George Washington Carver: From Slave to Scientist

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.

If you know our family, you know that we love reading and that books are some of our favorite review items. My kids enjoy reading for a while each day on their own as the foundation of our education is literature, but they especially love when my husband or I read aloud to them. We read all sorts of books, but we've all grown to love biographies. We like reading about the lives of people, knowing that that events actually took place. The kids are fascinated to study the actions, vocabulary, foods, dress, and thinking of past periods and seeing the ways in which our lives differ.

The books from YWAM Publishing are our favorites for biographies, and I often recommend them to others. We like them so much, in fact, that we own over 30 of their books from various lines including the Heroes of History, the Christian Heroes: Then & Now, the Heroes for Young Readers, and even a couple of their audiobook biographies. When it came time to choose our next book, the kids all agreed on the title, mostly because of a peanut song that they sing, ha. They were eager to learn more through George Washington Carver: From Slave to Scientist by Janet and Geoff Benge.

George Washington Carver's life started with tragedy. He was sickly and small, born to a young slave woman. His father died before he was born, and shortly after, he and his mother were kidnapped by bushwackers. By God's grace, his masters, the Carvers, were able to reclaim the baby and bring him back from the brink of death. They had loved George's mother and never mistreated her or her children. They raised George and his older brother as their own. George grew up loving the outdoors and everything that went with it. He knew more about plants than anyone in town and often helped people tend their vegetation. He continued to learn on his own by experimenting in nature, and though he impressed those around him with his practical knowledge, he was never satisfied. He dreamed of furthering his education through formal schooling. At 11-years-old, he packed his few belongings and went on a search for knowledge.

The next few years were filled with ups and downs. George learned all he could where he was. Then he would pack up and move to a new place. Each time, he'd find work, offering to do anything and everything he could to make money while he lived with his employers. Even though he was an honorable and hardworking young man who earned the respect of everyone who knew him, he still dealt with racism and malicious people. His teenage years took many twists and turns, but each road lead to furthering his education. It was also a bumpy path through his college years, but he persevered through hard word and ingenuity.

George's passion for nature grew throughout his life. He continued helping anyone he could, but his passion was farmers, specifically black farmers. He wanted them to thrive and have the same opportunities that their white counterparts did. George was offered a job as head of the Agriculture Department at Tuskegee Institute, an all-black college run by Booker T. Washington. There, he truly found his calling and changed the course of the world.

God gave George Washington Carver the knowledge and motivation to find alternatives that impacted lives. Known as the Wizard of Tuskegee, he convinced farmers to change their crops, came up with many uses for both sweet potatoes and peanuts, created the Farmer's Institute to teach local farmers better practices of farm work and also taught practical tips to the wives, taught that if you look around, there are plenty of ways to make what you need yourself and save money, and became an influential scientist. George saw opportunity where others saw hardship. George Washington Carver's influence changed not only the way people lived, but they way they thought, as well.

Along with the book, we received the digital unit Study Guide. The guide helps to further your study including geography, social studies, and history, to name a few. It is designed to benefit all learning styles, group and individual study, and a wide range of ages.

The guide includes the following:

• Key Quotes - six well-known quotes that can be used for memorization, understanding meaning, and displays
• Display Corner - a list of objects, books, and photographs from Carver's life and places he lived that could be gathered and displayed to bring life to learning
• Chapter Questions - four questions for each chapter: vocabulary, factual, comprehension, and open-ended interpretation (answers are at the end of the guide)
• Student Explorations - essay writing, creative writing, hands-on projects, audio/visual projects, arts/crafts 
• Community Links - meaningful field trips, guest speakers, service projects
• Social Studies - reproducible maps, geography, terms/vocabulary, timeline, conceptual questions, 
• Related Themes to Explore - history, science, literacy, music, military, popular culture
• Culminating Event - project displays, cultural food, music, activities, oral presentations
• Books and Resources - books, movies, documentaries, National Geographic articles, websites

The kids and I always enjoy the deeper study that comes from using the unit study guide. There are many different activities that reflect a wide range of learning styles, so there's something that appeals to everyone. Because there are so many options, it would be difficult to use the entire study. One thing that we always do with these studies is discuss the comprehension questions at the end of each chapter. It helps to review the story and understand it more fully. We especially enjoy the vocabulary review. Words like jubilantly, timidity, prestigious, systematically, and substantially are some of the words that are highlighted.

