America's Story 1

Sometimes finding age appropriate, interactive History curriculum is difficult. Sometimes we find ourselves piecing together things. Over the past 13 years in homeschooling I have used and looked at, reviewed and tested various curriculum for my kids. I poured over curriculums with lots of hands on activities and some with so much bookwork that the kids hated the subject. At one point in our homeschooling journey my oldest four declared in unison that they officially hated American History! I was shocked, what would happen if they really did begin to detest history? Then we started our journey with Masterbooks and for the first time the kids were locked in to history. They were actually excited about their reading and their lessons, about the worksheets, the timelines, the projects. But we still did not have anything for my lower grades until the creation of My Story. There are so many things I love about this curriculum; starting with the title "America's Story". Until a child understands that they are part of the ongoing story of the World and more importantly the history of their nation and this world they will not appreciate the fact that they influence how the story unfolds. Furthermore, owning the history of the world and the nation we are a part of helps us to be accountable to the history. It helps us also to appreciate the sacrifice and the struggles of those who came before. And most importantly children see how God was present in all of history and where man strayed from His Word or held to it. The rich history of the United States is important for children to understand. The diversity that makes up this great nation is something to be studied. But it is also important that children gain an understanding of what this nation was founded on, what beliefs impelled our early leaders. I think that too often History is watered down to the point that God is almost completely written out of the books and children do not understand the rich spiritual history of their nation. Like all other Masterbooks subjects this is so easily laid out that prep time is easy. Keeping track of grades and assignments can be done with ease. Parents and siblings can participate in the activities and how much fun to create food or art to better understand what you are studying. In the end I highly recommend this History book.

The Work of Your Hand, Jennifer Hall Rivera, EdD

I was so excited about this resource when I saw it! As soon as I find out I am pregnant I begin speaking Jeremiah 1:5 over my children. From the womb they hear my voice remind them of who has placed them in the womb. This sacred time is something I marvel at - the fact that God is knitting together a tiny beautiful human in my body, unique and beautiful and like Jeremiah 1:5 says set aside for something special. This book reinforces this idea with the unique perspective of hands on learning of how fingerprints make us unique - one of a kind. In a world where children struggle with the idea that they are unique and special individuals, and where the enemy is trying to convince them they are not special this book gives you the tool to explore just how unique they are. Written in a rhyming storybook format with fun and colorful pages it is perfect for early elementary age kids. Each page describes different aspects of the fingerprint and how this combines to make a unique and totally different print for each person. At different times there is an opportunity to stop and do a fingerprint so they can see the whorl, arch or loops found in their prints. At the end of the workbook there are a ton of fun and interactive activities for kids to explore their unique fingerprint and the unique prints of their friends and family. So grab some inkpads in different colours and get ready to explore the world of fingerprints. Enjoy the evidence of how you are created in the Image of God and created very differently from every other person in the world. I highly recommend this. I will be purchasing multiple copies for use at church with out kids as well as copies for my own kiddos.