This is my first review as part of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I was given a download copy of the Travel the World unit to use with my family. While this is a module to go with The Schoolhouse Planner, it is also available and usable as a stand-alone unit.
Title: Travel the World
Author/Publisher: The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
Target Ages: all
Format: Download from The Old Schoolhouse Store (phone 1-888-718-HOME)
Price: $7.95, with a money-back guarantee
The Travel the World unit is a Geography lesson on the seven continents. The 56-page unit opens with a discussion of globes, maps, and directions. The lesson on continents includes hyperlinks to definitions, maps, and games about the continents. Since the prince has become really interested in puzzles, he really enjoyed the games of trying to match the countries to their locations on the map.
At the end of the unit is an opportunity for the student to show their knowledge of Geography by completing a Fill-in-the-Blanks page, Word Scramble, Word Search, Crossword Puzzle, Rebus Puzzles, and Acrostic Poem (with answer keys). The student has the opportunity to begin construction of a lapbook and practice manuscript and/or cursive copywork. Older students can continue the study with the High School Expansion section. Additional resources include links to other websites and international recipes.
Here is a sample for you to review.
Since this product is downloadable, it is ready-to-use and able to be used again and again. This is particularly handy if you are teaching more than one age/grade-level.
The Queen’s Overall Assessment:
The unit is directed towards multiple ages. Since the prince is 6 and the princess is 4, I base my assessment on those ages.This unit involved a lot of sitting still. Everything was done at the computer or desk. There were not any hands-on activities. While the prince likes doing things on the computer, he looks forward to activities. He needs squirmy creative time.
A list of suggested reading would be a nice addition. While books on the subject can be selected from the local library, a suggested list would be a good place to start looking.
While I thought this was a good introduction to world geography, I thought it would be better suited for a slightly older student. We may use it again when the prince and princess reach that age.
Disclaimer: This was a review of my experience with the product described. I tried to give a complete and honest assessment without divulging too much information of a copyrighted product. In order to review the product, I received a free download version with no additional compensation. This in no way influenced my review of the product. The opinions expressed are my own and were not affected or reviewed by anyone prior to publishing.
Be sure to check out other reviews at The Homeschool Crew Blog.
The grass is green. It’s good to be
July 19, 2010 at 9:00 AM
I agree about a suggested reading list. Actually, that thought crossed my mind when I was preparing to write my own review, but then I couldn't find a place to fit it in. Glad you mentioned it.
Loretta
TOS Crewmate