Normally we incorporate many of the hands-on activities to further our study, but things have been a bit different around here lately, and we haven't had a chance. We do have plans though to make a Chutes and Ladders board game to demonstrate the obstacle George Washington Carver experienced in this life, create a crossword puzzle about him, plant an egg carton garden, and make our own peanut butter again. There are many other activities, projects, and ideas to supplement the learning.

George Washington Carver: From Slave to Scientist has motivated us to find uses for things that are no longer "useful," look for purpose in our lives, and to love people--all people--as God loves them.

"Nothing is more beautiful than the loveliness of the woods before sunrise. At no other time have I so sharp an understanding of what God means to do with me as in these hours of dawn. When other folks are still asleep, I hear God best and learn His plan."

~ George Washington Carver ~

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You can read more reviews of this book and other titles from YWAM Publishing on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Ben Carson: A Chance at Life

If you know our family, you know that we love reading and that books are some of our favorite review items. My kids enjoy reading for a while each day on their own as the foundation of our education is literature, but they especially love when my husband or I read aloud to them. We read all sorts of books, but we've all grown to love biographies. We like reading about the lives of people, knowing that that events actually took place. The kids are fascinated to study the actions, vocabulary, foods, dress, and thinking of past periods and seeing they ways in which our lives differ.

The books from YWAM Publishing are our favorites for biographies, and I often recommend them to others. We like them so much, in fact, that we own over 30 of their books from various lines including the Heroes of History, the Christian Heroes: Then & Now, the Heroes for Young Readers, and even a couple of their audiobook biographies. One might think that we wouldn't be excited to receive another one of these books, but my kids were thrilled to choose another title. This time, our study of the past didn't take us back hundreds of years. Instead, we learned about an influential person still living in Heroes of History - Ben Carson: A Chance at Life by Janet and Geoff Benge.

 As I listed off names for the kids to choose, I came to Ben Carson. "Who's that?" they asked. I read aloud the description for the book on the website to whet their appetite. By the time I finished, all the kids decided they needed to know more. What made his story even more intriguing to them is the fact that Ben Carson grew up about 30 minutes away from where we live.

The book begins at a pivotal time in Ben Carson's life. His father had just left the family, leaving his mother to raise him and his brother alone. They lived in a poor section of Detroit, but his mother was determined to make a better life for the family. She worked three jobs, moved out of state with family for a time to save money, and was willing to work hard. She taught her boys a strong work ethic, too, and insisted that they turn off the television and spend their time reading instead of filling their days with mindless entertainment. Consistently reading two books a week and writing reports along with being fitted for glasses, made an improvement in Carson's education. His grades began to soar as he rose to the top of every class.

Carson continued to put his all into his studies as he worked through the JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps) program, attended Yale University, and excelled at his temporary summer jobs. He got married, finished med school, and started a family.

During his residency years, Carson became intrigued by brain surgery and was eager to simplify the process. Where others saw challenges, he saw opportunity. He used X-rays to quickly locate the foramen ovale, preformed a lobectomy to save a man's life, and studied brain tumors through New Zealand white rabbits and MRI machines.

Carson preformed many well-known surgeries including separating multiple conjoined twin sets and many brain hemispherectomies. He became greatly revered, not only in his specific medical field, but also for his advocacy of education. He traveled for both passions--to various countries to preform surgeries and all across the United States to speak at schools and rallies. He has influenced many and saved countless lives. His work ethic, dedication to education, and dependence on God has made him a role model for all.

Along with the book, we received the digital unit Study Guide. The guide helps to further your study including geography, social studies, and history, to name a few. It designed to benefit all learning styles, group and individual study, and a wide range of ages.

