Advancing Native Missions Gift Catalog Review #nativemissions #giftingcatalog #giftcatalog #ANM #seasonofgiving #missions #giftofthegospel

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this catalog through FrontGate Media in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. I was compensated for this post.

Advancing Native Missions is a Christian mission based organization that instead of sending out foreign missionaries that have little knowledge of the people or culture, they have native (local) missionaries to spread the gospel and minister. They are already accustomed to the physical climate, environment, and political situation. These missionaries live and minister on a fraction of the resources because their standard of living is comparable to those they serve. They also already know the language, people, and culture and can begin work with minimal training and preparation. They are more committed to working long-term because they already know and love the people; their own family, friends, and neighbors. These missionaries preach the Gospel, plant churches, care for children; found: schools, medical clinics, and Bible colleges to train others.

ANM has over 27,000+ missionaries, church planters, trainers, and workers working in 121 countries around the world with 49,000 + churches planted. Some of these countries that these native missionaries serve are closed to Western missionaries. This is the only way to get the message of The Lord out to them.

Through the Advancing Native Missions Gift Catalog you can help these native missionaries with gifts and donations to them and the people they serve so that they may live in better circumstances. You and your family can also pick from many causes and charities to aid and advocate for those that are in need, including: 

• a Bible to a fellow Christian for spiritual growth
• a boat or bicycle to a church planter or pastor so they can travel easier
• a chicken so a family can eat and sell its eggs
• a Christmas gift box: a box of small gifts to a child in need
• a goat or sheep so a family can have milk and meat
• medicine to support medical outreach in impoverished communities
• a motorcycle so a church planter or pastor can access remote areas and share the gospel
• sack of rice to feed a family on the verge of starvation
• school supplies so that a student is more equipped to learn
  
• sewing machine so that a family can start a home business and mend clothing
  
• shoes so a child can play, do chores, and walk to school safely
  
• soccer ball so that kids can enjoy healthy recreation with friends
• well to provide clean and accessible water for a community
• etc.

My daughter, Zari, looking through the ANM Gift Catalog.

My Thoughts:

I believe that food and financial security is so important and so many in this world are starving, going hungry, and don't have any way to make ends meet. People are also being persecuted for believing in Christ and that is wrong. I know that I am fairly privileged to live in America where I am living fairly comfortably and free to be a Christian and share my beliefs. I am so grateful and thankful for this. My family is overjoyed to be able to share something so important and essential as the gifts in the ANM Gift Catalog.

Included in the catalog was a coloring book for my kids to color that is based on a true story about 4 kids that go the their grandparent's house and learn about generosity through hard work where they earned money to get gifts from the ANM Gift Catalog. You can download this coloring book when you sign up on the website.

Nova says, "Give to ANM! It's a worthy cause.".

Giving to this amazing fund is a wonderful and generous thing to do to celebrate the upcoming Christmas holidays with your family. Sharing the message of Christ and giving the gift of benevolence, service, and humanitarianism is so important for those that are impoverished and/or persecuted for their beliefs. Please help those who cannot help themselves. Use the Advancing Native Missions gifting catalog to donate and directly impact families around the world.

YOU CAN HELP CHANGE LIVES TOO
Find over 20 simple ways to transform lives inside this catalog … all in the name of Jesus.

Waypoint Goods Travel Scarf Review and Giveaway!

Disclaimer: I received complimentary product from Waypoint Goods in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. 

I love to travel, but sadly I don't get to very often because living on a farm means having many responsibilities: tending animals, planting, gardening, harvesting, and keeping up the home and grounds. However, I still get to occasionally go to: hike, waterfall spot, bird watch, rockhound, mudlark, beachcomb, star gaze, and just explore nature. I also love to go to different fairs, festivals, carnivals, conventions, concerts, theatrical performances, antique shops, bazaars, flea markets, farmers' markets, open air markets, food carts, museums, and art galleries as well.

 

I am wearing the Jasmine & Jain travel scarf from Waypoint Goods.

When I do go places, I like the convenience of having my hands free to be able to do things and not to worry about my stuff being stolen. Caitlin Blythe, the owner and founder of Waypoint Goods, made the perfect travel fashion accessory to do just that and more! Besides being fashionable, this infinity scarf has a handy, inconspicuous, and unseen zipper pocket that has room enough for an iPhone+ or similar sized cell phone, passport, wallet, keys, some cash, ID, credit cards, boarding passes, facemask, hand sanitizer, sunglasses, and/or other small essentials. This means you can keep your belongings safe and secure without having to take a bulky purse or backpack with you at all times. No more worrying about pickpockets while you are taking in the culture, food, art, sights, and sounds of your next adventure because the hidden pocket blends into the wide folds of the scarf eliminating the outline of your secure essentials. Just place the pocket loop closest to your body and use the other loop to drape over the top and hide the pocket and contents.

I received a Waypoint Goods Travel Scarf from the Featured Artist Series and called Jasmine & Jain. It is one of the lightweight scarves made from all natural bamboo and cotton. This pattern was made by two women, Alison Abbott and Jane, and was inspired by the flower market in Jaipur, India and the local people there, wearing colorful geometric patterns. Marigolds, rose petals and the scent of jasmine made the painted and layered canvas spring to life. The scarf's pattern is a result of an adaption of the full canvas. I love this gorgeous scarf! The oranges, reds and purples with the layered pattern are so rich and beautiful. You can read more about the art process, here. 1% of sales of the Jasmine & Jain scarf will be donated to the nonprofit organization, CharityWater.org.

