Greenleaf Guide to Old Testament History

 Bible, Charlotte Mason, Classical, Elementary, History, Literature, Uncategorized, Writing  4 Responses »
Jun 252010
 

Years ago, when we first started homeschooling, another veteran homeschooler recommended that I take a look at “the Greenleaf history guides” from Greenleaf Press, and I am so glad that she did, and I did! I ended up buying a few of them and have had no regrets whatsoever! They have turned out to be a perfect fit for us in many regards, at different seasons in our homeschool journey, but today I’d like share with you specifically regarding The Greenleaf Guide to Old Testament History by Rob and Cyndy Shearer, “History for the thoughtful child.”.

The Greenleaf Guide to Old Testament History: History for the thoughtful child.

When our older kiddoes were younger we had a few favorite Bible and devotional-type story books that we read aloud from to them regularly for the majority of our “Bible time”. However, once we started reading aloud straight from the Scriptures, this guide offered us a helpful tool for making that transition easier and more thoughtful.

Therefore, let the minds of young children be well stored with the beautiful narratives of the Old Testament and of the gospels; but, in order that these stories may be always fresh and delightful to them, care must be taken lest Bible teaching stale upon their minds.
(Charlotte Mason, Vol. 1, Home Education, Part V– Lessons As Instruments Of Education, p. 251)

The Shearers have basically taken the Scriptures, from Genesis through Nehemiah (though they left out Leviticus- which we cover with different resources anyways, and may be a bit laborious for younger students), and broken them down into 196 readings, each from a chapter to two chapters long.

To see a complete listing of how the Bible chapters are broken down, as well as a few examples of what each reading/lesson looks like, click here on this link to see it over at cbd.com and you’ll see some links there to view pdf samples.

One of our favorite aspects of this guide has been the open-ended discussion questions included with each reading. A few years ago, as we used it along-side of our family’s Bible read-aloud time, we used these questions as oral narration prompts. However, as our children are now cycling back through these Old Testament readings again, our son has been using these discussion questions as writing prompts for his own private Bible journal time.

There is some brief commentary and helpful “background information” included where necessary, a graphical timeline of Ancient History, along with references to Bible maps, as well as some brief teaching suggestions mentioned here and there. Overall, this guide provides a wonderfully simple to use, comprehensive study of Ancient Israel’s history, using the best historical document we have, the Bible itself.

There are a few recommended books to go along with this study of Ancient Israel, which though they are not necessary, we have found helpful. This book is just what it claims to be, a simple guide to take you and your children through the Old Testament at a nice, comfortable pace. However, we’ve often broken a lesson into two separate readings. The Shearers recommend that you use their Guide to Ancient Egypt (which we’ve also used and appreciate) alongside of this guide for a more involved, complete ancient Bible history program.

Note: The two primary aspects of this guide that I most appreciated, those being its simplicity to use (as in no projects nor preparation necessary) and open-ended (as in no “answers” provided) discussion questions, are the very aspects that caused a friend of mine to not like it, nor use it.

I am reminded of the wise words of Charlotte Mason in this regard, with which I do concur:

We are probably quite incapable of measuring the religious receptivity of children. Nevertheless, their fitness to apprehend the deep things of God is a fact with which we are called to ‘deal prudently,’ and to deal reverently.
(Charlotte Mason, Vol. 1, Home Education, Part V– Lessons As Instruments Of Education, p. 248)

I have found that our children do a good job of thinking through the Scriptures’ ramifications and implications as they read them for themselves, and have personally appreciated their not being told what to think as they read the Word for themselves, especially during their private devotional reading times in the mornings. When they do have questions beyond me (and as they’re getting older, they DO!) we now find ourselves turning to meatier commentaries and texts together anyways, so this guide has been perfectly adequate for our usage!

The price is nice too, especially for all of the use we’ve gotten out of it over the years!

Written by Beth Brewer, a Charlotte Mason inspired, Spirit-led, relaxed-eclectic homeschooling Mama of 3. She’s also an author at The Homeschool Post and blogs her photos, musings, hopes, fears, faith and falterings as she lives, loves and learns with her family at the brew*crew adventure.

