by Erica Johns | Jan 29, 2018 | History, Spring Fling Giveaways
Alaska! With the popularity of TV shows like Deadliest Catch, Gold Rush, Alaska The Last Frontier, Life Below Zero, and many others over the past ten years or so, many people have become freshly inspired and amazed by the unique features of this wild and remote land. If your family is one that has caught Alaska fever, you will be delighted to know about a new book series called Aunt Phil’s Trunk.
This amazing collection of stories started with the author’s beloved Aunt Phil, who was an award-winning Alaskan history enthusiast. Aunt Phil compiled much research about the history of this great state, and sometimes had stories about that history shared in various newspapers and magazines. Upon her death, she bequeathed her life’s work to her niece, Laurel Downing Bill, who quickly realized what a treasure trove of history she had been entrusted with! Determined to share this information with others, Laurel earned a college degree in journalism and history in order to gain better skills as a storyteller, and set to work compiling these tales, and adding her own additional research to more fully represent Alaska’s story.
The result of many years of relentless curiosity, determination, research, travel, hard work is a whopping five-volume collection of Aunt Phil’s Trunk. Each book covers a separate time period of Alaska’s history. The author was kind enough to send me copies of some of the books and sponsor this post so I could share more about them, and my impressions of it with you. Â
- Volume one covers everything up to 1900, including the Klondike Gold Rush era
- Volume two 1900-1912, includes the birth of many towns, the Iditarod Trail, and first summit of Denali
- Volume three 1912-1935 includes Alaska Railroad, early aviation, and farmers heading north
- Volume four 1935-1960 includes World War II Japanese invasion, the Alaska-Canada Highway, and the battle for Attu
- Volume five 1960-1984 includes early statehood, Good Friday Earthquake, and the trans-Alaska oil pipeline
Each volume is around 330 pages, and they are chock-full of interesting stories, with coordinating historical photos on almost every single two-page spread. The photos really help bring the history alive, and I’m amazed at the amount of research that went into sharing so many fascinating stories! Each chapter shares another intriguing story from Alaska’s history, and would be perfect for reading a bit each day with your children. You will undoubtedly learn about a wide variety of things, and find many jumping-off points that will spark your interests and imagination. Â
Since we had all five volumes of the book here, I handed out one volume to each of my three high school sons, and my husband and I each had one as well. We enjoyed digging in to read about Alaskan history, and quickly learned so many new things that we had never heard before. From an island that changes size and location (!!) to panning for gold, getting to know more about early explorations and the indigenous Alaskan people and their ways, there are hundreds of intriguing pieces of information included in these books!
As the tales from Aunt Phil’s Trunk gained in popularity, there was a rise in interest from those that wanted to use these books as a curriculum, since this is ideal for the study of Alaskan state study, as well as an additional perspective on American history in general. So they have now developed Student Workbooks and Teacher Guides to accompany each volume as well! The student workbooks are aimed at grades 4-12, and encourage a deep-dive into the study of each volume, with rich, layered activities. These include Discussion Questions and essay opportunities, Enrichment Activity suggestions, reading comprehension questions, map activities, and unit tests, and well as activities like word searches and crossword puzzles.
For families that love to go off the beaten path, follow their curiosities and interests in learning, and find Alaska to be exciting and interesting, Aunt Phil’s Trunk is a uniquely wonderful collection! The author is extending a special offer to Enrichment Studies readers. You can purchase the Gold Nugget Special, which includes Volume 1 of Aunt Phil’s Trunk, along with the student workbook and teacher’s guide for $15 off the already discounted bundle price, PLUS enjoy FREE shipping! Use coupon code HOMESTEADER for your discount! Click here to check out this offer.
by Erica Johns | Dec 3, 2017 | Great Stuff for Homeschool Moms, History, Inventors, Scientists, Spring Fling Giveaways
History is a tricky thing. On the one hand, we’ve got the well-known, “front burner” historical facts and figures that most of us learn growing up. But then there’s all the less-well-known aspects of history that are just as true, just as valuable, yet often hidden from most people as they learn about all the things that brought us to the place we are today.
When I started Enrichment Studies many years ago, right away I noticed the lack of women and people of color in the arts, and that put me on a path of questioning and discovery. Were there any women or non-white people creating music and art through the ages? I learned that the answer was yes! But why don’t we hear more about them? Why haven’t their contributions earned a spot in the history books? If we only look at the surface, it would be easy to think that so many things have come to us solely through the talents and innovations of white men. Indeed, due to the social structures and conquests of the past, white men have often been in the best position to create and innovate, but they are not the only ones that have. Home educators and involved, mindful parents can reclaim the fullness of history for ourselves and our children by digging deeper and learning more than just the surface level with helpful resources like the ones Tamara Shiloh has created in her Just Imagine….What If There Were No Black People In the World book series. Affiliate links are used in this post.
