March Nature Seekers 4 H Meeting

For our March meeting, my plans had to change a few times.  Our original plan was to do a bank tour, but it worked out that it would be better to wait and do that in the summer when we could go in the morning instead of trying to squeeze it in quickly before the bank closed.  With spring break in March and several other things going on, I ended up having to push back the meeting date a week and change my program plans.  So our meeting ended up in April instead of March.  I am going to try to get one more meeting in at the end of the month if it works out.

We went to the park and did an outdoor activity.  The idea was to pretend that you just landed on this planet and you were supposed to investigate the plant and animal life so you could describe the planet to someone else.  I found some bug catching kits at Dollar Tree and bought a few of those to catch and observe insects (with warnings to not try and catch anything that would sting!) I also brought some crayons and paper to do some leaf and bark rubbings when looking at plant life.  I thought about doing a nature collage but we have done that before and we have also done a nature scavenger hunt several times and did not want to do that again.  It was a pretty day, bright and sunny but a bit windy.

Our president did a great job presiding over the meeting.  Our vice president read the minutes for the last meeting and the treasurer gave the financial report.  Lily led the Pledge of Allegiance and Emmie led the 4 H Pledge.  Anthony made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Christian took some of the pictures. We had 8 members at this meeting.

The children were very into the bug collecting.  They caught ants. moths, beetles, ladybugs, flies, and Alex caught a bee (so much for not catching stinging bugs!) We walked the nature trail as we were looking for insects and at the plant life.  We saw some pretty birds along the way.

They were so into looking for bugs we did not talk about plants very much. We did collect some leaves at the end of the walk and did some leaf rubbings.  I did not get any photos of that.  We also talked about the different ways they would describe this part of our planet.

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Review: Once Upon a Time Holy Bible and Storybook Bible

Many children and families love reading and watching fairy tales.  Zonderkidz wanted to publish a Bible and Storybook Bible that would resonate with families who enjoy these types of movies and stories.  I was offered the Once Upon a Time Holy Bible and Once Upon a Time Storybook Bible for review purposes.

I have to admit when I first saw the email offering these Bibles for me to review I didn't think I would be interested in reviewing them. I have two little girls that adore princesses and fairy tales, but I try to emphasize when reading the Bible or teaching in Sunday School that the Bible is not a story and is not make believe and I was afraid with these new Bibles that might make it a bit confusing.  But, the idea of these Bibles is around the theme that every great story (whether real or make believe)  begins with Once Upon a Time but the Bible is not a fairy tale.  The Bible is the best Happily Ever After book ever and there are many real heroes and amazing things that happen in real life, nit just in storybooks.

Once Upon a Time Holy Bible is a hardcover Bible that uses the NIrV version of the Holy Bible. Inside you will find the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation.  The cover is beautiful and sparkly and very much appealed to my daughters. Within the text of the Bible are 6 condensed 4 page illustrated Bible stories: Adam and Eve, Isaac and Rebekah, Ruth, Queen Esther, A Visit from an Angel, and He Lives! These illustrations and colors are similar to the ones that are on the cover.  There is also a dictionary in the back of the book.

My 8 year old daughter claimed this as her own.  She loves the cover and the illustrations that are inside.  This is a very sweet Bible that any young girl would love to have. The Once Upon a Time Holy Bible are available wherever books are sold.

The Once Upon a Time Storybook Bible is a 144 page hardcover book.  It contains 18 stories from the Old Testament including: God Creates the World, Baby Moses, David and Goliath, The Fiery Furnace and more.  It also contains 15 stories from the New Testament including: Mary and the Angel, Jesus is Baptized, The Blind Man, He Lives, Jesus is Coming Back, and more.  Each story has beautiful illustrations, a Bible verse, the condensed story with a reference to where it can be found in the Bible, and a "Happily Ever After" section that tells a brief lesson learned from the story.  An example from the story of Jonah "God wants us to do the right thing.  Even if we get off track or run away like Jonah did, God will help us find our way to where we are meant to be."

My 6 year old daughter claimed this Bible for her own.  We love the illustrations and the story length is perfect for young children.  I love the Happily Ever After section after each story and the chosen verses.  This is one of the sweetest story book Bibles I have seen and can be used as a teaching tool to show young children the difference between a make believe and real story. The Once Upon a Time Storybook Bible is available at Sam's Club or wherever books are sold.


Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of these books for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review. I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.  I am disclosing this accordance to the FTC regulations.

