Skip to main content

Wednesday’s Around the World ~ The Pledge of Allegiance

Wednesday’s Around the World ~ The Pledge of Allegiance

So, I am behind in posting Wednesday’s Around the World.  The last couple of weeks have been a little stressed in our area.  We live in Colorado and are very near all the flooding areas.  We were blessed to not have been directly affected by the rain and the flooding.  My husband and son had to take a couple of detours to work due to closed roads/bridges, but that was it.  Yes, we were truly blessed.  Also, due to all of the rain and damp weather, I had a Fibromyalgia flare-up.  I am very thankful for the dryer weather that we are having now.

Now on to Wednesday’s Around the World.  We have started slowly back to studying history with My Father’s World.  We are using the Adventures in U.S. History this year.  The first couple of lessons covered the Star Spangled Banner, the U.S. map and where we live and also getting a time line started.

Adventures in U.S.History

Adventures in U.S.History

The student notebooks that are pictured above, will hold their pages that they learn each day.  They will also add in the pages for each state that we will learn as well.  The first page that they put in their folder was The Pledge of Allegiance (which I forgot to take a picture of). So what is The Pledge of Allegiance, you ask?  It is a promise that Americans make to their country.  The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy.  He wrote The Pledge for a Columbus Day program celebrating the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus discovering America.  There was a change in 1923 and 1924 when “the flag of the United States of America” was added.  Then in 1954 Congress added the words “under God”.  This is how it reads now,

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

My kids and I are saying this together, every morning.  It is important for me to teach my children what this nation was built on and to stand up for what they believe.

The next thing we did was make a time-line.  Since our wall space is limited, I decided to put our time-line in a 3 ring notebook.  This way, we can add pages as we continue to work through the ages.  We did start with Jesus being born.  We will continue to add the important dates that we learn in U.S. History.

Time-Line

Time-Line

Another lesson we did, was go over a map of the United States.  The kids got a blank map of the United States.  We talked about the directions of North, South, East and West.  Once they learned the directions, we got busy labeling different places on the map.  The kids learned where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are at.  They learned that Canada was north of us and Mexico is south of us.  Then, they got to put an X on where we lived at on the map.

Working on US Map

Working on US Map

After the first day, (I had a child upset that we were not continuing on with the history we used last year), the kids started enjoying our lessons.  They can already say The Pledge of Allegiance without looking at the paper and they can point out on a map, where they live. I really think we are going to enjoy learning about the United States history this year.

I am excited to be hosting a link-up again.  I am looking forward to seeing what y’all are learning about in history.  Be sure to link up below and share with us!

 

Wednesday’s Around the World ~ A History & Geography Link Up is back and with a giveaway!!

Wednesday’s Around the World ~ A History & Geography Link Up is back and with a giveaway!!

(disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.  If you purchase a product through the link, I will receive a small portion. All money earned helps to by curriculum and books for our homeschooling journey.)

UPDATE: Winner of the $25 Amazon gift card is Ticia.  Winner of the $20 CurrClick gift card is Jennifer J.!

Congrats to the winners!

Last year, I started a link up for history and geography called, Wednesday’s Around the World.  I am going to continue on with it this year.  There has been a change in it for this year.  Last year, I was using Bright Ideas Press, Mystery of History, curriculum and had limited the history link up just to Bright Ideas Press History and Geography.  I am not using Mystery of History or All American History this year and will be using My Father’s World instead.  So with that change, I am going to open up the link-up for all History and Geography curriculums.

The link up will still be taking place every Wednesday.  The first link-up for the school year will be next Wednesday, September 4th.  All you have to do is write a post about what you are learning in history and/or geography, then come to my page and link-up with that lesson.  Did you do a project or activity for history that you would like to share?  Write a post about it and link it up!  Here are a couple of examples from last year, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego and Aesop’s Fables, Tortoise and the Hare.

The following week, I will share a little about what we have been studying in our history and geography and then will highlight a couple of those who have linked up!

To start us off for this year, I am having a giveaway!  Actually, two giveaways!  There is a $25 Amazon gift card and a $20 CurrClick gift card up for grabs!  All I need you to do is leave me a comment telling me what history and/or geography curriculum you will be using this year.  I will choose a winner on Sept. 4th and announce it at the beginning of the link-up!