I love that the Waypoint Goods scarves are made of quality fabric and notions that is sewn well. The fabric is soft, yet durable and is meticulously stitched with a lined pocket that has an invisible zipper. The pocket is lined in Waypoint Goods patterned fabric that complements the outer fabric and is lighter in color so you can find your stuff fast.

There are two different categories of travel scarf depending upon length and fabric choice and each have 5 lovely designs per category. One category is the lightweight bamboo and cotton travel scarf which is long and narrow and great for warmer weather and petite travelers. The lightweight scarves are 18" wide by 34" long and made of  eco-friendly 70% bamboo and 30% cotton. The other category is the original travel scarf which is wide and short and is best for cooler weather and wrapping up. The original is 22" wide by 32" long and is made of buttery soft 100% polyester.

I love how versatile this travel infinity scarf is, that you can pretty much wear it anywhere, and it is easy to clean. It can be used as a scarf, shawl, blanket and worn several different ways. You can take it with you on an airplane, train, bus, boat, etc. It is great to have at crowded tourist areas, stadiums, museums, concerts, festivals, date night, out walking the dog, etc. If you don't have other pockets in your dress, jeans or jacket, this scarf is the key to that problem! Washing instructions are pretty straight forward: hand wash cold with mild detergent and lay flat to dry. If you cannot wash the recommended way you can instead machine wash on delicate cycle after placing in a garment bag and then lay flat to dry.

BUY IT

Any of the Waypoint Travel Scarves would be perfect for gift giving! They are a unique and functional gift that is just as great for travel as everyday life. Great for giving at graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, or any of those special days or moments that come up. The Waypoint Goods Travel scarf comes gift ready with sleek packaging and the same attention to detail and design inspiration as the scarf itself. Sign up for their newsletter and get 10% off your first order!

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• Prize: Win a Waypoint Goods Travel Scarf of your choice!

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Ameo Life Health Products Review and Giveaway #ameolife #christianhealth #healthylifestyle #supplements #naturalhealth

Disclaimer: I received complimentary product through FrontGate Media in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Ameo Life health products are backed by science and research, are all natural, and made in the USA. Their mission is is to "produce amazing natural products to promote care for the body using only the cleanest ingredients, free of chemicals, toxins or any harmful substances". Their products include: vitamins and supplements, liquids and gels, soaps, and lozenges.

Here is an overview of 4 of their products:

pH Balanced Alkaline Structured Silver Solution

• 16 oz. (473ml)
• 30ppm Structured Silver Solution
• pH balanced
• Supports a Healthy Digestive System
• Immune System Support
• Naturally Cleanses the Gut
• Naturally Cleanses Bad Bacteria, Yeast, and Mold
• Safe and Effective Supplement

Extra Strength Silver Gel

• 3.38 oz. (100ml)
• 35ppm Silver
• Structured Silver Gel
• Naturally Support the Skin
• pH balanced
• Safe and Effective

Organic Silver Soap

• 4 oz. Bar
• Infused with 30ppm Silver
• Essential Oils
• Naturally, Cleanse the skin
• Toxin and Paraben Free

Chelated Multivitamin

• 60 Veggie Caps
• 18 Essential Vitamins and Minerals
• Increases Energy and Stamina
• Easy to Swallow Vegetarian Capsules
• Iron-Free for Gentle Digestion
• Boosts Nutrient Levels

My Thoughts:

I love products that are natural and nourishing. Ameo Life health products are just that and they are also a company with Christian values. I love how they stand strong in their faith and believe that the human body is a miracle of divine creation and that our planet earth provides the ability to promote healing with natural supplementation and elements. They share this belief with me.

I received 4 Ameo Life products to try out: pH Balanced Alkaline Structured Silver Solution, Extra Strength Silver Gel, Organic Silver Soap, and a bottle of their Chelated Multivitamins. I love that I got to try out different Ameo Life products and not just one thing. 

The pH Balanced Alkaline Structured Silver Solution is a liquid supplement that adults can take 2 tsp of twice daily and children 4 years and older can take 1/2 tsp twice daily. It doesn't really taste like anything and doesn't have a smell. You can use this both for external skin use and internally as a supplement. I have also been using it on my tooth brush and notice a difference. My gums feel better and so does my gut. 

The Extra Strength Silver Gel is Ameo Life's strongest silver gel they offer. It is for external use only and is great for your skin. It comes in a pump and its directions say to apply generously to skin as needed to promote healthy skin. I love to use it on my face as a cleanser. My skin is so dry with this summer heat and this gel is cold and refreshing. My skin soaks it up and feels fresh and rejuvenated. I find that it speeds healing too. I noticed my blemishes disappearing and it is great to quickly heal cuts, burns, rashes, and bug bites/stings too. I have super sensitive skin and this was delicate with no added dyes or perfumes and didn't make me break out like other things.