This book caught my attention one day, because the topic matches two we focus on at Enrichment Studies: Inventors and Scientists.  I also liked it because this fits in with my desire to help bring about a broader awareness of our diverse history to the homeschool community. I have had the privilege of speaking to Mrs. Shiloh on the phone a few times, and was so excited when she agreed to have me review these books for you. She is also generously sponsoring a giveaway, so be sure to enter at the bottom of this post!
In this sweet story, a young boy named Jaxon is taken on a magical adventure, thanks to his grandmother’s necklace and his curious mind. When he asks himself one day, “What if there were no Black people in the world?” he is taken on a journey of discovery about how his everyday life would be impacted without the many inventions and scientific advancements that were created by the men and women of color that came before him. As I kept learning about these remarkable people, I was filled with gratitude for being able to learn about them, and also filled with a desire to make sure other families get to learn about this too. This isn’t just a book for Black families, although certainly people of color will want to add this delightful book to their collection. But this is a book for every family that truly values history and wants their children to grow up with a broader awareness of our collective human story, and wants to be purposeful in fostering a curious mindset and appreciation for the diversity that is woven into our everyday lives. In the book, one of the inventors says to Jaxon, “We’re your history, and history never goes away.” We have an opportunity to make sure the history and accomplishments of all people is not swept aside and hidden from our awareness, if we are willing to. Change starts at home, and every family has the power to foster greater awareness, compassion, and appreciation for our fellow humans. Â
In addition to the main storybook, there are three wonderful companion books in the series, so far. Jaxon’s Journal reinforces the information from the main book, while also inspiring kids to create their own journals about things they have learned. Jaxon’s Black History Coloring Book includes the many inventions and scientific advancements from the main book, plus many more. It’s a perfect addition to the book, and provides an activity for younger siblings and students who love to get out their crayons and colored pencils! Jaxon’s Black History Activity Book includes word scrambles, crossword puzzles, word puzzles and games, reading and writing activities about the inventors and scientists, and more. All together this set will provide a lot of fun, historical richness, and reinforcement for your children. It is perfect for a unit study for homeschoolers, or a starting point for research projects. Due to the nice range of materials included in this bundle, I think children from K-high school could certainly appreciate the content, with the elementary and middle school ages probably being most ideal. These books are available at TamaraShiloh.com as well as through Amazon Prime.
Author Tamara Shiloh is on a mission to educate about Black History year-round, and has many other books in this series coming soon! You can look forward to sharing with your children about Black women that were instrumental in science and inventions, Black cowboys, Black people involved in aviation and astronomy at NASA and beyond, and more.
Â
by Erica Johns | Aug 7, 2017 | Great Stuff for Homeschool Moms, Language Arts, Literature, Spring Fling Giveaways
If you are connected to any groups of Christian homeschoolers on the internet, you have probably heard about The Good and the Beautiful. This newcomer to the homeschool world has taken off as one of the fastest-growing and incredibly popular choices for home education.
One thing that got my attention about The Good and the Beautiful was the mention that they integrate art into their materials. Â For anyone that has followed me for awhile, you know that I like to say that Art IS History. Â I know that the works of great artists can enhance our understanding and appreciation of other times, cultures, and historical events in a way that words cannot. Â So, I had to check it out!
The Good and the Beautiful sponsored this review and giveaway so I could let you know my thoughts on their programs. Â I’m excited to share with you today what I’ve learned.
The Good and the Beautiful is a non-denominational Christian program that aims to connect learning to the good and beautiful things in life, such as family, God, high moral character, wholesome literature, nature, and more.
Year 1 History
The first collection I reviewed was their Year 1 History. Â All of their history levels are meant to work for grades 1-12, and to be revisited every 3-4 years. Â All 4 years of their history cover the same sweep of history, from Ancient times through to Modern history, but each year stops at different spots along the way to dig in and learn more about particular people and events. Â The family-style intent of the program allows you to gather all of your children around 2 or 3 times a week for an hour-long lesson that includes a wide variety of activities that will keep your children interested and delighted. Â Leveled Student Explorer books enable each child to work at their own ability level, while the whole family learns the same basic content together, taking the guesswork out of trying to figure out what each age child should be doing. Â Designed to require very little prep time, I believe homeschool moms will find that a quick glance over the next several lessons will easily allow you to anticipate any extra materials you will need.
