Physics 101 {The 101 Series Review}

Science is one of those subjects that instill fear and trepidation in homeschooling families and it's one of the most researched aspects of home educating. If you fall into this category I would like to encourage you that the science's is one of the most enjoyable subjects to teach in your home educating journey.  I have a confession to make ... I love science.  In high school I loved physics and hated chemistry (I did not like learning the periodic table ...) IF I could have I would have taken physics as one of my elective subjects.  I was very excited when  The 101 Series offered me the opportunity to review their Physics 101 DVD course.

What I received

• Physics 101 - The Mechanics of God's Physical World DVD set containing four DVD's.  Physics 101 is a Christian DVD High School Level course from Westfield Studios.
• A Companion Guide to the Physics 101 DVD set in PDF format (98 pages) on the fourth DVD.

 Subjects Covered

• Disk A
  1. Introduction to Physics (30 min)
  2. Light and Colour (40 min)
  3. Mirrors and Lenses (35 min)
  4. Invisibility and Speed of Light (35 min)
• Disk B
  5. Introduction to Sound (43 min)
  6. Acoustics: the sound of Music (35 min)
  7. What is fire? (30 min)
  8. The Three Laws of Thermodynamics (35 min)
  9. Refrigeration: Hot and Cold (40 min)
• Disk C
  10. What is Electricity? (30 min)
  11. Outlets and Circuits (40 min)
  12. Batteries and the Electromagnetic Spectrum (40 min)
  13. The Life of Sir Isaac Newton (30 min)
  14. The Universal law of Gravity (30 min)
  15. The 1st law of Motion (35 min)
  16. The 2nd and 3rd Laws of Motion (25 min)
• Disk D
  17. The Life of Albert Einstein (35 min)
  18. Relativity (30 min)
  19. Quantum Mechanics (30 min)
  20. The Future of Physics (20 min)

How we used Physics 101
Physics 101 is a high school level course produced by Westfield Studios.  The host is Wes Olson who guides you through each area of physics covered.  He helps to untangle the complex terms and ideas and presents each topic in an easy to understand conversation accompanied by visually rich graphics which help to clarify his presentation.  The purpose of the course is to provide you and your student with a thorough overview of the intriguing world of Physics.

When you load the disk you will find a comprehensive list of contents to make easier navigation.

The course is split into seven areas and colour coded:

1. Light (Red)
2. Sound (Orange)
3. Heat (Yellow)
4. Electricity & Magnetism (Green)
5. Motion (Blue)
6. Physics of the Weird (Indigo)
7. Future of Physics (Violet)

At the beginning of each section Wes presents a couple of questions that will be answered in the lesson.  For example in Section 1 we learned the answer to the age old question: Why is the sky blue? and Why is my reflection upside down in a spoon?

We also studied some famous scientists know for their contributions to Physics.  Nathaniel was particularly intrigued to learn that Cavendish, Newton, Curie, Einstein and Galileo are all thought to have had Aspergers Syndrome.

It was interesting knowing that Sir Isaac Newton studied the bible daily and fundamentally believed that the Bible is the Word of God.  He was also born prematurely and could fit in a quart jar!  His mother was advised to let him die. We learned that he was frustrated with the math of the day because it could not help with his science so he developed Calculus (The mathematical study of change) in order to help him with his science.

Sir Isaac Newton tomb

He died in 1727 at the age of 84 and was famous for his discoveries in optics, motion and mathematics.  His most acclaimed published work is: Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy).

Guidebook and Quizzes
The guidebook came as a 98 page pdf document found on disk D.  I printed this to work through along with the DVD's.  Each segment follows the same layout.

• Video information:  This area contains text with information directly from the film session.
• Side Bar:  Contains interesting trivia, facts and physics-related matter.
• Text box: Containing biographical information, observations and interesting points relating to the session, or questions for discussion.
• Footnotes: Contains references and quotes in relation to points of interest pertaining to the subject matter.

This is then followed by a Quiz with multiple answer section.    The answer key to the Quiz section is found at the back of the booklet.