Ameo Life has 5 different Silver Soaps to choose from. They have Lavender, Charcoal Tea Tree, Lemongrass, Oatmeal Spice, and Peppermint. These bar soaps are all natural, silver infused, and made with organic ingredients. These are great for all skin types and are toxin and paraben free. I received their Charcoal Tea Tree Silver Soap. This soap has orange, tea tree, and bergamot essential oils which make it have a light, pleasant smell. It is a black bar because of the activated charcoal which helps clean the skin, unclog pores, remove oils and impurities, and slough dead skin cells. It also has coconut oil and cacao butter which help moisturize and soften the skin. Plantain leaves from the Broadleaf Plantain have been added because of its healing properties, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, and vitamins A, C, and K. Cacao is added for its antioxidants and nutrients and Rosemary extract for its stimulating and astringent effect on the skin, as well as its ability to decongest oily skin. I love this soap! It leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth.

The Chelated Multivitamin is an adult daily multivitamin with 18 essential vitamins and minerals. Recommended use is to take 2 cellulose capsules per day with food. They are gluten-friendly and vegan. Chelated means that it has improved absorption and availability for the human body. The added methylated folate, a biologically active form of the B9 vitamin folate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (L-methylfolate), is a bonus because it helps with depression and other mental health issues and is better for us than the synthetic form, folic acid. It is rich in antioxidants like Vitamin C, E, and Alpha Lipoic Acid. I can take these with my iron pills since they don't contain iron. These have a "full complex of B vitamins", meaning 8 different kinds: B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folate), and B12 (cobalamin); to help with stress, and to support brain function as well as nervous system and reproductive health. I have noticed a significant boost in energy, mood, and stamina while taking them.

BUY IT

Purchase the Ameo Life Health Products here.

WIN IT

• Prize: Win 4 full sized Ameo Life products!
  
• Host: Ameo Life and its subsidiaries and FrontGate Media.
• Who Can Enter: Open to US residents 18 years or older.
• Selection Process:1 Winner will be selected on 8/25/2022 and notified by email at which time they will ask for your address. Winner will have 2 weeks to respond.
  
• Where to Enter: Go to this link https://www.blessedfreebies.com/ameo-life-giveaway.html and fill out the form to enter.

NET Abide Bible + Free Study on the Book of John Review and Giveaway #abidebible #abideinchrist #abide #bible #studybible

Disclaimer: I received complimentary product through FrontGate Media in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

The Abide Bible is a bible that is a great for scripture study. You can choose from the NKJV (New King James Version) or NET (New English Translation). For the NET version you can pick from 3 different covers: Blue Cloth-bound Hardcover, Brown Leathersoft, and Stone Leathersoft. The leathersoft versions are made of imitation leather with a Smyth-sewn binding which allows it to lay flat while open. It also has two different colored ribbon bookmarks to keep your place while you read. This bible is in an easy to read language and in Comfort Print®.

Features Include:

Bible Trailer:

My Thoughts:

I received the NET (New English Translation) Brown Leathersoft version even though I requested the Stone Leathersoft version because the Stone Leathersoft was on backorder and they were not sure when they would get them in. Even though I didn't get the cover I wanted this bible has a very nice brown imitation leather cover. It came in a sturdy box that protected it from getting damaged in shipping and also keeps it neatly tucked away in after being read, so that it stays nice. I like that it also goes through the features inside the bible on the first page and also has a inscription page in case you are gifting this bible to a friend or family member. I also love that it has "how to use this bible" explanation pages and an introduction of the NET if you are not really familiar with it. It also has a 365-Day Bible-Reading Plan in color to follow in your reading. My absolute favorite aspect of this bible is the Engage Through Art pages. These have full color pictures of art pertaining to the scriptures you have read and a description of the art piece to go with it. I also love all the other prompts and there are so many different ones to delve deeper in the Word of the Lord. I love that this bible is basically a devotional in a bible. Each book of the bible also has a historical and literary context and what you should do to prepare as you read further.

 

This bible is heirloom quality. It has a faux leather cover with binding that allows it to lay flat when opened. I love this because struggling with keeping a book open while reading is definitely not fun. Also, the full color pictures inside are fabulous. This bible has gold lettering on the cover and spine that says the title and gilded gold outer edges to the pages, as well. It also has two different colored attached ribbon bookmarks to keep your place.

I highly recommend the Abide Bible to further your understanding of the bible and to deepen your faith in God. I can't wait to immerse myself with the tools that this bible provides.

There is a free 21 day bible study through the book of John that is available as part of the Bible launch. Please sign up here: https://bit.ly/3tY50db

WIN IT

• Prize: Win a copy of the Abide Bible
  
• Host: Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson and its subsidiaries and FrontGate Media.
• Who Can Enter: Open to US residents 18 years or older.
• Selection Process: 1 Winner will be selected on 7/25/2022 and notified by email at which time they will ask for your address. Winner will have 2 weeks to respond.
  
• Where to Enter: Go to this link https://www.blessedfreebies.com/the-abide-bible-net-giveaway.html and fill out the form to enter.

BUY IT

Purchase the Abide Bible from Thomas Nelson Bibles.

Creating A Masterpiece Art History Program Review

Disclaimer: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

My family had the privilege of trying the Art History Program from Creating A Masterpiece for this review to use in conjunction with our own curriculum at home. This is a Homeschool Review Crew Review. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

Creating A Masterpiece is founded by Sharon Hofer. Sharon traveled all over the world to study art under some of the finest artists of our time at world-renowned art institutes and studios for the past three decades. She learned that anyone can create a masterpiece and started this online art instruction that teaches aspiring artists step-by-step at their own pace to create beautiful art.

