I'll be honest: history has never really stuck well in my mind. With the singular exception of U.S. history, I could never really understand the general flow of history--did the Egyptians come before the Greeks? Where did the Vikings fit in? When did the bubonic plague happen? To me, history was all a wash of random dates and wars and people, all mixed up together.
I recently posted about how much notebooking has revolutionized our homeschool learning over the years. This practice has slowly, yet steadily, expanded to include science, nature studies, language arts, and even history. Fortunately, notebooking has helped me understand the flow of history from ancient times to modern times a whole lot better. (Which is a good thing, considering I am teaching my three children!)
On today's post, I wanted to take some time to share my personal practice of keeping a history notebook, also known as a "Book of Centuries," which I hope to model and teach to my children as my oldest enters into the middle school years.
The concept of the Book of Centuries was first introduced by British educator Charlotte Mason in the early 20th century. This notebook is quite simple: it is composed of lined pages, and facing blank pages, labeled to correspond to every century of recorded history. It is a place to make history your own as you record what is important to YOU while you learn about events and people in history over the course of your lifetime. Since this one notebook is designed to last many, many years, I opted to buy this beautiful hardbound book from Riverbend Press that looks handsome on a bookshelf and feels very special. However, please know that you can make your own Book of Centuries very easily and inexpensively simply by using lined and unlined paper and a three-ring binder (see link below for a free printable version).
Keeping a Book of Centuries is easy and takes very little time. As you read books, watch documentaries, and learn about history week-by-week, you periodically record anything you find particularly interesting or noteworthy, either by writing it in the corresponding timeline chart, or drawing a pen-and-ink sketch on the relevant century page. (Note: many Book of Centuries feature a few pages in the beginning for pre-recorded history information)
Allow me to give you a virtual tour through my Book of Centuries as I discuss its simple features. (As always, feel free to click on the pictures to see them enlarged and in more detail.)
The lined page (left-hand side in my book) has 20 lines, allowing space for five years of history per line.
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| 19th century timeline |
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| Bookmark guide (included in BOC from Riverbend Press) |
The blank page (right-hand side in my book) allows for ample space to draw artifacts, maps, symbols, lists, or any other sorts of visual representations you'd like to include in your book. For drawings, Charlotte Mason encouraged her students to keep these color-free and use simple, pen-and-ink drawings. I typically draw with pencil first, erasing as I go, and then trace over my final sketch with ink before erasing the pencil markings. (I'd recommend using a white artist-quality eraser and waiting until the ink is dry to avoid smearing!)
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| 19th century sketches |
Each person's Book of Centuries will be unique--what you find newsworthy will likely be different from what I find newsworthy, as we both record the facts of history through the centuries. For example, I chose to include the date Jane Austen published her novel Pride and Prejudice in my notebook, while you might choose to record the year Francis Scott Key penned The Star-Spangled Banner. Both are perfectly acceptable and reflect our individual passions and preferences! You might notice that I drew a little sketch of barbed wire in my Book of Centuries. After watching a very fascinating (to me!) documentary about how barbed wire totally redefined the American West, I just HAD to include it!
Because one must be so choosy about which facts to include, and one's writing needs to be small and legible, this notebook is best kept for an older student (perhaps 10 years of age or older). I plan to give one to my 11-year-old daughter as she enters 6th grade this fall.
Below are a few links where you can buy a Book of Centuries if you are interested in starting one yourself, or getting one for your older student. I think it is a very rewarding way to internalize and better understand the flow of history, and since they are so beautiful and individualized, I think a Book of Centuries also makes a very special keepsake, too!
My Book of Centuries from Riverbend Press--the book featured here, comes in slate gray or burgundy
My Book of Centuries by Simply Charlotte Mason--spiral bound, laminated cover version
FREE printable version of a Book of Centuries by Simply Charlotte Mason--print, punch, and place in a binder
Oh, one last thing: I also added a pen loop to the back cover of mine, so I'd always have an archival-quality pen at the ready to record my findings. Check out these pen-loops and these pens, if you are interested in including this on your book, as well!
Well, that just about covers it, dear friend! I truly believe notebooking will add another layer of richness and enjoyment in all of your, and your family's, learning endeavors. The Book of Centuries has been very rewarding for me over the past year, and I look forward to seeing how my daughter will go on to enjoy hers this year, too.
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