Making Charlotte Mason Simple

 Charlotte Mason, Elementary, High School, New to Homeschooling, Philosophies, Preschool, Uncategorized  3 Responses »
Jun 142010
 

What a wonderful experience I have had the last few months!  I received the All-Day Charlotte Mason Seminar on DVD, seminar workbook, and the Laying Down the Rails book and Workshop on DVD from Simply Charlotte Mason to review.  If you have never been over to visit Simply Charlotte Mason, I highly recommend you take a look.  They offer free curriculum guides, free ebooks, and many materials for purchase as well.  They truly help make Charlotte Mason’s homeschool ideas simple.  Their blog is one that always inspires me.

I began by watching the 3 DVDs for the All-Day Charlotte Mason Seminar and taking notes through the accompanying workbook.  I did this over the course of several evenings while my children were falling asleep in their beds, which allowed me some quiet to focus.

Session 1 (34 minutes) introduced me to Charlotte Mason, who she was, when she lived, and her ideas about education.  It was neat to get to know her this way.  I had tried to read her books in the past, but just could not get through them.  It took too much brain power at a time when I was trying to just keep up with my young children and get sleep.

Session 2 (78 minutes) and 3 (71 minutes)held my hand as we went through each subject applying Charlotte Mason’s methods.  Here is where I had many, many ah-ha moments. Short lessons, living books, and narration – these things made sense and could easily be integrated in our unit study family.  I appreciated that I was not expected to add everything in at once.  The appendix explained a doable plan for making the transition to a Charlotte Mason approach a step at a time.  Here is a short clip from the workshop about using narration.

Are we now becoming a Charlotte Mason family? Yes and no.  (grin)  I think narrowly defining any homeschooling family by one method is usually inaccurate.  We prefer to pick and choose the pieces that work for our family.  I have discovered that many of the Charlotte Mason pieces fit our family!  We have already begun to incorporate the following:

  • living books
  • narration
  • scripture memorization

We have plans to incorporate these ideas over the next year:

  • map drill
  • picture study
  • music study

Now let me tell you a little bit about the  Laying Down the Rails book and DVD Workshop that came as part of this set.  I watched the DVD first (45 minutes), using the workbook section for it from the All-Day Charlotte Mason Seminar as I went.  I love Charlotte’s idea that good habits are like railroad tracks, they smooth life out because a child is not having to make the same decisions over and over and over.  I know that is true, even in my own life.  Habits help me to accomplish many of the routine things in my day without the extra effort of decision-making.

Sonya, the workshop presenter, is funny and helpful as she leads you through many of the habits a child can learn.  While there is an extensive list, she emphasizes to start with one habit, and not to add another until the first is truly habit.  It was really helpful to watch the DVD with my husband. He was not up for reading the book, all 230+ pages, but the workshop got us both on the same mental page easily.  He was as excited about habit training as I was.  You can watch a short clip from the DVD right here.

I next spent nearly a month reading and pondering the Laying Down the Rails book.  What a treasure!  It contains Charlotte’s words on each habit gathered into one place, prefaced by a concise definition of the habit and a story that shows how the habit is important.  There are entire chapters on ‘repairing the rails’ – breaking the bad habits we already have, including chapters on some specific problems like dawdling, temper tantrums, and lying.  See a sample from the book HERE.

Where are we now? Well, habit training is a process, and I will be honest that the first person who has to acquire the new habit is me.  However, we are working on our habits slowly and steadily, and I find a lot of support and encouragement when I read through Laying Down the Rails.