 

Sharon Hofer of Creating a Masterpiece.

 

The Art History Program is part of the Creating A Masterpiece line of award-winning art curriculum. These lessons will have you learning the same techniques as the art masters through video lessons taught by Sharon Hofer. This program is a great addition to art history studies. Instead of just reading about the great masters of art, you can recreate their masterpieces too! Your student will learn how to recognize and create period specific art styles and master art skills needed to make masterpieces. They will also learn how to use different art media, for example: sculpture, colored marker, fresco, printmaking, acrylics, mosaic, egg tempera, glass etching, etc. The program comes with art supply lists for each project that are set up so that you can purchase all that is needed on Dick Blick, a wonderful art supplier.

 

This program features:

1. Styles of Art in History: In these projects students learn how to create fine art that mimic art styles from different periods of the past. For example: Romanticism, Realism, Cubism, etc. Recommended for ages 5 and up.
2. Historically Themed Projects: These projects can add art to your study of history. For example: a ship in a lagoon representing the Spanish Exploration or a Native American Chief representing life in Early America. Recommended for ages 6 and up.
3. Exploring the Art of Yesterday: In this project the student will learn to recreate an art piece from Ivan Aivazovsky. Recommended for ages 13 and up. This is a more difficult project.
4. Capstone Project. These projects are meant to teach the student how to recreate historic masterpieces. These are taught at a masterpiece level and should only be attempted by those who meet Sharon's criteria in the project description.

 

How We Used This and Our Thoughts:

We were given access to all the art projects from Creating a Masterpiece until December 31, 2021. There were many different art lessons we could chose from, but we focused on the art history sections in Creating A Masterpiece as this is what we were supposed to review. The art was accessed by logging in and clicking STUDIO in the top right corner. Then we scrolled down to the bottom sections because that is where the Art History Programs were located.

We chose three different art pieces to do for this review from The Art History Program of Creating a Masterpiece. The first was the Expressionism Period: The Zebra (Acrylic Painting) from the Styles of Art in History section. This project I will go into more detail than the others and show pictures. We also did the Ancient Egypt: Egyptian Nomads and the Revolutionary War: The Cannon (Ink) from the Historically Themed Projects section.

I wish each art project would have the level clearly stated according to difficulty. Most do in the project description, but some do not say and so this made it harder to choose the project. The ones that do have this label go from 1-5 in difficulty. All three of the projects we chose had the level in the project description.

 

The Zebra art supply list.

 

Each project comes with its own art supply list and purchase list. Just click the "View Supply List" button to see the art supply list. This list shows you what art supplies you will need for the individual project and helps you determine quantity depending upon how many students you have doing the same project. There is also a purchase list of the same supplies provided by Creating A Masterpiece in Dick Blick. You can view this list by clicking the "Purchase Supplies" button. If you already have the art supply at home or need more of the item you can easily adjust the quantity of each item and then add the items you do need to your cart to purchase. You can buy supplies from the provided Dick Blick list or buy them elsewhere if you find them cheaper or want to buy locally. I would also suggest watching the first or second video in each project so you know if you need to buy supplies or can use what you have at home. The art supplies listed are highly recommended as they are the best choice for getting the finest results for the art taught. We bought supplies for The Zebra and The Cannon, but had what we needed for the Egyptian Nomad picture at home.

The Zebra purchase supply list.

The Zebra Blick art supplies.

The first art piece I chose to do because it was a level 3 and I wanted to do some painting with acrylics. I chose The Zebra from the Styles of Art in History section. My daughter, Zari's favorite animal is a zebra, so I decided to surprise her with the art piece after I finished it. There are 5 lessons for this project and within each lesson there are two to three sections each in video format so the lessons are broken up and not too long and you can follow along better. The painting style I learned was from the Expressionism Period. I learned that in the Expressionism Period they used color to express emotion. I finished my zebra painting by signing my signature Fina🌙 in the corner. This project would be great for those learning more about the Expressionism Period.

 

How The Zebra project is laid out.

 

The second art piece we did was the Ancient Egyptian Nomad scene from the Historically Themed Projects section. It is a level 1 art piece. We used our markers from home because in the video Sharon says not to go out and buy new markers. We also used regular paper because she said we could use that or marker paper, which we didn't have. We picked similar colors as what she chose in the color swatches. This project has one lesson with 5 video sections. We loved how the silhouette of the nomad riding on the camel took shape and the pyramids in the background became colorful with designs.

 

The Zebra progression.

 

The third art project we did was The Cannon. This was a project from the Historically Themed Projects section and level 2 in difficulty. We learned a bit about the Revolutionary War by reading the description of the project. The Cannon is a single lesson project that is broken up into 9 sections. This project used ink in an interesting way, like watercolor. Before doing the project we purchased these supplies through Blick as well. The supplies included a Bristol paper pad, a red sharpie twin tip marker, a Tombow dual brush pen, a size 14 flat brush, and a size 0 round brush. We loved learning the technique to making the pen ink look like watercolor. We will be using this technique in other art projects later on.