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Homeschool Crew Review: Shepherd, Potter, Spy- -and the Star Namer

We do a lot of reading in our homeschool and we love to read a variety of different types of books. We were glad to have an opportunity to read and review Shepherd, Potter, Spy- - and the Star Namer by Peggy Consolver-Author.

Shepherd, Potter, Spy- - and the Star Namer is a historical fiction that takes place during Bible times starting right before the Hebrews enter into the Promised Land and ending on the day the sun stood still.  It tells the story mostly from the perspective of Keshub, a young boy living in Gibeon and his family. There are times during the book that the story is also told from inside the Hebrew camp.  At the beginning of the book, Keshub is just an ordinary 13 year shepherd boy wishing for the opportunity to seek adventure outside of his valley, but instead has to work for his father the potter. But soon, everything he knows begins to change. He befriends the son of the Amorite king and soon puts his family in danger to help him.  He also becomes a spy, watching the Hebrew movements in the Jordan Valley.  He catches a thief single handedly and then goes on a dangerous mission.  Keshub, his family, and their neighbors try to come up with a plan of what to do when the Hebrews arrive.

Shepherd, Potter, Spy -- and the Star Namer is a 375 page paperback book split up into 46 chapters.  At the end of the book is a letter from the author and discussion questions.  You can purchase the book for $10.14 (at the time of this writing.)  A study guide is also available for purchase for $12.99. You can view a sample of the study guide on this page.  We did not review the study guide, but if you look at the sample you will see that it contains links to find out more about some of the things discussed in the book such as Gezer Calendar and the Syrian Brown bear.  There are also discussion questions.

I have been reading this book aloud to my 10 and 11 year old boys, reading 1-2 chapters 4 days a week.  When the book arrived, it was longer then I expected it to be, and at the pace of 1-2 chapters a week I knew I would not be able to finish reading it aloud during the review period.  So I read ahead on my own in order to be able to write a review of the completed book.

Shepherd, Potter, Spy- - and the Star Namer discusses a time period in history we have never really studied before.  We have read the Bible account numerous times, but never put a lot of thought into what was going on in the region at that time or what the people in the area might have been thinking as they watched what was going on with the Hebrews.  The boys found the story interesting right from the beginning when Keshub kills a bear with some stones.  There is enough action and adventure to keep them interested in the story and they have found some of the cultural information interesting. 

The chapters are short enough to make it a good read aloud, just be prepared to be reading it for quite some time.  At times I felt like the book contained too many details that draws the story out much longer then necessary and it may cause children reading on their own to loose interest.  If I had to guess an ideal age range for students reading on their own, I would say 8th grade and above.  My younger children have loved this story, so plan on reading it aloud to younger children.

We have enjoyed reading about Keshub, his family, and his many adventures and learning more about this time period in history.

To see what my Crew Mates had to say, stop by the Crew Blog!

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Homeschool Crew Review: Memoria Press Illiad & Odyssey Complete Set

Memoria Press produces easy to use, classical, Christian materials for home and private schools. Memoria Press products require no previous knowledge of the subjects being taught but are designed with high academic standards. Over the last few months, we have been studying Greek history in our homeschool.  I have never had an opportunity to read the Iliad or the Odyssey, so I was excited to be chosen to review the Iliad & Odyssey Complete Set from Memoria Press.

The Iliad and The Odyssey are considered to be two of the greatest books of the ancient world. Written around 8 B.C. by Homer, these epics were very influential in Greek culture.  The Iliad was used as a textbook in ancient Greece and Rome and used as an authority in military tactics, ethics, and civic behavior. The Odyssey was a great adventure story and character study.  Both of these books influenced Western literature and art.

Memoria Press chose a translation of the books by Samuel Butler for their set because they believe his translation of the books are scholarly yet able to be read and understood by students.  Each of the sets of the Iliad and the Odyssey include the paperback book by Samuel Butler, a student guide, teacher guide, and DVD set.  The Iliad & Odyssey Complete Set can be purchased for $135 and is recommended for grades 7-12.

The Iliad by Homer and translated by Samuel Butler is a 447 page paper back divided into 24 books.  It starts with a preface by Samuel Butler and names and descriptions of the main characters of the story.  There are also black and white illustrations throughout the book. The Iliad begins in the 10th year of the Trojan War which was fought between the Greeks and the Trojans. The Iliad is about glory and conflict and the god's role in the Trojan War.

