The Curriculum Choice

A+ TutorSoft

Feb 172012

I’m not going to lie. We’ve struggled with algebra. It’s the first real struggle we’ve had since this journey of homeschooling began, but a struggle it’s been. Not so much because my daughter nor I can do it, but because it’s one of those things that’s harder to backtrack with and find the method to the madness when you get stuck.

This year, I’ve made sure we have an arsenal of help awaiting us when necessary. My daughter CAN tackle algebra successfully, and I CAN be her teacher! We’re still using Saxon Math as the main curriculum because I’ve grown to dearly love the thoroughness and incremental approach. But, three new products sit on my shelves: Saxon Teacher, Math Dictionary for Kids, and A+TutorSoft’s Algebra 1 CD Curriculum.

I’ve gotten to know Vinod, the author of the A+TutorSoft curriculum, through various conventions I’ve attended and upon hearing of my struggles with algebra, he was quick to offer me his Algebra 1 Full Curriculum CD in exchange for a review. So, in this post about algebra, I’d like to highlight the A+TutorSoft weapon in my arsenal.

Consider the joy of having your very own tutor at the ready whenever you or your child gets stumped on an algebra concept. That’s what you have with A+TutorSoft! Every algebra topic you can think of is taught clearly by a teacher’s voice while examples are “written” on a computerized chalkboard. Additionally:

Text of the teacher’s lesson is available for re-reading yourself.
You can rewind or fast forward the teacher’s lesson.
All concepts are introduced in a clear step-by-step fashion.
You get to work sample problems within the lesson to make sure you get it.
Immediate feedback is given whether answers are right or wrong.
You can print off practice pages for extra understanding on the topic.

The CD is very organized, too. You can easily locate a particular topic and go directly to the specific tutorial(s) you need. With A+TutorSoft, there’s been no need to pay a pricey real-life tutor! My daughter is tackling algebra with success this year – and I couldn’t be more relieved!

Because of the multiple choice nature of the computer-based practice problems, I would not feel comfortable using A+TutorSoft as a full curriculum. It certainly covers all necessary algebra 1 topics, but there wasn’t quite enough written accountability for me to consider using it as our sole text. Honestly, some people may disagree with me – and that’s okay. I encourage anyone who has used it to leave their thoughts about whether or not it should be used as a stand-alone.

When I spoke to Vinod about this stand-alone question, he responded:

Our curriculum is designed to be a full curriculum and hopefully the only resource homeschoolers will need. And that is the reason we provide printable worksheets and exams where student is required to show their work. And of course, because they are printable, a parent teacher would need to check student’s work using our “Worksheet Solution Guide” and “Exams Solutions Guide” (the parental manuals) which are also included with this MATH curriculum software.

You have automatically graded interactive quizzes for each lesson which provides instant feedback with step-by-step explanation for each problem if the student answers it incorrectly. And at the same time, if you need additional practice with problem solving, we provide printable worksheets and exams, which can be used in more traditional way. And as I mentioned, there is help (the solutions guide) for every problem on the worksheets and exams.

We explain step-by-step solutions to each worksheet and exam problem. And that’s what makes this such a great MATH curriculum product. Because of this reason and thoroughness of all the material that is covered, I would highly recommend that A+ TutorSoft MATH curriculum be used as a full curriculum. However, if parents want to supplement it, sure you can to that but we don’t believe that is really necessary.

Either way you decide, it’s truly a great resource – professionally done, full of meat and worthwhile!

Pin It

Nature Study Through the Holidays: A Mini Book of Nature Studies for Easter + Giveaway!

Bible, Charlotte Mason, Nature Study, Science, Unit study resources 20 Responses »

Feb 132012

“Let them once get in touch with Nature, and a habit it formed which will be a source of delight through life. We were all meant to be naturalists, each in his degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things.” – Charlotte Mason

My family and I were privileged to enjoy this Easter study last year. We plan to enjoy parts of it again this Easter.