About The 101 Series 
Westfield Studios was established in 2004 in order to produce Biology 101 for Wes wife Tammy who could not find a biology curriculum to assist her in home educating her two high school age sons.  Wes has many years of experience in producing films for companies such as Boeing and Portland GE.   The whole family are involved in the business and work closely alongside leaders in the scientific fields pertaining to each section of the DVD's produced.  Wes is passionate about the sciences and is an avid biblical student.  All the scripts are vetted for scientific accuracy by numerous Professors to make sure that all the information is current and correctly presented.

Connect with The 101 Series

• Blog
• Facebook
• Twitter:  @the101series
• Pinterest: @the101series

Available Titles in The 101 Series

• Physics 101
• Chemistry 101
• Biology 101

I am very impressed with the quality and presentation of Physics 101 and will definitely be investing in the other two courses which are available.  We have both enjoyed the visually complementing materials in the presentation which help to clarify the materials being covered.  If you are looking for an excellent introduction to the complex world of Physics then this is definitely the DVD set for you.

CrossTimber Name Gifts {Review}

I want to squeal with excitement over CrossTimber! I love this product and am so very happy to have discovered John and the company. CrossTimber specialise in Personalized Framed Plaque with Name Meaning and Bible Verse gifts. 

I emailed John and asked him if he can help me find the name meanings of a few names and he was super helpful.  It was less than a day and I heard back from him. He has a huge database of names and loves to share the meanings of names.  If you would like to know the meaning of a specific name email him and he will get back to you with it's meaning. 

I'm so looking forward to giving these as gifts for Christmas this year to my children and to my husband for our 25th wedding anniversary.  I LOVE that I can have them as a printable. CrossTimber make two name plaques as well, these make wonderful wedding, engagement or anniversary gifts.  I love that the work is done for me. (I know how many hours go into creating graphics and this is why I haven't made these for myself ... ).

I chose to order  Multi-Name Plaque gift for Paul for his birthday and am so pleased that I did. I love these extra large plaques for up to three names at once. I used his first and middle name on the Golden eagle's Wings (NG-8x10-AN24)  These prints are designed to be 8" tall and 10" wide. For more detailed information on the Multi-Name Plaques read this page: What's a Multi-Name Plaque?  John sent me a note with the meanings of his names and attached my order via email.  I took it on a memory stick to Big W and had it printed in 8" x 10" gloss print and framed it. 

I want to do them for my grown children too so I can give them a beautifully framed name meaning board so they will always remember our love upon them through the choosing of their names the possibilities are almost endless!

A little back story to my passion about the meanings of names...
For many years names and their meanings have held a special significance to me and it all started with my first pregnancy.  It was important that the name be one of blessing. We called him Timothy (One who brings honour to God) our daughter was named Jane (Gift of the Lord) and then we waited many years (10 long tear filled years) for our third blessing and we named him: Nathaniel (Asked of the Lord).

About 15 years ago we became more aware of the significance of names and their meanings and so started telling our children what their names meant.

I recently realised that knowing what my children's names mean and knowing the positive meanings has been a huge encouragement to me through the many valley's we have walked in parenting.

When ever I look at Nathaniel I am reminded that I asked God for him and God heard my cry. His second name means brings joy/laughter and this is true too. He has brought comfort and joy into Paul and my life and we love him dearly.

When I hear my older two children's names I feel the hand of God and know that He is working in their lives daily.

For many years I really struggled with my own name ...
My name is a combination of my grandparents names (Charles and Kathleen) of which I am very proud. With my initial research I found out that Charles means manly and Kathleen purity. For many years I wondered why God would allow me to be called manly?

My passion for names and there meaning continued and so my quest to know more names and their meanings deepened. I soon discovered that the original meaning of Charles is actually strength not manly! I was not being called manly, my name actually means Strong Pure One or Strength in Purity.  I received my name/life verse: Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

Knowing that my name means Strong Pure One and that God delights in me and rejoices over me with singing has made a huge difference to how I see myself.
Name Meaning Gifts
Name meaning gifts have a HUGE impact on the person receiving the gift. I have watched people cry tears of blessing and seen the change in them when reading a note to them saying this is what your name means and this is who you are.

