Zeezok Publishing LLC Music Appreciation Book 1: for the Elementary Grades Review

MUSIC! We absolutely love music in our home. When we got the chance to review Music Appreciation Book 1: for the Elementary Grades  from Zeezok Publishing LLC, we were all so excited. The fact that our sons were starting to really get into their instruments made the timing perfect. Want an even better timing issue? My son was learning one of the songs that's on this set and in the book we chose to study first.



I don't want to just spill who we studied, I will give you hints.

- This composer came from a family who loved music maybe even more than my family does.
- He once was very hungry and played a violin in order to get his dinner. 
- In his day he was compared to Handel with many saying Handel was the closest in skill to him.

Any guesses?

I won't keep you in suspense any longer. Our first study was Bach! Yes, Johann Sebastian Bach known for such pieces as his Minuet in Gmaj which just happened to be the piece my son was learning on piano at the time.

Let me start with what you get with the set we received called Music Appreciation Book 1: for the Elementary Grades.

You receive individual biographies for 7 different composers. Composers such as Mozart, Schubert, Bach, Beethoven, Paganini, and more. You receive activities for each composer. You will study geography, history, vocabulary tied to music, instrument studies, and even recipes from the period your composer lived. Did I forget to mention the CDs that go along with the music study? And last, but far from least, are lapbook downloads for each composer in this study. This is truly, truly a complete set. It's music appreciation the fun way.

What We Thought:

I will admit to be a bit biased on this since we love music. But, I also wanted to make sure this was a quality product that would not short change my kids or bore them which would turn them off of music appreciation for a long time. I am happy to say I was not disappointed.

Each section has topics that really dive into each composer's life and music, but also uses their lives to teach important issues such as character. We learned about humor, hospitality, and more. I liked that the kids really started to appreciate the person behind the music they played and then learned bigger lessons from their lives.

For the biography we read it together. But, I took this chance to let each of my son's read aloud which they loved skipping that activity later since they normally have it as a separate topic each day. They would take turns reading and then I would read to end the chapter.

My kids (10 and 8) really got into this study and would ask me very good questions about Bach that went beyond the book's deep story. We took this chance to work on projects outside of the study. Now, I remember music appreciation, as does my husband, and it was NEVER this fun. I could have appreciated that class a lot more if they had used Zeezok Publishing LLC's study.

The study for Bach included science projects (yes, science) that the boys found fun and they actually learned from it. When we moved outside they found some metal on our farm that had been oxidized just like the church and, because we had studied the WHY behind it, they immediately were able to share with Grandma what had happened.

Did I mention recipes? Yeah, well, buy a bigger belt. Once we work through the entire series we will have eaten through 7 composers.

By the way, one comment my kids made was about the music itself. After my younger son got over his excitement that he already knew a piece by Bach, we started to listen to pieces he hadn't learned or didn't know. Both of my sons said at different times that they liked this music that it was famous. I told them it was. My older son said, "yeah, it's very famous, cartoons play it all the time". Ha ha. Well, at least I can count their DVD time with cartoons as educational. But I did use it as an opportunity to start to find Bach's music in our daily lives, and the boys were shocked how often they heard his pieces. I can't wait to listen to some of the other composers and do the same thing.

The Zeezok Publishing LLC's Music Appreciation Book 1: for the Elementary Grades is a wonderful bargain. Normally this is $207.62 set but Zeezok has discounted it and it's on sale for only $169.99. That's a bargain considering everything you get and the fact that it pulls in science, history, cooking, etc.

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Talking Fingers Inc. - Read, Write & Type Review

Talking Fingers Inc. has a product called Read, Write & Type that incorporates typing with phonics for a unique experience, and we were lucky enough to get program access for a review. My younger son, who is 8 years old, spent some time playing around with the various games and such to really get a feel for the program.


