Classical Conversations Cycle 3 The Charlotte Mason Way: Week 3 – Boston Tea Party

This is our first time doing Classical Conversations, and we’re super excited to use it as a supplement to our core curriculum: The Playful Pioneers. This week we are learning about the Boston Tea Party, and below you’ll find our choices for children’s books about the Boston Tea Party.

The Playful Pioneers uses The Little House On The Prairie books as it’s spine, and the books I’m choosing as supplements will complement the history, geography, and science already included. 

However, I will be moving a few history lessons around in order to keep the weeks aligned with our Classical Conversations memory work. 

Why are we supplementing?

I think The Playful Pioneers has a beautifully rich history curriculum built right in, but there are three reasons that I’ve decided to supplement.

1. Sometimes I feel a particular selection is not the best choice for my unique set of learners. I’ve done exhaustive research on which books I think are most engaging, age appropriate, and reflect a diverse array of view points. 
2. Unless a book is really my top choice and I don’t feel an adequate substitution can be made, I’m choosing books that are readily available either from my library or YouTube. 
3. Since we tend to embrace a Charlotte Mason flavor in our homeschool, I wanted to use living books as a supplement to our Classical Conversations memory work.

What do we include besides living books?

I believe that school really can be fun and games, so we’ve embraced gameschooling as a regular part of our homeschool experience. When the games we’ve chosen for the week correspond with our Classical Conversations memory work, I’ll include them here!

Another thing we’re trying out this year is to include fun videos when it’s appropriate, and when I think they’ll be an asset to our learning. Stepping away from the books and table work for a little while can really help break up a long day. Especially for my ADHD, kinesthetic learner!

Since The Playful Pioneers is a 30 week program, while Classical Conversations is only 24, I’ve structured our school year to start two weeks before Classical Conversations begins. 

There will also be a few other weeks throughout the year (most are during winter break) that are independent of Classical Conversations.

Please keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list. We are not using living books for every single CC memory subject this year, but only where they compliment or expand on what we’re already learning in our Core 1st Grade Curriculum. I am a strong proponent of simplicity in education, and I don’t want my kids taking on busy work just because it’s there for use.

These posts will focus on History, Geography, and Science. Here is my post with our gameschool choices, including math and English. . 

The Boston Tea Party

Classical Conversations Week 3

History:

Children’s Books About The Boston Tea Party:

The Boston Tea Party – Russell Freedman

Paul Revere’s Ride – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow | Ted Rand

The Scarlet Stockings Spy – Trina Hanks Noble

Great Substitutes or Additions:

Colonial Voices: Hear Them Speak: The Outbreak of the Boston Tea Party Told from Multiple Points-of-View! – Kay Winters

Let It Begin Here!: Lexington & Concord: First Battles of the American Revolution – Dennis Brindell Fradin

Geography:

Draw The USA – Kristin J. Draeger

Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds – Cynthia Rylant

MAPS – Aleksandra Mizielinska

The 50 States: Explore the U.S.A – Gabrielle Balkan

Science: 

You Can’t Make a Move Without Your Muscles – Paul Showers

The Magic School Bus: Season 2 Episode 2 (on Netflix)

There are certainly many more quality children’s books about the Boston Tea Party, but I really do believe that less is more. I want my kids to have a mastery of the material, not a surface level introduction. If your kids are older and you’d like to add more independent reading, send me a DM on Instagram or shoot me an email.

If you want to check out our previous weeks’ book lists, you can find them here.

I truly hope these resources bless your homeschool! 

Leave a comment and let me know if you have any other living book recommendations for this week’s study.

Want to pin these children’s books about the Boston Tea Party so you can come back to them later?