Would I buy these products? Yes!  That is an unequivocal yes.  The entire set can be purchased HERE for $54.95.  That includes 3 All-Day Charlotte Mason Seminar DVDs, the Session workbook, 1 Laying Down the Rails workshop DVD, and a print copy of the Laying Down the Rails book.  I love having the All-Day Charlotte Mason Seminar on DVD, a shot of motivation that I can turn on whenever I need a boost.  Homeschooling is a process, and the experience is different with each child.  Having Charlotte Mason’s ideas broken down into manageable tasks gives me easy action plans to try when we need something adjusted.  Laying Down the Rails is a treasure trove of ideas for habit training.  Time will pass and our children will acquire habits.  The question is what habits will they develop – ones we have carefully helped them build or contrary habits that we lazily let develop?

Written by Tristan, mom to 5 going on 6 children, homeschooling through unit studies with a side of lapbooks.  You can visit her at her blog, Our Busy Homeschool.

{Disclaimer: I received these products free from Simply Charlotte Mason to enable this review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions presented herein are my own.}

Masterpiece of the Month

 Uncategorized  2 Responses »
Jun 112010
 

Masterpiece of the Month is an art curriculum for grades K through 5. Each lesson features a famous masterpiece that students will reproduce while learning a new skill or technique. Some of the masterpieces include “Sunflowers” by Van Gogh, “Mona Lisa” by daVinci, and “Artist’s Mother” by James Whistler. This book is very user-friendly, even to someone a bit intimidated by teaching art. I’ve used this curriculum for two years, choosing artists to study based on these lessons.

Pros:

  • Masterpiece if the Month is easy for a non-artist to teach and use. There are clear objectives and directions for each art lesson.
  • In general, the lessons don’t require too many complicated art supplies. Paint, crayons, markers, and paper, along with some common household items are pretty all you’ll need. A few lessons do call for more specialized items such as oil pastels and printing ink.
  • A scope and sequence chart in the front of the book clearly shows what concepts and skills are being taught.
  • Since each lesson is based on a well-known artist’s work of art, it is a natural step to extend the lesson into an artist study, looking at other works by the same artist.
  • This book is comprehensive. It could be the only art curriculum you need to teach art in the elementary years, since it begins with kindergarten and goes through 5th grade.

Cons:

  • There are no pictures of the original art in the book. There are examples of what each reproduction might look like, but often there are creative liberties taken (as well there should be) making it difficult to identify the original masterpiece. It’s not difficult to find the image online, but it would be much more convenient to see the masterpiece in the book.
  • There is some repetition of artists, so if you used these lessons as a basis for an artist study, you would find yourself studying some artists repeatedly. Although looking at Van Gogh’s work repeatedly can’t really be a bad thing, can it?
  • Vocabulary is given for each lesson, but as someone without an art background I find it difficult to explain mood or value to a first grader. A glossary would be a helpful resource in this book.

Using Masterpiece of the Month is a great way to include both art appreciation and hands-on art experiences in your day.

Written by Beth Belinder.  You can find her blogging at Apples and Jammies.

 Posted by at 7:01 am

Senior High: A Home Designed Form+U+La

 Uncategorized  9 Responses »
Jun 082010
 

It was the year before my oldest began high school at home and I was in severe panic mode.  Was it possible to continue with our relaxed, teach-our-children-how-to-learn philosophy, or were we stuck with creating a school like atmosphere for the next four years?

Enter Senior High: A Home Designed Form+U+La.  Ignoring the many (many!) forms and trying not be intimidated at the 428 pages, I dug in to the meat of the book, the heart-to-heart chat between Barb and her reader.  Her informal, sometimes scattered, presentation was refreshing to me.  I truly felt as though I were sitting over coffee with the author, as she shared her passion for Spirit-led, joyful home schooling.  Highlighting madly, and stopping frequently to pray, I knew I had found a kindred spirit who understood both the why’s and the how’s of home schooling high school.

We now have two home school graduates (with five more to go) and I have read this book twice.  It’s the book I recommend most to fellow homeschoolers and so I knew it had to be my first review for The Curriculum Choice.

Barb Shelton’s first priority is that we seek the Lord for what He wants for our children.  This book is not just a How-To manual, but a devotional that speaks to your soul.  She challenges us to not stress and strive after the world’s standards but to seek God’s.  I re-read this book, and plan to read it again soon, as I find I frequently need this reminder.