When I was in school every 8th grader had to take a typing class. Of course, typing for us was on an electric typewriter. We had our little book that folded so it would stand up and we ASDFJKL; for days and weeks on end. But, today's generation of kids hardly know what a typewriter is anymore. They have grown up with computers the size of our palms from birth. Typing is very different now, and we need programs and aids that will help these kids learn how to use a keyboard properly and to type well in the technology generation that they are. Talking Fingers Inc. has come up with their answer to that dilemma in Read, Write & Type. Their online program is unique in that it doesn't just teach kids how to type, but it also teaches them wonderful reading skills. 
How We Used It:
We had immediate access once we received our log-in information via email. Both of my kids could participate each with their own user area so they didn't have to remember who did what, not get their own awards, and so forth. Set up was very easy and took just minutes. They were ready to go not long after we started the sign up for our account. 
I sat the boys down together to begin with and let them watch my younger son as he was introduced to the workings of the characters, games, and activities. We meet two characters that look astonishingly similar to gloved hands. I don't know, maybe it's just me. Ha ha. 
You begin immediately with games that start to familiarize your child with the keyboard layout and key functions. Soon my younger son had it figured out and went on his way to working the first level of the program. My older son watched because he has a harder time picking up nuances of new activities. It wasn't too long before he had it figured out and didn't need our help anymore. It really was that easy. 
One point I wanted to mention was that this program is designed with the ESL student in mind. It wasn't an afterthought, it is very friendly and usable to a child learning English as their second language and Talking Fingers Inc. highly recommends it's program for that use. I have never seen a typing program with that selling point or design, ever. 

I know this post is picture heavy, but I really wanted you to have the opportunity to see the graphics and set up of the program. It's hard when you start a service like this to get a feel for how it will work, look, and be when your child begins to work with it themselves. I think the pictures and graphics are cute but not over the top which would possibly turn off kids. They are colorful and I think artistically done. 
What We Thought:
As far as my child with special needs goes, this was very user friendly for his issues and learning disorders. He could move around the program easily and figure out how to do pretty much everything without my guidance. 
My 8 year old liked the idea of the program, but he felt, for him that it was below his level. He said it felt babyish. I think, for him, it was. He is gifted so maybe it's not all 8 year old kids, I don't know. Ha Ha, I don't have any other 8 year old children to compare him to on hand. It says it's for ages 6 - 9 and I feel that's an appropriate level. A precocious 5 year old could handle it and a 10 year old with some learning issues would probably still like it. So you would need to know your child for that question.
I liked it. I thought it was a unique program, had a lot to offer, and I loved the ESL quality to it. I liked that it not only taught typing but reading and I like that it had certificates to help the kids be a bit more motivated to try the next step. 
The price was right as well. It starts at $35 for full online access for 1 user and goes up (at a nice discount) depending on how many users you need. 
If you are interested in this program and would like to find out more about Talking Fingers Inc. or Read, Write & Type, check them out online at:
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You can read more reviews from other homeschool families on the program if you click on the graphic below.

Homeschool Copywork Review

Our family was blessed to receive a Lifetime Membership to Homeschool Copywork to review. Homeschool Copywork is a website that contains a huge variety of e-books for copywork with topics such as Quotes by Charlotte Bronte, Claude Monet Artist Study, and various Bible passages. The topics are incredibly vast.



So, what is copywork, you might ask yourself. It's OK to ask, I didn't always know, either. Copywork is often seen as only a tool used to help a child with handwriting. Oh, it very much does, but it's so much more. It's grammar, reading and comprehension, eye hand coordination (who knew, a little occupational therapy thrown in), and, depending on the topic of your copywork, motivation, faith building, and memorization. It can help a child learn many topics that have nothing to do with language arts. Remember back to your school days when a teacher would copy a few sentences on the chalkboard for you to copy on loose leaf notebook paper. It's that, but so, so much better and deeper.

For our review period I chose a piece on 1 Corinthians 13. You first need to decide if you want to teach your child cursive or manuscript because the studies are set up with that option. When I first logged on to my Lifetime Membership at Homeschool Copywork I had a few concerns. I was worried it would be hard to find things for my kids and that there wouldn't be many options that were of interest to us.