The guide includes the following:

• Key Quotes - seven well-known quotes that can be used for memorization, understanding meaning, and displays
• Display Corner - a list of objects, books, and photographs from Carson's life and places he lived that could be gathered and displayed to bring life to learning
• Chapter Questions - six questions for each chapter: vocabulary, factual, comprehension, and open-ended interpretation (answers are at the end of the guide)
• Student Explorations - essay writing, creative writing, hands-on projects, audio/visual projects, arts/crafts 
• Community Links - meaningful field trips, guest speakers, service projects
• Social Studies - reproducible maps, geography, terms/vocabulary, timeline, conceptual questions, 
• Related Themes to Explore - history, science, literacy, music, military, popular culture
• Culminating Event - project displays, cultural food, music, activities, oral presentations
• Books and Resources - books, movies, documentaries, National Geographic articles, websites

The kids and I always enjoy the deeper study that comes from using the unit study guide. There are many different activities that reflect a wide range of learning styles, so there's something that appeals to everyone. Because there are so many options, it would be difficult to use the entire study. One thing that we always do with these studies is discuss the comprehension questions at the end of each chapter. It helps to review the story and understand it more fully. We especially enjoy the vocabulary review. Words like immaculately, quell, meticulously, abolished, and intractable are some of the words that are highlighted.
   

To further our study, we experimented with one of our chemistry sets, practiced suturing after a surgery by sewing felt, observed various objects through a microscope, filled in a map of Michigan, researched more about lobectomies and conjoined twins, and had many conversations on the importance of education. Some of the other activities we would like to incorporate include creating a model of the brain with clay, drawing a map of Australia or South Africa, write a Proverb in calligraphy, and read one of the books written by Carson himself. There are many other activities, projects, and ideas to supplement the learning.

To say that we enjoyed this book is an understatement! I have read many of these biographies from YWAM Publishing and this is easily my favorite one. There are many life lessons that are underlying themes throughout the entire book: don't judge a person by their looks, you can change your circumstances through hard work, reliance on God is crucial, reading and education are keys to a successful life, and more. My kids and I had many good conversations while reading this. I especially love how much attention was made to reading. Literature is a huge part of our education. It was encouraging to point out to my kids how important it is to someone as successful as Ben Carson, as well.

There are some intense sections of the book, such as step-by-step details of surgeries. My daughter left the room during one such description of a hemispherectomy as it spoke about drilling into the skull, cutting through skin and tissue, removing pieces of the brain, and dealing with extreme blood loss. The boys, however, were fascinated. In fact, one of them was so enthralled with the story that he asked to reread it himself as soon as I finished reading it to them. 

Heroes of History - Ben Carson: A Chance at Life has motivated us to learn more about the surgeon with "gifted hands." We are inspired to read one of his books to study deeper about his philosophies and put them into practice.

Until then, we'll remember the poem his mom quoted that shaped his life:

If things go bad for you

And make you a bit ashamed,

Often you will find out that

You have yourself to blame.

Swiftly we ran to mischief,

And then the bad luck came.

Why do we fault others?

We have ourselves to blame. 

You can connect with YWAM Publishing on the following social media sites:

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You can read more reviews of more great books and study guides offered by YWAM Publishing on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Liberty and Justice for All

Our family loves to read, so it's no surprise that our favorite reviews often are of books. The kids enjoy reading for a while each day on their own, but they especially love when my husband or I read aloud to them. We read all sorts of books, but the older kids have grown to love biographies. They like reading about the lives of people, knowing that that events actually took place. They're fascinated to study the actions, vocabulary, foods, dress, and thinking of past periods and seeing they ways in which our lives differ.

The books from YWAM Publishing are our favorites for biographies, and I often recommend them to others. We like them so much, in fact, that we've purchased over 30 of them throughout the past few years. I knew my kids would enjoy adding William Penn: Liberty and Justice for All to our collection and incorporating the accompanying Digital Unit Study guide. This book is part of the Heroes of History series written by Janet and Geoff Benge, which contains exciting biographies of men and women who shaped the course of history through their remarkable stories.

