Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
-Robert Frost
Every autumn and spring as I behold the beauty of the changing seasons, I remember the lines of Robert Frost’s “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” For us, this poem is a beautiful reminder to enjoy the moment, that things change and that the only things in life that remain are those of eternal value.
The rhythmic lines and descriptive imagery within a poem express deep emotion and engage our imaginations. Reading and memorizing poetry improves vocabulary and provides us with a storage bank of descriptive words, language patterns, ideas, and imagery to use within our own speaking or writing. Reciting poetry provides an opportunity to focus on presentation, fluency, and expression.
In much the same way, picture study often expresses deep emotion and engages our imaginations. Art study can help us to notice details and appreciate beautiful aspects of the world around us.
But how often have I laid aside the study of poetry and art just because it is not part of our core academic work?
The pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty can often be lost amidst our more pressing core academic goals of reading, writing, and arithmetic. By incorporating art and poetry study into the basic skill of handwriting, we can easily integrate the study of beautiful things so that it becomes an integral part of the overall school routine. This has been the driving force behind our latest copywork book, Script-n-Scribe™ Americana.
The copywork in this book includes a gentle introduction to basic English grammar concepts, including sentence parts, types of sentences, and parts of speech. Each picture study introduces an English grammar concept using copywork prompts that also encourage the student to notice the details in the artwork. The artwork is also paired with a poetry selection that relates to an event in American history. Although it is a simple skill, copywork can greatly enhance a child’s ability to write well later in life, for it provides exposure to the ideas and techniques of the great masters of literature. Copying a poetic passage and responding to works of art increases powers of observation and elocution while introducing children to that which is lovely.
While the primary goal of this book is to provide picture study prompts and copywork for students to practice penmanship, the book can be used as a framework for 1) building listening, dictation, and narration skills, 2) pursuing oral and written composition, 3) memorizing poetry to build vocabulary and imagery techniques, and 4) extending art study, vocabulary, and English grammar lessons.
- Twelve carefully selected poems that reinforce American history and the founding principles of our nation. Featured poets include Edgar A Guest, Felicia Dorothea Hemans, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Francis Scott Key, William Lloyd Garrison, John Greenleaf Whittier, Julia Ward Howe, Samuel Francis Smith, Emma Lazarus, and Katherine Lee Bates
- Copywork pages for all twelve poems (over 120 pages of copywork!)
- Mini-poster pages for each poem showing a featured artwork selection
- Fourteen works of art from thirteen different artists: Karl Theodor von Piloty, Henry A. Bacon, John Singleton Copley, Grant Wood, Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, George Caleb Bingham, Michele Felice Cornè, Charles T Webber, Eastman Johnson, Albert Bierstadt, Winslow Homer, John Trumbull, and Frederic Edwin Church
- A gentle introduction to English grammar concepts including: parts of speech (nouns, adjectives, prepositions, verbs, adverbs, pronouns, conjunctions, interjections), sentence parts (phrases, clauses, subjects, predicates), and types of sentences (declarative, interrogative, imperative, declarative).
- Memorization plan to assist with memorizing the poems
- Ideas for further extending the art, poetry, and English grammar study
If you’re seeking to enjoy more poetry and art during your American history studies, this book provides a simple means of fulfilling that goal!
Read testimonials of our Script-n-Scribe Cursive Curriculum here.
For children new to cursive handwriting, check out the Script-n-Scribe Introduction to Cursive: Roller Coaster Writer and theScript-n-Scribe Letter Connector. For our Ancient History copywork, poetry, and art study book, check out the Script-n-Scribe Truth Traveler.
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Script-n-Scribe™ Americana
Script-n-Scribe™ Americana PDF Only
Our cursive copywork and art study program for American history seamlessly and effortlessly encourages the study of art and poetry, two elements that make for a beautiful learning experience. Features 12 poems and 14 works of art related to U.S. History, including historical events and persons from Columbus and the Pilgrims through the early 1900s.
Format: PDF Download (Mac & PC Compatible), 164 pages. For individual family use. Download link automatically sends to Paypal email address used at checkout. Download sample.
