Bible Unearthed

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.

Drive Thru History® Adventures is one of our family's favorite video series, so we're always excited when we get to review something from them. This time, we've gotten early access to a brand new series called Bible Unearthed. 

Dave Stotts, the host of the award-winning Drive Thru History®, believes that "education should be culturally engaging, fact-filled, and super fun." He spends his time traveling the world to teach on location to give viewers a glimpse of historic sites and bring history to life. He calls it Adventure Learning, and not only is it educational, it's highly entertaining. Dave is able to take documentary-style dialogue and add in humor and silliness in a way that grabs the attention of even the littlest ones of the family. 

In Bible Unearthed, Dave teams up with a couple men to explore the importance and impact of archaeology: Randall, Drive Thru History® lead writer and longtime travel companion and Titus Kennedy, PhD, archaeology expert and friend. The three of them explain how discoveries help us better understand the ancient world through this 12-part series.

Archaeology, or "study of the ancient," is a "rediscovery of the past through systematic investigation and excavation." Though the topic is woven throughout the Drive Thru History® segments secondhandedly, they wanted to highlight it through episodes of its own.   

1. What Is Archaeology?
2. The Impact of Archaeology
3. Locating Archaeological Sites
4. The Life of an Archaeologist
5. What's Being Discovered Today?
6. Archaeological Mysteries
7. Top Discoveries in Bible Archaeology
8. Getting Involved in Archaeology
9. Trends in Archaeology
10. Weird Archaeology
11. Accidental Discoveries in Archaeology 
12. What's Left to Be Discovered?

The men sit in their "secret lair of archaeology" and discuss the topics for each segment. They incorporate replicas of artifacts, maps, tools, the Bible, timelines, pictures, and more and use a chalkboard to teach. There are also clips on location of real archaeology sites.   

Each episode is around the 15 minute mark, packed with enough information to whet your appetite without feeling overwhelming. Of course, in typical Drive Thru History® fashion, there is some subtle humor mixed in, such as Dave playing with replicas or dropping them, getting reprimanded, and other silliness. 

Bible Unearthed is more than just videos though. It is a full 12-week course with written exposition, worksheets and answer guides, Dig Deeper articles, and activities. There is also a sample weekly schedule for those who want to stay on track. 

The written expositions expound on the topics in greater detail and are filled with fascinating pictures. The worksheets have 5 discussion questions for each episode such as What suggests that the David and Goliath story was a historical event? and What kind of architectural evidence relating to the book of Esther did archaeologists find in Susa?. The Dig Deeper articles were written by Dr. Titus and cover topics like the importance of chronology, the Mesha Stele, the Gallio Inscription, and Solomonic Gates. The activities, like copying a portion of an ancient Biblical text, drawing and analyzing pottery, excavating coins hidden in the yard with a metal detector and mapping the location, and learning about weight price by pretend bartering with a friend, add a deeper, hands-on approach to learning about archaeology. 

Our family is thoroughly enjoying this study of Biblical archaeology.  My kids range in age from 5-14 years of age. Here is what  they said:

"I like everything!"

"I like that it's about archaeology. I like learning history." 

"I like how they talk about different things they've found at dig sites and about different tools they use. I find it cool how they found things proving that the Bible is true."

"I like that they actually go to the places instead of just showing pictures of them. And I learned that they use sandbox toys, haha."

"Dave is hilarious! Because of that it's easy to pay attention and want to learn more."

Bible Unearthed is engaging and full of content. It is different from the other Drive Thru History® Adventures, but it is equally appreciated in our home. Not only has it taught us much about the past and how it relates to the Bible, it has sparked an interest in archaeology in my kids. Who knows, maybe one of my little ones will find his own rare discovery one day!

