NatureGlo's eScience

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.

Our family loves learning about science and the world around with a natural, hands-on approach. That's why I was pleased to review NatureGlo's eScience, a site filled with nature-based online math and science unit studies.

Gloria Brooks has over 20 years of eclectic teaching with child-directed learning. She has helped students all over the globe to fall in love with the natural world while also covering other subjects. By leaving dry textbooks behind and heading into nature, her goal is to ignite passion and curiosity to produce lifelong learners. She created the NatureGlo's eScience MathArt and Science Course Bundle as a one-stop, nature-based eLearning center for ages 10-18.

NatureGlo's eScience (NeS) offers 31 courses divided in 5 categories:

• MathArt
• Marine Biology
• Herps (reptiles and amphibians)
• Botany
• Geology

The topics that are taught vary greatly and cover all sorts of interesting things: Galapagos tortoises, deep sea creatures, polygons and patterns in nature, giant redwood trees, gray wolves, rock hounding, Komodo dragons, chameleons, tide pools, queen conchs, Leonardo da Vinci, geometric snowflakes, and more. There's even a one-lesson class on bubbleology. 

The classes are easy to use. Once you begin a course, a list of the lessons is given, showing what is included. Many of the courses contain a PowerPoint slideshow, pre-lesson activity, main lesson videos, and activities.

The lessons may contain instructions, reading texts, downloads, videos, and additional links. The main lesson videos are pre-recorded live classes that Gloria has done with her students. They can be a bit awkward to watch as an outsider. There are pauses as you wait for a student to respond along with the feeling of being left out during discussions in which you can't partake. My kids enjoy when Gloria is teaching, but are somewhat aloof with the interaction of the students.

As you finish each lesson, there is a Mark Complete button to click. That will cross off the lesson from the list and highlight a checkmark next to it. There is also a bar to show progress along with the percentage that is completed for the entire course.

My middle child (10 years) is my biggest nature kid. He especially loves learning about animals and can rattle off multiple facts about all sorts of creatures. He's currently working through the Herps Zoology: Poison Dart Frog, Python, and Caiman course. He has completed a Venn diagram, colored realistic pages, watched people handle pythons, learned that there's more than one type of reticulated python and that poison dart frogs lay their eggs and then transfer the tadpoles to water, and is working on drawing a caiman.

My daughter (12 years) is my artistic child. Of course, she was drawn to the MathArt courses and The Geometric Beauty of Snowflakes. She learned that there are triangular flakes and ice needles and created snowflakes out of popsicle sticks.

The dashboard has all the record-keeping: courses, achievements, certificates, grades, and more. You can see the date a course was started, the percentage that's been completed, and the grade. If your child doesn't click that Mark Complete button at the bottom of the lessons, none of that information will be recorded. Ask me how I know, ha.

I allow my kids to choose which classes they want to complete, but if you're looking for a more formal schedule for study, Gloria has created a RoadMap of courses. Following this plan will take you on a learning journey through all of the mathart and science lessons in a systematic way.

My kids can work through the courses mostly by themselves. Some of lesson pages feel distracting because of the amount of information on each page. My son was confused by all the links on the DK Find Out! sections. Also, we had issues with various videos and links and would get error codes such as 404 Not Found, Sorry the file you have requested does not exist, Video unavailable, and File is in owner's trash. We have also had videos that have either not played at all or have taken an extremely long time to load.

Despite the issues, we have enjoyed the information in the classes. Whenever possible, we just look for a similar video or print coloring pages from a different source. I do wish there were more hands-on activities though. If you'd like a virtual tour the site and all it has to offer, there is a video that explains it in detail.

My son told me, "I really like the slideshows and videos that show the animals." If you, too, want to delve deeper into MathArt and Science classes in a self-paced, natural way, you should check out NatureGlo's eScience.

You can connect with NatureGlo's eScience on the following social media sites:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Pinterest

YouTube

You can read more reviews of NatureGlo's eScience on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Supercharged Science ~ Physics

It seems like we've gotten an abundance of science materials recently. And while one might think we wouldn't need another one, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to review e-Science Homeschool Science Curriculum from Supercharged Science. You see, we first became acquainted with Supercharged Science 8 years ago when we used the site to find experiments we could recreate. Since then, we've joined in on multiple online teleclasses, reviewed the e-Science program, and performed lots and lots of the experiments.  

