Lesson Plans Provided by Andrea at Epic Homeschool Mentoring

An Index to the Lesson Plans is provided at the top of the page

Week 35: From Tragedy to Triumph

Homeschooling moms must fill up their knowledge bank in order to give the best to their kids. The more mom knows, the better she can teach. Research these topics and share the general idea with younger kids. For older kids, you might invite them to pick a topic to research.

Theodore Roosevelt

Topics for Week 35

William McKinley

Theodore Roosevelt

Booker T Washington

William Jennings Bryan

Helen Keller

Discussion Questions

William McKinley

William McKinley is known for the acquisition of both Puerto Rico and Hawaii. He advocated a peaceful resolution to the conflict with Spain over Cuba but reluctantly went to war. The country of Cuba was freed from Spanish rule however, it was messy. There are lots of critics of McKinley but studying his life shows that he had difficult choices to make and was truly interested in being a peacemaker.

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt grew up sickly in an aristocratic neighborhood in Boston. He suffered a devastating loss when his wife and his mother both died on the same night. He enjoyed the outdoors and advocated for National Parks. He went on adventures in the American West, Africa and the Amazon rainforest. He was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. Kids will enjoy learning about his adventures!

Booker T Washington

Booker T Washington was an educator, author, orator and advisor to several presidents. His accomplishments are truly inspiring. He focused on education and self-help for poor Americans. He believed in social change through skills training and new opportunities for success. In the face of racism, he accomplished a great deal despite not being able to single-handedly restructure American society.

William Jennings Bryan
The Scopes Monkey Trial
John Scopes was put on trial for teaching evolution in a Tennessee high school. William Jennings Bryan defended the idea of creationism. Scopes couldn't remember whether or not he actually taught evolution however the defense argued that the public school required the use of a certain textbook that included the theory of evolution when the laws of Tennessee banned the theory from being taught. They said the schools required the teachers to break the law.

Helen Keller
Helen Keller was taught to read and understand sign language through the efforts of a courageous teacher Ann Sullivan. Because Keller was able to be educated, she became an author. She campaigned for women's suffrage, labor rights, world peace, and laws that would benefit people with disabilities. The great gift Ann Sullivan gave to Helen was the ability to reach her potential in a world that didn't offer many options to people who are blind and deaf.

Resources

Books (all links go to Goodreads)

One Bad Thing About Father

Helen Keller: From Tragedy to Triumph JUV

Take a Hike Teddy Roosevelt Easy Reader

Fifty Cents and a Dream

Monkey Town YA Fiction

Prince of Darkness

Free E-Books

The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

Videos

Into the Amazon Chapter 1 PBS

Animated Hero Classics: Helen Keller

The Miracle Worker

Activities

1. Make a map of a river in the Amazon rainforest
2. Learn a few sign language words for communicating with someone who is deaf
3. Study the beautiful country of Cuba or the state of Hawaii
4. Discuss the meaning of the word "triumph." Lots of people in this lesson had setbacks or obstacles that they overcame. How is success sweeter when we have to fight harder to get there? How can we view trials as a positive thing?
5. Finish up the State Cards Project. As each state enters the union, create a card with fun facts about that state. Younger kids might enjoy a coloring/activity book about the states. Add Utah 1896, Oklahoma 1907, Arizona 1912, New Mexico 1912, Alaska 1959, Hawaii 1959

Image Credit: Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain