Carole P. Roman: A TOS Crew Review

Disclaimer: I received a FREE 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
Carole P. Roman's assorted series from Carole P. Roman

We were excited to get the chance to pick several books from Carole P. Roman's assorted series from Carole P. Roman.

This award-winning author has dozens and dozens of titles to choose from - it was like being in a candy shop of children's literature!

Here are the titles we chose this time around (check out a link for my previous reviews later):

• If you were me and lived in... Australia: A Child's Introduction to Cultures around the World 
• If You Were Me and Lived in... Turkey: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World
• If You Were Me and Lived in ...Kenya: A Child's Introduction to Cultures around the World

• If You Were Me and Lived in...Colonial America: An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time

Let me start with our titles from A Child's Introduction to Cultures around the World series.  These softcover, illustrated books are great for your younger children.  Each book introduces your child to a different country and its culture.  The books are brightly illustrated, with simple text.  I love that they also include pronunciation guides.

Each book follows a basic pattern of showing what life is like for a child in this particular country. From where you live and what your name may be to what you would eat and what your parents do for a living, it's an insider peek into a country.  It's a great way to introduce the beautiful diversity of cultures around the world!

Here are a few fun facts we picked up on our "travels" - 

If You Were Me and Lived in ...Kenya - you may go to the National Reserve on a safari with your friends.

If you were me and lived in... Australia - you can try Vegemite or cook on the barbie. Since I love bringing geography to life...I actually had Vegemite for them to try!  Not to be a family favorite anytime soon...

If You Were Me and Lived in... Turkey - you can celebrate April 23rd as Children's Day.  "Finally!" all my children said...they've been wanting Children's Day for years now!

These books interesting and such an easy way to introduce some geography into your day.  

Our other selection came from the An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time series.  Since we are all about American History this year, we decided If You Were Me and Lived in...Colonial America.

This series is great for 4th-6th grade.  It takes you back in time to visit Colonial America. It is illustrated on one side with text on the other side.  This particular edition has black pages with white text (not my favorite).  The illustrations are bright and engaging.

The book gives a snapshot of what life was like. How your father built your wattle home and your mother cooked in the fireplace.  You learn about what you wore, about what you ate (no more lobster please!), what school was like and what you did for fun with your new native friends.

My kids loved learning the details about early colonial life.  Did you know even children got to drink "healthy" beer instead of milk and dinner was in the afternoon?

Colonial games of leap-frog, marbles and crosses and naughts were fun ways to entertain, when you weren't working with your parents, or being schooled at home! (yes, homeschooling was the "thing" back then...)  

A  gallery of famous people from the colonies is included to help inspire additional research. A full glossary of terms is a helpful tool for understanding this time period.

If you visit Carole's blog - you can find printable worksheets, coloring pages and more to go along with her books.

We really enjoy adding her books to our studies!  Be sure to check out our previous reviews!

Find Carole P. Roman on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolePRomanAwardWinningAuthorAndBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/caroleproman

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caroleproman/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6A9PDx7NdBgYUN1giUOp0A?view_as=subscriber

Hashtags:

#hsreviews #caroleproman, #childrensbooks, #bookstagram, #kidsbooks, #illustration, #books, #reading, #kidsbookstagram, #kidlit, #picturebooks, #picturebook, #children, #raisingreaders, #booksforkids, #childrensbookstagram, #author, #childrensbook, #childrensbookillustration, #read, #kidlitart, #childrensliterature, #kids, #kidsbook, #art, #bookworm, #kidslit, #book, #booksforchildren, #bhfyp, #storytime, #kidsbookswelove, ,#best #bookish, #bookshelf, #booklovers #booklover, #instabook, #love, #homeschooling #parenting #bookstore, #cute, #childrensbookstore, #writer

See what other members of the Crew thought here

Let's Go Geography, Year 2 from Let's Go Geography: A TOS Crew Review

Disclaimer: I received a FREE 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

Let's Go Geography, Year 2 from Let's Go Geography


Buckle up!  It's time to go exploring Let's Go Geography, Year 2 from Let's Go Geography!  We love this easy-to-use online subscription designed for grades K-5.  We have been continuing our fun with Year 2 -North America, South America and Europe. The 2nd semester covers Africa, Asia, and Australia. Be sure to check out our Year 1 experiences here.  Let's Go Geography covers the USA region by region, with each year's program introducing 2-3 regions. The rest of the lessons take you to various countries around the globe!

This affordable subscription program comes with 2 year access to all lessons, or you can upgrade to Lifetime access if you prefer.  They currently offer a full 32 week curriculum for Year 1 and Year 2 and Year 3 is coming soon!  You can show your children around the world!