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

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

You can read more reviews of this series on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Amazing Name Video Review

Picking out a name for your child can be one of the most exciting yet possibly stressful parts of having a baby. You want the name to be perfect--whether the name was chosen after someone special, because of its meaning, or simply because you like it. My kids have all wanted to know the stories of how their dad and I decided on the perfect names for them. Each story is unique, so what better way is there to share that event with your child that using a brand new product from CrossTimber - Name Meaning Gifts. Your child can learn all about their name with the Your Amazing Name - Personalized Adventures for EVERY Name video.

CrossTimber is a family business that focuses on name meaning gifts. They create personalized name plaques, bookmarks, coffee mugs, music boxes, and more. We worked with them a few years ago and had a lovely experience. John, the owner, is friendly and helpful, and can find the meaning of any name, no matter how rare.

Amazing Name is the company's newest product. It is a personalized cartoon adventure that features your child. His name is spoken over 20 times, seen written on the screen in over a dozen different ways, and spelled out multiple times. His artwork is also woven into the story as it is rolled, becomes a rocket and then a parachute. His name and address are shown on an envelop as a letter written by you is read to him. It ends with his own photograph shown onscreen.

The cartoon is more than just hearing and seeing the name though. You child, along with the characters, goes on an adventure to the moon and back to earth to learn what his name means. On top of that, the characters explain that not only does God know what his name means, He also knows who he is and all he is meant to be. There are references to God and Bible verses throughout.

The cartoon is bright and colorful. It has very different characters as it includes a talking pencil, stars, an owl, and a sheep. The video is geared to a younger crowd, except the entire scene with Mr. Owl at his tree hints toward humoring adults. Many puns--possibly too many, in my opinion--are incorporated, and I love puns. One thing about that part that I appreciate though was the inclusion of additional information about my son's name. It briefly lists the origin, background, and facts and location of the country of origin.

One thing that surprised me what the choice of Bible version. Their website states that they "typically start with the KJV translation, but will sometimes consult other translations." None of the verses in the video were from the KJV though. My kids even commented on it. I'm sure it won't matter to some, but I expected it to be that version. However, I did specifically request the KJV verse to be used in accordance with my son's name, and they did use it for that.

I chose our 4-year-old to be the star of the video. Our whole family sat down to watch it together. My husband, older kids, and I felt it was very much for younger children as it is a bit juvenile, not in content, but execution. There are a few too many awkward pauses, as well. To be fair, I'm sure the video is meant for younger kids as it highlights and teaches the spelling of the name.

My opinion isn't what's important here. To find out what my little one thought, I asked him some questions:

Did you like watching your video?

Yes!

What did you think when the pencil drew on your picture (that you colored)?

Not good. (Actually, he was kinda appalled while watching.)

What did you think when they read you the letter from Daddy and Mommy?

Good!

What was your favorite part

All of it!

If you had to pick just one thing to be your favorite part, what would it be?

My picture! And the letter because it had you and Daddy.

He smiled from ear-to-ear when the video started, became quite serious and engrossed throughout, and then ended with smiles again during the reading of the letter. He thought it was very exciting to see all the personalized aspects, like his drawing of a tulip, our letter, and his picture.

CrossTimber takes the personalization a step farther as they offer printable activity pages. We received 10 pages that include mazes, printing, cursive, the Bible verse that complements his name in the video, and more. One thing that I think would make this packet better would be the addition of simple coloring pages. While there is one, it is more like a page from an adult coloring book. My guy wouldn't even attempt to color it because it was "too much." I did get him to highlight his hidden names though. Since the videos appeal to young kids, there should be pages for them, as well. I think my little one would enjoy coloring pages that feature the characters from the show or maybe even generic scenes from the video itself.

CrossTimber - Name Meaning Gifts is currently running a giveaway for your own personalized Amazing Name video. You can enter on their Facebook page and also watch their promo video of the product. They also have a promotional offer that jump starts this new product. You can head over to save $20 on a digital Amazing Name video or purchase a DVD for $8 more.

If you're looking for a special gift to teach your little one how special his name is, you should consider CrossTimber and their many name meaning gifts.