Once we decide what is best for our family and our individual students, she shows us how to transfer this into courses, creating credits and transcripts, documenting both traditional and non-traditional classes.  This was exactly what I needed!  While we do have several more traditional courses, this gave me the confidence and know how to put together my own courses, to document independent learning, to complete transcripts and issue diplomas.   The book is jam packed with forms she has created and permission is granted to copy what you need for your household.  I didn’t find that I used a lot of the forms but I did learn a lot from simply reading how she had structured and documented her student’s learning.

The philosophy, encouragement and documentation how-to were the highlights for me, but this is a jam-packed book, containing more than I can cover in one review.  Sections include:

  • Jumpstart Plan
  • Out of Fear and Into Freedom
  • Requirements, College, Promotion and Graduation
  • Record Keeping System
  • Potpourri of Curriculum Supplements
  • Grading Guidelines and Portfolios
  • Personalizing All This Stuff
  • Formulating Your Framework
  • Designing Your Classes
  • Organizing Your Materials
  • Completed Class Plans
  • Lifestyle of Learning Applications
  • Resources, Reviews, and Glossary

If you get that panicky feeling whenever the thought of home schooling high school strikes you, I’d highly recommend this book.  The author’s website, Homeschool Oasis , also contains many helpful articles to encourage you in your home school high school adventure.

-Lori is a highly caffeinated home schooling mom of seven.  She can be found rambling and reviewing at Hearthside Homeschool Reviews…and More.

 Posted by at 6:09 am

Take-Along Nature Guides

 Charlotte Mason, Uncategorized  2 Responses »
Jun 072010
 

Although we are not a homeschool family that schools through the whole year, nature study is something we do as a family no matter what time of year it is.  As I type, I’m looking at a whole basket of pinecones collected by my sweet, little, pre-pre-schooler, Sophia; my boys are carefully observing a little frog they caught; and to my left is a tiny tadpole we’re attempting to raise.

No, nature study is not something we take a break from during the summer.  So naturally, I’m always looking for appealing books to help us out in our nature study to help spark my kids’ interest in all things outdoors.  When I found my first “Take-Along Guide” at a used book store, I was interested so I purchased it.  But it was later when I began really reading it that I became really interested.

These books are so perfect for any part of nature you are studying.  They are available in almost any subject you can think of.

Such as:

  • Birds, Nests, and Eggs
  • Berries, Nuts and Seeds
  • Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies
  • Frogs, Toads, and Turtles
  • Rabbits, Squirrels and Chipmunks
  • Tracks, Scats and Signs
  • and More!

Although each book is a little different, here’s why I love them so much:

  • Series available in pretty much every subject you’d want
  • Each page is laid out very nicely with great illustrations and just enough text to keep an elementary student’s attention
  • Very informative facts on all subject matter
  • Each book includes several fun and simple projects
  • Small enough to take with you on nature walks
  • Great tips for nature walks throughout the books

I would recommend reading through your Take-Along Guide before taking off on your nature walk.  Then you can put it in your bag and bring with you on your walk  and use it to identify things as you go.
I highly recommend these books for all elementary students.  They are terrific for inspiring you in your nature study!

Games for Writing: Playful Ways to Help Your Child Learn to Write

 Elementary, Hands On, Handwriting, Language Arts, Uncategorized, Vocabulary, Writing  1 Response »
May 252010
 

Do have a child who is a reluctant writer, one who has an allergy to writing instruments, or who fills your house with moans and groans when it’s time to put pencil to paper? Whether you do or not, Games for Writing by Peggy Kaye is sure to make writing a fun subject for all of your children – and for you too!