 

My finished Zebra painting.

 

The Creating A Masterpiece Art History Program was a lot of fun. We enjoyed the projects and lessons thoroughly and are excited to do more of the projects. Sharon Hofer is a great teacher and she explains everything well. These projects go very well with a history curriculum. We highly recommend this to anyone wanting to learn more about art and/or the process of making a masterpiece.

Follow Them on Social Media:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/createamasterpiece 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyDU-6301Pwj_1Dez9YkumQ
• Hashtags: #hsreviews #fineartonline #CreatingaMasterpiece #ArtClassOnline #ArtCurriculum #ArtEssentials #DrawingCourses #ArtHistoryCurriculum

BUY IT

The Creating A Masterpiece Art History Program can be purchased in monthly or yearly subscriptions for $29.99/month or $299/year. Homeschool special rates are always available to those who contact them.  

Read other homeschool curriculum reviews for Creating A Masterpiece Art History Program...

Home School in the Woods Time Travelers: New World Explorers Review

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

My family had the privilege of trying the Time Travelers U.S. History Studies New World Explorers from Home School in the Woods for this review to use in conjunction with our own curriculum at home. This is a Homeschool Review Crew Review. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

Home School in the Woods is a family run business that creates Christian based history curriculum for homeschooling. This curriculum immerses your student in the topic. It is very hands-on with lapbooks, timelines, recipes, art, creative writing, notebook projects, dramatized audio theater, maps, crafts, projects, re-enactments, file-folder games, vocabulary to learn, etc.

The Time Traveler American History Studies are a seven part series that starts with the New World Explorers and concludes at the end of World War II. These are recommended for grades 3-8. There are two different versions you can purchase, a CD version or a digital download version. With the CD version everything that you access and print is on the CD. With the digital download version you download a zipped file, place all of the contents into a folder on your computer, and access it by the start.htm file that is in that folder. We received the digital download version.

 

Left: Main Menu, Right: Lessons 1-5

 

We found that there was a lot of preparation that needed to happen before getting started. There is a lot of things needing printed, items needing prepared for crafts and other projects, and general preparation of materials before one can begin the travel. The Beginning of the main menu includes: Acknowledgements / Copyrights and Usage / Bibliography, Introduction, Tips to Consider Before Starting..., and Teacher Helps which gives you a great foundation. Teacher Helps guides you with preparation and organization, gives you a Lesson Planner schedule to help you see an overview of the things being taught and Additional Resources to pull from. It also includes the printables for the 3-Ring Binder Covers and the Teacher Keys for the timeline.

Each study has twenty-five lessons and is supposed to last roughly 5-10 weeks depending upon how quickly everything is completed. These lessons have reading Text Pages and an activity that go with them. Project Pages accompany these to give directions, list of supplies needed, printing instructions, and illustrations for each project and activity. Masters are provided for all printables.

In the Other Resources section at the end of the main menu there are some visuals and directions to help you with the projects, activities, and lapbook. These include: All Master Pages in numerical order, A Gallery of Project Photos (final photos of what projects should look like at the end), and Lap Book Instructions. You can also have your student catch up with the five Project Days that are included in the schedule. The student will compile a lapbook in the 24th lesson. This lapbook is pieced together throughout the studies. The final lesson is a party with a theme that goes along with the series to celebrate the end of the study. These are very flexible and you can pick and choose what projects work best for your family.

You will need a few items to get you through the lessons:

• Working Printer
• Color and Black Ink for the printer to cover all the printing that will be happening
• White and Colored Printer Paper
• White and Colored Cardstock (this is best, but admittedly we didn't have any of this and used only white printer paper and it worked OK)
• One 3-Ring Binder for the Teacher's Binder (reading text, project direction pages, the "Guide-at-a-Glance," teacher keys, and any of the other teacher helps)
• One 3-Ring Binder for the Scrapbook of Sights (student binder for all notebook projects including)
• Colored File Folders or Colored Pocket Folders with Fasteners
• Scissors and/or an X-acto Knife (when using an X-acto Knife you will need a thick piece of cardboard or self healing mat to use as a cutting surface)
• Crayons, Markers, or Colored Pencils to color the pictures, if desired
• Glue
• Other Craft supplies specified for each of the different projects that your student wants to do

 

Lessons for Time Travelers American History Study: New World Explorers:

1. What is an Explorer?
2. The Life of an Explorer - Pt. 1
3. The Life of an Explorer - Pt. 2
4. Ship Ahoy!
5. PROJECT DAY - 1
6. Navigation
7. Brendan, Eriksson, & Columbus
8. Cabot & Vespucci
9. Ponce de León & Balboa
10. PROJECT DAY - 2
11. Pizarro & Magellan
12. Verrazano & Cortés
13. Cartier & de Soto
14. Coronado & Drake
15. PROJECT DAY - 3
16. Cabrillo & Ribaut
17. Raleigh & Smith
18. Oñate, Champlain, & Hudson
19. Bering & Cook
20. PROJECT DAY - 4
21. Pirates! - Pt. 1
22. Pirates! - Pt. 2
23. PROJECT DAY - 5
24. Pulling Together the Lap Book™
25. Exploration Celebration

Zari coloring the binder cover and spine.