You can focus on the Easter story over the course of a week, a month or longer – using this ebook study in the way that best suits your family. Authors Cindy West and Melissa Leach say, “Our hope is that you will read a selection from the Bible…then get outside to find sweet signs of the Author.”

Included are:

Bible references for the Easter story
Hymn list for the Easter season

Nature ideas/walks organized to compliment:

Palm Sunday
Sweet Fragrances
The Passover
Mount of Olives
Black Friday
Burial
Resurrection
Traditional Easter Studies

Within each section above, the following is included:

Suggested books to accompany the topic study.
Ideas and suggestions for nature study. (For example, while studying the mount of olives it is suggested you go on a hike over a hill. On a scavenger hunt based on the jelly bean prayer – you and your children spend time finding something in nature to represent all the colors mentioned in the prayer.)
A notebooking or sketching page to complete a follow up activity.

Bonus features:

Where to Study Nature: offering encouragement for those living in cities to find parks plus simple ‘get out in your own backyard’ motivation.
Gearing up and Being Safe: From using common sense and having a healthy fear to ‘leaves of three let them be’ and a list of suggested backpack gear.

As a teacher I found this Easter Nature Study through the holidays to be easy to reference and use right then. All the ideas were compiled for me in one spot. The notebooking pages – I only had to print out. All I needed to do was add some books – and for the children to catch my enthusiasm.

Easter Nature Study Through the Holidays is a mini unit study available for $5.00. Visit Shining Dawn Books to learn more about any of the full-length nature studies.
Nature Study Through the Holidays Easter Mini Unit is 32 pages with seven full-color notebooking pages.
You can view a sample of this ebook at Shining Dawn books here.

A seasonal unit study such as this is a refreshing change up in routine for us. This mini book of nature studies for Easter helped us hone our senses, prompted us to get outside – and opened our eyes to His love for us!

What better way to welcome the Easter season?

Now for the giveaway!! Cindy West, owner of Shining Dawn Books and review author here at The Curriculum Choice has kindly offered five (5) copies of her ebook to give away!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~Tricia has been homeschooling for over a decade. She faces a daily dose of chaos teaching five children. She contributes a blend of writing at parenting, frugal living and homeschool sites as well as her own daily Hodgepodge.

Pin It

Stack the States App Review

Apps, Elementary, Geography, High School, History & Geography, Middle School, Preschool 2 Responses »

Jan 302012

The iPad has become a teaching tool. Educational apps abound, with an amazing variety of subjects available. In the geography category, we have Stack the States by Dan Russell-Pinson.

Stack the States is both fun and educational; a game that uses some of the best mobile features – interaction and manipulation. While learning about the 50 states by answering questions about them, this app requires critical thinking skills as well. Your brainpower is tested in your ability to stack your states successfully.

Pin It

Your Backyard DVD: The Life and Journey of the Amazing Monarch Butterfly Review + Giveaway!

Nature Study, Science, Science & Technology, Unit study resources 18 Responses »

Jan 262012

“When I see the monarch butterfly I’m reminded that there is a God…There’s no way a monarch butterfly could happen by random chance.” ~ Jules H. Poirier, Creation Scientist

The Crowe family did yet another spectacular job in giving glory to our Creator with their newest DVD, Your Backyard: Life and Journey of the Amazing Monarch Butterfly. The Crowe children star in and lead us on a learning adventure. Our hosts:

Taylor, First Born Son, Backyard Scientist
Samuel, Second Born Son, Monarch Netter
Grace, Third Born Child, Monarch Spotter

Our impressions of the Monarch DVD include:

Pointing to the Creator: I was struck with the incredible detail of the monarch butterfly, the exquisite design. The beauty of the Creator’s plan. Just one example of His plan is the beautiful image, above, of the milkweed plant. Crowe’s Nest explains that the journey of the monarch coincides with spring and the emergence of milkweed.