Here's a quick video to show you what's included and how it works:



I love how easy-to-use and flexible this program is!  Each year is broken down into 2 - 16 week semesters.  Each lesson is available as you login in a downloadable PDF.  All you do is open and go.  It's designed to appeal to all your learning styles too.

Each lesson can be completed in about a week, depending on your pacing.  Let's Go Geography makes a great supplement to your other subjects as well.  The lessons all include the same basic outline that includes map work, listening to music, a craft or coloring project, videos that take you exploring to see the location, games and printables.

It's nice to have the option to only have to print what you want!

 All the links are accessed directly from the PDF.  I LOVE that they have taken the time to make sure these are quality videos for my children, and put them into a safe viewing mode (no YouTube ads or comments).

 My testers love listening to the music and watching the videos - from songs to learn the continents to what it's like to climb giant redwood tress - the videos give them a real-life peek into different places.

We began Year 2 by learning about the continents and creating our very own "Travel Journal" with dividers.  This is a great reminder of what we have been learning and a place to store our maps and activities. 

 Each lesson includes learning about and coloring the flag. We like to color each location on our continent map as well.

Of course, my sweet girls LOVE the crafts and coloring!  Most of the projects are easy to do and require only common household supplies.  I love how we can use this program with multiple children and multiple ages!  The flexibility allows you to pick and choose what works best for your particular family.

 

In addition, several additional options are included in each lesson:

• Book recommendations (you can find them at the local library)
• Atlas reading from DK’s Geography of the World
• Writing prompts and notebooking pages
• Flag coloring pages for classroom use

 I love teaching Geography classes in our homeschool co-op  and Let's Go Geography would be a great tool.

We have been impressed with this well-organized program and highly recommend it.  It's time to go exploring!

Find Let's Go Geography on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letsgogeography/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgogeography/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/letsgogeography/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU3aC9YWXi0SQaeTi01A0mA

Hashtags: #hsreviews #letsgogeography #homeschoolgeography #homeschoolgeographycurriculum

See what other Members of the Crew thought here

Texas Floats

My world geography class has taken a few weeks to focus in on the good old USA.  For the unit project (I love to have a unit project!)  I assigned them a creative endeavor - to build a Texas Float.

Simple instructions - take a box and use it as a base.  Include landmarks, symbols and whatever else you want to make a visual representation of our state.

They blew me away...

These two really celebrated the SPIRIT of Texas - Go BIG!

I love getting to let my highly creative students shine...

 Multiple ways to approach this project made it a good fit for everyone.

 I love teaching geography!!

Autobiography Maps

I love teaching geography at Co-op!  But, not all students learn the same way, so this year I'm trying to incorporate projects for my students that provide an outlet for artistic expression too..

This was a fun project - that got them thinking and creating!  They completed a questionnaire with some "about you" questions, then took their answers and made them into a map.  The basic requirements were to include at least 5-7 answers from their questionnaire, include a key and a compass rose.

I was pleasantly surprise by the results, even from the non-creative types!! Plus, it was a great way for the students to get to know each other better too.

So easy, and memorable,  take a peek...

Hunger Meal

I "borrowed" this activity from a Perspectives class...  it's very hands-on way to show the reality of world hunger.

We had 4 groups - broken into the percentages of world population.

Group 1 - just one person.  A fully set table with a LARGE supreme pizza, soda, chocolate and a servant.

Group 2 - 2 people in our class.  A Medium pizza, flavored water, paper plates.

Group 3 - 3 people.  One small cheese pizza, and water.

Group 4 - 5 people.  2 Breadsticks and "dirty water" (chocolate powder...)

Each group had different instructions.  Groups 1 and 2 were not allowed to share their meal,  groups 3 and 4 were allowed, and encouraged to go to other groups and beg for food.


WOW - it's an impacting demonstration!  My poverty students found themselves getting angry and wanting to just take some of the food.  My Group 3 were more generous with the little they had.  My group 1, felt very honored at first...but, ended up feeling very uncomfortable eating while the rest looked on.

Great way to SHOW them what world hunger looks like.

Gummy Bear Government

I teach a World Geography class at Coop (geography is my favorite subject!)   We use the book - Northstar Geography from Bright Ideas Press.

I like to supplement with only hands-on activities for our class time.  So, off to Pinterest I head for good ideas (this one isn't in the book...)

This one was a HIT!  Gummy bear government.  I gave each student a bag full of gummy bears, and a type of government.  Their job was to use their gummy bears to depict the government type, and then explain their creation to the class.

They loved it! It shows high-schoolers can be won over with food...

A very memorable, and tasty government lesson!