Can someone explain Classical Conversations to me?

[LN in WI]

I recently ordered the Cycle 1 Powerpoint CD, Audio CD, & Old Testament & Ancient Egypt History Cards.

I primarily wanted the program to facilitate memorizing history facts.
I was surprised at how the history sentences seem to be rather random. How are these supposed to be used?

Also, is the timeline chant (that I've seen on youtube) simply a memorization of the history cards?
Thanks.
Ellen

[Kathie in VA]

This is our 2nd year with CC-Foundations (my 1st yr tutoring).
How can I help?

The history sentences are basically a framework of history for that cycle. We read more about each history sentence in whatever books we have here and what I can find at the library. Some folks just memorize it for later recall and do their own history subject via something else like SOTW.

The timeline cards are a full outline of history. We memorize the title of the cards only. Parents are encouraged to read the backs and other books for further information if they want.

All kids do a 3 min presentation each week. The younger ones tend to just do a show and tell but the older ones tend to do theirs on the last weeks history sentence, science sentence, or one of the timeline cards. This also serves to give the class a bit more info on those topics.

hth some

[8FillTheHeart]

Do you know what the older kids do? There is an information meeting near me this week and I am definitely NOT interested in this approach for my younger kids. Do you know what the high school students do?

Thanks.

[8FillTheHeart]

Never mind. I didn't realize that they were really VP. They are from a totally different Christian worldview and it is not something I am any longer even interested in.

:)

[Another Lynn]

I recently ordered the Cycle 1 Powerpoint CD, Audio CD, & Old Testament & Ancient Egypt History Cards.

I primarily wanted the program to facilitate memorizing history facts.
I was surprised at how the history sentences seem to be rather random. How are these supposed to be used?

Also, is the timeline chant (that I've seen on youtube) simply a memorization of the history cards?
Thanks.
Ellen

I did not participate in CC for Cycle 1, so take my comments with a grain of salt. I think that Cycle 1 might more accurately be called "Ancients and Civilizations" because it does jump around to different civilizations in (what seemed to me) no particular order. When I was using the materials at home (alone) I considered writing my own Cycle 1 history sentences in chronological order, focused more on the Israelites, but eventually abandoned it. Ultimately I did not use Cycle 1 with my kids at home.

We have participated in a CC group this year - for Cycle 2 - and the history sentences make much more sense. They are more chronological too.

I haven't seen the chant on youtube, but the timeline for CC is the VP history cards (rearranged a bit for proper chronological order). Learning the cards might serve your purpose better (than using the sentences), however the sentences may be easier to learn because of the songs.

Hope that helps some.