You can connect with CrossTimber - Name Meaning Gifts on the following social media sites:
Facebook
Pinterest


You can read more reviews of these personalized name videos on the Homechool Review Crew blog.

CrossWired Science

My kids love science and learning about the world around them. They are always pleased when we receive science products to review, like this brand new website called CrossWired Science. We've been learning all about Sound, and Fluid Dynamics.

The goal of Crosswired Science is to help people "see the glory of the Lord . . . and to reach those who do not yet know Him." By combining Scripture with many different resources, reading materials, and experiences, they strive to help families learn together about God's power and intelligence in His creation and to grow in that knowledge. They are not just studying science, but true Science, "the very carefully thought-out handiwork of the Almighty God." You can read about their 17 educational goals in depth on their site. They may have recently launched this new site, but they have big plans for it.

Each course is based around a "global topic." Both Sound and Fluid Dynamics have 29 lessons that cover a month or so of science. Within each topic are many different learning options, making the material "crosswired" through many subject areas. Think of it like a unit study about various science themes. The idea is to integrate the sciences--Life, Earth, Physical--to teach a "deep science" for a strong knowledge base. 

The student first chooses either the First Timers or Second Timers option, meaning a younger student who is new to the material is going to be learning it for the first time, whereas an older student or graduate would probably benefit from the second option. The videos are the same for both, but the questions vary in difficulty. After that, the student can pick a global topic course and find the lesson page.

There are 8 core videos for each global topic which act as the main teaching materials. Mixed within those are blocks of additional activities including experiments, research topics, general links with more videos, field trip suggestions, book lists, and devotionals. There is also a section called U-Choose that offers ideas for any style of learning as a "science free-for-all." Things like coloring pages, games, projects, cooking, notebooking, speeches, webinars, and more. There are also Digging Deeper and Gold Dig sections. These portions are extensive written materials about various topics within the main course. Each link is filled with snippets of information and eye-catching pictures. In fact, there is one Digging Deeper segment about bats which includes photographs that are both fascinating and disturbing at the same time. God's creation is amazing! If a student doesn't finish the material in one sitting, he can click on a letter link and be take directly to where he left off instead of scrolling through all the material.

Fluid Dynamics covers the flow of something or "fluids in motion (aerodynamics, hydrodynamics etc). For example, how the dorsal fin helps a shark to swim, how a bird's alula feathers help it fly and land, why dogs make such a mess when they drink water, and more. Students will learn about Bernouli's Law, how carburetors work, how there are more aerodynamics in the human nose than there are in a fighter jet, and other interesting facts. There are sections on astronauts, giant slugs, how lungs work, the cause of thunder and lightning, composting, and more. There are dozens of experiments including making a multistage rocket, dissecting a fish, rubber band plans, and toilet paper blowers.

The Sound course is all about vibrations and how they move through liquids solids, and gases. Some of the things students will learn are how Leonardo da Vinci practiced sonar, how infrasound was used in WWII, how the syrinx is used in bird calls, and all about the inner workings of the ear. There is more information about how sound is created and used in people, animals, machines, and the world around us. The devotionals show what you can learn from the Bible through croaking frogs and a whale and a worm. 

The CrossWired Science curriculum is very eclectic. It uses many excellent resources that have been produced by others that can be found on the internet, printed in books, or ideas for home. It is applicable for any student K-12th grade and can be as as both a full curriculum or as a supplement (it currently contains 3 months of material, but will eventually offer 6 full years of science courses).

The videos can be from 2 minutes to 28 minutes in length and everything in between (though it does seem as though most are less than 10), so it's feasible to fit one into any schedule. There are also quizzes and worksheets for review, a place to take notes, and sections to record summaries and whatnot. The site keeps track of the progress through the course. While the videos build off of each other, the other materials could be completed in any order. The parent account has access to answer keys, grades, and the calendar with a suggested schedule.

