November Learning Calendar with DVD Resources
by Diane Flynn Keith
Author of Carschooling
There are historic and important events to commemorate nearly every day of the
year. This Learning Calendar will help you note events and people that impact our
lives with recommendations for DVDs, CDs, books, and websites to further learning
and boost your student's knowledge of the world. All of the DVD, CD, and book
recommendations are available through our affiliation with Amazon.com -- just
click on the links to make a purchase that allows us to continue to provide this
resource for free.
Homefires' November Learning Calendar
- Michelangelo's painting of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
in Rome was opened to public viewing in 1512. Learn about the life and times
of Michelangelo by watching "Discovery of Art: Michelangelo"
and "Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel."
Bonus! Take a Virtual Tour of the Sistine Chapel
Your children (ages 9-12) may also enjoy the book,
"Lives of the Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (And What the Neighbors Thought)"
by Kathleen Krull.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Daniel Boone, American pioneer, was born in 1734.
Watch "Daniel Boone" the
television series starring Fess Parker as the frontier hero.
Bonus!
You can read "The Adventures of Col. Daniel Boone," in which
Boone describes in his own words his exploits in the Kentucky wilderness from May, 1769 to October
of 1782. It's available for free online! Your children may also enjoy the
"Daniel Boone Coloring Book"
by Dover Publications that chronicles the wilderness adventures of Boone in captions located below
the pictures.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- U.S.S.R. launched Sputnik II with a dog on board in 1957.
Learn more about space, Earth, and the atmosphere with the
"Space, Earth & Atmosphere & Gems, Metals & Minerals (Tell Me Why Series)."
Bonus! Find out more about how satellites work. Your children
(ages 4-8) may also enjoy the book, "Race Into Space,"
by Eric Arnold that provides more information about Sputnik II and other events in space history.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Tomb of Egyptian boy-King Tut was discovered in 1922. Watch the DVD
"King Tut - The Face of Tutankhamun." It
tells the wondrous story of the curse, craze, fame and fortune surrounding the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun
by legendary archeologist Howard Carter.
Bonus! Take a Virtual Tour of a Pyramid! Your children (ages 4-8)
may also enjoy the book, "Mummies & Pyramids"
by Will and Ma Osborne.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Guy Fawkes Day in England, commemorates Fawkes' failed attempt to kill
King James and destroy the English Parliament in 1605. Watch the DVD,
"A History of Britain II."
Bonus! Learn more about Guy Fawkes Day.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the U.S. in 1860. Watch
the acclaimed mini-series, "American Experience - Abraham and Mary Lincoln - A House Divided."
Bonus! Take this online quiz and test your knowledge of President
Abraham Lincoln. Younger children (ages 4-8) may also enjoy the book,
"Meet Abraham Lincoln," by Barbara Cary.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Madame Marie Curie, discoverer of radium, was born in 1867.
Watch the G-rated film "Marie Curie - More Than Meets The Eye."
An ALA Notable Children's Video, this DVD tells the story of two sisters during WWI, who follow Curie to the
battlefront and witness her fight to use science and her X-ray machine to save the lives of the wounded.
Bonus! Students ages 8 and up may enjoy reading this online biography of Marie Curie.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Montana became the 41st state in 1889. Enjoy the beautiful
scenery in Whitefish, Montana when you watch "Weekend Explorer Whitefish."
Bonus! Learn all about the state of Montana.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- The Berlin Wall, that had separated communist-controlled East Germany
and the democratic republic of West Germany, was opened in 1989 allowing residents to
travel freely back and forth. It was symbolic of the beginning of the end of the Soviet regime. Eventually,
most of the wall was torn down. "The Cold War Era - Bundle Pack"
offers an interesting perspective on the tensions between the Soviet Union and the U.S. during The Cold
War Era.
Bonus! Explore the Microsoft Art Exhibit,
"Hope, Anguish, and the Berlin Wall." It recounts the
history of the Berlin Wall, and explores the artistic graffiti on a large segment of the Berlin Wall that
was preserved from demolition.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Martin Luther, founder of the Lutheran religious denomination, born in 1483.
Watch the PG-13 rated "Luther."
It's a biography of Martin Luther, a priest who led the Christian Reformation, challenging the political
and religious authorities of the early 16th century.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Washington became the 42nd state in 1889. Take an arm-chair excursion to Washington state by watching the DVD, "Washington State: A Scenic Tour."
Bonus! Learn all about the state of Washington.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Auguste Rodin, master sculptor best known for his work The Thinker, born 1840.
Watch the DVD, "Auguste Rodin: The Hands of Genius."
Bonus! Take a virtual tour of the Rodin Museum collection.
Your children ages 4-8 may enjoy the book, "Little Sap and Monsieur Rodin"
by Michelle Lord.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Robert Louis Stevenson, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1850.
A prolific author, he penned Treasure Island, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Watch the classic
movie "Treasure Island" on DVD.
Bonus! Read the complete works of Robert Louis Stevenson online.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat, was born in 1765.
Learn about many great inventors by watching "The Inventor's Specials 6 DVD Collector's Set."