It took me less than a minute to figure out neither of those concerns was an issue at all. Here's the landing page once you log into your account. You can see how easy everything is with a tab for anything you might need (what type of payments you have made, what grade level work you want to do, bonus items (woohoo, who doesn't love that).

Once you choose your grade level or bonus items (by the way, don't skip the bonus items. There you will find various pieces grouped by topics such as dogs, transportation, sharks, etc), you are taken to the list of copywork for that level. For us, I chose Upper Elementary work. 

Back to what we used, I mentioned we started with the 1 Corinthians 13 set. I liked how this was set up and I really appreciated that I could turn back to the Bible and use this in conjunction with our Bible study time each day. It was such a natural move from Bible to copywork for us. You read a passage, you talk about a passage, you pray about a passage, you copy a portion of the passage. It really helped to add one more method in order to help my sons really grasp the meaning and memorization of the text we were studying.

My older son loves handwriting practice, so I knew I wouldn't have a hard time getting him tuned into this type of copywork. My younger son, however, is Mr. How Fast Can I Go and doesn't have time for tedious work. Not to fear, he took to this like a fish takes to water. It was not an issue, it kept his interest, and he was pleased to do it each day.

I have already poked around Homeschool Copywork and decided our next piece will be the Human Body Notebooking Pages that are found in the bonus section. It marries Biblical texts with the human body study and I appreciate that mix as a Christian Mom who has kiddos that LOVE all things muscles, bones, nerves, and brain.

I mentioned we received the Lifetime Membership on Homeschool Copywork. If you are reading this, look over their site, and think this sounds like what you are looking for in your homeschool day, you should check out the Lifetime Membership. I appreciated the membership personally, but when I saw the price difference I realized what a good deal it was. Quotes from composers, inventors, artists, the Bible. Studies that take you deeper through copywork. It is $29.95 for a year membership and only $45.00 for a lifetime membership no matter how many children you have.

If you would like to contact Homeschool Copywork or check them out online, you can do so on their website or the following:

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To read more reviews on this product, please feel free to click the graphic below.

FishFlix.com Movie Review of Agenda 2

My family was given the opportunity to review Agenda 2: Masters of Deceit for FishFlix.com. My husband and I settled in for a movie night on the sofa after the kids went to bed. Hey, what's better than date night with a movie all curled up with your sweetie.

See his end all warm and lonely down there? Yep, his blanket as well. We are having some chilly nights suddenly.

My hubby just got up to shush some little boys, so I thought I would take a minute to share what he and I thought about it and also a few words about FishFlix.com.

Agenda 2: Masters of Deceit is a documentary by Curtis Bowers. It starts with him talking a bit about his time serving our nation politically and how his eyes were opened to some pretty scary trends in our country that affect not only the political scene but every aspect of our daily lives. 

Education. Freedom. Environmentalism. Economy. Corruption of the Evangelical Church (that's right). The list goes on with topics this film and it's maker discuss, dive into, and break open the startling realizations of their common starting point. It shows the clear lines leading back to communism in our government from many years ago and how those small sparks have ignited a firestorm in our nation today. 

Our Thoughts:

I want to start with what my husband said about the film and it's message. I will share my thoughts in a minute. 

I really enjoyed it. I felt it could have been presented in a different way. But, considering what their budget probably was, I thought they did a very good job. 

I never realized there was a correlation between environmentalism and communism and the dissolution of our freedoms and the influence of non-christian people at the direction of the U.N as pretty much a direct onslaught on the Christian community.  

I was shocked to know the U.N. was so heavily controlled by Russian and China influences. 

I liked the schematic showing how certain people were connected with groups and pushing their agenda but would have liked more facts and details showing that relationship.

On to my thoughts. First, I thought it was well done considering it was an independent film. We try very hard to financially support Christian films and film makers. So I was pleased with how well this one was pulled off considering it's genre.