 

How We Used This and Our Thoughts:
I enlisted my daughter Zari, who was in 4th grade this past school year, to learn about New World Explorers. She has loved doing Home School in the Woods in the past. This is supposed to be for 3rd through 8th graders so most of the projects she did very well on. She did need my help with some of the more advanced projects and writing assignments and it took her a lot longer to get through some of the written assignments than it might have taken for my older kids. I learned quite a bit too while helping her with this study.

We have been learning about an explorer and ship that is tied to the history out here. The Columbia Rediviva was under the command of John Kendrick and Captain Robert Grey. They sailed in the Pacific Northwest for the maritime fur trade. They used the Columbia River as a key transportation route. This ship is said to have been the model for the local high school being "The Columbians". The Home School in the Woods Time Travelers: New World Explorers goes hand-in-hand with what we have been studying.

 

My girls with a chainsaw carved sea captain sculpture at Rainier Jr Sr High in Dec. 2017.

 

This study was jam packed with information. This is all about early U.S. History. It is about the explorers that discovered the new world. In the weeks we had before this review we learned about explorers, their life, and ships, etc. There are creative writing, recipes of the era, notebook timeline, factfile cards, file folder games, penmanship pages, notebooking activities, three-dimensional projects, arts and crafts, lapbooking, and a Exploration Celebration to bring the whole unit to a close. We still have not gotten through all the lessons, but we have enjoyed everything that we have done thus far.

 

Zari coloring the ship and learning about ship's anatomy.

This was differently laid out than the Project Passports I was used to. There were no stops or pretending to be on a trip and these did not have any audio files to listen to. Like Project Passport though, the instructions are not hard, but there is a lot of things to set up and print out initially and throughout the program....so be aware of that and set some time aside to begin with to get things done so you are not overwhelmed.

Zari really liked our project time together the most. She loves art and making things. She especially loved tying nautical knots, making dried apples, making flags, learning about the ship's anatomy, making and drinking lime juice, and singing sea shanties. We can't wait to make the ship out of a large box that we acquired, dress up like pirates or seaman, find constellations in the night sky for navigation, making navigational tools, and make some of the recipes, etc. We are learning a lot and are enjoying every moment. These are so much fun!

Dried fruit was a main staple of food on a ship while exploring.

 

I highly recommend the Time Travelers American History Study: New World Explorers from Home School in the Woods. This is great for anyone homeschooling who might need some help with teaching about explorers in the new world in a highly educational, fun, and very hands-on way. This is a great stand-alone unit study or can be used to supplement something already being taught. This would also be perfect for those wanting something fun to do with their kids in the summer time. I am looking forward to reviewing more from Home School in the Woods in the future and learning more about United States history with this study!

 

BUY IT
You can purchase the download version of the Time Travelers U.S. History Studies New World Explorers from Home School in the Woods for $27.95 and CD version for $28.95.

Download the scope and sequence, look at a sample lesson, see photo examples of projects, and watch a video of "What is a Time Traveler" when you click the link above, to get more of an idea about the program.

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• Hashtags: #hsreviews #HomeSchoolintheWoods #HSitW #TimeTravelers #NewWorldExplorers #history #unitstudies #lapbooks #lapbooking #HistoryUnitStudies #HomeschoolHistory #handsonhistory #historyforkids #historycurriculum #ushistory #americanhistory #americanhistorystudies #americanhistorycurriculum 

 

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Emily Lex Watercolor Package and Classes Review and May Flowers Giveaway #EmilyLex #Watercolors #WatercolorClass #MayFlowers #favoritethings #emilylexstudio

 

Disclaimer: I received complimentary product through FrontGate Media in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Emily Lex is an artist that makes pretty watercolor art and words of encouragement. Her work has been featured on HGTV, Better Homes & Gardens, Magnolia Journal and more. She also has a shop full of lovely things that she has created: watercolor workbooks, art prints, Truth for Today cards, Kids Truth for Today cards, Freely and Lightly book, Twirl children's book and stands for the cards. She also teaches online classes on how to paint with watercolor and do fancy penmanship.

 

Emily Lex package of products.

 

We received a very generous package for this review:

• A watercolor flowers workbook
• A watercolor animals workbook
  
• Truth for Today cards
• Kids Truth for Today cards
• A brass stand
• PLUS free registration for all 3 of her online, go at your own pace watercolor classes including one for kids! 

 

Emily Lex Watercolor Workbooks: Animal (above) and Flower (below).

 

There are two watercolor workbooks: Watercolor Workbook Flowers and Watercolor Workbook Animals. Each watercolor workbook has you create 10 watercolor pictures with the help of a reference page, instructions, and a faint sketch. They have forty-two 7" x 9" spiral bound lay flat pages professionally printed on slightly textured paper. Each workbook has original watercolor artwork + sketches by Emily Lex. The reference page has a picture of the completed art, paint palette of colors, and simple instructions to help you. The sketch page has a light sketch outline that gets you started with the art. This sketch page can be painted directly onto it because it is made of watercolor paper.

