Amanda Bennet Unit Study: Download 'N' Go - George Washington

WHAT?
George Washington Download 'N' Go is a unit study created by Amanda Bennett in e-book format. It is very simple to use; the only preparation required is to search out optional library books to read along during the week for enrichment. This already contains indepth studies in every subject in this lineup:

Day 1: Who Was George Washington?

Day 2: People and Places in George Washington's Life

Day 3: The Accomplishments of George Washington

Day 4: Lessons to Learn From George Washington

Day 5: Remembering George Washington

WHO?

I used this study with my four children, ages 10, 8, 7, 4. Although it is recommended for K-4, I found that my 5th grader did well with the study.   Some of the library books provided further enrichment  and activities for her age group.

HOW?

We were able to get a number of the go along titles from our public library. I used the e-book on a daily basis, as presented and added in literature for story times, bedtimes, individual reading, even some fun activities to throw into the mix. For an older child, adding extra reading and expecting  a bit more on some of the assignments seemed appropriate and went over well.

I gathered my children around the computer and we read through them, taking one activity at a time. The unit is neatly divided into days and all we have to do is enjoy it.  We did the activities, read, and watch edthe videos that are linked within the study.  I preprinted all that is needed from the e-book itself.  No creating my own notebook pages or forms.  Also, to save a little money, I just keep the e-book saved on a flash drive and do not print out the entire book. For those who lapbook, the components are linked within the book and are found at the end of the study with a link back to where you are in the study so you don't have to search to get back.


THE VERDICT


I can say with certainty that this was our favorite DNG so far!  Download 'N' Go George Washington gave us more than the typical unit on our country's father. This study could have easily lasted my family two weeks or more, had we done every single activity and thoroughly explored every title suggested in this study. We wanted to, though! This study brought some things more to life for them, seeing it presented through some of the links provided and correlating it with our local historical sites.
This is not just a history lesson - it is a complete study, with all of the subject areas covered nicely. You will find mapwork, timeline activities, and more. Of course, I found many opportunities for copywork and writing exercises at my fingertips. I appreciated the character studies included, as well.  We loved all the information about George Washington personally. My husband even enjoyed learning with us and confessed  to learning something new!  It probably feels even more "real" to us because we live in an area that is chock-full of  historical Washingtonion sites.  We drive by many of them regularly and some, even weekly.   There wasn't anything for me to add in or have to pull together to supplement. But many of the suggested titles made the study even more fun.  And now, our calendar is marked and we will be serving a special breakfast in honor of George Washington very soon!!!  We can't wait for warmer weather, as we are headed out to Mount Vernon as soon as the cold lets up a bit.

Here, we are writing with quill pens.  We found out that it isn't easy to get things done writing with those!
We also kept a journal, as George Washington did and even learned steps to a Minuet.  It was such a fun time.  We really could have gone on for quite a while with this study.

If you'd like to read more reviews from other homeschool parents, click here and see what they think of Download 'N' Go George Washington.

I have been provided one free copy of the George Washington Download 'N' Go to review in exchange for my honest opinion on the product.

Amanda Bennett Unit Study Review: Magnificent Moon Download 'N' Go

WHAT?
Magnificent Moon is a unit study created by Amanda Bennett in e-book format. It is very simple to use; the only preparation required is to search out optional library books to read along during the week for enrichment. This already contains indepth studies in every subject in this lineup:

Day 1: What Exactly Is a Moon?

Day 2: Getting to Know the Moon

Day 3: The Story of the Moon

Day 4: Science Secrets of the Moon

Day 5: Cool Things About the Moon

WHO?

I used this study with my four children, ages 10, 8, 7, 4. Although it is recommended for K-4, I found that my 5th grader did quite well with the study presenting it as-is.

HOW?
We went at this with just the unit provided. We live in a small town with a limited library. We still  learned plenty  just doing the study alone with none of the read-along type extras. It was more than enough! I find in doing these DNG units that I don't really need extras. Amanda has done all of that for me and that's the simple beauty of these studies.

I gather my children round the computer and we read through them, taking one activity at a time. There is always debate on who get to do the scrolling and who gets to read all the cool information.  Also, to save a little money, I just keep the e-book saved on a flash drive and do not print out the entire book. I only print out the activity pages. For those who lapbook, the components are linked within the book and are found at the end of the study.


THE VERDICT



Download 'N' Go Magnificent Moon  is a much deeper study than I expected. This study could have easily lasted my family two weeks, had we done every single activity. We had some previous experience with another unit on moons and astronomy. But I felt that the information presented in Magnificent Moon was still quite challenging for my 5th grader.  This study brought some things more to life for them, seeing it presented through some of the links provided.  I have always enjoyed watching the shuttles lift off, land and followed their journeys.  So, I was able to share my thoughts and memories on watching space exploration through my lifetime.    We ended our study with our version of a moon cake. 

