GB study with younger kids in tow

[Kathie in VA]

As I plan for our first GB study with my 9th gr dd and 8thgr ds, I'm wondering about the younger two kids: 4th grader with adv reading skills and a 4yr old in phonics. There are some good kids books that cover the stories of the GB like Black Ships Before Troy, The Boy's and Girl's Herodotus, The Children's Homer, etc. plus younger versions yet like those done via the Wishbone series which could be read aloud to the 4yr old (or viewed via DVD). Has anyone done this type of thing?

Also the 4th grader is a quick guy. He is known for answering history questions that the older two couldn't while across the house and not 'included' in the readings! Do I allow him to sit in on the actual reading/discussion of some of the GBs or prepare other work for him to do elsewhere?

TIA!

[Kathie in VA]

hmm, I was just about to post this question when I realized that I already posted it but it somehow got missed. :001_huh:

I will start Gilgamesh soon with my 8th and 9th graders. Since it's our 1st book we will probably read it aloud. I'm really not sure if I should allow the bright 4th grader (turning 10 in Oct) to listen or send him off to do other work.... perhaps read a younger version on his own.

:confused:

What say the hive?

[Laurel-in-CA]

Gilgamesh has some pretty strong sexual elements. On this one, you might want to look for the kids' retelling - there's one by MacCaughrean and another series of 3 picture books.

[Kathie in VA]

Laurel,

Thanks for the heads up! Thus the problem with not reading ahead. I did find the retelling you mentioned at our library and reserved it... I may just go the way of retellings for him them as this type of thing might come up again.

Thanks again!

--Kathie in VA

[Nan in Mass]

I did it with two who were four years apart. The younger one wailed that it wasn't fair to make him sit in the other room doing work by himself while we sat together in front of the fire and read interesting stories aloud. It wasn't long before I caved in and let him join us. It was one of my best homeschooling decisions. He added immensely to our discussions. The Gilgamesh issue didn't arise because we were past that when the youngest joined us. I dealt with suitability issues by doing great books more slowly, dragging three years out to fill four (not a problem - they could have been stretched into a lifetime and it would have been fine), and having the oldest do scifi instead of moderns independently, mostly summers, also stretched out over a few years. He didn't want to do moderns anyway, and scifi and gov covered the ones that I particularly wanted him to read anyway. The whole great books project was something none of us will ever forget doing together.