The book contains fifty-two games designed for ages ranging from kindergarten through third grade, and is divided into five sections:

  • Part One: Just for Starters – These activities are designed to ease kindergarteners and first-graders into writing, helping them to learn pencil control, letter formation, and how to tell a well-organized tale.
  • Part Two: Stress Busters – These are silly activities that help children get over writer’s block, choose a suitable topic, and get words down on paper. These are quick games and will probably have your child giggling before they’re finished.
  • Part Three: Bugaboos – Spelling, Handwriting, and Grammar – The section title pretty much says it all.
  • Part Four: Writing with Style - These games will help children create unusual characters, develop an understanding of story structure, and learn to choose the right words to express their ideas.
  • Part Five: Made with Pride – These are longer writing projects that can take anywhere from a half-hour to several sessions of work to complete.

What I like about this book:

  • This is a “grab it and use it” kind of book. The games do not require many supplies or much preparation. Many just require pencil, paper, and a few minutes to sit down and have fun with your child.
  • The games are fun and motivating. (The ones I’ve played with my children have had them asking for more.)
  • The activities provide a great opportunity for some enjoyable parent/child interaction – not just another boring writing lesson.
  • The author includes entertaining stories of how she has used each specific game with her own students. This makes for an interesting and informative read that shows you how to practically apply the games with your children.
  • In the introduction Ms. Kaye shares insights she has gained from her experience as a reading and math teacher and tutor over the last twenty-five years. I have found her ideas to be extremely helpful in my own teaching.

What I don’t like:

  • Every now and then a game features witches or monsters, which may or may not be a problem for you. I’ve found that these games can be easily adapted by using characters that are more to my family’s liking and interest.

Games for Writing is available in many public libraries and can be purchased from most online booksellers. You can visit Peggy Kaye’s website to view samples of the games from this book and others she has written.

I hope that you’re able to try some of these games and that they will inject some fun and pizzaz into your writing program!

Written by Shannon, who blogs about her family’s homeschool adventures at Song of My Heart.

The Human Body by Seymour Simon

 Charlotte Mason, Elementary, Living books, Science, Uncategorized, Unit study resources  2 Responses »
May 102010
 

Prolific children’s non-fiction author, Seymour Simon has teamed with HarperCollins Publishers and the Smithsonian Institution to produce a series of books about the natural world.  Tucked into the prolific and still-growing library of scientific information produced by Simon and the Smithsonian is a sub-series about the human body.  The books in the human body series provide a treat for the eyes and a feast for the brain.

At present there are eight books in the series.

●The Human Body

●Eyes and Ears

●The Brain:  Our Nervous System

●The Lungs:  Your Respiratory System

●The Heart:  Our Circulatory System

●Guts:  Our Digestive System

●Bones:  Our Skeletal System

●Muscles:  Our Muscular System

The Human Body,  provides an overview of the twelve major body systems.

It discusses the following topics:

●cells

●the integumentary system (skin, hair, and bones)

●the skeletal system

●the muscular system

●the circulatory system and blood

●the respiratory system

●the digestive system

●the nervous system

●the immune and lymphatic systems

●the urinary and excretory systems

●the endocrine system

●the reproductive system

●the five senses

The remaining books discuss the body system of their title using correct anatomical terms, detailed descriptions of body processes, and a depth of information that is accessible to elementary-age students but applicable for older students.  The books make use of technological advances in the medical field by incorporating computer-colored x-rays, MRI scans, and incredible inside photos of the body, along with applicable diagrams.

The impressive, real-life illustrations combine with a detailed, systematic approach to the human body’s inner workings to produce a useful product that is a delight to peruse.

I chose these books as the spine for our human body study.  I could not be more pleased with them.  They were easily found at the library, detailed enough to provide food for thought for my children, and used the correct terms for body parts and processes.  Since my kids are lower elementary and preschool-age, there were a couple of times that I skipped a page or two that contained more detail than we needed.  In those cases, we checked out the pictures and continued on to the next subject.

My children learned a lot about how our bodies work, and enjoyed learning what we look like on the inside.  Personally, I found the books to be fascinating.  Each volume contributed to our understanding of the human body.  My children were especially delighted with the book about the digestive system, Guts, as it let them in on all of the nitty gritty details of how the body extracts the good stuff from food and then passes the rest out of the body.  Ask my six-year old about passing gas.  She will fill you in on the how and why.  She will also giggle with abandon.

