Quarter 2 of Mystery of History Volume 2 is entitled The Fire Spreads: C. 500 to 871, and includes so many fun lessons. If you’re one to extend your lessons and follow interests and rabbit trails, this could be longer than a quarter. And I encourage you to do it!
See my main post about Volume 2 (and all available lesson plans) here. If you’re new to Mystery of History, I recommend starting at Volume 1 here. It’s a chronological history, and works best to start at the beginning.
One of the keys to helping your children to know and understand history is to make it fun and memorable. That can’t happen as easily when you rush. If one of your kids finds a love for King Arthur, or castles, or the Viking age, or anything else in here, nourish that love. Help them to explore more. Use all of the suggestions (below) and more!
You’ll see me reference several things in each lesson: Notebooking Pages (purchase from Mystery of History), copywork (my free download), Optional Activities (found after each lesson in the text, and organized by age), Map Actitivity (found in the text after each 3 lessons, or week, under the heading SomeWHERE in Time), and Timeline activity (we use this one for a 3-ring binder, but the text also describes a couple of other timeline ideas). Great news: Linda Hobar, the author of Mystery of History, just released planning pages for volumes 1 & 2! I didn’t have these available when I did these volumes, but I recommend them!
We love the Challenge Cards for review each week; they are an excellent preparation for the quizzes and tests. The Companion Guide provides all of the quizzes, pre-tests, worksheets, reviews, and semester tests. I don’t use the pre-tests, but do use everything else. It also includes the blank maps and answer maps, plus Section C: Supplemental Books and Resources. The Medieval History Go-Fish Game is fun, and my kids love it!
See my blog post (and free printable list) 74 of the best Medieval books for kids and teens.
If you are using Institute for Excellence in Writing lessons, now is the time to begin Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons. (We have the 2016 edition.)
Berean Builders Science in the Ancient World is a great accompaniment, as mentioned in my intro to Mystery of History Volume 2.
Mystery of History Volume 2 Quarter 2 Lesson Plans
You can use this digital guide on your favorite smart device, or scroll to the bottom for a printable PDF to put in your teacher notebook.
22: Daily Life in the Dark Ages
The opening lesson introduces the Dark Ages, and provides so much to dive into! Here are some of the ways we did that (and these can be spread over this quarter, if you desire):
- Research the Feudal System and create a chart, or pyramid, that illustrates it
- Research the church hierarchy (priests, bishops, etc.) and create a chart illustrating it
- Begin reading Castle by David Macaulay
- Begin reading Cathedral by David Macaulay
- Notebooking page or Copywork Ephesians 3:10
- Optional activities for Lesson 22
- Optional IEW Lessons 1&2: The Middle Ages
23: King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
- This could be a topic to do an extended study on if your kids are interested! Be open to spending an extra day, like we did, (or a few!) here, or on any other topic of interest.
- Begin reading a version of King Arthur’s story from the Companion Guide, Section C: Supplemental Books and Resources
- After reading King Arthur, consider reading Wulf the Saxon by G.A. Henty (and download my free study guide)
- Get and peruse a copy of the Anglo Saxon Chronicle (see A.D. 514)
- Read The Birth of Britain by Winston Churchill, Chapter 4: The Lost Island
- Study this map of Saxon Invasions
- YouTube: Anglo Saxons Explained in 10 Minutes
- Check out this website with links to Arthurian locations in Great Britain
- Consider this detailed King Arthur coloring book
- Notebooking page OR Copywork quote from Howard Pyle
- Discuss familiar terms from King Arthur’s tales that are part of our culture: holy grail, Excalibur, Camelot, round table, etc.
- Optional activities for Lesson 23
- Timeline: King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table 503 A.D.
- Optional IEW Lesson 3: Anglo Saxons
- Optional IEW Lesson 4: Beowulf (this is not in the same order as the MOH text, but since IEW introduces writing concepts in order, this is a recommended place to do it.)
24: Justinian and Theodora, Rulers of the Byzantine Empire
- Do the map activity (1) with the first section of the text
- Drive Thru History Ancients, Asia Minor 2-1, 2-6
- YouTube: The Byzantine Empire Explained in 13 Minutes
- Notebooking page OR Copywork quote by Justinian
- Optional activities for Lesson 24 (we did 3B2 and 3C1 and 2)
- Timeline Justinian I and Theodora 527-565.