We've taken a gentle approach with CrossWired Science. I have three kids (ages 13, 11, 9) working through the curriculum. One chose to work through Sound, one chose to learn about Fluid Dynamics, and the third has been using both courses. They use the program a few times a week and pick and choose their activities. They all enjoy the learning videos which are a combination of people teaching the material, photos, and graphics. They are whimsical and packed with information. 

The kids have completed worksheets and quizzes on the computer, colored pictures, made musical instruments, and read and watched many interesting things. The boys have plans to build  a working helicopter this weekend with their dad. 

Here's what my kids had to say about CrossWired Science:

"I like learning about Fluid Dynamics. I think it's really cool when air goes into your nose 

that it goes into three place. It's amazing. Oh, and it's so cool that the alula feathers act the second they're needed for a bird to land perfectly. The exact second! God is amazing!" 

"I like watching all the videos."

"There's not a lot of review in the lessons, so it's easy to forget things."

It's important to remember that CrossWired Science is a very new website. Things are still being tweaked and there are plans to add much more to the site. Just in the past few weeks that we have been using it, aspects have been improved, features have been added, and content has increased. It's a great site for families who appreciate the freedom to adapt their learning to their interests and needs. Many of the suggestions are vague and do not give much direction. For instance, for games in the U-Choose section, it lists purchase a game, make up your own game, see "Game Design" under Research and Review. If you're looking for a curriculum that spells out exactly what you need, this might not be the best option for you.

However, if you love flexibility in your education, CrossWired Science offers many possibilities. You can try a sample unit to get a feel for the program and even save $5 off of a subscription with code 5offCWS. I'm excited to see what they'll offer in the future.



You can read more reviews of this science program on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Drive Thru History Adventures

Our family was thrilled to once again review for Drive Thru History Adventures! These homeschool videos are a fantastic way to learn history and a favorite in our house.

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. Through Drive Thru History Adventures, you can take that learning much deeper. There are full curriculum courses for Bible history, American history, and ancient history. We have access to all three, but we've been focusing on the American history content, which covers "Columbus to the Constitution." There are twelve episodes in the course:

1. The Discovery
2. Pilgrim Search for Freedom
3. Beginnings of Revolution
4. Whitefield & Boston's Freedom Trail
5. William Penn & Early Philadelphia
6. Founding Fathers of Philadelphia
7. Fighters of the Revolution
8. Early Colonial Virginia
9. Founding Fathers of Virginia
10. Revolution in New York
11. New York and the First President
12. New Jersey and Epilogue

Each video is right around a half an hour long. Dave teaches facts as he travels to the historical sites. You'll see graves of famous people, the oldest surviving public building in Boston, Independence Hall, America's "smallest national park," Fort Mifflin, Jamestown, Monmouth Battlefield, and much more. Dave weaves the stories with humor and wit. He wears various costumes and isn't afraid to make himself look comical. His humorous tactics do more than make us laugh though; they help to solidify the information to recall later. I think my kids will always remember now why the American flag is shown with five-pointed stars instead of six. And though it's not historically relevant, the kids often reference how much Dave likes cheese, ha.

Dave's commentary is complemented with reenactments, pictures, paintings, and documents. He incorporates famous quotes and excerpts from important writings. He teaches about many influential people including Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Betsy Ross, Paul Revere, Pocahontas, Peter Muhlenberg, and Molly Pitcher, to name a few. You'll learn how these stories come together to shape the course of our nation and pick up facts along the way, like the story of when the lightning rod was created, how the Liberty Bell was cracked, why Valley Forge was "a blessing in disguise," and the "most brutal bombardment in American history." 

Full curriculum plans accompany each lesson video. There are additional quotes and pictures, a summary, and suggested readings. There are "side road" sections that teach further about certain aspects that are briefly mentioned. Discussion questions, worksheets, and dig deeper readings are also included. You could easily spend much time studying the topics with the given information.