Types of name meaning gifts

CrossTimber have a large selection of options available for you to choose from.

• Name Plaques 7x9 frame
• Multi-Name Plaques 10x12 frame 
• Name Coffee Mugs
• Name Meaning Music Boxes
• Names of God
• Name Meaning Bookmarks

The process is super easy.

1. Choose the type of gift you would like to purchase.  
2. In the drop down menu choose the style of photo you would like and select it.   
3. Select the type of frame etc
4. In the notes section write in the name you would like on your gift 
5. Hit the Add to Order button.

Once you have paid for your order you will receive a confirmation email. I will be purchasing more of these gifts in the future.  CrossTimber mail their products worldwide. If you would like to order be sure to email John and he will get back to you on the cost of postage for your order.

**Please note the names and gifts photographed in my review are in frames I purchased locally.  I was given and purchased pdf versions of the names, meanings and scripture to print at my local store.

CrossTimber are sponsoring a name gift giveaway.  For your chance to win a name gift of your choice be sure to visit CrossTimber and enter their giveaway.  The giveaway ends on 4 December.

Elementary French Course (Grades 3-5) Middleburry Interactive Languages {Review}

The French language is a beautiful language and it's one of the languages on my bucket list to learn.  Recently Middlebury Interactive Languages blessed us with a subscription for their Elementary French Course (Grades 3-5)

The course focuses on: vocabulary acquisition and basic grammar principles.  These are intuitively grasped through stories games, activities, songs and assessments.

The goal of Middlebury Interactive Languages is for the student to:

• Engage in language learning 
• become comfortable with the sounds and rhythms of French
• learn simple French phrases
• Begin to read, write, speak and listen for meaning in French
• To recognize distinctive practices and customs of the French-speaking cultures.

 

Navigating is very easy within Middlebury Interactive languages.  The screen is divided into to sections.  On the left you can see each using.  When you click on a unit a box drops down to reveal the lessons within the units.  You can see which lessons are complete at a glance by the little greet tick mark next to completed lessons.

Each unit is based on a story (Unit 1 was Little Red Riding Hood),  a myth or legend from various French-speaking cultures.

These are reinforced as students perform simple tasks in connection with each unit's theme. For example in Unit 1: Greetings each French greeting is connected with a character in the story.  In the exercises Practice: Greetings 1 the student is given the five characters and greetings and has to match them up with one another.

In the speaking lab the student listens to the vocabulary being learned and then records themselves speaking each word.  They are then able to hear themselves when they push the playback button.

Gradebook 
Under the menu you can select Gradebook. The system records all completed tasks and quizzes. In the menu under grade book you can view all graded work

Grade book summary view

 You will be able to view

• the grade accomplished 
• when it was submitted. 
• View button - you can view the activity and leave a comment.
• Grade Report button

When clicking the report button a pop up window opens to reveal:

• the current grade (subdivided into: evaluations, unit tests and quizzes)
• Assignment Average
• overall Course Grade.  The student can earn a total of 586 possible points

Connect on Social Media:
Facebook: Middlebury Interactive Languages
Twitter:  @middinteractive
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/middinteractive/

I'm enjoying watching Nathaniel's confidence grow as he works his way through Middlebury.  I just wish I could learn as fast as he does! I enjoy the simplicity of the overall program and how it automatically keeps track of his grade and progress for me.

What does it mean to be a part of the Homeschool Review Crew ?

When I joined the Homeschool Review Crew back in 2013 I had no idea what was in store for me.  I joined on a whim after seeing a friend of mine had been reviewing for them and I'm a curriculum junkie!  I'm still using products in my homeschool from back then.  I love my year on the crew so much I applied to be on their team ever since. Today I am joining in with the team as we share what it means to be on the Homeschool Review Crew.


My passion is supporting home school families to successfully home educate.  One of the biggest blessings of the Crew is getting to know about the wide range of new and updated curriculum on the market.  This in turn helps me help my new and veteran home school friends find what they are needing to home school successfully.  Having the product means I am able to show these families what I am talking about. 