“Are you ever simply amazed at God’s goodness? Down to the very last detail. Everything. So beautiful. So purposeful and so orderly.” ~Samuel Crowe

Seeking to learn from experts: What better way to learn than from those who have devoted their life’s work to learning all they can about the monarch butterfly? Taylor, Samuel and Grace visit with Destiny Phillips who teaches the Crowe children how to find monarch eggs in a field of milkweed and other nectar sources. Ms. Phillips also:

takes the Crowe children on a field trip to the nature center where she raises hundreds of butterflies.
shows viewers how to tag monarchs and participate in monarch watch via University of Kansas.
points out the differences in male and female monarchs.

The Crowe children also include the viewers on a visit with Mr. Poirier – a Creation Scientist, author and musician. From the Crowe’s Nest Media site: “87-year-young Mr. Poirier is such a delight! With a career that includes designing the radal pulse altimeter used in the Apollo 11 moon missions, Mr. Poirier’s fascination of the monarch’s incredible navigational ability led him to do extensive research, writing several books about the amazing monarch!”

Teaching with beautiful video: the quality of the filming is impressive. We stopped the time lapse of the life cycle several times because we were simply amazed at what we saw! “Would you like to see a magnified view of the butterfly emerging?” ~Samuel Crowe

Music that praises the Father: This is My Father’s World, other hymns and classical music play gently in the background.

Fun Facts: Animated Professor Solomon, the Owl, pops in for a visit throughout the DVD, sharing the wisdom of God’s design plus simply amazing facts about the monarch butterfly. He often uses his ‘Owlvision’ TV screen to teach.

Humor! We enjoyed the clever choice of sound effects throughout. Samuel’s description of his ‘famed’ monarch netting is fun – complete with slow motion.

A homeschool unit study! You can build an entire unit study around the Life and Journey of the Amazing Monarch Butterfly DVD – right in your own backyard! Watch the DVD several times to learn not only the life cycle of the butterfly but migration, all about the milkweed plant, raising butterflies, netting and more.

“God designed the monarch to have four distinct stages of life.” ~ Taylor Crowe

Inspiration: You might even be inspired to raise monarchs. You can learn how in the bonus features of the DVD. You may even wish to create an environment in your own backyard to welcome butterflies. A backyard butterfly haven!

See what all we learned and enjoyed? Just a sampling of what is included:

Time elapse of caterpillar hatching from egg
Experts showing how to find monarch eggs and caterpillars – which plants to search and how to look on the underneath of leaves
How to net and gently hold butterflies. Plus a fun instant replay of Samuel netting a monarch!
Differences and comparison between butterflies who mimic monarch butterflies
The complete life cycle of a butterfly
Tips for tagging with 1, 2, 3 steps

After watching the DVD, my children and I were excited. They asked if we could do a study of the life cycle of the butterfly again. My daughter found paper and pencil and sketched a butterfly right then!

Here are just a few reactions from my children while we enjoyed Your Backyard: DVD

“Oh my! That’s awesome!” ~ 14-year-old
“The butterfly’s heart reforms, Mama!” ~ nine-year-old
“Mama! It turned into a butterfly!” ~ four-year-old
We decided we’d like Crowe’s Nest Media shirts like the Crowe children wear in the DVD!

We then enjoyed the nearly 45 minutes of bonus features, including:

How to raise monarchs
Ordering tags
Mr. Jules Poirier’s testimony
Behind the scenes
About the bottom shelf
Professor Solomon’s quiz
Your Backyard Trailer
This is My Father’s World
Bloopers

In summary, I am grateful to Crowe’s Nest Media for finding, researching and pointing out how much there is to learn about the monarch butterfly. This God-honoring production left us excited to learn more, smiling at a family enjoying working together and teaching, and thankful to a God who designs the heavens and the earth.

Crowe’s Nest Media is a family venture. The Crowe family created, edited, animated, starred in and produced this DVD. They are offering more exciting details for you!

Crowe’s Nest Media is offering The Curriculum Choice readers, not only a giveaway of a DVD but a discount code when you order.