- Optional IEW Lesson 5: The Byzantine Empire
Do Week 24 Exercise
Review Challenge Cards for Lessons 1-24
If you are incorporating Science in the Ancient World by Berean Builders, Lessons 46 and 47 go perfectly here.
25: Columba, Missionary to Scotland
- History of Britain and Ireland: p. 38-39
- Anglo Saxon Chronicle A.D. 519-565
- YouTube: The Book of Kells and Making a Medieval Manuscript Like the Book of Kells
- Picture book: Marguerite Makes a Book
- This Illuminated Manuscripts detailed coloring book is amazing, and would be perfect for many days of listening to read-alouds!
- Notebooking page OR copywork: create an illuminated page with scripture
- Here are some free printable examples to get started
- Drive Thru History Ends of the Earth:
- Optional activities for Lesson 25
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 25
- Timeline Columba 563
- Map activity 1
26:Early Japan and Prince Shotoku
- YouTube: Ainu people (short video) or (longer video)
- Apologetics: Read “Shintoism” in Today’s Handbook of Religions, p. 339
- My kids love sushi, so we put it on the lunch menu for this day!
- Notebooking page OR copywork on Taoism
- Optional activities for Lesson 26
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 26
- Timeline Prince Shotoku 573
- Map activity 2 (we did not make the model; we labeled and colored an enlarged map of Japan instead)
27: Gregory the Great
- Read 1 Peter 5:1-4
- Define Lombards
- Read more about the Gregorian Chant at Songs and Hymns and Britannica, and sing When I Survey the Wondrous Cross acapella
- See the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle A.D. 692
- Drive Thru History Ends of the Earth…
- Notebooking page OR copywork 1 Peter 5: 1-4
- Optional activities for Lesson 27
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 27
- Timeline Gregory the Great 590
- Optional: IEW Medieval writing lesson 6 (Augustine)
Do Week 9 Quiz and review Challenge Cards Lessons 1-27
28: The Sui and Tang Dynasties of China
- If you haven’t yet read The Chinese Empire in Great Civilizations of the East, now is a great time
- Great Ages of Man: Ancient China is a really cool older encycolpedia-type book that is perfect! (See if you can find the whole Great Ages of Man set; it is worth having.)
- Notebooking page OR copywork quote James Murdoch
- Optional activities for Lesson 28
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 28
- Timeline the Sui and Tang Dynasties 589, 618
29: Mohammed and the Birth of Islam
- Drive Thru History Ancients, Asia Minor 1-4
- Look in a “flags of the world” book to see how many nation’s flags include the symbol for Islam
- Read Chapter 4 of Don’t All Religions Lead to God?
- Read Islam p. 377 in Handbook of Today’s Religions
- YouTube: Voice of the Martyrs Muslims Asking Questions, Finding Jesus
- Voice of the Martyrs “Christians Facing Islamist Extremists”
- Begin reading Mosque by David Macaulay
- Notebooking page OR copywork quote from Josh McDowell
The Spread of Islam
- Same as above for extras
- Optional activities for Lesson 30
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 30
- Timeline Mohammed and the Spread of Islam 632
- Map Activity 2 and 3
- Optional: IEW Medieval writing lesson 7 (Mohammed)
Do Week 10 Quiz and Challenge Cards for Lessons 1-30
31: Wu Zetian, the Empress of China
- Consider “Illustrated Stories from China” by Usborne Books
- Research pagodas in China
- Draw a pagoda from Draw and Write Through History: The Vikings, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance
- Optional activities for Lesson 31
- Continue reading about Ancient China in Great Ages of Man or Great Civilizations of the East
- Notebooking page
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 31
- Timeline Wu Zetian, the Empress of China 690
32: The Epic of Beowulf
- Read or listen to a translation of Beowulf from recommendations in Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 32
- J.R.R. Tolkien also wrote a translation (he was a professor of Anglo Saxon, in case you didn’t know!)
- Draw a dragon from Draw and Write Through History: The Vikings, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance or color dragons from this Dragons coloring book
- Notebooking page OR Copywork quote from Beowulf
- Optional activities for lesson 32
- Map activity 1
- Timeline The Epic of Beowulf 700s
33: Al-Andalus: “The Ornament of the World” in Medieval Spain
- This is a fascinating look at the medieval world and the three (still) dominant religions.
