TOS Crew Review-June 2010 “Travel the World” module
No travel plans this summer? Not to worry, with the help of The Old Schoolhouse, you can see the world right from your own little homeschool without packing a single suitcase!
I have always been a huge fan of e-books! I’m also impressed with The Schoolhouse Planner, a comprehensive “must have” for any homeschooling family, and have enjoyed the various modules that complement it. The June 2010 “Travel the World” module is no exception. Within its 56 pages, this E-book contains various puzzles and activities, manuscript and cursive copywork, poems, and maps filled with facts about the earth, the continents and oceans. Students of all ages will explore hands on and through the impressive collection of hyperlinks. The links are fantastic and we happily clicked through them. TOS has done all of the research for you and you’re ready to dive right in! This unit is packed full. Use it alone or alongside any geography study to reinforce important map skills, definitions and facts. Just print what you need!
The lessons are adaptable for all grades and include everything from coloring pages and a lapbook starter (we LOVE lapbooks!) as well as a section for high school expansion (including literature and research activities). There are even recipes to enjoy. Another thing I love is the inclusion of Scripture as an introduction to each section and for copywork. It’s a blessing to look at world geography from a Christian perspective. After all, we give the glory to the Creator for His amazing world!
“Travel the World” as well as many other exciting modules are available for instant download and can be purchased for a reasonable $7.95 from The Schoolhouse Store. These are stand-alone unit studies with something for everyone, but they are designed to accompany The Schoolhouse Planner as well. Right now, if you purchase the planner itself for $39.00, you get a FREE one year subscription to TOS! Be sure to check out the official blog for the TOS Homeschool Crew where you’ll find information and reviews on other great homeschool products!
*The Old Schoolhouse Magazine provided a free copy of this e-book to me for use in our schoolroom in exchange for an unbiased review.
And the winner is…
The winner of my canning giveway is SARAH! Congrats! I hope you enjoy! Thank you to everyone who entered and for the amazing recipes and canning wisdom. I pray we all have a “fruitful” season!
A Canning Party and a little Giveaway
I was chosen by www.houseparty.com to host a home party featuring Ball canning products! How exciting! In exchange, they sent me a BEAUTIFUL 21 qt. stainless canner and several canning products for my guests to try. I wish that you ALL could gather in my country kitchen on Saturday to make salsa and pepper jelly with us, so I thought I’d give some canning goodies away, just like you were really here!
The winner will receive this little box of canning goodies, including, the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving (filled with terrific recipes and step by step instructions) …
… a Fresh Taste of Summer tote bag, 4 boxes of No-Sugar Needed Fruit Pectin, recipes for salsa and pepper jelly, and some awesome coupons (including one for a FREE CASE of 4 oz, 8 oz, or half pint jars! We can all use that!) I might even tuck in a couple of my vintage blue jars, just because. :-)
So, please leave your favorite recipe or canning tip (I need to know how to make very crisp pickles, so do share, if you know!) here with your first name and a valid email adress or blog link so I can contact you if you’re the winner. Your name will go into a Mason jar until Saturday, June 5, when we’ll dump them into a bowl and one of my guests will choose the winner! Fun! For two entries, post your recipe or tips on your blog with a link back to me. Maybe you’re new to canning? This book would be perfect for you! Even if you don’t have a recipe to share, please join in the fun!
Happy canning!
Out in the garden…
I worked so hard out in the dirt yesterday that I can barely move a muscle! I have a dear, dear friend who grew Amish and Mennonite heirloom tomatoes in her greenhouse this year. I planted several different varieties: Grandma Josie White, Mortgage Lifter, Martin’s Amish, and much more! I can’t wait for harvest season! We also planted 50 California Wonder pepper plants, though we’re not quite done with those, yet and we need our supply of hot peppers. Our favorite thing to do is to bake jalapenos. (Halve them, fill with cream cheese and wrap in bacon.) I plant large quantities of peppers so that I can freeze them. I never have to buy them over the winter. They’re perfect for soups, fajitas, steak sandwiches, stromboli, etc. I just freeze on a cookie sheet and then bag with my Food Saver.
In other news, the pool is open. I suppose that means that summer has arrived? The water is too cold, if you ask me, but the boys don’t seem to mind a bit. Of course, these are the kids who jumped in the ‘swimming hole’ after baling hay. (Which led to a lovely case of poison ivy, by the way.) We had our annual ice-cream social over the weekend and I made an old fashioned chocolate cake with caramel icing. (A family recipe.) I made two, so we could enjoy one. We have been rearranging our house a bit, too. I moved my bedroom, which gave each boy their own room. Talk about excitement! They’re thrilled. I also love my new room. It’s smallish, but cozy and peaceful and just what I need. There’s enough room for my poster bed, antique dresser, a chair and the old light green wicker bassinet that my Gram used for her babies. (It’s full of quilts.) I also have a small fireplace mantle from an old house. It fits in with the “shabby-country” theme. I’m looking for a small vintage looking chandelier, and then I’ll be all set.
I so enjoying this time of year. I wake up to the birds singing, grind some coffee beans and then sit on the porch with my Starbucks and my bible. The quiet time is precious! We work all day and then come in sunkissed and tired, but after dinner, we can relax and then sleep well. Summer is such a joy!
Changes…
Well, after all of the changes that my family has been through, a blog “make-over” should seem a small thing! This will take a little getting used to, but I’m excited about the changes. It doesn’t feel quite like “me” yet, but I’m working on it!
There’s not much to report here on our farm. We’ve been in a rainy pattern, so I haven’t gotten much work done outside. There was only one row planted in the garden before it started, so I have much to do as soon as the weather breaks! It’s been nice to be indoors though. Today, I deep cleaned and organized my entire kitchen and pantry. I had purchased some staples in bulk, so I transferred them to pretty antique jars instead of keeping them in their clunky plastic packaging. I actually purged my cookbook collection as well. There were some that I know I will never use, and I’m sure that they’ll find a home at the homeschool book sale next week. I also made a big pot of White Chicken Chili, which was perfect for a rainy day.
We have a busy weekend ahead. My aunt is coming to visit from Texas and we’re going to the Jr. Rodeo on Saturday to watch my nephews. My sons missed the deadline this time, but plan to participate next time. (NO bull riding, regardless! My nerves are still recovering from Sept. when my oldest took a fall 18 feet from his tree stand and fractured spine!)
I have a few more things to straighten up and then I think I’ll turn in early. I’m hoping for sunshine tomorrow. I have fences to paint!
