Quarter 3 of Mystery of History Volume 2 is entitled The Fire Grows: 874 to 1192, and includes so many fun lessons. I encourage you to extend your lessons and follow interests and rabbit trails. You don’t have to stick to the weekly calendar!
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 ancient Japan (like my son), or Robin Hood, or the Crusades, 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.
I really love Royal Panoply: Brief Lives of the English Monarchs by Carolly Erickson. Feel free to use it as you move through British history!
I have inlcluded more of Drive Thru History: Ends of the Earth episodes here and there, as well as the Monarchy documentary (available on YouTube).
Lessons plans for Mystery of History Volume 2 Quarter 3
The first three lessons in this quarter are from three different geographic regions, and could be expanded as much as you want! Dive into Iceland, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe with books, videos, crafts, and food.
- Lydveldid Island (Iceland)
- Watch a 7-minute YouTube video about Iceland’s geography
- Consider The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow as suggested in the Companion Guide
- Notebooking page or Copywork quote from Book of the Islanders
- Optional activities for lesson 43
- Discuss Icelandic names and how different they are
- Timeline Lydveldid Island (Iceland) 874
- The Maori of New Zealand
- Watch a 27-animated documentary on the Maori on YouTube
- Get out your atlas and explore Oceania
- We enjoyed talking about New Zealand as the main film location for Lord of the Rings
- Notebooking page
- Optional activities for lesson 44
- Consider one or more book recommendations from the Companion Guide
- Timeline The Maori of New Zealand C. 900
- The Great Zimbabwe of Africa
- Using an atlas, explore Africa and locate Zimbabwe
- Watch a video on The Great Zimbabwe on YouTube
- Consider the book suggestions on Zimbabwe in the Companion Guide
- Optional activities for Lesson 4
- Notebooking page
- Timeline The Great Zimbabwe of Africa C. 900
- Consider making the Balloon Globe in Review 15: SomeWHERE in Time
Do Week 15 Exercise
Review Challenge Cards for Lessons 1-45
- “Good King Wenceslas”
- Introduce the lesson by listening to the song. We listened to the Bing Crosby version.
- Notebooking page OR Copywork from the song
- Optional activities for Lesson 46
- Consider book recommendations from Lesson 46
- Timeline Good King Wenceslas 929.
- Otto I and the Holy Roman Empire
- This is an important point in European (and world) history, so take it slowly!
- Optional activities for Lesson 47
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 47
- Timeline Otto I and the Holy Roman Empire
- Vladimer I of Russia
- Drive Thru History Ends of the Earth Episode 7
- Notebooking page OR copywork about the cathedrals
- Optional activities for Lesson 48
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 48
- Timeline Vladimer I of Russia
- Map activity in Review 16
Do Week 16 Quiz
Review Challenge Cards for Lessons 1-48
- The Song Dynasty of China
- We enjoyed the Usborne Illustrated Stories from China
- If you haven’t previously, read through Great Civilizations of the East: The Chinese Empire
- YouTube: Discovering China – The Song Dynasty
- Notebooking page
- Optional activities for Lesson 49
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 49
- Timeline The Song Dynasty of China 960
- St. Simon and the Coptic Orthodox Church
- Notebooking page OR copywork Matthew 17:20
- Optional activities for Lesson 50
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 50
- Timeline St. Simon and the Coptic Orthodox Church 979
- Map activity 1
- Eric the Red and the Settlement of Greenland
- On a globe, map, or atlas, look at Greenland
- Notebooking page
- Optional activities for Lesson 51
- All of the book recommendations from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 51 are excellent!
- Timeline Eric the Red and the Settlement of Greenland 985
- Map activity 2
Review Challenge cards for Lessons 1-51
- Leif Ericsson Discovers America
- Do the Canada map activities FIRST
- Leif the Lucky by the D’Aulaires is a wonderful book for middle school
- Notebooking page OR cursive copywork from Draw and Write Through History: The Vikings, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance
- Talk about “Eric’s Son” and other similar last names
- Optional activities for Lesson 52
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 52
- Timeline Leif Ericsson Discovers America 1003
We’ve reached the end of the first millennium after Christ!
- MacBeth, King of Scotland
- Consider Ten Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb
- Now is a great time for building a model castle or drawing castles from the Draw and Write Through History volume listed in the previous lesson
- After the reading the text, listen to this 2-hour audio version of MacBeth by Shakespeare on Audible
- Optional activities for Lesson 53
- Notebooking page OR Shakespeare’s MacBeth copywork
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 53
- Timeline MacBeth, King of Scotland 1040
- El Cid, A Spanish Hero
- Notebooking page
- Optional activities for lesson 54
- Consider the movie and book recommendations from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 54
- Timeline El Cid, a Spanish Hero 1040
Week 18 Quiz
Review Challenge Cards for Lessons 1-54
- William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings
- This is another lesson that can and should be extended to really explore all facets!