To say that our family loves Drive Thru History Adventures is an understatement. My kids love the videos and Dave's style of teaching. His energetic personality, storytelling approach, and silly antics make this series a joy to watch. I appreciate all the extras that are included in the curriculum, along with the articles, expert papers, and links. There is also a whole community of resources that you can access, including a private Facebook group that is filled with additional videos and interaction from Dave himself. From being a member of that group, I've learned just how great of a company it is, too, as I've seen them respond to questions and suggestions from members. They've created a coloring page to keep the littles busy, added captions to some of their content, and more. They truly have a heart for their viewers.

One final aspect that puts this membership over the top is the addition of Adventures TV. Instead of just watching the episodes on our computer, we can utilize the courses through apps when we're on the go, or, as we do every time we watch as a family, through Chromecast on our television. It is so convenient to pull up the videos on the large screen rather than trying to all watch on a computer.

Currently you can take advantage of one of a couple specials that are being offered. First, you can get a DVD of The Gospels for FREE when you purchase an annual subscription to Drive Thru History Adventures. Or second, you can receive 20% off an annual subscription with a code in The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine (just look for the full-page ad). You can hear Dave's description about the membership and passion behind it here:

There is so much to offer and enjoy with a membership to Drive Thru History Adventures. They also offer DVD sets. You can read my review of The Gospels for an example.) I highly recommend it, for not just homeschoolers, but anyone who would like to delve into history in a fun and exciting way.

You can connect with Drive Thru History Adventures on the following social media sites:
Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram


If you'd like to read more reviews of this course or of the Bible or Ancient History options, please visit the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Owlegories

My kiddos like getting curricula and books in the mail as part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, but they get really excited when we get something like a DVD to review. It seems more like fun than work, and, of course, they never get tired of hearing, "We need to watch this video for school today." So, as you can imagine, they were pleased when a package from FishFlix.com arrived at our door. They were even happier when they opened the package and found a video about the things of God. My oldest son had watched the trailer with me on YouTube before the DVD came and was excited to tell his siblings about Owlegories: The Ant, The Fruit, The Butterfly.

Owlegories is an animated series in which owls teach kids about God through the use of allegories. (Did you catch the play on words in the title? Cute!) The episodes teach about God's nature and truths found in His Word by using elements found in nature. The Ant, The Fruit, The Butterfly is the second DVD of the series.

 

In each episode, the Professor sends the owl students (Joey, Nora, Violet, Gus, and Twitch) on an adventure. Along the way, they learn important truths, have fun, and are attempted to be foiled by the "bad guy" Devlin and his sidekick Fink. At the beginning of class, the students quote the owl pledge:

 

We love to learn about creation.

It helps us become wise. 

God's nature is all around us,

If we look through heaven's eyes.

The Ant
In this episode, the owl students go to a maple syrup farm. (This was so exciting to my kids as this month we were able to tap trees to make our own maple syrup too!) A colony of ants teach them 3 ways in which followers of Christ should be like ants based on Proverbs 6:6:

1. They work together.
2. They are hard workers.
3. They plan for the future.

My kids favorite part about this one was Gus's silly song about how God made everything.

The Fruit
Galatians 5:22-23 is the key verse for this episode. The students head to an apple orchard where they learn about the Fruits of the Spirit and are introduced to some bad fruits, too. My kids laughed at the impersonations that Twitch did of the other characters. It was even one of his impersonations that saved their apples from being stolen by Devlin to make the perfect pie!


The Butterfly
The students learn in this episode that creepy crawly bugs are not all bad. They observe the change of caterpillars as they morph into chrysalises and then transform into butterflies. They learn from II Corinthians 5:17 how Christians are like the butterflies:

1. God looks at our heart. It does not matter what we look like on the outside.
2. A caterpillar changes into a butterfly just as we are changed through salvation.
3. Just as the caterpillar is free when it becomes a butterfly, we find true freedom when we accept Christ as our Savior.

My kids loved when Devlin got "eaten" by a big fish!

At the end of each episode, there's a recap about the truths we can learn from God's Word. Then, there's a follow-up portion with known Christians (authors, pastors, etc.) where the truth is expounded on.