- Research the Rock of Gibraltar, Straits of Gibraltar
- Notebooking page OR Copywork 1 Corinthians 1:18
- Optional activities for lesson 33
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 33
- Map activity 2 and 3
- Timeline Al-Andalus: “The Ornament of the World” in Medieval Spain 711
- Optional: IEW Medieval writing lesson 8 (Ali and the Sultan’s Saddle)
Do Week 11 Quiz and Challenge Cards for lessons 1-33
St. Boniface, Apostle to Germany
35: The Iconoclast Controversy
- The Story of Christianity p. 305-306
- Stress understanding of East (Byzantine) and West (Roman Empire church)
- Notebooking page OR Copywork
- Optional activities for lesson 35
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 35
- Timeline The Iconoclast Controversy 726
36: Charles “Martel” and the Battle of Tours
- After reading this lesson, it’s interesting to think about Providence as our founders often did: America as we know it might not exist without the Battle of Tours! This is why learning chronological history is so important.
- Drive Thru History Ends of the Earth episode:
- Notebooking page OR Daniel 2:21
- Optional activities for lesson 36
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 36
- Map activity 2
- Timeline Charles “Martel” and the Battle of Tours 732
- Optional: IEW Writing Lessons 12 Charlemange
Do Week 12 quiz/exercise and challenge cards for lessons 1-36
Read The Birth of Britain (Churchill) Chapter 5: England
37: Charlemagne
- Read The Story of Christianity Chapter 29
- Also: Trial and Triumph: Stories from Church History, Chapter 10
- Read the Song of Roland
- Research a map of the “papal states”
- Notebooking page OR
- Optional activities for lesson 37
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 37
- Map activity 1
- Timeline Charlemagne 768
- Optional: IEW Writing Lessons 13 Charlemange
38: The Thousand and One Nights: Tales from Arabia
- Read a copy of Arabian Nights stories or listen to the Jim Weiss audio version (and see how many classic Disney movies you recognize in these stories)
- Check out these learning activities from Sinbad
- Check out these Aladdin-inspired learning ideas
- Notebooking page OR
- Optional activities for lesson 38
- Map activity 2
- Timeline The Thousand and One Nights: Tales from Arabia 786
- Optional: IEW Medieval writing lesson 16 (The Magic Lamp)
39: Invasion of the Vikings
- The Viking age is another subject that makes a fun extended study!
- DVD: Vikings, Journey to New Worlds (kid friendly)
- Anglo-Saxon Chronicle A.D. 793
- Read: The Dragon and the Raven by G.A. Henty (and download my study guide)
- Look up Viking runes
- Draw a Viking ship or longhouse from Draw and Write Through History: The Vikings, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance
- Notebooking page OR
- Optional activities for lesson 39
- Map activity 3
- Timeline Invasion of the Vikings 793
Read The Birth of Britain (Churchill) Chapter 6: The Vikings
Do Week 13 quiz and challenge cards for Lessons 1-39
40: The Vikings: Their Families, Their Homes, and Their Faith
- Continue reading a selection from above
- Consider reading D’aulaire’s Norse Myths
- Optional activities for lesson 40
- Notebooking page
- Timeline Vikings 800-1100
- Optional: IEW Lesson 14: Vikings
41: Methodius and Cyril, Missionaries to the Slavs
- Drive Thru History To the Ends of the Earth: Russia…
- Notebooking page OR copywork
- Optional activities for lesson 41
- Definitely do Map activity 1
- Timeline Methodius and Cyril, Missionaries to the Slavs 863
42: Alfred the Great, King of England
- Continue reading The Dragon and the Raven by G.A. Henty (with my free study guide)
- Read Birth of Britain by Churchill chapters 7-8
- High School students consider reading The White Horse King
- Consider reading King Alfred’s English
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 42
- Notebooking page OR copywork
- Optional activities for lesson 42
- Map activity 2
- Timeline Alfred the Great, King of England 871
Do Week 14 Quiz and Challenge Cards for Lessons 1-42
Do Worksheet 2: Lessons 22-42
Optional: Semester 1 Test Lessons 1-42
If there were any movies you wanted to watch, and didn’t get to, the end of Quarter 2 is a good time for that!
Are there ones for 1st grade
Hi. The Mystery of History book itself has great suggested activities and adaptations for all ages. I do not teach any first graders, so my post is geared to the older kids.