- Monarchy Season 1 Episode 3 “Conquest” on YouTube
- We read Wulf the Saxon by G. A. Henty. (Download my free study guide for Wulf the Saxon here. It is an in-depth study of the people, places, and culture of this very important time, including a frame-by-frame explanation of the Bayeux Tapestry.) You can listen to the Jim Hodges audiobook on Audible.
- If you can find a copy of The Striped Ships by Eloise Jarvis McGraw, grab it and read it!
- If you are reading Churchill’s History of the English Speaking People, continue in The Birth of Britain Chapters 9 – 11 (or Book II Chapters I and II)
- Continue in History of Britain pgs 68-81
- Read David Macaulay’s Cathedral if you haven’t yet.
- The Domesday Book is the record of England that William the Conqueror started. You can purchase a copy today!
- Notebooking page OR Copywork quote from Wulf the Saxon
- Optional activities for lesson 55
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 55
- Map activity 2
- Timeline William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings 10
- Optional: IEW Medieval writing lesson 15: A Year to Remember: The Battle of Hastings
Consider also watching Monarchy episodes 4, 5, and 6 on YouTube
- Pope Gregory VII, Henry IV, and The Investiture Controversy
- Drive Thru History Ends of the Earth: Episode 6 : Northern Europe
- Notebooking page
- The optional activities for lesson 56 are excellent!
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 56
- Map activity 1
- Timeline Pope Gregory VII, Henry IV, and the Investiture Controversy 1076
- Drive Thru History Ends of the Earth: Episode 6 : Northern Europe
Birth of Britain (Churchill) Book II chapters III, IV, and V
- The Early Crusades
- Understanding the Crusades is very important, because they are misunderstood and misrepresented today. Take the time for the extra reading suggestions from the Companion Guide as well as the optional activities for this lesson.
- Do Map Activity 1 first
- Read History of Britain p. 82-83
Week 19 Exercise
Review Challenge Cards for Lessons 1-57
- The Petrobrusians and the Waldensians
- I highly recommend Trial and Triumph for this entire study, including Chapter 14 for this lesson.
- Notebooking page OR Copywork quote by Peter Waldo
- Optional activities for lesson 58
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 58
- Timeline The Petrobrusians and the Waldensians 1100s
- Eleanor of Aquitaine, The Queen of Two Nations
- Notebooking page
- Optional activities for lesson 59
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 59
- Map activity 1
- Timeline Eleanor of Aquitaine, The Queen of Two Nations
- The Jews of the Middle Ages
- Notebooking page
- All of the optional activities for lesson 60 are excellent suggestions
- Timeline The Jews of the Middle Ages (Optional) 12th century (1100s)
If you’re using Science in the Ancient World, it’s time for Lesson 48: Robert Grosseteste (c. 1175-1253) as well as the bonus lesson 49: A Curved Mirror
Do Week 20 Quiz
Review Challenge Cards for Lessons 1-60
- Richard the Lionhearted, Saladin, and the Third Crusade 1192
- Begin reading a version of Robin Hood
- Read Birth of Britain Book II Chapter VI Coeur de Lion
- Read History of Britain p. 82-83
- Notebooking page
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 61
- Optional activities for lesson 61
- Map activities 1 & 2
- Timeline Richard the Lionhearted, Saladin, and the Third Crusade 1192
- The Classic Tale of Robin Hood
- Continue reading Robin Hood
- Consider the Robin Hood TV series from BBC for older kids
- Ivanhoe is another great classic to read, as Robin Hood plays a part
- Optional activities for lesson 62
- Consider a book recommendation from Companion Guide Section C- Supplemental Books and Resources for Lesson 62
- Notebooking page OR Robinhood copywork
- Timeline Robin Hood (approx. 1200)
- The Shoguns and Samurai of Japan
- https://amzn.to/3PkeHMGRead the Samurai’s Tale! Exciting historical fiction
- Draw a Samurai from Draw and Write Through History
- Explore the book Step Into Ancient Japan by Fiona Macdonald
- Notebooking page
- Optional activities for lesson 63
- Timeline Shoguns and Samurai of Japan 1192
Review Challenge Cards for Lessons 1-62
Do Worksheet 3 Test
If there were any movies you wanted to watch, or books you wanted to read and didn’t get to, the end of Quarter 3 is a good time for that!
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