The Good and the Beautiful keeps things interesting in their history program by offering a wide variety of activities, which will virtually guarantee that your kids are never bored. Â Each lesson includes several different elements, which normally include reading to your children, but then spin off into other areas such as:
- memorization
- crafts
- map activities
- timeline activities
- high-quality audio presentations and stories
- opportunities for oral presentations/public speaking
- review activities
- printables
- food activities to enhance the lesson
- cutting activities
- playdough creation
- Keys of History game
- art projects
- writing activities
- fun and interesting learning activities
- videos/documentaries
- copywork/dictation/notebooking elements
- vocabulary
- science activities
I was VERY impressed with the range of different activities that are included, and I appreciated it that you are not bombarded with too many to choose from. Â In Year 1 History you’ll find that there is a nice balance of interesting variety that will not take too much time or be too overwhelming.
Who is this great for?
- Families homeschooling multiple children that want to simplify and streamline learning
- Families that enjoy bringing together elements from Classical, Charlotte Mason, Unit Studies, and traditional approaches to education. Â The Good and the Beautiful combines them all, without burning you (or your kids) out on any one thing.
- Conservative Christian families that desire Bible-based teaching, completely wholesome literature, and strong instruction about high moral character
Language Arts & Literature
The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts & Literature program has a lot of similarities in the approach to the way the history program is set up:
- Very little prep time required
- wide range of activities throughout
- thoroughly Christian viewpoint
- wholesome content
This program has several components:
- a Course book (one needed per child)
- the course companion (non-consumable and can be shared)
- the reader for this level (non-consumable and can be shared)
- Daily Checklists (each child needs their own copy)
- Geography & Grammar Cards (non-consumable and can be shared)
Lessons are designed to be open-and-go, with little or no prep time required. Children over level 4 are expected/encouraged to work independently through their lessons, and the lessons are written in such a way that they are guided through the steps to actually take ownership of the process. Â Having had two dyslexic children and some non-typical learners myself, I know that the goal of total independence in learning is not necessarily realistic for all people at a particular stage, but I do like that each step the student should take is clearly communicated, giving them the tools they need to organize themselves and learn to study and progress through the lessons carefully.
Similar to the history program, the Language Arts offers a wide range of activities and approaches to the lessons, so it’s not the same-old-same-old day after day. Â Instead, new surprises and activity types await with each turn of the page! Â Included throughout the program are things like:
- memorization (classical educators will especially appreciate this)
- maps
- grammar terms
- literary terms
- sentence diagramming
- drawing
- art appreciation and art history
- reading comprehension
- editing activities
- Latin and Greek roots
- Writing activities
- grammar activities
- poetry appreciation, response, and analysis
- and more!
Several times as I read through the lessons I had the thought that this course would be good for someone that was interested in the grammar portion of Classical Conversations’ Essentials program, but wanted a much less expensive alternative. Â Classical educators are sure to appreciate the inclusion of sentence diagramming and grammar instruction. Â Charlotte Mason-style educators are likely to enjoy the inclusion of art and poetry. Â For those of us that appreciate the practical and efficient route to learning, one of my favorite parts of this program is that they use factual, historical, and informational content while teaching other concepts. Â So, for instance, instead of a silly made up story used for reading comprehension, your child will be reading about a famous person or event from history, or perhaps about some interesting geographical information. Â So, you’re getting more “bang for your buck” simply because The Good and the Beautiful capitalizes on these learning opportunities in a meaningful, valuable way.
This Language Arts program has a lot of different components, and it switches things up frequently.  For some kids this will be an absolutely delight.  For others it may be too unpredictable.  Levels 1-5 are available FREE in PDF format, so I think that’s an excellent opportunity to dig in and see if you think this sort of approach is a good fit for your particular children.  Personally, I would recommend that once you know The Good and the Beautiful is right for your family, go ahead and order the physical versions.  The books are nicely printed, the colored pages are lovely, and it will cost you so much more to try to print it on your own.  I believe that these materials are priced at a very good value, with many non-consumable components.  You’ll be glad to have the printed versions available to you.
I know that a lot of Enrichment Studies families are curious to know about the inclusion of art and drawing in this program. Â In the History program, the art was more specifically linked to the content and felt like an enhancement. Â In the Language Arts & Literature program, the art and drawing activities seemed independent of the content in most cases. Â I would have loved to see more connections throughout, but for families that enjoy a sprinkle of art throughout their day, it may fit that need very well.
Who is this great for?