Keep these in mind when you study the human body.  They provide scientific information without sucking all of the fun out of it!

Most days find Susan on the couch reading to her children, in the floor “playing” math, and generally in the middle of a good-sized mess.  A love for the Lord, a love for her little ones, and a love of learning have led Susan and that  wonderful man she married to an educational philosophy that is Well-Trained Mind-inspired classical and Charlotte Mason, with a touch of the traditional. 

Garden Projects

 Hands On, Living books, Uncategorized, Unit study resources  1 Response »
May 062010
 
When this time of year rolls around, there’s one thing my kids ask for more than anything…”When are we going to plant our garden, Mom?”  I have to admit, I’m just as excited to get my hands dirty as they are.  There’s something about sticking a tiny plant or seed into the dirt and a couple months later, enjoying the  best salad or handful of strawberries ever!

I decided to end out our school year with a unit on plants.  I thought we could make our little garden into an even more educational experience this year by learning more about what’s going on underneath that dirt.  We’ll take the next couple of weeks to learn about seeds, the parts of plants, and what they need to thrive.  Then when it’s warm enough, we’ll put our knowledge to work and plant (hopefully) our best garden yet!  If you are planning on doing a unit on plants, I found a great post over at The Homeschool Classroom.  Melissa posts her lesson plan in detail, giving great ideas on projects and resources.

Over the years I’ve come across many great books on gardening with kids but I wanted to share with you two of them that I love.

{Roots, Shoots, Buckets, and Boots}

This book by gardening guru, Sharon Lovejoy, is a great addition to your library!  Besides the her beautiful illustrations, Sharon gives numerous project ideas, tips, and lists for the rookie or advanced gardener.  Some of her projects include:

  • The Pizza Garden
  • Buckets, Boxes, & Boots: Container Gardens
  • Moon-Garden
  • Snacking & Sipping Garden

One of my favorites is her idea for a Pizza Garden.  In the book, she shows how to plant this type of garden in a circular shape and section it off with rocks or pavers so it looks like a sliced pizza.  Each section includes vegetables that you’d find on a pizza, such as:

  • Tomatoes
  • Eggplant
  • Bell Peppers
  • Oregano
  • Basil
  • Onions

She gives tons of great tips for gardening with kids, like all the tools you’ll need and a list of the Top 20 Plants for Kids.  The thing I love most about Sharon Lovejoy is her absolute love for nature.  Her love exudes from the pages of this book and it makes you want to spend more time outside.   I’m totally in love with this book!  If you’re looking for supplements to add to your plant units this Spring or just want a great book, I totally recommend it.

{Gardening with Kids}

This great gardening book written by Catherine Woram & Marlyn Cox is also a terrific addition to any mom’s library.  This book includes over 30 projects you can do with your kids.  Everything from growing cactus planters to playing games with water.  Again, the introduction includes tips on equipment, maintaining a garden, and everything else you need to know.  Gardening with Kids has a lot of information about the plants themselves and how choose the best ones for your climate.  They provide lists of what to grow and what you should avoid.

There are 35 projects in this book to be exact, and we’ve completed many of them.
Here’s an idea of the projects you’ll find when you check out Gardening with Kids:

  • Herb Garden
  • Butterfly Baskets
  • Crystallizing Pansies
  • Terrarium in a Jar
  • Pressing Flowers
  • Nesting Box
  • Flower Chains

  • Burlap Tote Bag

    Again, I highly recommend both of these fabulous books.  I can say that both of them provide hours of fun for you and your kids…now go get your hands dirty!

Alicia can be found either blogging at La Famille or out in her garden :)

Back to Basics: How to Learn and Enjoy Traditional American Skills

 Hands On, Living books, Uncategorized, Unit study resources  5 Responses »
Apr 282010
 

Have you ever read to your children a book that explains an old fashioned way of doing things?

Maybe a book about a family that makes their own maple syrup, goats milk cheese, raises cows or sews quilts?