A companion, downloadable, study guide will be released. If you purchase the DVD now, you will receive a discount code for the study guide. (So you can easily enjoy that unit study!) The study guide will include the following: content review, discussion questions, fill- in-the-blank questions, true & false questions, diagrams to label, opportunities to draw, essay questions, copy work selections, copy work pages for various ages, coloring pages, and opportunities for further study. In addition, the study guide will provide note-booking pages for various levels so that children will be able to create a “monarch” keepsake notebook.
Please visit Crowe’s Nest Media for more details on the monarch DVD and just to simply enjoy their beautiful site!
Crowe’s Nest Media’s Monarch DVD was selected as a semi-finalist of the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival.
This monarch DVD is the second project by Crowe’s Nest media. Their first, Your Backyard: A Young Beginner’s Guide to Identifying 18 Common Feeder Birds by Sight and Sound is also reviewed here on our site.

Special Offer!! You can purchase Your Backyard: The Life and Journey of the Amazing Monarch DVD from Crowe’s Nest Media now for $19.95. Crowe’s Nest Media is offering Curriculum Choice readers a coupon code that will entitle you to the FREE DOWNLOAD of the study guide just as soon as it is complete. This coupon code will also give you $1 off your DVD purchase. The below coupon code is good until Friday, February 3rd:

Just use Coupon Code CurriculumChoice at check out.

Please note: I received this DVD and the giveaway copy in exchange for a review. I always give my honest opinion and love to share our family’s experiences when reviewing a product. I also will receive a small affiliate commission if you purchase the DVD using the coupon code listed above.

Won’t you join Taylor, Samuel and Grace on another learning adventure? We did! “Be encouraged by the amazing displays of our Creator…It’s an incredible journey of discovery, all right. And we’re especially glad you are coming along with us.”

Now for the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Curriculum Choice is joining in with these great blogs, listed below, in offering a giveaway of Your Backyard DVD. You will want to visit each site and enter for a chance to win a Crowe’s Nest Media Monarch DVD!

~Tricia faces a daily dose of chaos homeschooling five children. She contributes a blend of writing at parenting, frugal living and homeschool sites as well as her own daily Hodgepodge.

Pin It

My First Science Kit

Elementary, Preschool, Science No Responses »

Jan 252012

My five-year-old son received My 1St Science Kit – The Science of Color from his grandma and grandpa for Christmas. We were both excited but I had no idea it would be “the” source of motivation for school every single day for a week!

What was so motivating? The goodies my son found in the box. Hands down. Giant, plastic test tubes, pipettes, little plastic cups, a mixing tray, a (tiny) magnifying glass, color tints and growing crystals made him feel like a real scientist!

The kit includes enough materials for 10 experiments relating to color. Most experiments allow your child to observe the effects of mixing primary colors, while a few involve water-absorbing crystals. All the experiments are very elementary, but we’re talking about using them with children who are under 2nd grade, so they should be elementary. After so many engaging experiments about color mixing, my son has a very good grasp on primary and secondary colors.

Could I ditch the fun test tubes and do most of the experiments with materials found at home? Yes. But, I’m telling you, something about the kit turned my son from a mildly-interested-science-experiment-kid into Eli, Super Scientist Extraordinaire! Plus, the supplies can be used over and over again as long as you have some extra food coloring on hand.

Pin It

Daily Audio Bible App

Apps, Bible, Online, Technology No Responses »

Jan 022012

Some are already dressed for the day. Two at the kitchen table lean over cereal bowls. I carefully place the laptop on the counter, away from anything that could spill and out of reach of little hands.

I click over to Daily Audio Bible for Kids. This resource we first learned about from Ann Voskamp’s Everyday Learning Links: How to Feed a Brain Every Day. I find the online recording for today and announce I’m about to click it. I turn the laptop towards the table and turn the volume up as far as it goes.