 

Examples of Emily Lex Truth for Today Cards (left) and Kids Truth for Today Cards (right)

 

There are two different packs of Truth for Today cards: one regular version and one for kids. Each card set has 31 cards with original watercolor artwork by Emily Lex and a scripture verse. These are 4" x 4" cards made out of 120lb cotton texture eggshell paper. There are also two different types of holders for the cards to sit in: brass and gold card stand. They are both sold separately from the cards. We received brass card holder. It is solid brass with a brushed finish. Emily Lex has three courses you can take: Simplified Penmanship, Simplified Watercolor, and Watercolor for Kids. These classes are online and you can watch them on any device. After purchase you get instant unlimited access to the video course chosen. You can work at your own pace and can pause and replay any lesson at your leisure. Each course has 8-10 video lessons. Supply lists, project templates, and guides are included. Simplified Penmanship is a course to learn better handwriting skills. You can use this to write notes, letters, address envelopes, create artwork, write on a chalkboard, and write legibly and beautifully. Simplified Watercolor is a course that teaches watercolor basics and then helps you create lovely watercolor paintings that you can be proud to display. Watercolor for Kids is a course for kids of all ages. These lessons will teach your young aspiring artist techniques for mixing paint, caring for a brush, and stroke-making, then practice making fun watercolor art cute enough to proudly display.

 

My Thoughts:

I have not done very much watercolor painting on my own, except for the "Paint With Water" books I did as a child. These were fun, but did not really teach me the fundamentals of how to paint with watercolor. I have always wanted to learn those basics, but never took the time or had the chance. When I received the opportunity of reviewing the Emily Lex Watercolor Package and Classes I jumped at the chance. 

I first received the package of watercolor goodies in the mail and opened it up. There were so many fantastic things inside. I cannot wait to thoroughly dive into everything offered.

I looked through the watercolor booklets and am very excited especially to do the whale in the animals workbook and the sunflower in the flowers workbook...2 of my favorite things! There are so many other pages that look like fun also! The instructions on the reference pages look fairly simple to follow and you can paint directly onto the page with the outlined sketch, so no need for buying a watercolor pad of paper. The sketch makes it very easy to know the outline of the painting and you do not need to know how to draw to do these. There are also blank pages to practice what you have learned with watercolor or just do your own thing. I also love that they are perfect for taking with you on trips or outdoors when the weather is nice and they don't need any screen time to do.

The Truth for Today and Kids Truth for Today cards are just lovely. I love the illustrations from Emily Lex and bible verses on each one. These are gentle reminders of scripture truths. They are a wonderful way to start the morning with and would be great as gifts for someone that needs uplifting. Both sets of cards are great for anyone, regardless of age.

I love how the Truth for Today cards can be displayed in the brass holder that we also received. Make sure to place the cards in it the correct way so that the card angles slightly back not forward this way you can read the bible chapter and verse number. This sleek and stylish brass holder can also hold other things as well...like a recipe card.

Here are my finished art from some of the Emily Lex Simplified Watercolor lessons.

There were three different courses that we were also given: Simplified Penmanship, Simplified Watercolor, and Watercolor for Kids. I have been doing the Simplified Watercolor class. It is a great step-by-step watercolor class for a beginner like me or artists who would like the practice. You can go at your own pace watching the videos, pause at anytime, go back if you missed something, and skip over the parts you already know if you want. In this she begins describing the supplies. I only had a cheap set of crayola watercolors, a nice paintbrush set I got as a gift, and a watercolor pad from my kids using our watercolor crayon set. She said that using the cheap paints would be fine, but as you get better with the art then you might want to purchase a better set and she listed a few. She went over some techniques in the third and forth lessons and then we started painting actual pictures of things. There are also bonus lessons at the end as well. I loved how it also checked off the lessons I had done so that I would know where I was the next time I logged in. I could also still go back through the finished lessons if I needed to. I loved painting the Seascape the most so far, but the Dot Project was fun too. I know that my kids are going to enjoy the Watercolor for Kids class. I looked it over and I might even do the lessons right along with them. The Simplified Penmanship class is going to be very good for me. My penmanship is not too bad, but I would love to do better with my writing and learn some fancy lettering too. I cannot wait to get all the way through these. I have learned so much already and there is so much more to go.

I highly recommend all that Emily Lex has to offer. Her products and classes are so much fun and would make great gifts. I am very pleased with everything we received and want to thank her for being so generous so that we could try a bunch of things. Everything here is fabulous! I encourage you to check Emily Lex out for yourself.

 

 

WIN IT

• Prize: Win the May Flowers Giveaway
  
• Host: Emily Lex.
• Who Can Enter: Open to US and Canadian residents 13 years or older.
• Selection Process: 3 Winners will be selected on 05/30/2021.
  
• Where to Enter: Go to this link https://emilylex.com/may-flowers-ga and fill out the form to enter.

 

BUY IT

Purchase products and classes from Emily Lex's Shop.

Learn more about Emily here: https://emilylex.com/about/ and on IG: https://www.instagram.com/emilylexstudio/ and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilylexstudio/

YWAM Publishing Heroes of History George Washington Carver: From Slave to Scientist and Unit Study Curriculum Guide Review

 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

My family had the privilege of reading the Heroes of History - George Washington Carver from YWAM Publishing for this review to use in conjunction with our own curriculum at home. This is a Homeschool Review Crew Review. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

YWAM (YOUTH WITH A MISSION) Publishing is a nonprofit organization that produces and distributes books that help Christians make a difference in the world by giving a portion of every dollar spent to buy books through YWAM Publishing to children and adults in other countries that are in need. Their books focus on evangelism, educational training, prayer, discipleship, and mercy ministries.