Have you ever wanted a resource book that will help you learn more about living a simple life?

Maybe you want to grow organic tomatoes or make bread without preservatives?

Back to Basics is a practical book I’ve used over and over again in our unit studies to help my children and I

experience and learn about skills and handicrafts our grand parents practiced.

I used Back to Basics with our February read aloud Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen.

On pages 242 –243 in Back to Basics, we learned about how three maple trees, the Sugar Maple, the Black Maple and the

Norway Maple tree produce the most syrup. We also read about the tools and techniques for tapping and how to turn sap into syrup.

Did you know goats milk makes a mild cheese and can develop an ammonia taste if stored to long?

Or that mozzarella cheese is made from the milk of the water buffalo?

Learn about how to make cream cheese, build a simple cheese press and make cheddar cheese on pp. 236-237.

Reader’s Digest Back to Basics How to Learn and Enjoy Traditional American Skills is

published by The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc., Pleasantville, New York /Montreal.

It’s 450 pages and is divided into six parts.

Part One Land: Buying It- Building on It includes:

  • Buying Country Property
  • Planning Your Home
  • Preparing the Site
  • Converting Trees Into Lumber
  • Building a Log Cabin
  • Building with Adobe
  • Building a Stone House
  • Raising a Barn
  • Developing a Water Supply
  • Saunas and Hot Tubs
  • Sanitation
  • Fireplace Construction and Design
  • Stone Walls and Brick Pavements
  • Fences

Part Two: Energy From Wood, Water, Wind and Sun includes:

  • Making Your House Energy Efficient
  • Wood as a fuel
  • Heating With Wood
  • Water Power
  • Wind Power
  • Solar Energy
  • Other Energy Sources

Part Three: Raising Your Own Vegetables, Fruit, And Livestock includes:

  • The Kitchen Garden
  • Gardening in Limited Space
  • Herb Gardens
  • Fruits and Nuts
  • Pest Control
  • Grains and Grasses
  • Beekeeping
  • Fish Farming
  • Raising Livestock

Part Four: Enjoying Your Harvest The Year Round includes:

  • Preserving Produce
  • Preserving Meat and Fish
  • Making Your Own Dairy Products
  • Maple Sugaring
  • Homemade Beverages
  • Baking Bread
  • Regional Cooking
  • Cooking With Wood

Part Five: Skills and Crafts for House and Homestead includes:

  • Natural Dyes
  • Spinning
  • Weaving
  • Hooked Rugs
  • Braided Rugs
  • Patchwork Quilting
  • Rope and Twine
  • Tanning and Leatherwork
  • Woodworking
  • Broom making
  • Scrimshaw
  • Household Recipes
  • Metalworking
  • Stenciling
  • Flower Drying and Pressed Flowers
  • Gourd Craft
  • Soap making
  • Candle making
  • Basketry

Part Six: Recreation at Home And in the Wild includes:

  • Old-time Good Times
  • Crafting a Mountain Dulcimer
  • Celebrating Holidays
  • Canoeing And Kayaking
  • Wilderness Camping
  • Outdoors in Winter
  • Fishing
  • Living With Nature

Also included is a Appendix that lists organized Assistance: The Extension Services and Other Groups and an Index.

I thought you would enjoy seeing the quilt pages from Back to Basics.

And these are the quilt blocks my nine year old daughter made.

Back to Basics can be purchased from a bookstore or borrowed from the library.

Winners of the Spring Cleaning give-away

 Uncategorized  3 Responses »
Mar 232010
 

We had a great turn out for the blog hop.  Thank you to everyone that participated in the Spring Cleaning give-away here on Curriculum Choice and on your own blogs as well.

The winners for our give-away are:

  1. Rebecca (comment #5) won the Trivium Mastery book.
  2. Jennie (comment #33) won the Brain curriculum by Ellen McHenry.
  3. Kim (comment #22) won The Elements by Ellen McHenry.
  4. Alexis (comment #2) won the Latin Road to English.

We used random.org to select the winners.

 Posted by at 11:01 am
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