China or Max read to us a passage from the Bible. Children themselves, reading to my children. I turn and quietly begin to unload the dishwasher, trying not to clang dishes so everyone can hear.

That’s the picture of the Daily Audio Bible listening from our house. On a regular sort of morning. The movie at top, DAB in 2 minutes, explains the how and the why of this resource. Even how easy it is to listen to podcasts wherever you are. You don’t have to be unloading the dishwasher. We’ve even clicked over to listen during lunch or right before bedtime.

But this year it is even easier. Not only is the Daily Audio Bible is a free podcast available online, it is also available for:

iPhone or iPad in the iTunes store for .99
Android in the Android Marketplace for .99

You can get the new app by searching for DAILY AUDIO BIBLE at iTunes or in the Android Marketplace. Or click over for more details on the Daily Audio Bible site.

We can listen to it in the car. We click it on my phone while we wait for sister during her piano lesson. We can turn it on while we do an art project.

Generally, we listen together to the Daily Audio Bible for Kids. But there are many versions available to fit every need. And now it’s even easier to read or listen to the Bible in a year.

Wherever we are. Whenever.

~Tricia faces a daily dose of chaos homeschooling five children. She contributes a blend of writing at parenting, frugal living and homeschool sites as well as her own daily Hodgepodge.

Pin It

Paths of Exploration

Charlotte Mason, History, Living books, Science 2 Responses »

Nov 072011

Have you ever pictured the perfect curriculum, and then searched high and low for it, only to come up with nothing? That was me, looking for a Bible-based, unit study approach curriculum that was Charlotte Mason friendly.

There are living book approach curricula out there, but I always look at them and feel SO overwhelmed! And then at long last, I finally found it! I had the pleasure of reviewing Paths of Exploration, the first book in the Trail Guide To Learning series by Geography Matters.

Written by homeschool veterans Debbie Strayer and Linda Fowler, not only does this curriculum use living books, but it tells you exactly which books you will need. The book list is not left up to my imagination, which can run wild.

The age range for this curriculum in grades 3-5. However, I am using it with my 7-year-old, who is in second grade, and she is doing well. I also have added the optional Middle School Supplement for my 6th and 8th grader.

We just finished up the first six-weeks, which were all about Columbus. The lessons didn’t get into the darker side (consider the age range) but we did discuss as a family some of the things we didn’t agree with as the study progressed.

What’s included-

Two, beautiful hardback books- filled with guided curriculum, including History, Geography, Science, Grammar, Reading, Art, Nature Study, and Spelling which cover an entire school year, with CD-ROM of different levels of student notebook pages.

What I love about Paths of Exploration-

There are extras that you can add-on for even more learning like lapbooks, Bible supplement, Middle School Supplement.
It is rooted in the education philosophies of Dr. Ruth Beechick.
POE marries nicely with Charlotte Mason.
Encourages engagement with dictation, discussion, and writing.
The kids love it. There have been no complaints about school with Paths of Exploration. They love the readings, enjoy the maps and activities, and clamor for the Nature Study. They even enjoy the copywork and dictation! And, they finally get regular art in each week.
The living books chosen as the base for this curriculum are wonderful. You even get to cook, using the cookbook, Eat Your Way Around the World, by Jamie Aramini.
I finally have a guide to incorporate Nature Study into our homeschool.
Geography Matters is a home-based company, located in Kentucky.
The cost- If you have a good library, you can spend as little as $150.00 {which is for the textbooks and CD-ROM}. You can also buy the Paths of Exploration curriculum, and all of the books you will need for the year for $375.00. That is for all subjects except Math, for an entire year. For me, I am using POE with 4 children this year, which is an amazing deal in my book.
This curriculum is non-consumable! The student pages are printed from the included CD-ROM, so everything else is reusable year after year. }

What I don’t love-

Nothing! This curriculum has been an answer to prayer!

Right now, there are two more titles in the Trail Guide To Learning series, covering American History, with three years of World History planned. The World History is going to be geared for grades 6,7, and 8.