Iliad Text Sample

The Teacher Guide contains helpful information for teaching The Iliad.  In it you will find: information in using the Teacher Guide, Background and Drill information, discussion help, questions to mark for test, essays and assignments, and Teacher's Notes for each book along with the questions and answers from the student guide.  In the appendix you will find: genealogies, alternate names, characters names and descriptions, weaponry and armor description, ship terminology, and character reference.  The tests and test keys are also included in the teacher guide.

Teacher Guide Sample

The Student Guide is a consumable, paperback book.  You will need one for each student. The Student Guide contains comprehension questions, quotations, discussion questions, and a list of key characters and places from that book.  The appendix contains the same information as the Teacher Guide.

Student Sample

The DVD set contains 5 instructional DVDs.  They are taught by Sean Brooks who teaches classical studies and Latin at Highlands Latin school in Kentucky and composition courses for Memoria Press Online Academy. The DVDs start with an introduction of the Iliad and then have a section for each of the books.  After reading the book and working on the questions in the student guide, students watch the DVD where Mr. Brooks discusses what happened in that section.  The DVD lessons vary in length but are around 35-40 minutes long.

DVD Sample



The Odyssey by Homer and translated by Samuel Butler is a paperback 358 page book split up into 24 separate books. It also has a preface by Samuel Butler, black and white illustrations, and a list and description of main characters.  The Odyssey starts 20 years after the Greeks first sailed to Troy.  Odysseus has not yet returned home. The Odyssey tells the story of his journey.

Odyssey Text Sample

The Teacher Guide and Student Guide are set up just like The Iliad.  The student book is also consumable. The questions and answers can be found in the Teacher Guide along with background information, discussion help, teacher's help and the test questions and answers.  You will also find an appendix with helpful information.

Teacher Guide Sample

Student Guide Sample


The DVD set is also taught by Sean Brooks and contains 6 instructional DVDs.

View a sample.


I had never read The Iliad or The Odyssey, but during our study of Ancient Greece it was mentioned many times. My children are a bit under the suggested level for working through this book, so I decided I would go ahead and review this set myself so I can have an understanding of the books and be able to teach it to them in the future. I did purchase the recommended book on The Trojan War from Memoria Press for them to read. I have been working on completing 2 books a week, reading the text and working through the questions one day and viewing the DVD the next.  The course suggestion is to finish these books in around 18 weeks, but that is going at a rigorous pace. The pacing is flexible and can be adjusted according to your homeschool needs.

I started with The Iliad because it comes first but because we only have around 6 weeks to work on a review, I jumped ahead to read and view a few lessons in The Odyssey as well. I was very thankful for the Introduction lesson on the DVDs of each book.  It gave the background information and filled in the gaps giving me a greater understanding of the books before I started reading.

These are difficult books to just pick up and understand.  Many of the characters are referred to by different names at different places (not to mention they are difficult to pronounce!), there are a lot of characters to keep straight in your mind, and of course we have all of the different gods to remember as well.  But the materials provided by Memoria Press will make the reading and understanding of these epics much easier.

The Teacher Guide contains helpful background and drill information along with discussion questions.  The information in the appendix is also very helpful (there is also a character list and description in the front of the books) allowing you to quickly look up something or someone for a description or definition.  The questions and assignments in the student guide will help students to decipher and remember what they have read.

My favorite part of the course is the DVD set.  Listening to the DVD instruction adds an element of understanding that you will not get simply by reading the books.  The DVD set brings the expert teacher into your home and allows him to do the teaching for you. In each DVD segment Mr. Brooks does a recap and then discusses what has happened in the book you have just finished reading. He also discusses background information about some things that you may not know about, the symbolism that is found in the book, and the cultural references we may not understand.

Once again Memoria Press has exceeded my expectations. With the help of the Teacher Guide and the DVD Set I will have no trouble going through these books with my children when they are a little older.  I have enjoyed my study and look forward to completing both of these books.

Members of The Crew also reviewed the First Form Greek Complete Set and The Story of the Thirteen Colonies &the Great Republic Set and 200 Questions About American History Set.  To see what my Crew Mates had to say, stop by the Crew Blog!

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Homeschool Wrap Up Week 27

I am supposed to be working on a review (or 2) or folding some laundry, but instead I am writing this wrap up.  I will get back to the other stuff a little later....

Anyway we had a busy week! School, soccer, banquets, birthday, and appointments.  I'm not sure we got as much school done as I thought we would, but we accomplished a lot!

Week 27 in our Homeschool

P.E.: We did 2 days of Family Time Fitness and one day of yoga.