- Conservative Christian homeschoolers that want a thoroughly Christian perspective presented and completely wholesome content
- Families that enjoy combining elements of classical, Charlotte Mason, and traditional styles
- Students that thrive on variety and surprise
- Students that can manage multiple different books and materials without difficulty
- Families that enjoy a splash of art and creativity every now and then
Wondering about other materials from The Good and the Beautiful? Check out my review of their Creative Writing Notebook and their Nature Notebook here:
by Erica Johns | Jul 6, 2017 | Great Stuff for Homeschool Moms, Spring Fling Giveaways
Learning about foreign countries and cultures can delight and inspire our children for a lifetime.  My own experience as a child doing a research project about Norway fueled a life-long interest in that country and a visit there remains on my bucket list!  Carole P. Roman‘s If You Were Me and Lived in…. series offers a delightful walk across the globe for you and your children, so I am very happy that she sent me some books so I could review them for you!
This award-winning collection manages to engage, entertain, inform, and delight the reader with a wide spectrum of sights and sounds from the featured nation.  Each book typically tells about the food, families, pasttimes, schools, toys, money, culture, and climate in a way that’s conversational, and also gets the reader thinking and responding to the information. One of the things I appreciated was the pronunciation guides.  I can easily imagine a family reading these books together and trying out new names from each culture, and learning a few vocabulary words from the new language.  Sounding less “gringo” is a bonus!  🙂   I also enjoyed that the illustrations are full-color, and often combine actual photographs with the friendly artwork.
Officially aimed at ages 5-8, I believe these books will be enjoyed by your older children as well. Â I had my 14, 16, and 17 year old sons take a look, and they all enjoyed reading through a few of the books, and said that they thought they were well-done and informative, though certainly geared toward somewhat younger readers. Â I read through my entire stack of If You Were Me books, and learned so many things that I did not already know! Â I’m sharing some of those insights this week on Instagram this week, so come check those out for some fun. Â
As I often say, you never know what will inspire your child and spark a flame of interest and exploration, so it is well worth it to provide a nice range of interesting and appealing resources and experiences for our children to draw from. Â These books would be a wonderful addition to your home library because they provide a nice starting point for becoming more aware of how people in other places live.
Countries included in this series (aff):  Italy, Australia, Mexico, India, Cuba, South Korea, France, Scotland, Germany, Greece, Russia, Portugal, Kenya, Turkey, Peru, China, Hungary, Norway, Egypt, Israel, Poland, and Brazil.
Carole P. Roman has many other books for homeschoolers as well, including her If You Were Me and Lived In…History Series! I can enthusiastically recommend her work to other homeschool families. I hope you’ll check her books out!
by Erica Johns | Mar 3, 2016 | Facebook Party, Spring Fling Giveaways
I know that planners are super popular with busy homeschool moms, so I know you will love Mom’s Tool Belt!  Have every kind of form for organization and planning that you will need for your household, PLUS seasonal cute designs to choose from as well!
Debra, mother of ten and owner of Mom’s Tool Belt, has generously offered a giveaway for you guys tonite!
 GIVEAWAY:  One lucky winner will win the Lifetime Membership to Mom’s Household Planner.
Giveaway details:
1Â winner
Winner gets Lifetime Membership to Mom’s Household Planner.  ($24.95 value)
Giveaway is open through May 6, 2018
by Erica Johns | Jul 21, 2015 | Facebook Party, Freebies, Great Stuff for Homeschool Moms, Spring Fling Giveaways
I just LOVE Notebooking Pages! It’s the perfect go-together with what we do at Enrichment Studies, and can work with any curriculum or schooling approach. You might say I’m a superfan, as both an affiliate and contributor for Notebooking Pages for several years now! The owner, Debra, is a homeschooling mom of TEN and she has found that utilizing notebooking has been a powerful enhancement to the education her children are receiving.  Debra has created literally thousands of printable notebooking pages PLUS many helpful videos and tutorials that will help you understand how to use notebooking in your homeschool.
I am SUPER EXCITED to tell you that Debra has generously agreed to give some goodies out to you!
1. Â Free for ALL of you: Â Debra actually put together a special FREE collection of notebooking pages for us! Â It includes all six composers that we cover in the Baroque & Classical Composers Collection, AND the first six presidents, which are included in our U.S. Presidents 1-6 collection! Â Every. Single. One. Of. You. can get this collection COMPLETELY FREE, PLUS you’ll get FREE access to all of her other free member resources and product samples! Â Click here to go get set up for this.
2. Â Giveaway: Â One of you will win the awesome Lifetime Membership to Notebooking Pages! Â This includes forever access to thousands of topical pages that cover art study, copywork, character study, famous men and women, geography, history, Latin and Greek, science, music study, nature study, timelines, and a ton more! Â Seriously, go check out what she has, because, –wow– it is, like, a huge, amazing collection that you will love.
Giveaway details:
1Â winner
Winner gets Lifetime Membership to Notebooking Pages.  ($97 value)
Winner is Jennifer V.