You can also preview the other two years that are available, Paths of Settlement and Paths of Progress. Other helpful information, and families who are using the Trail Guide To Learning series, as well as an updated reading schedule can be found in the Yahoo Group.

If you are still looking for “the one”, I hope you will give this curriculum a try!

Science Is Simple

Elementary, Hands On, Nature Study, Preschool, Science 1 Response »

Oct 142011

Science is Simple

Why, yes it can be!

With two little ones – a Kindergartner and a toddler, science needs to STAY simple. Both of my girls are hands-on learners, so that makes science REALLY fun in our house!

Because my girls are young, and because I believe exploration and hands-on activities (especially science!) is best, Science Is Simple is a great book for us!

Written by Peggy Ashbrook and having won the Learning Magazine’s Teachers’ Choice Award, Science Is Simple divides its experiments into lessons.

What Kinds Of Lessons Will My Child Learn From This Book?

Of course, just like with any tools or curriculum, it really depends on how you present the material and their curiosity, but here are a few of the great “lessons” listed in the Table of Contents:

Magnets and Testing Hypotheses
Year-Round Gardening
What Do Seeds Need To Grow
Why Do Some Tree Leaves Change Color?
Stretch Your Senses on a Walk To A Nearby Park
Compost Critters
Spring-Flowering Bulbs…Are Planted In The Fall
Corn and an Introduction to the Globe
Winter Birds
What is Melting
What Can the Wind Do?

Why Is This Book Different From Other Science Textbooks?

Well, first off, it isn’t a textbook! Second, it’s written for Preschoolers and Kindergartners (although the activities can definitely be altered for older kids if you have siblings involved).

Science is Simple contains over 250 Activities and each Lesson is divided into different sections that give you tips for presenting the material to your child. And, if you struggle with what to say or the questions to ask, this book covers that too! Also included in each lesson is a section on other activity ideas and book ideas beyond the experiments to help supplement what they just learned.

Would I Recommend This Book?

Definitely! This is one of those resources that we’ll continue to use with all of our children. Whether you are a home-educator or you teach in a classroom, it’s great!

PS – Want to see one of our experiments from the book? Check out our mantis babies!

-Written by Ashley. Find more of Ashley’s writings and reflections on motherhood, marriage and life on her blog.

Visual Latin

Foreign Language, Grammar, High School, Middle School, Technology 3 Responses »

Oct 122011

Visual Latin | A Quick Explanation from Compass Cinema on Vimeo.

Warning. The free lessons you may download and watch will have you hooked. Watch them with your children only if you want to hear…

Laughter. Soon followed by, “Can we watch another?” Then after the second introductory lesson, “Can we watch just one more?”

“…better to make students laugh than yawn.” ~ visuallatin.com

Why should you study Latin? Well, not only “because your parents told you to…” but pause here to watch the short video, above, by founder, Dwane Thomas, for a few reasons why plus an overview of the Visual Latin program. Mr. Thomas has 15 years of experience teaching Latin. He and his wife homeschool their five children.

What we have experienced:

The short lessons are one of the keys to successful learning with Visual Latin, most lasting four to six minutes. “This is what I want you to focus on…”
It is interest sparking: “That’s where we get the English word…but we’ll talk more about that in future lessons.” Mr. Thomas asks questions and says he expects interaction from your students.

The sentences, vocabulary and examples are right where your child can see them – on the chalkboard or highlighted on the screen. The lessons start slowly and begin to move a little faster as your child gains confidence.
You can pause the lesson if you miss something. You can rewind, repeat.

There are accompanying, downloadable, printable worksheets for each lesson. The questions will have your children laughing too (as you can see from this photo I caught of my son, above, reading a sentence from his worksheet). Following each lesson, the instruction appears on the screen, “Now do worksheet 1B…”

What age is Visual Latin for? ” 9 and up. Kids need to be able to read, but other than that, elementary kids love it, middle school kids love it, high school kids love it, college kids… you get the point.” We enjoy Visual Latin at Hodgepodge with 8^th, 7^th and 4^th graders. However, I’m not surprised when the youngest two show up when they hear the Latin teacher.

