The Civil War for Kids: A History With 21 Activities

Rating:
Summary: OUTSTANDING!
Review: After buying Ms. Herbert's gorgeous "Leonardo da Vinci for Kids," I bought this book. Notwithstanding my high expectations for this book, I was not in the least bit disappointed. Ms. Herbert has again written an interesting and informative book with entertaining activities that enhance and reinforce the educational value of the book. As the previous reviewer noted, a small number of the activities in this book really need groups of children to make them effective, but overall the book can be recommended for all.

An interesting aside -- adults who enjoy this book should check out the author's first (and adult) book, which was written under the name Janis Martinson. In "The World Don't Owe Me Nothing: The Life and Times of Delta Bluesman Honeyboy Edwards," the author took the exact words of Mr. Edwards and constructed an fascinating autobiography that is also quite an interesting history lesson.

Rating:
Summary: OUTSTANDING!
Review: After buying Ms. Herbert's gorgeous "Leonardo da Vinci for Kids," I bought this book. Notwithstanding my high expectations for this book, I was not in the least bit disappointed. Ms. Herbert has again written an interesting and informative book with entertaining activities that enhance and reinforce the educational value of the book. As the previous reviewer noted, a small number of the activities in this book really need groups of children to make them effective, but overall the book can be recommended for all.

An interesting aside -- adults who enjoy this book should check out the author's first (and adult) book, which was written under the name Janis Martinson. In "The World Don't Owe Me Nothing: The Life and Times of Delta Bluesman Honeyboy Edwards," the author took the exact words of Mr. Edwards and constructed an fascinating autobiography that is also quite an interesting history lesson.

Rating:
Summary: A concise history of the Civil War and 21 activities
Review: The two main elements of "The Civil War for Kids: A History With 21 Activities" work independently of each other. In the main text Janis Herbert provides a concise history of the Civil War that provides a more in-depth look at that period of American history than what young students are likely to find in their textbooks at school. Herbert begins with the turmoil preceding succession and the first shots fired at Fort Sumter, the battles fought on land and seas, up to the Confederate surrender at Appomattox. The text is supplemented with dozens of sidebar stories providing details on everything from Lincoln's beard and Johnny Clem to what Army engineers did and what "Chickamaugua" meant. The book is illustrated with historic photographs and drawings, as well as battlefield maps. There is a time-line of the Civil War up front and a glossary, guide to officers, list of resources, bibliography and index in the back.

The other key part of this book are the 21 activities that are scattered throughout its pages and provide a wide variety of experiences to give young readers in or out of class. Some of the activities are fairly detailed, such as making a North Star Safe Quilt or your own soldier's uniform, and acting out the battle of Antietam (really, but you need 30 kids). Others are fairly simple, like making a coffee can drum and having a Rebel yell contest. Several of the activities are specific to the fighting of the war, such as creating a code, signaling with a wigwag, measuring the depth of a pond or river, building a lean-to- shelter, and making battlefield bandages. A few of the exercises are duplications of things people would have actually done during the war, such as making berry ink, a housewife sewing kit, homemade butternut dye, and hardtack. Teachers would not be expected to use even half of these exercises, but those teaching a unit on the Civil War can certainly find a couple of choice activities to use with their students. The same is true for all of the other books on history and the arts with 21 activities that you can find.

Rating:
Summary: A concise history of the Civil War and 21 activities
Review: The two main elements of "The Civil War for Kids: A History With 21 Activities" work independently of each other. In the main text Janis Herbert provides a concise history of the Civil War that provides a more in-depth look at that period of American history than what young students are likely to find in their textbooks at school. Herbert begins with the turmoil preceding succession and the first shots fired at Fort Sumter, the battles fought on land and seas, up to the Confederate surrender at Appomattox. The text is supplemented with dozens of sidebar stories providing details on everything from Lincoln's beard and Johnny Clem to what Army engineers did and what "Chickamaugua" meant. The book is illustrated with historic photographs and drawings, as well as battlefield maps. There is a time-line of the Civil War up front and a glossary, guide to officers, list of resources, bibliography and index in the back.

The other key part of this book are the 21 activities that are scattered throughout its pages and provide a wide variety of experiences to give young readers in or out of class. Some of the activities are fairly detailed, such as making a North Star Safe Quilt or your own soldier's uniform, and acting out the battle of Antietam (really, but you need 30 kids). Others are fairly simple, like making a coffee can drum and having a Rebel yell contest. Several of the activities are specific to the fighting of the war, such as creating a code, signaling with a wigwag, measuring the depth of a pond or river, building a lean-to- shelter, and making battlefield bandages. A few of the exercises are duplications of things people would have actually done during the war, such as making berry ink, a housewife sewing kit, homemade butternut dye, and hardtack. Teachers would not be expected to use even half of these exercises, but those teaching a unit on the Civil War can certainly find a couple of choice activities to use with their students. The same is true for all of the other books on history and the arts with 21 activities that you can find.

Rating:
Summary: BOUND TO IGNITE A FEW SPARKS
Review: This is a great book my kids love ( maybe I should give it 5 stars just for that alone ). Lots of fun things to do - we've yet to try the butternut dyeing but as soon as their mum goes to work..... ??? This is just the book to get fathers banned from the kitchen, and probably the whole house as there's so many fun activities to rekindle the childhood we forgot we didn't have ? Hell, just buy it, better value than a family meal at McD's, and the starving would give a real War experience beyond the scope of this fine book.