Scripture and A Snapshot

Homeschool Legacy ~ Review

I love history and I try to help my children have a love for learning about our land. Over the past three weeks, we have been using the Once- a- Week Micro-Study Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims from Homeschool Legacy to learn more about Thanksgiving.

What is Homeschool Legacy? 
Homeschool Legacy is a company that produces once-a-week studies and micro-studies. Their goal is to instill a love of learning in your children. The once-a-week studies are written particularly for all homeschool families, but they also help children who are in different programs to earn merit badges. The once-a-week studies were created to help families bring glory to God. The Gibson family started this business after researching the many different ways to homeschool. They felt that the best choice was a unit study to give families a break from the textbook.

What is a micro-study?
Some of the differences between a unit study and a micro study are listed below:

• A micro-study only has you reading from one classic or read aloud during the study
• They are still designed to be used one day a week over a period of time, but they can also be completed in a week if you choose
• They are digital products with educational links throughout the study
• Micro-studies are designed for children in grades 1-8
• They do not include weekly library lists

What is Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims micro-study?
The Thanksgiving micro-study is a six week study of Thanksgiving. Over the course of the six weeks, you and your children learn many things about the Pilgrims, the Constitution, the Mayflower Compact, Plymouth, and the Puritans. The micro-study is designed to be used 30 minutes for three days a week. There are a few books listed (or you can use your own) and there are also some recipes to make. There is also several helpful links to click on throughout the study to learn how the pilgrims talked, learn about your First Amendment rights, take a virtual tour of the Mayflower, and a link to slow cooker Indian pudding.

How we used the Thanksgiving micro-study:
Since we already had a couple of books about Thanksgiving, we used our own instead of the ones listed. (The one pictured above is one of the books we used.) We have gone through three weeks of the study. I am using it with all four of my children (grades K, 6th, 8th, and 9th). So, my choice of books were a little young for my older two, but they still listened to me read the book. My older children did most of the work while my K-5er helped with the easier stuff and listened to the history parts. I was hoping to make it to week four before I had to write our review so we could make the Indian pudding recipe. (I will try to come back and update after we make the pudding early next week).

What we thought:
My children liked being able to take a break from their textbook history to study about Thanksgiving. They learned some things that they did not learn from their textbook about the Pilgrims. They are looking forward to making the pudding and finishing out the study the week before Thanksgiving. Week six of this study is about Christmas and I would like to continue our study by purchasing the once-a-week unit study Christmas Comes To America.

You can see a sample week of the Thanksgiving study (and actually any of their studies).

Be sure to click below and read what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew though about Homeschool Legacy (there are several different studies that were reviewed).

Thankfulness ~ Week Four

Final week of my Thankfulness blog posts.

This week I am thankful that we had a beautiful Thanksgiving day at the house. I am thankful that we have had a great month. I am thankful that this year is almost over and we are farther in our school work than I thought we would be.

Thankfulness ~ Week Three

Already to week three of November. It is flying by. This week has been great, but I wish I could slow time down on some days. Especially the days when my four year old lets me rock her and cuddle with her.

This week, I am thankful for being able to stay home and homeschool my children.

I am also thankful that I am going to be reviewing again for the Schoolhouse Review Crew in 2016.

I am thankful for the children I care for each Wednesday evening in the church nursery.

I am thankful for having the ability to read the Bible each evening with my family.

I am thankful for everything!

Thankfulness ~ Week Two

I found myself complaining yesterday while we were out enjoying some beautiful weather. It had rained on Monday, but I didn't realize that it rained so much that the park would still be wet on Thursday. Actually, only the wood chips were still a soggy, the slides and swings were dry. So, what was I complaining about and not being thankful about? Mosquitoes! Wow, I have never seen so many mosquitoes at one place at one time.

We wanted to walk on the little nature trail at the park (around 3,200 feet). We started, but around the 2,200 foot marker, we encountered a big puddle. We managed to hike up our pants and wade through the puddle and make it through, but that is where we encountered an army of mosquitoes. So, as I was sitting at the park watching my children play and have fun, I was still angry about the mosquitoes and wondering why God would create something like that.

I've thought about it and I realize God would not create something unless it serves a purpose. So, today, I am thankful for the mosquitoes that God created.

I do have more to be thankful for and I'll list those below:

I am thankful for this week. Even though it rained Monday, the rest of the week was beautiful.

I am thankful for all of my children the Lord has given to me. Even though they may fight at times, I love them all.

I am thankful for all of God's creatures. Even though some are pests (mosquitoes), I am thankful God has the wisdom to know what the earth needs.

Thankfulness ~ Week One

Once again, we are at the Thanksgiving season. I have much to be thankful for this year, but I always take so much for granted until I sit down and really think about all the Lord has given to me.

I am thankful for good health for my family and me. My husband was in the hospital in June for two weeks, but praise to God for healing him.

I am thankful that I am able to stay home and take care of and school my children. Although there have been many "bad" days and I would have loved to just sent them to school for the day, the "good" days make it worth it in the end.