The book begins with William Penn as a young boy in London. King Charles had just been killed, Oliver Cromwell claimed leadership, and the country was in a refashioning era. William's father, Sir William Penn, admiral of the navy, was at sea most of the time. William's childhood was a life of luxury and favor. He had the nicest clothes, attended the best schools, and was welcomed in the highest class of society.

Penn loved to discuss politics and religion and was intrigued to learn different viewpoints. It was a friendship with Puritan believers at Oxford University that changed the course of his life. As the country turned against those who did not hold to the beliefs of the Church of England, Penn began to side with the dissenters. He was kicked out of school, spent time in prison, and was disowned by his father.

Over the years, he wrote many publications for the Quaker beliefs; became a leader of religious tolerance; helped to free thousands of people from prison; preached his ideals throughout England, the Netherlands, and Germany; and founded Pennsylvania his "Holy Experiment" as a place of religious and political freedom. He experience much loss, betrayal, multiple unjust trips to prison, and disappointments, but he paved the way for religious liberty, established a place of tolerance, and touched countless lives. William Penn never stopped fighting for the dream he so earnestly believed in.    

Along with the book, we received the digital unit study guide. The guide helps to further your study including geography, social studies, and history, to name a few. It designed to benefit all learning styles, group and individual study, and a wide range of ages.

The guide includes the following:

• Key Quotes - six well-known quotes that can be used for memorization, understanding meaning, and displays
• Display Corner - a list of objects and maps from the time period that could be gathered and displayed to bring life to learning
• Chapter Questions - six questions for each chapter: vocabulary, factual, comprehension, and interpretation
• Student Explorations - essay writing, creative writing, hands-on projects, audio/visual projects, arts/crafts 
• Community Links - meaningful field trips, guest speakers, service projects
• Social Studies - reproducible maps, geography, terms/vocabulary, conceptual questions, critical thinking
• Related Themes to Explore - politics & law, math, history, science & medicine, geography
• Culminating Event - project displays, cultural food, music, activities, oral presentations
• Books and Resources - books, movies, documentaries, magazine articles, websites

The kids and I always enjoy the deeper study that comes from using the Unit Study guide. There are many different activities that reflect a wide range of learning styles, so there's something that appeals to everyone. Because there are so many options, it would be difficult to use the entire study. One thing that we always do with these studies is discuss the comprehension questions at the end of each chapter. It helps to review the story and understand it more fully.

To further our study, we looked at pictures of the Tower of London, drew pictures of William Penn, discussed eulogies and the importance of living a life of character, read about the fire of London, and studied maps of Philadelphia. Some of the other activities that we would also like to do include making a replica of the Liberty Bell, creating Indian beadwork, recording a one-act play of Penn's life, drawing Penn's family tree, and touring a Quaker meetinghouse. The study guide is filled with activities, projects, and ideas to supplement your learning. There are multiple links and suggestions for additional reading material, like other biographies about William Penn, his own writings, articles and websites about the Quakers and Pennsylvania, National Geographic stories, movies, and more. There is also a timeline, maps, and facts sheet.

It is no surprise that our family loved reading William Penn's biography. This, like the others from YWAM Publishing, is a must-have book for anyone who longs to read about influential people. Along with the Heroes of History series, they have Christian Heroes and Heroes for Young Readers, as well. Not only does a purchase give you quality books at a great cost, it also helps support missions around the world.

You can connect with YWAM Publishing on the following social media sites:

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Blog

You can read more reviews of this title and many of the others offered by YWAM Publishing by visiting the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Theodore Roosevelt: An American Original

If you've read our blog at all, you might know that we're a family of readers and love reviewing books. Reading is important in our home school and the foundation of our education. The older kids are required to read to themselves a substantial amount of time each school day (and a shorter amount on weekends). In addition, my husband or I will also read to them. We like all sorts of books for our read-alouds, but everyone's favorite is biographies. We like reading about the lives of people, knowing that that events actually took place. The kids are fascinated to study the actions, vocabulary, foods, dress, and thinking of past periods and seeing they ways in which our lives differ.