At the beginning of the 2016 Crew year I was promoted to the leadership and now have some official responsibilities helping Debra Brinkman look after the 200+ bloggers who are a part of the Homeschool Review Crew.

The Crew Gave ME
Joining the Crew has opened so many opportunities for me as a blogger.

• The Crew introduced me to a mentor who helped me through the process of my first three reviews.  They were the go to person if I needed anything.  
• The leadership were approachable and super helpful and supportive.  
• I had access to a special forum which contained all the information that I needed.  
• The crew host fortnightly round up posts that I can submit links to which are shared on their blog. 
• I have the opportunity to guest post on their blog (They have 5,000+ subscribers) with links back to my blog.
• They have social media mentors who helped me learn to use my platforms better.
• They have up to 75 different homeschool curriculum opportunities for me to choose to use.  I am not given things I can not use and my reviews are 100 % my own thoughts.  I am not required to write positive reviews only honest ones.
• They host two annual blog hops which are a lot of fun.  Here are a couple of  hops I've participated in: 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials,  5 Days of Curriculum Choices and 5 Days of Teaching Creatively.
• The best part of the experience are all the new blogging friends I make each year. 

Some of my favourite resources this year have been:

• If You Were Me and Lived in... Series by Carole P.Roman
• Online Christian Filmmakers Academy
• Beric The Briton {Heirloom Audio Productions
• Forbrain

Who the Crew are we looking for 
The Homeschool Review Crew is growing. They are currently looking for bloggers from all over the world to join their team.

• You need to have a blog.
• Currently home educating at least one child. Your child/ren can be anywhere from Pre-K to 12th Grade.
• You need to be active on social media of your own choosing (Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram)
• Love curriculum, homeschool products and books.

You can read more about the requirements to join the team here:  2017 Crew Applications Now Open.

How can you apply? 
After making sure you meet all of the requirements, if you believe you would to an asset to our Crew and wish to join us, please fill out their application. Click here to fill out the 2017 Schoolhouse Review Crew Application!

Online Christian Filmmakers Academy {Review}

I'm so very excited. This year has been so interesting watching Nathaniel discover how to make and produce short movie clips.  Some of the clips are made on his phone and recently he started a YouTube channel and spent many hours delightfully teaching himself how to use all sorts of software to accomplish his goals. I was feeling a little at a loss on how to support his learning in this area until we were given access to Online Christian Filmmakers Academy from Family Gravity Media, a division of Families For Christ Ministries, Inc. to review.

Together we have been learning so much. We have not had to buy any special equipment although you do learn about the types of equipment used. Needless to say Nathaniel's Christmas wish list has grown quite considerably.

We have been given a year's worth of online access to the Online Christian Filmmakers Academy.  The classes are produced and presented by Ken and Zack Lawrence who are a father and son team who have been working together since 2004 and have more than a decade of experience.

How it works

Lesson Library

The course is an online program which is digitally streamed from your account. After signing in you will be taken to the home / introduction page.  On the left there is a menu with links to the five different modules of the program.

There are five modules to work through.

1. The Camera (6 Lessons + 1 Quiz)
2. Cinematography (10 Lessons)
3. Sound (6 Lessons)
4. Pre-Production (5 Lessons)
5. Production (6 Lessons)

Tracking the lessons

• Each of the modules are divided into separate lessons. 
•  Tracking your progress is really easy.  Once you watch a clip you mark it complete and move onto the next lesson.  
• Each lesson is titled and below the title you can see the length of the video as well as a short written summary.
• On the module overall page you can see your progress at a glance.  Completed lessons show a tick in the corner and partially watched clips show as such.

Lesson page layout

When you click on a lesson it opens on a new page. On the page you have access to the lesson video and a comments section.  In the comment section you can ask questions about the lesson and interact with the instructors.

If there is a lesson download you will find the link on the right hand side of the page.  The downloads are in pdf. format.

The program is continuing to grow and as such being updated with bonus documents which include: templates, insider interviews, quizzes and new content.  This will be added throughout the year ahead and made available to all new and current students.