I appreciated that this is a complete study, with all of the subject areas covered nicely. I did feel that some of the information was over the head of a Kindergartener and on some days, my First grader; but a basic introduction is sufficient for that age anyway.  There wasn't anything for me to add in or have to pull together to supplement. Download 'N' Go studies make it effortless to teach on so many topics and feel confident that they are learning.

If you'd like to read more reviews from other homeschool parents, click here and see what they think of Download 'N' Go Magnificent Moon.

Also, check out these other value priced studies from Amanda Bennett:

The Cabin Fever Fun Pack, which includes Magnificent Moon, Winter Wonders, Expedition Canada, and Popcorn is currently on sale, and will be through 1/31/11 for $20 (regularly $28).

Also, stay tuned for a fabulous giveaway contest! The contest will run from 1/24-28/11, with the drawing at 9pm on 1/28. We will be giving away 2 standard Moon Maps from National Geographic, valued at $16.99 each


I have been provided one free copy of the Magnificent Moon Download 'N' Go to review in exchange for my honest opinion on the product.

How Young is Too Young to Train Our Daughters to be Homemakers?

I have owned this (as well as the companion boys' book) for a few years now.  I haven't used it as much as I hoped I would have by now, but I keep at it.  I read through topics here and there to keep things fresh in my mind regarding training up our daughters.  It does mention in this book that the earlier items in each chapter are for the younger and then they increase in appropriateness with age.    This seems to be true.

  I wondered today how young is too young to train our daughters to be homemakers?  Is it when they are able to handle tools with safety?  Is it when they can actually get the clothes to stay onto the hanger?  Or what about when they are able to organize a menu and shopping list fairly regularly?   

Oh, I know!  It must be when a young lady looks like she's ready for work and training and is strong enough.    No.  Maybe it will work when she keeps a budget and is responsible for her schedule and much of her own education. 

The longer I am in this role, the more I am convinced that being a homemaker has less to do with the tasks at hand and more to do with my heart.  A house is a building.  We would all like for it to be clean most of the time.  The 'home' of our hearts is more important, though, so that we provide a  welcoming temperament for the Holy Spirit to take up residence. ?  Just my own questions for myself.....I'm just thinking out loud here..but I think that my daughters' future homes depend on what I live out for them.  And that begins with the state of my heart.

Am I training them in the tasks they need in a purposeful manner? Do they feel encouraged and uplifted in their endeavors?  Do I honor their efforts and gently guide them in corrections (not always).   Is their work appreciated when they've done it with a  good attitude?  Are they seeking wisdom?  How is their spiritual life going?  Am I modeling what I desire to see reflected?

This is one of my Intentional areas this year..making a lovely home..inside my heart and beyond.

Seeing the Value in Our Days

                                      
I often remind myself of the saying, "the days are long but the years are short."  It makes my heart sad each time I think of how quickly my little ones are slipping into new stages of life that will surely usher them upward and onward from our home.   We have four children and have been in the trenches with little ones for a while.  As the older children come into their own, the battles seem to turn a different shade of interesting.  Honestly, I can't say that no one ever told me this would happen.  I just didn't predict that it would look like this. 

Most of our days are filled with the monotony of homeschooling, sports activities, and keeping the home in good running/operating order.  And that fills our days completely.  Homeschooling presents its own unique set of challenges but many are similar to our other-school counterparts.  Our boys would rather be outdoors on nature hikes or playing ball.  Girls have "other things" they would rather be doing.  Nothing I can offer will even solicit a second glance were it not for the consequences of retaining their current grade level for another year. 

Those other things that our children have to do often seem unimportant to me.  Silly, even.  Now, I do know that play IS the work of children.  But my mind doesn't immediately acknowledge the fruit of that labor most days.  It is helpful for me to be reminded fairly regularly that there is value in those parts of our day, too.   Nature hikes (and other challenges) give the boys the hill they need to climb to be an overcomer.  They need to stand on the top and look out over what they've conquered.  The sword battles they fight teach them to protect the ladies and  'least of these', and to get back up again.  The Hotwheels races-I'm not sure what they do, but I'm sure it's important. 

The girls learn to bring beautiful smile and heart in their dressing up and playing in makeup and doing hair.  The music time, well they learn to sing a new song to Him-and someone in particular does it with boldness!  Even the occasional email session can be used to arrange fellowship and hospitality times that are refreshing to their hearts. 

The notebooks and test scores are necessary, even good.  But the true value in our days runs much deeper than the recited words and calculated numbers we produce as "evidence" of our successful days.