Suggested grades: 2 to 6
PDF Price: $19.99
Script-n-Scribe™ Americana Spiral Workbook Only
Our cursive copywork and art study program for American history seamlessly and effortlessly encourages the study of art and poetry, two elements that make for a beautiful learning experience. Features 12 poems and 14 works of art related to U.S. History, including historical events and persons from Columbus and the Pilgrims through the early 1900s.
Format: Spiral-bound (164-page) workbook printed in full color in landscape format. Binding on left edge. Suggested grades: 2-6
Printed Workbook Price: $19.99
Script-n-Scribe™ Americana Spiral Workbook with PDF
Our cursive copywork and art study program for American history. Features 12 poems and 14 works of art related to U.S. History, including historical events and persons from Columbus and the Pilgrims through the early 1900s.
Format: Spiral-bound (164-page) workbook printed in full color in landscape format. Binding on left edge. PDF version included with purchase. (PDF is sent to your Paypal email address automatically upon completion of your purchase in Paypal.)
Suggested grades: 2-6
Printed Workbook + PDF Bundle Price: $29.99
Other Script-n-Scribe™ Products
For children new to cursive writing, check out the Script-n-Scribe Introduction to Cursive: Roller Coaster Writer and the Script-n-Scribe Letter Connector. If you’re studying ancient history or medieval/church history, be sure to also check out our Truth Traveler Poetry & Picture Study or Hymns in History Poetry & Picture Study.
Also Available…
Script-n-Scribe™ Truth Traveler
Script-n-Scribe™ Truth Traveler PDF Only
Format: PDF Download (Mac & PC Compatible), 146 pages. For individual family use. Download sample. (The PDF includes an appendix with the poems and corresponding art formatted for printing as cards for reference or review.) Download link is automatically sent to the Paypal email address used at checkout.
Suggested grades: 2 to 6
PDF Price: $19.99
Script-n-Scribe™ Truth Traveler Spiral Workbook Only
Our cursive copywork and art study program related to ancient history and world empire studies. Features 12 poems and 13 works of art related to the rise and fall of empires and truths revealed through the ages.
Format: Spiral-bound (139-page) workbook printed in full color. Binding on left side.
Suggested grades: 2-6
Printed Workbook Price: $19.99
Script-n-Scribe™ Hymns in History PDF
Script-n-Scribe™ Hymns in History PDF Only
Description: Study poems of praise from the Middle Ages to Early Modern Times in Script-n-Scribe Hymns in History, which features hymns from the Middle Ages through the early 1900s with historical highlights, related scriptures, and art study along with a gentle introduction/application of English grammar concepts. Features 12 hymns with related historical highlights from the Middle Ages through 20th century conflicts, and 12 works of art with grammar study.
Format: PDF Download (Mac & PC Compatible), 158 pages. For individual family use. Download sample. (The PDF includes three additional pages with the hymns and corresponding art formatted for printing as cards for reference or review.) Upon completion of the check-out process, a download link will be emailed to the Paypal email address used at checkout.
Suggested grades: 2 to 6+
PDF Price: $19.99
Script-n-Scribe™ Hymns in History Spiral Workbook
Format: Spiral-bound (155-page) workbook printed in full color. Binding on left side.
Suggested grades: 2-6
Printed Workbook Price: $19.99
Learning Cursive?
Try the Script-n-Scribe™ Introduction to Cursive: The Roller Coaster Writer!
Our introductory (Level 1) program for learning phonograms by sight and dictation and how to form cursive letters. Begins with large motor skills to help young children learn to write. Read more about this product and view additional images and supplemental Montessori-style products here.
Format: Printed, spiral-bound (85-page) workbook with additional 52 pages of instruction cards printed separately on cardstock (26 cardstock pages printed on both sides). Also available as a PDF download. Download sample.
Suggested grades: Preschool to 3
Printed Book Special Introductory Price*: $19.99
Script-n-Scribe™ The Letter Connector Spiral Bound Workbook & Cards
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