Bible: In Window on the World we read about Japan.  Our memory verse for this week was Matthew 22: 37b-38.  Our Bible reading was from Matthew 22: 15-46.

Read Aloud: We read 4 chapters in Gladys Aylward for our morning read aloud. In the afternoon we read 4 chapters of Shepherd, Potter, Spy, and the Star Namer.  In the evening we read several chapters of The Quest for Seven Castles.

Poetry: We continued working on Rebecca, Who Slammed Doors for Fun, and Perished Miserably, by Hilaire Belloc. This is a long poem and is going to take several weeks for us to memorize.

E.C.C: This week we started working on Japan.  We added Japan to our map and went over all of the countries we have learned so far.  We read about Japan in Children's Atlas of God's World and A Trip Around the World, and completed our John 3:16 page.  We also made some Origami Animals.  In the science portion we read about fish, the shoreline, and the depths of the ocean.  We also did a cold water experiment.

History: We completed one stop in passport Ancient Greece on the Greco Persian War.  We also watched two episodes of Drive Through History, The Gospels.

Art: We did an art project from ArtAchieve on the Swedish Dala Horse.

Language Arts: Lily completed 3 lessons in Eclectic Foundations B.  Anthony and Christian completed lessons 2-4 in Reader's in Residence.  One of their assignments was to create a front and back cover for a story of their own.  I love their creativity!

Spelling/Reading: Anthony and Christian completed steps 1 and 2 in  All About Spelling Level 4.  Lily completed lesson 21 in All About Reading Level 3. 

Math: I have discovered that one of the disadvantages to having a curriculum grade for you is when you have a child that gets stressed over their number grade. I really do not do grades until high school, so this is the first time he has had to deal with that.  I honestly do not care about what they score, I just want to make sure they understand the material. We can repeat a lesson as often as we need to so they understand. I had thought that Teaching Textbooks was going to be a great fit for him and now I am second guessing that decision.  Do we try it again next year or look for something else. Oh the agony of having to make tough curriculum choices!!

Alex completed 2 lessons in Teaching Textbooks 7.  Lily and Emmie completed 4 lessons in Math Lessons for a Living Education.  One of Lily's lessons was on graphing and I was glad to see that.  Many math programs do not teach it until the older grades but it is very understandable at younger ages too.  Anthony and Christian completed 3 lessons in MLFLE. Nick completed lesson 26 in Math U See Geometry.

Nature Study: Maybe next week?

Digital Savvy: The boys completed chapter 3.

MFW Creation from A to Z: Emmie continued the unit on "K" for Kangaroo.  She did a math page, blend ladder page, cut and paste page, and made her kangaroo badge.

AAH and God's Design in Nature: Nick finished All American History Vol II. I am going to give him a test on it this week and then he will be done with history for the year.  He has a few books to finish up to go along with this. Right now he is working on The Red Badge of Courage. In science he has stopped following the schedule and is reading ahead and then going back and finishing the activities.

Other Activities this Week:

Monday they cancelled soccer games because we had a lot of rain on Sunday.

Tuesday we had gymnastics and then ate at the park.  Nick went on over to church for youth (our church is across the street from the park.)

Tuesday's soccer games were chaos.  There apparently was a lot of confusion when Mondays games were cancelled and postponed to Friday.  Some people thought that meant that all games were cancelled for the week until Friday, but they weren't.  So Alex's team was supposed to play at 6, but at 6 we only had 6 kids and no coach.  The other team was all there. The other coach was ok with playing 6 on 6 ( you are supposed to play 8) so I coached the first half of the game with the help of another parent.  In the mean time we got ahold of the coach and he got there by half time.

Christian was supposed to play at 7.  No coach.  Only 3 kids from his team.  The other team was all there.  So we had to forfeit the game (it counted as a loss) but the kids wanted to play so we borrowed some kids from another team and a coach.  Finally got ahold of our coach who made it there by half time.

Wednesday we had Kid's Club and Anthony had Confirmation.

Christian planted this acorn in the stones on the playground and it grew!

Thursday Chelsea had a doctor appointment and Christian and Alex both played at 6. 

Friday we did our shopping and errands in the morning and then the 4 H Achievement Banquet was Friday night.

Saturday was Christian's birthday.  We went to the movies and did some shopping while we were in the big city.  We ate pizza and had cake.  Christian is such a sweet and thankful boy and he said he had a wonderful birthday.

Sunday Sunday School, Church, and VBS meeting, then youth for Nick and Alex later on in the day.

I hope you had a great week!

Happy Homeschooling!

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