Details 

• The course costs $299* for a full year of access. It is currently on sale for $199 until 30 November 2016 by using Coupon Code: FALLCREW16 on the checkout page. 
•  It comes with a 30 day no questions asked money-back guarantee.
• Your one year membership is good for your entire family and can be used by multiple students within your household.
• Christian Filmmakers Academy share tips and free video lessons on their Facebook page: Christian Filmmakers Camp.

 * This price is current at the time of this review.  Prices are subject to change at the discretion of Family Gravity Media, a division of Families For Christ Ministries, Inc. so please review the current price on their website before making your purchase.

Overall
Nathaniel and I have both enjoyed working our way through the lessons.  They are well presented and give a very good twaddle free class on the practical aspects of film making.   I am really looking forward to Nathaniel using the skills he has learned in this class in the future and if he continues in his passion for film making I will be adding this to his Curriculum Vitae in the future.

Blessings
Chareen

If You Were Me and Lived in... Series by Carole P.Roman {Review}

I am so excited to tell you about eight new children's history books  brought to you by Carole P. Roman and Awaywegomedia.com. The books we received to review are:

1. If You Were me and Lived In... Ancient Greece (Volume 1) 
2. If You Were me and Lived In... the Middle Ages (Volume 6)
3. If you were me and lived in... Ancient China 
4. If you were me and lived in... Viking Europe (Volume ) 
5. If you were me and lived in ... Renaissance Italy (Volume 2) 
6. If you were me and lived in ... Elizabethan England (Volume 3) 
7. If you were me and lived in ... Colonial America (Volume 4) 
8. If you were me and lived in ... the American West (Volume 7) 

Nathaniel and I both enjoy books which are twaddle free and beautifully illustrated. This series meets our every expectation of amazing books. We are very thankful to Carol and the Homeschool Review Crew for blessing us with these fabulous books.  We have been traveling through time and discovering how children lived in different times and cultures throughout history.

Inside the books

• The stories invite you the reader to come with a child to the country being explored.  There is a picture of what it looks like now followed by a picture of what it would have looked like in the era you are exploring.   The era is explored from the perspective of a child.
• You find out what sorts of names people had
• The work people did
• Names of people and places are followed by a pronunciation guide in brackets.  If a word had a special meaning this is explained too.
• Interesting facts pertaining to the culture are shared.  
• The money/trading systems used in the era / culture are explained.
• The children are introduced to the accommodation and clothing used by the different classes of people within the culture. 
• Education, government, spiritual beliefs and military are explained.
• The family structure and specific roles of each member within a family are explored.
• Important people from the time period within the culture are introduced
• The book contains a full glossary of terms.

You will find a great list of comprehension questions to copy and print for each of the books on Carole's blog.


The Details

If You Were me and Lived In... Ancient Greece (Volume 1)
Series: An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time
Paperback: 54 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (March 17, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1523234296
ISBN-13: 978-1523234295
Kindle $ 3.04
Paperback: $14.99


You will be taken back to 350 B.C and learn where Greece is located, it's capital city and a few other interesting cities from the era.  Discover that Greece is "the Cradle of Western Civilization" and the reasons why. Each of the Greek gods are introduced throughout the book (their names, appearance and traits).  Greek clothing (chiton, peplos and the toga) and culture from the ancient times.  You will learn about their governmental system, literature and philosophy.

If you were me and lived in... Ancient China
Paperback: 76 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 18, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 153287524X
ISBN-13: 978-1532875243
Kindle $ 2.03
Paperback: $15.99




Travel back to second century (150 A.D.) China during the Golden Age of China and discover one of the longest dynasty's of the time - the Han dynasty. Travel the Silk Road and learn about important trade. There were four majour professions during this time: Scholar, Doctor, Farmer and Merchant. Your father decided what you would do for a profession. Learn about the discovery of silk and paper and the impact this had on the whole world.

