Sometimes getting out yet another piece of binder paper to write a page summarizing a history lesson is not nearly as valuable to your child than to use the visual display of information to not only summarize what they learned but discover connections between multiple lessons that create the key to remembering and learning.
The master of displaying visual information is Edward Tufte, a man with an incredible sense for how to communicate information and ideas. He has written many wonderful books and gives talks around the country at universities and museums.
Here is a link to Edward Tufte (www.edwardtufte.com) presenting the display of information in historical texts, beginning in the Middle Ages. Wonderful for kids, especially those who like to have their minds expanded: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfXSltlDfDw&feature=related&noredirect=1 .
Many years ago, I embraced Edward Tufte’s principals into my scientific writings. And now that I am schooling my children at home, I realize that using those ideas with children can massively expand their understanding. My children and I are currently using Edward Tufte’s ideas to study California history. Their first lesson was to learn the geographical features of the state. After that they learned the state symbols, with a focus on animals and plants, but we tied them to where those symbols can be found in California. Next we will add the native peoples and move on until we reach the 21st century, all building on our original map. My children will be able to form all sorts of connections and conclusions about the history of our state that they would not otherwise do.