I felt,as did my husband, that the movie leaned a bit too heavy on the "communists are causing all these issues" instead of really diving into the true issue, our running from God and His word. Communists are merely pawns in this game and the players are much, much bigger than a few world leaders could ever dream to be.

I did like that, at the end, they brought it back to hitting our knees before God, repenting of our part of His hand being removed from our nation, and then getting up, dusting ourselves off, and taking action. That's right, it had a multi-part action plan for Christians to make a difference. The best part was, they weren't hard tasks. Get out of debt, educate your kids, pray, witness, invite people to church, make sure you are in a good church that teaches the unadulterated word of God, support local banks and businesses, buy from the U.S., get involved, and so on. These are all doable things.

A few last thoughts and I will close this review and share a bit about the company that provided this good film to us.

1. This isn't a movie for young children, in my opinion. There is no foul language, no inappropriate scenes, or that type of issue. But, the topics are pretty heavy and could be scary for younger audiences. I would suggest teen and above for this movie. 
2. There is NO CLOSED CAPTIONING. Most of you don't know that I have some genetic hearing loss. I can hear still, and probably will never fully lose my hearing. But, it's to the point I need a hearing aid at my next ENT visit. So, closed captioning is very important to me. This movie does not have that ability. I know they had a small budget and that technology costs extra, so I don't fault them for it. I just wanted to share in case you need CC as well. My blu-ray player, TV, etc couldn't access any CC ability on this film and the company told me it was not enabled. 

Ah yes, the company that provided the movie. FishFlix.com is a Christian movie company that strives to provide movies that Christians can watch with their families without the junk of typical Hollywood flicks.

They have a very nice selection of movies and free shipping offers. Hello, I love free shipping.

I did have an opportunity to deal with this company when I had an issue (the closed captioning issue I mentioned above). They were fast, courteous, and I felt offered a fix above and beyond what I ever expected from a company. I think they live up to their company's detailed stated beliefs all centered around honoring God.

I highly recommend Agenda 2: Masters of Deceit and the company, FishFlix.com, that provided it to us. 

Demme Learning Math-U-See Digital Pack Review

If you have ever used Demme Learning Math-U-See in the past, the little green blocks have become an old friend to you. We all know them well. However, they now have a product that brings those green blocks to a whole new level in their digital packs, which I was given the opportunity to review. 
We used Demme Learning Math-U-See Beta Level Digital Pack for our son. Their concept is one I think is very interesting and different. They are a multi-sensory mastery based math program that covers every level of mathematics from primer (think pre-K, early Kindergarten) to pre-calculus. Mastery programs, unlike spiral, means your child will grasp and understand the concepts before being taught a new big concept.  So, what's a digital pack? Well, I am so glad you asked me that. A digital pack still provides the textbook for kids. You also still get the wonderful teaching help that we have all come to know and love. But your manipulatives and videos are digital. This means no more tiny green blocks making you cry as you walk over them in the middle of the night. No more pink blocks going click, click around the kitchen because your cat found them and just happens to love how they scoot across the floor. Also, if you are like us, there's no concern with dropping them or losing them on the floor in the SUV. Roadschooling's friend.  In the Beta Digital Pack, you receive:

• 12-month access to Beta streaming instruction videos
• Instruction manual PDF
• Lesson solutions
• Skip Count Sons MP3 and Songbook PDFs
• 12-month access to digital manipulatives - using Chrome or Safari browsers

On Demme Learning Math-U-See's website you have the ability to have all purchased levels at your fingertips. Once you log in, you have a drop down menu that will show every level so you can have a one-stop location for your kids. You won't have to have multiple log-ins for each level. 

Once there, you have everything you need on the screen to begin your lesson. It all starts with the videos, right? When you choose your lesson for the day ...

The video, manipulatives, and all other resources pop up ready to use. 