 

our curriculum for the younger kids ~ 2013-2014

our curriculum for the younger kids ~ 2013-2014

Disclaimer: There are some affiliate links in this post. The little money that I might make from you purchasing through the links, help our family in buying our curriculum.
 I always enjoy seeing what curriculum that everyone else is using, so I thought I would share with you our curriculum we will using this upcoming school year.  I am also joining in with the iHomeschool Network and the 5th Annual “Not” Back-to-School Blog Hop.

My younger two kids are in 2nd and 3rd grade this year.  It is amazing how quickly time is passing us by.  I am enjoying being able to be at home with our kids, watching them grow and learn new things everyday.  Since there is only 18 months difference between my younger children, I find it a lot easier on our family if we do a lot of the curriculum together.  While they are on different levels in math, everything else, we do together.

our curriculum

{History and Geography}

For the first time in a couple of years, I am changing curriculum.  While I am excited about this change, I am also nervous.  I don’t think I have changed so much in one year since we started homeschooling 11 years ago!  The first big change for us is our history.  As much as I love Mystery of History and Bright Ideas Press, I wanted to focus this next year on American History.  With the way our country is today, it is important for me to teach how the country was founded and why it was founded.  After much praying and researching, I decided on My Father’s World, Adventures in U.S. History.  We will be doing everything they offer in their deluxe package, with exception of their science.  Notebooking will also be a big part of our schooling this year as well.  We will be notebooking through the 50 states for history and geography.

{Language Arts}

We will also be switching up our Language Arts curriculum.  We will finish the Bob Jones English I have from last year, but we will be adding in Growing with Grammar, A Reason For Spelling and A Reason for Handwriting.  I haven’t used a Spelling or Handwriting curriculum with the kids before.  I have always printed off worksheets and just worked on the words as we came across them in our English book.  I felt like we needed to step it up in this area of our schooling.

{Math}

For Math, we will finish up our Bob Jones curriculum from last year.  Once they finish those books, we will begin using A+ TutorSoft.  They will be doing the math on the computer.  I think this will be a good switch for the kids.  I also have the Life of Fred books; Apples, Butterflies, Cats, Dogs and Edgewood.  That I got for a great deal and we will be trying those out. Everyone that I have talked with that has used them, has said they have been a success.

{Science}

Since I have been homeschooling for so long, some companies and curriculum have just worked for us.  One of those companies is Apologia and their science curriculum.  We will be using their new science book, Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics along with their Jr. Notebooking journals.  I have used Apologia science curriculum for 7 years now and my children and I thoroughly enjoy reading the lessons and doing their activities.  I have learned as much as they have!

{Bible}

We will also be sticking with Apologia for Bible as we go through their curriculum book, Who is God?  We will be using their coloring book and their notebooking journal.  I bought this book last year, but when we moved, I set it aside since we had so many changes to begin with.  We will also be covering Bible lessons that My Father’s World has in Adventures in U.S. History.

{Fine Arts}

My kids love to draw and listen to music, so for Fine Arts we will be using See The Light for art lessons. Pat Knepley is amazing in the See The Light art dvd’s.  My kids really enjoy listening to her explain how to draw.  For music, we will be using Young Scholar’s Guide to Composers (Bright Ideas Press) and Introduction to Tchaikovsky & the Nutcracker Suite (My Father’s World).

After writing it all out, it seems like an awful lot of work to do and yet, I still feel like I have not added everything that I have planned!   We won’t be doing ever subject every day.  We will also be adding in field trips with our homeschool group.  Our youngest daughter will be taking dance lessons and our youngest son is wanting to play sports.  Once you fill in those days, I think it will be a well rounded year for us.

Are you excited about the upcoming school year?  I would love for you to share what all you and your family will be doing.  Be sure to stop by and link up with iHomeschool Network and see what others are doing.  As you will see, all homeschooling families are unique and do what is best for them and their families.  THAT is what is so wonderful about homeschooling!

Forney Transportation Museum ~ field trip

Forney Transportation Museum ~ field trip

Our family loves looking at old cars, trucks and basically anything on wheels.  We were so excited to go to the Forney Transportation Museum in Denver, Colorado. When we first arrived at the museum, they told us a little about the history and where some of the cars came from.  Then we were free to roam the huge warehouse that was loaded with some really unique, odd and old vehicles.