I am thankful for a roof over our heads and food on the table. Not everyone is able to have these two things that some of us take for granted every day.

I am thankful for my Lord. He is always there when I need Him. He has never left me, even when everyone else has left me, He is always there for me. He loves me and I love Him!

Being Thankful

For the past two years I have written almost each day leading up to Thanksgiving Day on what I have been thankful for that year. You can read them here. Well, I really was not thinking about it this year and just forgot all about it. So, I am just going to write one post on what I am thankful for this year.

I asked my three year old what she is thankful for and she said, "dogs, cats, and little birds."

I am thankful for my children, my husband, our health, having a roof over our heads, and having food on the table.

I am also thankful for God's creation. I have seen some beautiful sunsets this year. I love when the leaves change color.

I am thankful to have a running washer and dryer and a car that while not reliable still gets us to where we need to go.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Remember to thank God for all He has provided for you.

A Season of Thanksgiving ~ Part 4

My final post for my ABC's of Thanksgiving.

U ~ umbrellas on rainy days

V ~ velvet throw, especially on these cold days and nights

W ~ water

X ~ eXceeding joy

Y ~ yellow sun that gives us light and warmth

Z ~ zucchini :)

A Season of Thanksgiving ~ Part 3

I was busy yesterday helping my dog deliver puppies. Here is the next set of my ABC's of Thanksgiving:

N ~ Night (Especially once the kids are all in bed and it is quiet)

O ~ Ocean, I am so thankful we live so close to the ocean.

P ~ Puppies (will make a separate post about our new puppies)

Q ~ Quietness, rarely happens, but I am so thankful for the times it is quiet in the house. Unless, it is quiet because they are being bad.

R ~ Rain, even though we had too much to grow a garden this year, I am still thankful it rains.

S ~ Sara, my joyous 2 yr old

T ~ Thanksgiving, a time to get together with family and thank God for the blessing from the past year

A Season of Thanksgiving- Part 2

It is already the second week of November! Wow, time sure is going by so quickly. 

Here is the next set of things I am thankful for this year:

G ~ God 

H ~ Health 

I ~ Ice Cream :)

J ~ Josiah, my 2nd son

K ~ Kevin, my 1st son

L ~ Laughter (it sometimes gets me through my rough days)

M ~ Many friends

A Season of Thanksgiving

This month, in America, is a time to reflect back over the year and list what we are thankful for. Last year, I tried to write a post a day, but that didn't work out. This year, I am going to try to write a post a week on what I am thankful for this year. I have decided to do an ABC's type thankful posts. I will post 6-7 letters per week  until Thanksgiving.

A ~ All of God's blessings on my family

B ~ Blogging. Thankful to be on the Schoolhouse Review Crew this year.

C ~ Comfort (my word for the year)

D ~ Daily hugs and kisses from my family :)

E ~ Extended family (in-laws)

F ~ Food. God provides even when we are down to almost bare cupboards.

30 Days of Thanks- Days 28-30

As I close out the month, I am thankful for the blessings God has allowed into my life.  He has given me a great church family and great friends.

Coming up next week- My first TOS Homeschool Crew Review!!

30 Days of Thanks Days 21-27

As we celebrated Thanksgiving Day, we went around the table and each of us said something we are thankful for this year.  My oldest son said he was thankful for salvation.  My younger son said he was thankful for God.  My oldest daughter said she was thankful for her family.  My younger daughter, who is only 20 months, said she was thankful for mommy.  It was a great day! I am thankful for everything God has provided and will provide for us.

30 Days of Thanks- Days 17-20

Photo courtesy of: http://www.freestockphotos.biz/

I am thankful for the many blessings God has bestowed upon me and my family.  I know there have been many times where I didn't know where our next meal would come from, but God provided.  He has always provided for us and has kept our bellies full and a roof over our head.

30 Days of Thanks- Days 9-12

So keeping up and trying to write a short post is not working out for me right now.  I have decided to just write a thankful post every few days.

I am thankful for the men and women of our country who have fought and are fighting for us to keep our freedom.

30 Days of Thanks- day 7

Today, day 7, I am thankful that I do not need to worry about tomorrow (or today).  Jesus is still King of all.

30 Days of Thanks- Day 6

Today, day 6, I am thankful to live in a country where I can vote for the candidate that best fits my values.

30 Days of Thanks- Day 5

Today, day 5, I am thankful to have a house with heat and food to eat.  There are a lot of people, who only a week ago had the same, but now do not have anything.

30 Days of Thanks- Day 4

Today, day 4, I am thankful to have such a wonderful church family.  Our Pastor has had cancer for a few years, but most recently has been diagnosed with MDS (leukemia) and has not been able to preach because of treatments.  Tonight, he was able to preach a great message and we had a wonderful evening service.  He has a bone marrow transplant scheduled for November 21.  Anyone who is reading this, please pray for him during this time.  Thanks.

30 Days of Thanks- Day 3

Today I am thankful that God allowed me to be a mom to 5 children, 1 in heaven and 4 here on earth.

NC Zoo