My son liked having the videos online, but he loved the digital manipulatives. He is a kid who enjoys working on the computer or iPad, so this gave him that freedom. He also liked how easy it was to use and he could move around the house for math. He loves to move, so he might start on the table and end on the floor or sofa. This moves right along with him. Portability is one of the best features of the digital packs.  So, about those manipulatives. I bet you are quite curious what they look like. Well, let me show you. Let me stop and give you a quick tip. You will notice, on the right side of the screen in each lesson, that the different resources all fall under a nice heading to group them together. You have "Lesson Summary", "Lesson Solutions", "Test Solutions", etc. The only part I found confusing, but just mildly so, was where to find the manipulatives. You actually click the bolded words, "Digital Manipulatives" which I thought was the heading for that item. Other than that, this is all such a breeze. 

The manipulatives board is wonderful. With one click you have every block from units to 100s. You have a field to work with those blocks and, well, manipulate them for your math lesson. An ADDED bonus is that you can write on the field itself. So, if your child has a hard time moving from book to screen, you (or he) can actually write what you are working on at the moment on the screen. It can also be used as scratch paper for the problems. 

Our Thoughts:

My son took to this quickly. He was able to work the manipultives with ease, liked being able to use the screen as his work surface for quick figuring, and had no problems moving from his experiences with the physical blocks to the digital manipulatives. 

We used this daily and worked through the lessons. I will admit, and I am sure there are a few of you that will know what I mean, he likes to watch the videos himself. He loves Mr. Demme's style and just his personality on-screen. Honestly, I let him watch the videos meant to teach me how to present the lesson because he just enjoys them and picks it up quickly. I watch with him and then am there to help him as he moves into the lesson if he has any questions. 

I like that this is incredibly simple on the iPad. Oh, it's easy on our laptop, but the iPad brings a touch screen quality to the manipulatives that really make it fun for the kids. If you have internet access on a tablet, you can take this with you and the kids can be done with their math lesson by the time you get to the store. OK, OK, by the time WE get to the store. We do live a bit further away than most with us being in the country. 

Many times companies come out with new additions or tweaks to their products like this and they dump resources or some of the quality during that transition. Not Demme Learning Math-U-See. Not only did they keep everything we love about the traditional physical pack, they added items to enhance the learning experience. That's what makes them top notch in my book. 

Words won't do this product justice. So, my suggestion is to visit their website, look around, and make the leap into being a Demme Learning Math-U-See Digital Pack family. 

Schoolhouse Review Crew Resource

Hey all, I wanted to pop in and share some news.

First, did you know that the Schoolhouse Review Crew I write for has a Facebook page that has all sorts of resources and information on it? No? Well, you need to go check it out.

TOS Homeschool Crew

Second, did you also know that April doesn't just bring us May flowers, it also brings some giveaways on my blog? That's right. The best part is, everyone wins. If you want it, you get it. There is no hoping your name is drawn, hoping your number comes up. I can't wait to share what I have picked especially for you guys. So, make sure you check back often.

Grapevine Studies Review

We have been blessed to home educate our kids. We do so for many reasons, but main reason is our desire to have our lessons all tie back to, and start with, our Creator. That's why I was so excited when I was given the chance to review Grapevine Studies  Bible study New Testament Part 1 Level 1 Birth of John To Jesus' Ministry.

This study is unlike most Bible studies on the market. Instead of simply reading a passage and answering some questions, you are getting a chance to get your kids minds working as they draw their way through the study. As a parent you draw your way through teaching and kids get a chance to copy your work or create their own interpretation as they listen. And, don't fret Mom and Dad, no true artistic skills are needed. There's a reason this is called the "Stick Figure Through the Bible" study. Stick figures are not only OK, they are greatly encouraged. It IS all about the message after all.

The art work is what makes this study not only unique, but also a great fit for kids who tend to be a bit wiggly or distracted. It keeps them focused on what you are saying as they need to hear the message in order to draw their interpretation. Awesome for my kids!!

Each study has various levels. This makes it great for family time. Each child can have exactly what they need at the level they need it. From traceable on up, kids are met with the message of God's word where they are at in order to keep them from getting frustrated with the work.