If you were me and lived in... Viking Europe (Volume )
Series: If You Were Me and Lived in...
Paperback: 76 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 27, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1532875304
ISBN-13: 978-1532875304
Kindle $ 3.06
Paperback: $13.59



Travel back to the year 870 AD northern Europe in Norway. Discover a brave exploring people.  You may have been called Knut or Ulf if you were a boy and Sigrid or Hilde if you were a girl. Your second name was your fathers. The only coins used were pennies. These strong well groomed people were known for their bravery, dependability and allegiance to one another.  Woman were well respected.  These people ate very well and looked after anyone in need.

If you were me and lived in ... Renaissance Italy (Volume 2)
Series: An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time
Paperback: 56 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (May 6, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 152323427X
ISBN-13: 978-1523234271
Kindle $ 2.04
Paperback: $14.99



Travel back in time to the year 1483 in Tuscany. Popular names were Lorenzo and Cosimo for boys and Dolce and Lisabetta for girls. This was an important period of rebirth and inspired many famous artists, like Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello. Because Florence was the birthplace of the new movement and became known as "The Athens of the Middle Ages."   Common seasonings during that time were cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, saffron and pepper, along with oranges and lemons. It was a time of sporting events, festivals, and dances. 

If you were me and lived in ... Elizabethan England (Volume 3)
Series: An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time
Paperback: 52 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (March 21, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1523229365
ISBN-13: 978-1523229369 
Kindle $ 2.02
Paperback: $14.99


Discover what life was like in  1578 during the reign of Elizabeth I. This was the golden age for art and literature and saw an increase in exploration. The narrow, cobblestone streets were filthy as people threw dirt, garbage, and waste out the windows. Houses were half-timbered and made of wattle and daub and the floors were covered in straw. Middle class people ate mutton, sausage, cheese, stew, and bread. No one drank water, but chose ciders and ales instead. The clothing consisted of many layers, and laws stated what color each class of people could wear and your religion was determined by whomever was on the throne.

If You Were me and Lived In... the Middle Ages (Volume 6)
Series: If You Were Me and Lived in...
Paperback: 98 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (July 9, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1533673241
ISBN-13: 978-1533673244
Kindle $ 3.06
Paperback: $19.99


Travel further back in time to  1072 in a small town in London, England. Discover names, like Geoffrey, Roul, Melisende, and Aalis, and learn about how they determined surnames. It's written as if the reader is the daughter of a knight. It describes life in a castle with wealth, servants, a large family. It mentions the Crusades, the importance of the church, the classes of society and their occupations and how they lived.

If you were me and lived in ... Colonial America (Volume 4)
Series: An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time
Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (April 28, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1523234075
ISBN-13: 978-1523234073 
Kindle $ 3.18
Paperback: $14.99



Travel back to England in 1620 and follow the journey of your family as you move to the Netherlands and from there join other families to travel to a new land upon the Mayflower.  Make a new friend from the Wampanoag tribe who will teach you to hunt and grow your own food.  Celebrate the day you were "breeched" and attend school at home with your mother. 

If you were me and lived in ... the American West (Volume 7)
Series:
Paperback: 58 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 18, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1532877846
ISBN-13: 978-1532877841
Kindle $ 2.04
Paperback: $14.99



The year is 1843 and you are growing up in a homestead in Oregan after moving here during "The Great Migration of 1843". As a young one of 12 you learned many valuable skills on that hard journey but they helped you grow stronger as a family and equipped you for the daily chores which were a part of your new life.  School came over winter and spring break meant working on the farm.  Many men died on the the journey over and the women continued on.  Everyone helped one another to build homes and barns.  

About the Author

We really enjoy all of the If You Were Me and Lived In ... book series by Carole P. Roman and I am pretty sure you will, too.  Carole is an award-winning author and mom who started writing because she was dared to by one of her sons and we are so pleased that she did! Her books are some of our favourites on the shelf. She's a former Social Studies teacher who fell in love with adventure and exploration and desires to share that love with us. You know that your children are getting factual information as they read for personal enjoyment when they pick up any of these books. She has been awarded numerous book awards and her entire cultural non-fiction series If You Were Me and Lived in... was named Best Series by Shelf Unbound.

You can connect with Carole on Social media here:

• Facebook,
• Pinterest,
• Good Reads
• Twitter.

We love all of these books and are looking forward to using them throughout our chronological history studies.