Bonus! Read Fulton's biography online.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Georgia O'Keeffe, an American artist, was born in 1887.
She used detail and vibrant colors for her paintings inspired by nature. Watch the DVD,
"Great Women Artists: Georgia O'Keefe."
Bonus! Take a Virtual Field Trip to see some of the permanent collection of O'Keefe's
artwork at the O'Keeffe Museum.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Oklahoma became the 46th state of the U.S. in 1907. Watch
the hit Broadway musical, "Oklahoma."
Bonus! Learn all about the state of Oklahoma.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Suez Canal opened in 1869, cutting travel time for ships
between Europe and Asia. Watch the History Channel's "Modern Marvels: The Suez Canal"
to fully appreciate this feat of engineering.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Nathaniel Palmer discovered Antarctica in 1820. Watch
"Antarctica Dreaming." This film
explores the Antarctic peninsula, South Georgia Island, and the Falkland Islands, and features five
species of penguins, four kinds of seals, fierce seabirds, and the most spectacular scenery on the planet.
Bonus! Try this virtual tour of Antarctica designed
for kids, then learn more about the wildlife found in Antarctica watch,
Nature: Antarctica.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Abraham Lincoln delivered Gettysburg Address, 1863. The
highly acclaimed and powerful docu-drama, "Gettysburg"
depicts the historical and personal events of the decisive American Civil War battle. Based upon the
best-selling novel "The Killer Angels."
Bonus! Take a virtual field trip to the Gettysburg. See what day-to-day life was like for
both Union and Confederate soldiers.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Nuremberg Trials, trying Nazi leaders for crimes against humanity, began
in 1945. Watch the movie, "The Diary of Anne Frank,"
an account of one teenage girl's experience hiding from the Nazi's during WWII. Based on the book,
"Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl."
Bonus! Take a virtual tour of the house where Anne Frank hid
from the Nazi's during WWII.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Thomas Edison announces his invention of the phonograph, 1877.
Watch the DVD, "Biography: Thomas A. Edison - Father of Invention."
Bonus! Play "Edison Invents!" - an online, interactive
game for students of all ages that teaches players about the many inventions of Thomas Edison.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- U.S. President John F. Kennedy assassinated in Dallas, Texas, 1963.
Learn more about Kennedy's life and presidency by watching PBS'
"The Presidents Collection."
Bonus! Read the biography of John F. Kennedy
and learn about his presidency online.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Franklin Pierce, 14th President of the U.S., born 1804. Learn
more about Franklin Pierce's life and presidency by watching PBS'
"The Presidents Collection."
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, a French artist famous for his poster art of Paris
night-life, in particular the Moulin Rouge, born 1864. Take a video tour of great artwork and
get a lesson in art appreciation from Sister Wendy Beckett.
"Sister Wendy - The Complete Collection."
takes you on a trip across the world and through the ages, where her contemplative insights and unorthodox
enthusiasm bring the world's great art to life.
Bonus! Students in middle school
and up may enjoy learning more about Lautrec's life and viewing his artistic posters.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Andrew Carnegie, industrialist founder of U.S. Steel, was born in 1835.
Watch "Empires of Industry: Andrew Carnegie and the Age of Steel"
to learn more about his life and work.
Bonus!
Learn more about Carnegie and other industrialists and entrepreneurs at
this site - designed for kids.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Thanksgiving Day in U.S. proclaimed by George Washington, 1789.
Watch "The Mayflower Pilgrims" and learn
about the very first Thanksgiving.
Bonus! See Scholastic's interactive lessons and activities
about The First Thanksgiving. Take a virtual field trip of Plimouth Plantation
and learn the history behind the first Thanksgiving. Find all kinds of terrific suggestions and free resources
for learning about Thanksgiving from Preschool through High School at Annette Hall's LocalHS.com!
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- The First Crusade was announced by Pope Urban II to recapture Jerusalem
from the Muslims. Watch
"The History Channel Presents the Crusades - Crescent & The Cross."
This documentary tells the story of the key personalities of the First, Second, and Third Crusades - popes,
kings, sultans and knights who, in the name of God, ruthlessly fought for land and power.
Bonus! Learn all about the Crusades at
The First Crusade.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Ferdinand Magellan is first to sail from Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean
in 1520. LibraryVideo.com offers a DVD from the "Explorers of the World" series
titled "Ferdinand Magellan." View a clip before you purchase.
Bonus!
Learn more about Magellan and his circumnavigation of the globe. Students
(ages 9-12) may enjoy reading "Who Was Ferdinand Magellan?"
and "Magellan and the First Voyage Around the World".
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Louisa May Alcott, author of
"Little Women," was born in 1832.
She was a Suffragist and Abolitionist and worked for social reform. Watch the modern movie version of,
"Little Women," that was based on
the book, starring Wynona Ryder.
Further the Learning with These Resources:
- Samuel Clemons, who wrote under the pen name Mark Twain, was born in 1835.
He authored "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" &
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". Learn more
about his life and times by watching the documentary,
"Mark Twain- A Film Directed by Ken Burn's."
Further the Learning with These Resources:
Do you have young children?
Check out the Preschool Learning Calendar!
Going on a Road Trip?
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