This field trip was several months ago and I am just now sharing it with you all.  I chose some of the vehicles that stood out to me the most.  They even had bicycles, motorcycles, carriages and stage coaches!  I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Forney Museum sign

Forney Museum sign

kids looking at a car

kids looking at a car

Steam Train

Steam Train

Amelia Earhart owned a car just like this one.

Amelia Earhart owned a car just like this one.

I think these were Ford cars.

I think these were Ford cars.

Truck

Truck

Motorcycle and sidecar

Motorcycle and sidecar

bicycles

bicycles

odd cars

a covered wagon like the one Buffalo Bill used in his WIld West Shows

a covered wagon like the one Buffalo Bill used in his WIld West Shows

As you can tell, they really had a variety of trains, cars, trucks, bicycles and motorcycles.  Basically, if it had wheels, they show it off in this amazing museum.  We enjoyed this place a lot.  The history that they have underneath one roof is truly amazing.  The kids and I are wanting to go back and take their dad with us.  We know he would enjoy it as much as we did.  The transportation museum is a great field trip to go with the family.  There is something there for the whole family.

Have you ever been to a Transportation Museum?  What is your favorite old vehicle?  Is it a truck?  Car?  I must say, I really enjoyed looking at the carriages and covered wagons!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children’s Atlas of God’s World

Children’s Atlas of God’s World

I am so excited to be a part of the Moms of Master Books review team.  On this team, I get the opportunity to review books from an amazing Christian publishing group, New Leaf Publishing Group.  The book for the month of July is Children’s Atlas of God’s World by Craig Froman.  I was so excited after seeing this book on our list to review!

Children's Atlas of God's World.

Children’s Atlas of God’s World.

On the back of the book, it has “One-Of-A-Kind children’s atlas to explore God’s World” and this book really is one of a kind.  The Children’s Atlas of God’s World is a very colorful and vibrant hard-back book, that is HUGE.  It measures approximately 10″x14″!  I told you it was a BIG book!  The pages are heavy paper with a beautiful glossy look to them.  They are very easy to turn and even wipe off, if any messy hands were to flip through the pages.

In this one-of-a-kind book, you will travel through all seven continents.  As you travel through the continents in the book, the author also will talk about many different countries.  Mr. Froman has given you a key in the Table of Contents of things to look for and read through as you read through each section.

  • Christian History and Tradition is marked with a flag with the Cross on it.  This talks about Christian history, people of faith and Christian traditions around the world.
  • Red Pins – when you see a red pin in the book, you will find the number pin on the map marking a landmark, river, or other locations.
  • Green Highlights are words that are just that, highlighted in green.  This is letting you know that it is a city or other sites on the map.
  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites are marked by green flags.  This is sites recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
  • Biomes is the last key to look for.  The Biomes symbol will share about the habitats around the world, including forests, deserts, grasslands, tundra and many more.
Children' Atlas of God's World, Table of Contents

Children’ Atlas of God’s World, Table of Contents

What are some other things that you will find in this book?  You will find out the longest rivers and tallest mountains.  You will read about Christian explorers, missionaries and many others who made a mark in history.  The book tells of the diversity of God’s creatures, natural habitats and the animals and plants that live in them.  There are outline maps of the continents and more detailed maps of the countries that are being focused on.  Every page that you turn, you will learn something new about the world that God created!

Samuel and Claire reading the Children's Atlas of God's World.

Samuel and Claire reading the Children’s Atlas of God’s World.

Claire showing me the Rocky Mountains.

Claire showing me the Rocky Mountains.

Our family has really enjoyed this book since we received it.  I love seeing the kids reading the book, wanting to learn more about the world we live in.  I think it is a great addition to our growing library.  This book will also come in handy when we begin our geography lessons for the upcoming school year.  This book has definitely quickly become a favorite in our home.

Would you like a book of your own?  You can buy it from New Leaf Publishing Group for $18.99 or you can buy the digital download for $9.99.  Or better yet?  How about a chance to win a copy of the book!  Join us for the Book and a Treat Party!  There will be some wonderful prizes being given.  The Facebook Party will be happening on Tuesday, July 23rd at 8pm (CDT).

 

Hope to see you at the party!

 

**Disclaimer: I received this book from New Leaf Publishing Group, in exchange for a review.  All opinions expressed are my own.  No other compensation was received.