I'd also love for you to visit my earlier reviews of the cultural books in the original series. You can see what we thought of Mexico, France, South Korea and Norway AND check out the fun we had with Australia too.

Blessings
Chareen

Beric The Briton {Heirloom Audio Productions Review}

One of the gifts home schooling has blessed our family with is the joy or read alouds and audio drama's.  I love reading to myself and out loud to my family so it came as an enormous surprise how much I enjoy listening to audio drama's.  A couple of years ago a friend introduced us to Heirloom Audio Productions when she blessed our family with a copy of In Freedom's Cause. It was this very gift which has transformed our family into passionate audio drama listeners.  I have stalked their website in excited anticipation of any new release to add to our ever growing collection.  Recently the Schoolhouse Review Crew were blessed to receive Beric The Briton.

 We Received

• MP3 Official Sound Track 
• Beric The Briton inspirational poster with a quote from Julius.
• Beric The Briton Audio Drama 
• 389 page PDF copy of Beric The Briton written by G.A. Henty
• 48 page study guide.

About the Production
Beric The Briton audio drama is based on the book Beric the Briton by G.A. Henty and is a part of the Heirloom Audio Series - The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty.  George Alfred Henty (8 December 1832 – 16 November 1902) is affectionately known as the Boys Historian.  He is renowned for his story telling/writing ability and people. The characters in his books illustrate a deep faith and upright strong character.  He wrote 122 books for children.   Heirloom Audio Productions have adapted his book Beric in Briton with an incredible cast line up and original musical score.

About the Story
Follow Beric and his best friend Bodouc as they lives through epic adventures from growing up under the Roman hand in Britain, taking his place as the leader of the clan, training the men to be well trained and orderly. Travel with him as he is captured by Rome and taken to be trained as a gladiator in the service of Nero!  Here he is introduced to the one who will save his soul and where they are forced to confront their pagan upbringing and their feelings of  anger and the desire of revenge.

The Study Guide is a beautiful full colour 50 page gem containing:

• A complete listing of the cast and crew involved in the production of the audio theatre presentation of Beric The Briton.
• A brief historical overview of: G.A. Henty,  Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus and Queen Boadicea
• Each track of the story has a corresponding page in the study guide. This can be used in a number of ways.  Two options are:  helping younger listeners be engaged and help the parents coach them in their understanding or it could be used as a comprehension exercise for older students.  
• There are thee exercises on each section:
  
  • The Listening Well - here you will find comprehension questions. 
  • Thinking Further - These are follow up questions to help you the listener to think deeper as well as some research questions. There are a number of exercises through out from geographical exercises, occasional online links, pictures illustrating the story and more.
  • The Defining Words - here you will find important vocabulary to learn which in turn will open up your understanding of the story. 
• Sprinkled throughout are interesting tidbits of historical information such as the history of breakfast, recipes to try and virtual tours of places referred to in the story.
• When appropriate there are listed resources for further reading or investigation. Whenever a link is provided the children are encouraged to seek parental permission before pursuing the link.
• Recommended books for further reading about Britain and Roman in the 1st Century.
• A historical background for the story
• Three full bible studies starting on page 40 with questions and biblical passages to look up.
• A discussion on the significance of the Colosseum.
• The guide finishes off with an introduction to other Heirloom Audio Production available: Under Drakes Flag,   In Freedom's Cause, With Lee in Virginia and The Dragon and the Raven.

The Official Soundtrack contains original music composed by John Campbell for the production of Beric The Briton.  I'm so pleased that Heirloom Productions has made this available with the audio drama.  There are 33 tracks of musical journey to listen to.  Each piece speaks to the heart and is beautifully performed and presented.

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The first time we listened to Beric The Briton we were all enthralled to silence and anticipation.  The fast pace and beautiful rich dramatization of this excellent story captured our imaginations from the opening scene all the way to it's very end.

Beric the Briton is a wonderful addition to your family listening library.  It will inspire your sons and your daughters to do greater things, to follow in the footsteps of a great hero who loved the Lord.

We are looking forward to listening again and again over the months and years ahead!

Blessings
Chareen