The books from YWAM Publishing are our favorites for biographies, and I often recommend them to others. We like them so much, in fact, that we've purchased several of the books ourselves and own over 30 of them. I knew my kiddos and I would enjoy reading Heroes of History- Theodore Roosevelt and incorporating the accompanying Digital Unit Study guide. This book is part of the Heroes of History series by Janet and Geoff Benge, which contains exciting biographies of men and women who shaped the course of history through their remarkable stories.

The book begins with Theodore Roosevelt as young boy during the Civil War. His parents, who were originally from different regions of the country, supported opposite sides. His mother, grandmother, and aunt secretly sent supplies to the Confederate soldiers, while his father spent much time away holding rallies across the country  for Union soldiers urging them to take advantage of the bill to send money home to their families before they foolishly spent it all. After the war ended and tension in the home ceased, his father continued his philanthropic deeds, teaching young Teddy to care for all classes of people. His father's influence help to mold him into a man that cared for others.

Roosevelt worked hard to overcome his severe asthma and weak heart. He loved plants and animals and spent much of his life studying them on his adventures. His integrity and regard for others allowed him to serve in many high-ranking positions, from state representative in the New York State Assembly all the way to the 26th president of the United States. More of his accomplishes include winning the Nobel Peace Prize, protecting national parks, writing books, organized the Rough Riders, and making the construction of the Panama Canal possible. He experienced heartache as well as joy. He was a well-respected man as a leader, soldier, naturalist, explorer, and soldier.

Along with the book, we received the digital unit study guide. The guide helps to further your study including geography, social studies, and history, to name a few. It designed to benefit all learning styles, group and individual study, and a wide range of ages.  

The guide includes the following:

• Key Quotes - six well-known quotes that can be used for memorization, understanding meaning, and displays
• Display Corner - a list of objects and maps from the time period that could be gathered and displayed to bring life to learning
• Chapter Questions - six questions for each chapter: vocabulary, factual, comprehension, and interpretation
• Student Explorations - essay writing, creative writing, hands-on projects, audio/visual projects, arts/crafts 
• Community Links - meaningful field trips, guest speakers, service projects
• Social Studies - reproducible maps, geography, terms/vocabulary, conceptual questions, critical thinking
• Related Themes to Explore - politics & law, math, history, science & medicine, geography
• Culminating Event - project displays, cultural food, music, activities, oral presentations
• Bibliography or Related Resources - books, movies, documentaries, magazine articles, websites

Since the recommended age is 10 and all but one of my kids are younger, some of the study guide was a little advanced for them. There are many different activities that reflect a wide range of learning styles, so there's something for everyone. We discussed the comprehension questions at the end of each chapter. The first question is always a vocab word (succintly, impeding, forlorn, chagrin, etc.). I'd ask the kids what the word meant. If no one knew, I'd use it in a sentence. They'd tell me the meaning after that. I personally loved that part. It's very important to me to read my children rich literature that incorporates vocabulary that is above their level.

I also enjoyed discussing the questions with them. It helped us to review the story and got them understanding it more fully. We also practiced cartography, made a timeline, and observed animals like Teddy did. I fully intend to read this book again with them many years from now so we can partake in the other great activities in the guide. We can recreate the isthmus of Panama out of plaster of Paris and write a newspaper advertisement to recruit men for the Rough Riders. We can act out a play about Roosevelt's life, write essay questions, make a replica of wire pince-nez glasses, design our own cattle brand, create a diorama of the trip down the Little Missouri, and more. The study guide is filled with activities, projects, and ideas to greatly further your study. There is even a bonus section that includes additional word puzzles, crossword puzzles, coloring pages, video interviews, and more extras.  

As always, we enjoyed these materials immensely. Theodore Roosevelt: An American Original was well-enjoyed by our family. The book alone is full of learning, but the study guide is a must for delving deeper. Along with the Heroes of History books they offer, YWAM Publishing has Christian Heroes and Heroes for Young Readers, too. Not only does a purchase give you quality books at a great cost, it helps support missions around the world.

You can connect with YWAM Publishing on the following social media sites:
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Blog


You can read more reviews of many different titles (like C.S. Lewis, Benjamin Franklin, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and many more) on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.