Visual Latin is good for high school credit! Students can count their studies as a half credit if only watching the lessons. But why not get a full credit by completing the accompanying worksheets? Full details here.

The program is tech savvy and portable:

Available in DVD format
Downloadable. This means you and your child can view lessons on any computer – PC and Mac as well as mobile devices - iPod, iPhone and iPad. Visual Latin as you wait at brother’s practice? Sure! Or you can stream your download via Apple TV and watch it in your family room together – like we do.

Affordable, one time purchase for the whole family. Available:

in single/family license
as a group/class license

You may purchase the program in sets. Downloads for lessons 1-10, then 11-30 as well as DVDs. Visit the Compass Store for more information.

Latin I – 30 lessons
Latin II – 30 lessons

Equaling about one lesson a week. The line up for Latin 1 – Scope and Sequence – is available here.

All the details on purchasing, downloading, scope and sequence and many more FAQs for your browsing pleasure in All the Specs in One Place on the Visual Latin site.

In summary: Having been a Latin student in both high school and college myself, I know personally the long-term benefits of Latin language study. We have tried two other Latin programs in our home but neither clicked. However, as you see from the quotes at top, Visual Latin is here to stay in our home. It is easy to build a habit of watching the lessons. I so appreciate this short, fun way of learning Latin. But I’m not the only one that is a Visual Latin fan.

I don’t have to remind. They ask, “When can we do our Visual Latin lesson?”

Don’t leave without watching that video at top! Then click over for your four (4) free introductory lessons plus two (2) regular lessons :

Lesson A – Why Study Latin?
Lesson B – Latin Then and Now
Lesson C – How to Learn a Language
Lesson D – Stuff You Should Know About Latin
Lesson 1 – Being Verb Basics – To Be and Not to Be
Lesson 2 – Being Verb Basics – Predicate Nominatives and Adjectives

But don’t say I didn’t warn you!

~Tricia faces a daily dose of chaos homeschooling five children. She contributes a blend of writing at parenting, frugal living and homeschool sites as well as her own daily Hodgepodge.

Wonders of Old: Medieval Timeline App

History, Technology 3 Responses »

Aug 292011

I’ll admit that I’m very new to the world of apps. My son saved up his own money this past winter to purchase an iPod Touch. I had no idea how incredibly cool that little palm-sized piece of technology could be. When Terri Johnson of Knowledge Quest and App-School asked if I’d like to review her newest educational app, I was very excited!

The Wonders of Old: Medieval Timeline App is exactly what the name suggests: a timeline of Medieval historical events and people on a downloadable app for whatever device you own that utilizes apps – iPod Touch, iPad, iPhone, etc. It’s second of a four-part series of apps that cover Ancient history through modern times.

Quite simply, a timeline appears on your device which is “clickable” on each century from the 5th – 16th centuries. Upon clicking on a century icon, various important events and people are shown by date. Clicking on any of these lands you into a “page” of text and/or graphics and/or maps on the subject. Depending on the subject, there are one to four paragraphs of information to read.

Terri suggests the app for children 7 and older. The information is brief, but in-depth – if that makes sense – so your student needs to be a good reader. Our iPod Touch has a small screen, so we had a little trouble viewing the detail of most of the maps. Although we have the capability to magnify our images, doing so meant we had to “scroll around” to see the entire map. That’s not really the problem of the app, but instead the limitations of using an app such as this on a small screen.

This is a great little tool to add to the understanding of the Medieval era. My kids have had fun with it and I’ve enjoyed learning both the educational information and how to use apps to enhance our learning.

-Cindy West is an eclectically Charlotte Mason mom of three (high school, middle school, and K4) from Central KY. You can find her blogging at Our Journey Westward and find her NaturExplorers series and other creative curriculum at Shining Dawn Books.