Aurora Lipper, the founder of Supercharged Science, is a rocket scientist and mechanical engineer. After earning a Master's, working at NASA, and lecturing at the college level, she discovered that kids did not have the same passion for science as she did. She realized that the problem was related to the teaching process, not the material. She determined to figure out a better way to teach science--a way that would appeal to the kids while both educating and inspiring them. Her methods were instantly a hit, and Supercharged Science was born.

This award-winning science curriculum offers complete programs from K-12th grades that either meets or exceeds most science standards. It is a video-based, online science curriculum that explains "topics to kids in a practical and real-world way." The videos then guide them step-by-step through the activities and experiments that focus on the concepts learned. Because it is self-teaching, students can work through the materials at their own pace and choose from the plethora of activities which ones interest them the most. Aurora calls this the "easy way to teach science," because she does all the teaching herself using her unique 3 step method. You don't have to have an advanced science degree to give your children a strong science foundation.

The curriculum is divided in 2 ways: topics and grade levels. There are many options to using this. You can work through the topics units in order for a full course. Or if your child is currently fascinated by light or magnets or chemistry (a favorite in our house!), you can easily find the content about those topics to supplement your curriculum. There are even conversion charts to complement dozens of science curricula. The charts list which activities and experiments on Supercharged Science line up with the chapters in the other curricula to amplify the learning. Another option would be to follow the plans for a specific grade level.

We are entering a new phase as our oldest is officially in high school now. I thought that this would be a perfect high school science course for him since it is thorough and complete, not to mention an easier teaching option as we enter this uncharted territory. I clicked on Grade Levels and then Advanced Topics. The high school topics, which are appropriate for advanced 5th-8th graders as well, include physics, astrophysics, electronics, chemistry & chemical reactivity, biology, and alternative energy. There is a video on the page that explains what science high school topics should cover in which order and why. I was surprised to see that she recommends physics in 9th grade as that was an elective course my senior year in high school. I personally took biology as a freshman, but since I am not a professional scientist, I trusted her expertise and started my son in the physics course.

The curriculum, no matter the topic or age level, is perfect for all kinds of learners. It incorporates readings, experiments, exercises, and videos to make a full, hands-on approach to learning science concepts. Physics, like the other advanced topics, also includes lab worksheets to test real-life examples and to prepare students for college. There are data tables, charts, graphs, math exercises, and more. The course depends on math, engineering, and technology to teach applicable aspects of physics that students can observe themselves. The projects include working robots, observations with telescopes, launching rockets, using lasers, making musical instruments, creating electrical circuits, and more. 

Using the course is simple. My son started with the introduction and from there just clicks through the lessons. Each lesson has a text portion and video with comments from other learners and Aurora at the bottom. There are links for worksheets, exercises, and the like within the lessons. Because physics is based in math, the videos teach the math step-by-step along with the science as it is needed. This helps students understand why various math concepts are important and how they relate to real life.

There are no lesson plans that spell out exactly what to do each day (especially since this is a self-teaching program that meets many different intentions of use), however, the course has 50 sections divided into 14 chapters. There are more than 500 videos for the course and many labs. It is reasonable to spend a week covering 1-2 of the sections.

Aurora's teaching style makes both science and math easy to understand. Her passion is evident, not only through her videos, but in her commitment to her program and her students. If you have any questions, you can either leave a comment on the site or send an email, and she will reply within a day. She truly wants kids to understand science and fall in love with it. I love her philosophy of making learning fun and hands-on. I firmly believe that people--kids and adults alike--learn and understand best when they do something themselves, not just read or listen.

There are many free resources on the site including more than 30 experiments, an online class, and various tips throughout. Many different teaching options are available in addition to e-Science Homeschool Science Curriculum including single subject DVD lessons and mastery programs that contain all the materials as well as instructions that you need. 

Learning about acceleration during Driveway Races.

Right now, the site can be a bit frustrating to navigate, but they are in the process of updating it, making it easier to use. I've gotten a sneak peak of the new format and can't wait for it to be complete! The site will contain all the same great content, but with a better setup.

No matter if you need a supplemental program or a full curriculum for science, e-Science Homeschool Science Curriculum is sure to meet your need.

I'm thankful that we have Supercharged Science to give my son a strong understanding of physics as we start our high school journey.

You can connect with Supercharged Science on the following social media sites:

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

YouTube

You can read more reviews of this online science program covering both topics and grade levels on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Transcripts Made Easy

Somebody, slow down time! I have received my very first high school review. I am not sure how we got to this point already. After all, this child was born just last week and started homeschooling yesterday, right? Right?? Alas, our firstborn starts high school in a few months. High school. It's exciting, intimidating, and shocking all at the same time.