Baby Steps - A Lesson From the Flylady

It's the Flylady's mantra.  I believe it might be on nearly every page of her website.  It's probably on every single email that comes flooding into the inbox.  Baby steps.  Baby steps.  Baby steps.  When I first discovered her website and method, I was not only on the wagon, I drove it.  It made me feel sooo in control.  (I'm sure that's a problem)  I didn't regularly get behind on anything, as can happen these days.  Most areas of our home stayed in  company-ready-in-15-minutes condition. It made soo much sense.  If you're on top of things, they don't get bad enough to get you all worked up and then you find yourself on a cleaning frenzy (and therefore, neglect other areas as well).  These days, I have a somewhat blended method of homekeeping that allows for more, shall we say, balance.  But that binder is  not what this post is about.  The Flylady is on to something when she gets on those fits.  It works so much better my heart than it does in my home. 

Yes,  you read that right.  I am enjoying the day having had that thought streaming across the eyes of my heart again and again.  If we get things done as the junk begins to seep in, we won't be as likely to find ourselves in an all-out conniption. A little pride here, a  little selfishness there, bitterness is always looking for a corner to sink into.  But, if we keep it cleaned up in baby steps and leave no area untouched, we keep our hearts constantly hospitable to the Holy Spirit. When there's even a splinter of unforgiveness, greed or vanity hanging around in there, the Holy Spirit is quenched in my heart.

 My husband and I heard a teaching on the principle of short accounts a while back.  We began using it to keep check on anything that might be said or unsaid between us.  Just the daily (actually many times each day) looking into each other's eyes, even if we're busy, and asking, "Are we OK?".  Now that is probably annoying to some, but we know what the other one means by the phrase.  We are conveying that we want to always be willing to hear an issue that may come up in the other's heart that might need some "housekeeping."   Usually if nothing's amiss, a smile comes to our faces.  But if the other one looks down or away, or tries to busy themselves, there needs to be some quality heart-to-heart ministry time.  Those times are wonderful!  Think of the smell of lavender in a freshly cleaned home with the breeze blowing in.....the accomplishment--of a clean heart.

New Year, New Name!

My blog has a new name this year!  I thought it just as well....the old name was kinda...old. Not  that we aren't getting older...but it was just time to change.  If you would like to know where the name came from, click on over to this post and it'll make perfect sense. 

Tuesdays

I discovered I'm a Tuesday kind of girl. I've always been a Monday girl. I love, love the freshness of a new week. It's the perfect day to start. To start everything. Fresh. New. A whole week ahead just waiting for Monday to plan it all out and make it happen. The whole week rides on the Mondays. Or they did. My calendar (a fresh, new on in January, no less) , school, exercise re-starts, diets, good habits, bad habits, new ventures, even my relationship with God. But today, God met me fresh and new on a …….Tuesday. I'm always trying to get myself together in order to put my foot out into the waters of something new. Don't get me wrong, God is not new to me. I've been saved a whole lotta years. Not all of them held evidence that I was saved, but I am thankful for the Grace that covers that. So, today is Tuesday. God was there when I hit snooze on the alarm. He opened my eyes first thing to the idea that Tuesdays are just as important as Mondays. He convinced me that I could begin Bible study anew with my children on a –Tuesday. I could start reading aloud to my children at bedtime on a Tuesday. Yes, Mondays have the "new car feel" to them. But Tuesdays require His mercy to cover what we flopped at when our best laid Monday totally flops. The momentum and energy of Monday is flushed out by the exasperation of another hum-drum week of feeling like nothing gets accomplished. These are the days that we have to call out to Him for patience, rely on His mercy to cover our heart-attitude, plead that the Blood cover the frustration and pride that showed up just as soon as the rest of the crew got up and busy and my own plan is shoved to the side. Yes, Tuesday, we realize the week is no longer ours to hold, to plan, to keep. We have to give it back to Him. We hold our fallen Monday in the palm of our hand and offer it back to Him, a pitiful offering, at best. Our finely crafted plans for the week lay in the dust and rubble of our pride. But, take heart, Tuesdays can be the most triumphant day of the week, by far!! They are victorious! It is on Tuesday that our burdens are no longer our own. We don't have to hope and have faith in our own plans and wonder if it's enough to make it happen. On Tuesday, it is sure to happen. It's guaranteed. Tuesdays carry the pride of being able to walk upright, with the confidence that He's got your back (or your week). There's no appointment that He's too busy to see you through. The schedule, well, He made it and He gave you the job, too. He wrote the handbook to your children AND your spouse. There's a good reason God made Tuesdays—and He's good enough to offer them to us.

I hope that you find yourself having a Tuesdayonce in a while!

I linked this post with Courtney over at Women Living Well