pace.  By being patient, reading regularly as a family, and making it enjoyable, you can help to instill a love of reading and encourage the process!

  1. Talk to your child from birth.  You've probably already been doing this one, but keep it up!  Children are like little sponges - they absorb everything.  (If you don't believe me, curse in front of your child just once.  Just once...and see what happens.)  Use a wide vocabulary, and even different languages, when talking to/with your child...they'll pick up more than you think.
  2. Sing together.  The rhythm and rhyme of children's songs helps to build critical reading skills, such as speech sounds, and clapping or toe-tapping helps to develop syllabic awareness.  TGTB's preschool program includes several learning songs to help develop these skills.
  3. Point out words...everywhere.  Whether it's a poster, chart, app, commercial, or a book, point out words whenever and wherever.  Make a game of it, asking your child what letter a word begins with, or what sound it makes.  Make it fun!
  4. Uppercase letters first.  You know how little b, d, p, and q kind of look the same?  That's confusing to a new reader!  Start with the more distinct upper case letters - B, D, P, Q, etc - and once the reader is comfortable with those, begin making connections between upper and lower case.
  5. Focus on the sound.  When students learn phonics, what they're really learning is how each of the letters sounds.  Teaching the sounds that A, B, C, and D make can be tricky at first, especially with English, which has so many exceptions!  Focus on the hard sounds first, and add in the soft sounds later on.  (For example, /C/ can make the c-sound or the s-sound.)  TGTB's Kindergarten Prep focuses specifically on mastering letter sounds.
  6. Highlight interests.  Whether it's animals, sports, history, or cars...choose books that involve the reader's interest.  This will help motivate them to read and improve those skills.  (This is a good strategy for Hi-Lo readers as well.)
  7. Start in the right spot.  You want stories that aren't too difficult, but that aren't too babyish either.  This is particularly true for late bloomers who have lower reading levels, but higher maturity.  Hi-Lo books (or high interest, low level books) are a good option for this group.  The TGTB Library numbers every book with it's reading level, making it easy for you to choose books and work your way 'up the ladder' as reading skills improve.
  8. Read together.  Don't just snuggle together to read, but actually take turns reading with your child.  This can take a bit of patience, particularly if your child is struggling, but give them that time to sound out words, read with a finger, and develop reading confidence.  Depending on page length, maybe you take the longer-text page and your child takes the shorter-text page.  Reading the same book a few times will help them develop confidence, and once that happens, switch it up!
  9. Understand what you're getting into.  Children need to master five different skills if they are to be successful emerging readers.  These include:
    1. Comprehension - understanding the meaning of the sentences
    2. Fluency - reading aloud with understanding, accuracy, and speed
    3. Phonemic awareness - hearing different sounds in words  
    4. Phonics - understanding the connection between sounds and the letters that represent those sounds
    5. Vocabulary - understanding the meaning of individual words

I have a son with severe speech and hearing issues who is physically unable to master phonemic awareness.  He was 15 before becoming a successful reader.  So if you have a child who struggles, do NOT give up.  Keep plugging away at it, because it will eventually happen...it will just take a bit longer.  Check out some of our favorite early level readers from The Good & the Beautiful Library below...

There is a fabulous and FREE book list available to download for you to get started on the journey to filling your shelves with good books!  They also have a searchable database, where you can filter by reading level, author, and genre.  Many of the books feature parent reviews, as well as commentary about the moral, literary, and educational value.  You do NOT have to use the curriculum to use their book list.  It is just a guide of vetted, 'good' books.  


You may also be interested in....

 

Friday, July 1

Around the World in 80 Days & International Cooking

Through the study of international cuisine, students also learn the culture, history, and geography of countries and regions of the world.....plus, it's super tasty!

There are so many reasons to study international cooking methods and foods, not the least of which is:
  • Cultural awareness.  Popular restaurants that are typically associated with a cuisine (eg, Taco Bell) aren't necessarily representative of the real thing.  There are ethnic bases of cooking (which you'll often see in sauces), and you'll get to know these staple crops for each region of the world, giving you insight into their geography.  
  • World history.  Places that are close to each other and / or share a similar colonial history generally have similar cuisine.  For as long as people have been traveling place to place, they've been bringing their cuisine with them.  You can trace the mobilization of historic cultures by looking at regional cuisines today.  Look at the regional cuisines in America, and see how they match up to the earliest immigrants to that region...
  • Shared experiences.  Have you ever noticed how there is a chicken and rice dish in nearly every culture?  Take that a step further and you'll see geographic similarities, or ethnic bases of cooking.  Tropical foods tend to be spicier and rely on more seafood, whereas Scandinavian foods tend to be heavier, heartier, and a little more bland.
  • Preparation for future business or travel opportunities.  Everybody eats, and food is often an icebreaker.  Knowing a bit about someone else's foods and being respectful (even if you don't love the food) can go a long way in the world. 
  • Did we mention it's fun and tasty?  😊

Our spine read for this unit is Around the World in 80 Days  (Jules Verne)


Get the entire unit in the World History Bundle!

Includes ten unit studies (plus a bonus!) covering World History. Each unit addresses a new topic, spanning from Ancient Hawaii to modern-day. There is also a study of archaeological concepts. Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.
  • There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
  • After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
  • You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
  • There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
  • Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
  • We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.
These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

Product samples:   Motel of the Mysteries & Encounter

Includes:
  • Motel of the Mysteries
  • Island Boy
  • Encounter
  • The Odyssey
  • A Loyal Foe
  • Indigo Girl
  • Gold Rush Girl
  • Around the World in 80 Days
  • Number the Stars
  • To Kill a Mockingbird
  • House of the Seven Gables (bonus)