Janice Campbell from Everyday Education offers resources that help take away some of that daunting feeling that comes from home educating a high school student. She's an expert on the subject, too, as she homeschooled her four boys all the way through graduation. Her book Transcripts Made Easy: The Homeschooler's Guide to High-School Paperwork helps make planning, record-keeping, and transcript-making easy. 

Janice believes in a purpose-filled life, so she helps streamline the process of keeping records to give you more time for relationships and things that are important. Her methods have been proven beneficial. Since 2001, Transcripts Made Easy has sold thousands of copies all around the world. The book is currently in its fourth edition. As the admission process changes and colleges look for different criteria, Janice updates and adds more information from both her experiences and experts in the field.

The book is written so that the reader can start at any point and use just the sections he needs. It is divided into six parts, each with many sub points:

• Meet the Transcript
• Plan with the End in Mind
• Keep Simple Records
• Grades, Credit, and the GPA
• Create the Transcript
• References, Resources, and Reproducibles 

The beginning of the book explains all the ins and outs of a transcript: what it is, why you need it, and what information is included. It is helpful information to understand the purpose of a transcript and why every student should have one, whether or not he plans to further his education through college courses. During my years teaching in the christian school before our homeschooling days, I spent time working in the secretarial office. I was responsible for inputting grades and other information and printing report cards. I didn't handle the actual finalization of the transcripts, but I was familiar with the process. Therefore, I didn't focus on this section, but moved on to areas that were beneficial for me personally.

The first section I was drawn to was the Sample Four-Year Schedule for College-Bound Students. Homeschool requirements in the state of Michigan are fairly lax and vague. While that can be a freeing feeling for the homeschool parent, it can also be distressing wondering if you're doing everything right. I appreciate having this list that covers the courses, tests, applications, skills, and other suggestions for the next four years. This will help us plan our son's education now, while making sure he is ready for college. He's not settled yet what he wants to do for the rest of his life, but we want him to be prepared for whatever path God leads him. 

Another part of the book that was especially interesting was Six Things Your Teen Can Do While Homeschooling High School. Our education philosophy leans heavily toward life schooling (with an emphasis on literature and hands-on learning). It is our desire to give our kids many opportunities for learning, not just book work but experiences that will help them through life itself. Suggestions to start a microbusiness and develop special talents are included, but the section titled Serve Others Through Volunteering spoke to me the most.

"I have heard it said that teenagers are old enough to be useful, but young 

enough to be dangerous . . . Homeschool teens have the opportunity to learn 

while meeting real needs for real people."

My husband and I are very involved in ministry at the church and incorporate volunteering and helping people into our lives. We try to teach that concept to our kids and involve them. Reading that quote from the book encouraged me to make it a bigger priority. I've already been throwing ideas around on what my soon-to-be-high-schooler could do to cultivate a love for people.

This book has already been so helpful for me. I'm learning which work samples I should keep, how to name those tricky life-schooling classes for credit, how to give a grade to those same courses, and how to fill out the actual transcript. There are many examples along with reproducible forms and logs. It's easy to print out the pages and fill in your own information.

Transcripts Made Easy: The Homeschooler's Guide to High-School Paperwork is a must-have book for anyone educating a high school student at home. It is a valuable resource filled with practical information. Janice's easy-to-follow directions make this an enjoyable read. It feels as though you're sitting in a conference listening to her explain her methods. She's honest and truly wants to help the homeschooling family succeed.

The book is around 130 pages in length, and though I received the digital copy of it, it also is available as a printed book. Along with this book, Everyday Education offers many other materials to help both the parent and curriculum for the student, such as Perfect Reading, Beautiful Handwriting which I personally used a few years ago. Janice Campbell's materials are a joy to use. 

I know that Transcripts Made Easy: The Homeschooler's Guide to High-School Paperwork will be a resource that I reference time and time again as we continue on our homeschooling journey.

You can connect with Everyday Education on the following social media sites:

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

You can see how other homeschooling mom's used this book by reading the reviews on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Drive Thru History® ~ Acts to Revelation

Two years ago, our family was introduced to Drive Thru History® and immediately fell in love with both the style and the content. We were thrilled when we recently received Drive Thru History® "Acts to Revelation" DVD set and study guide to review. These videos are a fantastic way to learn history and the Bible and are a favorite in our house. Besides, what kid doesn't want to "watch TV" for school, ha.