If price is a concern, take heart. If you purchase the eBooks, your out of pocket for multiple children will be far less than a traditional bound book. You have options. You can do what works for you. You can print items, have a typical bound book, or do it how you want. I love, love flexibility in a program. I rarely do things exactly how they are laid out, and Grapevine Studies seems to feel the same way.

Once you visit their website you might feel overwhelmed with the options. Don't be. They have made it beyond easy to figure out what to purchase and what level.

What I Liked: This does not teach a certain view point about the topics in the study. This is awesome because you don't have to worry about theological complications from denominations you might not agree with. Also, it allows parents to learn along with their kids. You are studying what your kids are in order to get ready for the day, so you are diving into God's word on a deeper level.

It allows kids to have some freedom in their journey with God. They are picking up on what God's leading them to know and learn. They are creating a unique study that ends up all theirs and unlike their siblings books. It's so personal.

LEVELS! I think the levels are awesome. You know your child best and you don't have to worry about their needs, where they are vs. grade level, and more. You choose what works for each kiddo. LEVELS! Check them out.

Shorter lessons. And, by short, I don't mean milk and no meat. It's just broken down so you don't lose your kids during a very tedious reading. It's set up to capture their interest and allows for some awesome discussions about the topic of the day.

Supplies Needed:

I think you will like this part. There's no big expense with this once you get it.

• Bible
• Colored pencils, markers, or crayons
• Printer (or you can have it printed if you don't have one)
• Notebook (optional, but so nice to keep everything together so you end up with a book once you are done)
• Something for you to draw on during the lessons. I like a dry erase board, but a notebook, your own copy of the student book, or loose leaf paper would work as well. 

All in all, I think this is an excellent study. I am more conservative in my beliefs and like deeper conversations about Biblical doctrine. This study allowed for our beliefs to come shining through and for those conversations to happen. I appreciate that someone who had very different beliefs from us could also use this study just as effectively because of it's fact based non-denominational take on the subject.

They also have a great social networking presence to help you learn more before and after your purchase.

Twitter - Grapevine Studies
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Interested in more reviews on this Bible study, or would you like reviews on the others studies and/or levels offered? Click the link below for many more reviews. 

Heirloom Audio Productions Review - The Dragon and The Raven

History! You either love it or you hate it. In school, I was NOT a fan. However, I was blessed to receive a copy to review of Heirloom Audio Productions' audio drama of The Dragon and The Raven by G.A. Henty and all of that changed. THIS is how history should be presented.

Let's start with what you get. Our family received this audio drama in a gorgeously packaged 2 CD set. I am not kidding when I talk about how well this is put together. Do you see that lovely art work on the front cover picture above? They have taken that type of care throughout this entire set. It even includes the inside cover of this tri-fold case. I could just stare at the cover and be a happy woman. But, I digress. 

We were also given access to the bonus materials. These aren't your basic bonus items. They include:

• Instant access to the MP3 of The Dragon and The Raven sound track. The music is wonderful with this set. 
• The Dragon and The Raven study guide and discussion questions to download. This downloadable and printable book's graphics make it look like a very expensive book once it's printed and it fits right along with the art work on the case and the theme of the story. 
• The Dragon and The Raven ebook (which is wonderful for those of us who enjoy following along with audio books).
• A 50-minute documentary on MP4 with a behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Dragon and The Raven. (I am not ashamed to admit that's one of my favorite parts of a movie. I was stoked to see it on a audio drama). 
• So, so much more. 

When I got this CD set I immediately put it into my car's CD player so my kids could listen to it as we drove to their music lessons. That's when I remembered my CD player had died previously and I couldn't wait to get home to put it in our Blu-Ray player to listen to it. I figured it would be a nice recording, so I could wait. 

Once I started to listen to the CD I realized what I was missing. This is not just some guy in a sound proof booth reading a book. This is an incredibly dramatic almost onstage play on CD. I looked at the back and the voices of the characters were people I knew from movies such as The Hobbit, Star Wars, and Indiana Jones. From the very first sentence we were hooked. I knew my kids were enjoying it when we had to get up to do a few things and they moaned asking to please put off our errands to listen to this story. They didn't want to leave the adventure. 