YWAM Publishing has two popular book series; one called Heroes of History and the other called Christian Heroes: Then & Now; in which true stories are told of real people that lived in our history. In the Heroes of History series we learn about great men and woman who changed the course of history. In the Christian Heroes: Then & Now series we learn about ordinary people who have put their trust in God and in doing so accomplish extraordinary things. Both of these book series help us as: parents, teachers, and caretakers; give our children wholesome biographies to read or be read to that teach good character traits, values, and virtues.

 

George Washington Carver: From Slave to Scientist

 

George Washington Carver: From Slave to Scientist by Janet & Geoff Benge is part of a series of 29 biography books called Heroes of History by YWAM Publishing. This series covers the years 1451 to 1951. This book tells the true life story of George Washington Carver who was a brilliant American agricultural scientist, inventor, and professor. This Christian biography book from YWAM Publishing about George Washington Carver teaches great character traits, values, and virtues too. This book covers the years 1864 to 1943. It chronicles his life from a baby to his death in 1943. It is a total of 16 chapters and 189 pages long.

 

George Washington Carver Unit Study download page tab.

The Unit Study Curriculum Guide that is paired with the George Washington Carver: From Slave to Scientist book that I received was in the digital downloadable format and opened as an executable file. The digital version is downloadable in a zipped format, so you will have to unzip before you use it. After selecting where it will go on your computer, unzip it, and find the folder it placed it all into. Find the file version you need: __MACOSX for Macintosh and the other for PC. Click on the file that has START HERE in its title and it will open in a new window in your browser. You can then read a very short synopsis of the biography under the George Washington Carver tab, download the unit study under the Unit Study tab, etc.

The Unit Study downloads in PDF format. It also has a 25 page guide for classroom and homeschool as well as a 12 page guide for a small group that tells you how to best use the unit study. This shows how flexible you can be with the unit study. You can do the whole study or just parts of it. It is all up to you how you use it. The unit study goes in depth to help you go above and beyond the book and explore other areas that pertain to the material like: crafts, cooking, art, and writing assignments; has questions to ask your children to see if they comprehended the reading, and quotes to use as copywork to enhance handwriting or memorization. The unit study is broken into two parts.

Here is the Unit Study Curriculum Guide Contents:
Part 1 -
Introduction (how to use the study)

1. Key Quotes (great for copywork, memorization, theatrical presentation, or art display)
2. Display Corner (an area designated for hands on display of items relating to the reading)
3. Chapter Questions (questions that enhance the reading: 1 vocabulary, 1 factual, 2 comprehension, and 2 open-ended)
4. Student Explorations (essay questions, creative writing, hands-on projects, audio/visual projects, arts & crafts)
5. Community Links (field trip ideas)
6. Social Studies (places, journeys, terms/vocabulary, geographical characteristics: mapping, timeline: plotting historical events, conceptual questions)
7. Related Themes to Explore (cultures, math, literature, history, current events, science & medicine)
8. Culminating Event (sort of a show and tell ending, ideas include: invitations, clothing, competitions, presentations, food, displays)

Appendix A: Books and Resources
Appendix B: Answers to Chapter Questions

Part 2 -
Appendix C: Social Studies Reproducibles

 

Zari reading YWAM Publishing Heroes of History George Washington Carver: From Slave to Scientist.

How We Used This and Our Thoughts:

My 11 year old daughter Zari and my 13 year old daughter Teela read the book. Both have been doing the study guide with me. We learned more about George Washington Carver's life from reading this book than any textbook we had read or movie we had watched previously. It was quite refreshing to learn more about this important man.

After each chapter Zari and I did the first three questions from the study guide which are geared toward the younger students. They include a vocabulary question, a factual question coming from the reading, and the first comprehension question. The study guide is geared toward ages 10+. Zari and I would look up the words in a dictionary and thesaurus as well, for more understanding. My daughter, Teela, had no problem with the reading and vocabulary, but that is because she is a voracious reader. I had Teela do all of the chapter questions. Besides the chapter questions I had Zari do copywork from the key quotes and I had Teela memorize them and say them back to me. I will have Teela do an essay as suggested in the study guide under the student explorations and essays. She will also be doing some creative writing.

We also tried to go to the websites in the books and resources section of the study guide to learn more about George Washington Carver, but most of them were unfortunately broken. We looked up our own and found some pictures of his paintings of flowers and explored the George Washington Carver National Monument Park in Missouri by virtual tour and multimedia. We didn't know he was an artist as well as a botanist and inventor until this study. He was a very well accomplished man.

There was so much to learn and explore in this unit study. We were amazed at the very complexity of it all. We are going to check out some more books and biographies that they recommend in the study guide later. We didn't even begin to scratch the surface and were still very engaged in this lengthy unit study. This would be a great study to incorporate for Black History Month.

The YWAM Publishing biographies are historical and true. These true stories along with the unit studies are great for homeschooling families. We hope to get to read about Theodore Roosevelt next in their extensive biography list. I highly recommend these!

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BUY IT
YWAM Publishing Heroes of History - George Washington Carver book:
Regular Price: $9.99 YWAM Price: $7.50

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