Dave Stotts, the host of the award-winning television series Drive Thru History®, has been involved in professional video and media production for two decades. In 2004, he began driving "thru history"  to bring the past to life in a fun and unique way. Using storytelling as the driving force behind his work, he creates engaging videos that are full of content. Our family is learning while being entertained.

The company is not simply about entertainment though. We have learned so much about the lives of the first Christians and the events that took place as the disciples and missionaries helped spread the gospel across the land through the midst of persecution.

The videos are divided into 18 episodes on 3 discs and cover over 8 hours of material.

• Episode 1: The Gospel Shared at Pentecost
• Episode 2: The Church Grows in Jerusalem
• Episode 3: The Gospel Spreads to the Gentiles
• Episode 4: Saul of Tarsus & the Road to Damascus
• Episode 5: Paul's First Missionary Journey--The Island of Cyprus
• Episode 6: The Journey Continues--Pamphylia, Galatia, & Asia Minor

• Episode 7: The Jerusalem Council & Paul's Second Missionary Journey
• Episode 8: The Second Journey Continues--Philippi & Thessalonica
• Episode 9: A Road Trip to Athens
• Episode 10: Ancient Corinth
• Episode 11: Paul's Third Missionary Journey--Ephesus
• Episode 12: Paul's Final Trip to Jerusalem & Caesarea

• Episode 13: Adventures at Sea--The Island of Malta
• Episode 14: A Final Journey to Rome
• Episode 15: The Martyrdom of Paul & Peter
• Episode 16: John & the Island of Patmos
• Episode 17: The Seven Churches of Revelation
• Episode 18: The Book Closes on the New Testament Period

Each episode showcases multiple ancient sites that are still preserved today. Temples, cities, the remains of a market, amphitheater, stadium, catacomb, and possibly one of the first and oldest churches. We learned about the oldest functioning harbor in the world and one of the oldest inhabited cities. Dave travels all over the region and visits cities including Cyprus, Tarsus, Jerusalem, Lystra, Philippi, Gaza, Antioch, Ephesus, Colossae, and many more. He drinks coffee 1,165 feet above sea level, devours a full Turkish meal (of course, my kids still laugh at Dave's obsession with cheese from prior episodes, ha), purchases handmade soap, and examines an ancient latrine. There is also a captivating demonstration of throat singing, which prompted our family into a further study of the art.

Because the series weaves in stories and facts from the time period that are not recorded in the Bible, other historical figures are mentioned, like Pompeii the Great, Marc Antony, Octavian, Cleopatra, Sergius Paulus, Josephus, and others. I loved when my 9-year-old blurted out, "Marc Antony and Octavian? I read a Shakespeare book about them!" It's always exciting when the pieces fall into place.

I love this view of an ancient road of Gaza flowing into a current road.
It's a perfect application of this series applying the past to the present. 

Dave recites Scripture (though not the version we personally use) and references ancient quotes throughout each episode. He explains the culture during this time and shows how the rule of the Romans influenced the people. Dozens of paintings and illustrations that depict the stories are shown throughout each episode. Dave makes it easy to visualize Saul's encounter with God on the road to Damascus or Paul and his companions as they were persecuted by the people or John as he wrote the book of Revelation on the island of Patmos. The stories come alive.

"The Bible is not just made up stories. 

It is a documentation of real people in real places 

who live very real lives." -- Dave Stotts

Included with the 3-DVD set is an accompany study guide. It is broken down by disc and episode. The format is consistent for each episode: a Bible quote, summary of the episode, a list of discussion questions, corresponding Bible passages, and an additional tidbit of information or "side road." The pages are covered with additional art and photographs. There is an answer at the very back of the booklet. My kids are enjoying looking at the various pictures and reviewing the topics of discussion. The study guide itself is attached to the middle of the DVD case. While I appreciate the fact that my little ones cannot misplace the booklet, it does make it somewhat difficult to use. I would rather have the guide printed as a separate book that could be placed in a sleeve in the case.

It is always fascinating to me to see how the Bible and other historical events line up. Though I know that the Bible is fact and the events truly happened, it can be difficult at times to see how everything comes together. Drive Thru History® has done a phenomenal job of portraying the chronological telling of biblical stories mixed in with information from other resources. There is so much information that we could watch this multiple times and still not remember it all.

While some documentaries can be dry and boring, Drive Thru History® is fun, exciting, and entertaining. It is appropriate for the whole family and is an excellent educational resource.

You can get a taste of Drive Thru History® "Acts to Revelation" by watching this trailer.

You can connect with Drive Thru History® on the following social media sites:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

To see how other homeschool families used these resources, please read the reviews on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.