It's awesome to find a book that is so full of adventure, awesomely acted, and also has a deeper Christian message. That's rare and something I value. The estudy guide was broken down by tracks so you could either go back and listen to the exact spot you needed if you missed a question or so you could stop after each track in order to find the answers. (though I would suggest listening all the way through once for the beauty of the story) The discussion points made my kids think deeper about what was happening and why. 

The story is set in the time of King Alfred before England was, well, England. While this is a fictional story, it's set in a truly historical period of time to help kids learn about a very different point in our world's history. Vikings, kings, heroes ... who will win, who will prevail, and what of the King's faith in the one true God? It will leave you in suspense and you will love how it's played out in the end.

If you want to catch just a glimpse of how well this is done (and see a few actors you might recognize from other productions which will get you very excited about this drama), Heirloom Audio Productions has set up a little clip sampling, if you will, of The Dragon and The Raven.

Heirloom Audio Productions knows their stuff. They got this right. They got this beyond right. 

Heirloom Audio Productions  has a wonderful 4-pack offer that you should check out, as well.  If you would like to check out what other reviewers had to say about The Dragon and The Raven you can click the bottom review banner. 

Home School in the Woods Review

In case you didn't know, it's coming up on election time. In our home we have been talking a lot about words such as voting, President, Senator, and so on. So, when I was offered a chance to review HISTORY Through the Ages Hands-on History Lap-Pak: U.S. Elections from Home School in the Woods, I said "Yes, please!"

We received the digital pack of the Hands-On History Lap-Pak: U.S. Elections. It has all you need to make your lap book from start to finish. This is a very well done lap book, so you have a lot of choices of items to put into your family's folder. You set the schedule, the method, the order, and choose what you want to take from it, perfect for people who enjoy flexibility in a program.

What you get: Instructions, MP3 of the reading text, the reading text in printed format, and 21 projects to include.

My first impressions: You will NOT wonder how you are going to fill a lap book once you see this program. There are a lot of options and choices for what to include. Also, the artwork is awesome. When your children color the pictures, it's actually like a piece of art. I think that's what stood out to me the most when I first opened the pack, the beautiful images I saw. Lastly, it was so simple to get going. There weren't a bunch of confusing file names to try and figure out. You downloaded it, clicked "start" and off you went. It was in a logical and easy to follow order.

Overall Information: This lap pak is listed for grades 3-8 and I think that grade level fits quite well.Oh, and you get all of this for only $18.95 for the digital download. Yeah. Love it! You could use certain portions for a second grader that wanted to work with his siblings and even an older child would enjoy the depth of the knowledge contained in this kit, but for the most part I feel this grade range is right on track with the information, how it's presented, and the activities included. This means it's great for a family project to work on together.

I started by looking over everything. I read how to do this pak, the information that the kids would learn, almost like a mini class for myself so I could understand the process. I printed all the items for the book, put them in order, and got our folders, glue, colored pencils and crayons ready.

What We Learned: HISTORY Through the Ages Hands-on History Lap-Pak: U.S. Elections from Home School in the Woods includes such information as election vocabulary, 3 branches of government, suffrage, primaries, caucuses, national convention, forms of government, qualifications of someone who wants an office, and more.

What I Liked: I liked the MP3 that came with the download that read aloud to us. That was a nice change from Mom reading it out loud or each child having to read their own text. This set really lent itself to great discussions that went deeper into each of the topics. It doesn't tell you who to vote for but helps you understand the why, how, and when of voting so you can make sound decisions, understand what you are seeing on TV, and even lead to a discussion about who we, as the parents, were voting for and why we felt we were making the best decision. (which made us think hard about the WHY on some of our own decisions there because we had to explain them to our children).  Discussion is huge to me and a big part of my teaching method and just how we live our daily life, so that was a big point in this project. I loved the discussion it brought to the table.