The entire video is about a half hour long and kept my kiddos entertained. More than that though, it taught my kids about God on their level. Because the episodes and lessons are short to keep the attention of little ones, there are aspects that get skipped, like the need to boil the maple sap to turn it into syrup or the actual time frame of metamorphosis. These things are not necessarily a big deal, but open up another teaching moment with the kids. Also, Owlegories does not use the King James Bible for their verses, so that was another detail that my kids pointed out.

All in all, my little ones love this video. They laugh at Gus, walk around singing the songs, and ask to watch it often. We've even downloaded the app and watched another episode that way. I see more Owlegories finding their way into our house in the future.  

FishFlix.com is an online store offering thousand of high-quality Christian movies. Their business philosophy is based on the following verses: Colossians 3:17 and Colossians 3:23-24, meaning that whatever they do, they're doing it for God. They offer low prices on their DVDs along with free shipping. If you're looking to add some quality entertainment to your life, FishFlix.com will have what you need.

You can connect with FishFlix.com on the following social media sites:

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Instagram

YouTube

You can read more reviews of this title and some of the offered by FishFlix.com by visiting the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog.

SmartKidz Media Review

The internet can be a valuable resource. We use it daily, whether it's to look up a recipe, catch up with friends, watch a movie, find information, listen to music, play games, or more. And while there is much good associated with it, there is also the potential for much evil. As parents, we strive to shelter our children from that dangerous content while they're young and teach them to abstain from it as they grow older. Our computer stays in the kitchen in our view and the kids are to ask us to help them if they want to search for something.  But what if there was a site where they could watch videos, listen to music, or play a game without inappropriate pop-up ads or links to other websites? And all the videos are child-safe. There is such a site: SmartKidz Media.

We were given a year-long membership to the SmartKidz Media Library for Homeschoolers. Not only can I trust the content to be safe, but also mostly educational. The library is a controlled learning environment filled with a diverse collection of entertaining multimedia content. The exclusive content is continually expanding and cannot be found anywhere else on the internet. 

The library is categorized by type.

• World of Discovery -- This section contains all the science and history videos. You'll find hours of educational videos from animal babies to action sports, ancient cultures to pilates sessions, World War II to sushi techniques, bizarre science to discovering Egypt.
• Music & Fine Arts -- This content along with the World of Discovery is a subcategory of the family media section. Here you will find classical, cultural, jazz & blues, and relaxation music.
• Mighty eBook Collection -- This, and every topic afterwards, is part of the reading and learning center. These flash-animated eBooks entertain while encouraging literacy. The text is highlighted and synchronized with the voice and includes sound effects and music. The books are sorted by age and type. They vary from Bible stories and songs to nursery rhymes, Aesop's Fables to phonics emphasis, and more.
• Baby Signs Program -- This program is based on over 20 years of research and helps babies to communicate and promotes literacy. There are individual videos about topics including bedtime, mealtime, dictionary words, songs, and even potty training.
• My Animal Family -- These videos teach family value and respect for animals. They feature baby animals interacting with their families and are narrated in children's voices. You can see a day in the life of a chimpanzee, an elephant, a lion, or learn some fun facts.
• Quick Find Study Guides -- These guides are filled with educational information containing hundreds of rules, definitions, and examples. Learn language arts with Shakespeare, Math with Newton, science with Einstein, or social studies with Ben Franklin. There are also aids for accounting and foreign languages.
• Learning Special Needs -- This program is designed for those with disabilities and other special needs. The themed books and lesson materials teach children the life skills they need to grow. It teaches them personal skills, social skills, and coping skills. There are 2 options for each book: hear the book is an auto start to finish book and the interactive book is flash animated and contains clickable text. There are videos including learning about money, hand washing, community helpers, riding a bus, making cookies, holidays, recycling, and much more.  
• Living Skills Program -- This upcoming section is filled with songs that will teach children the skills they need to live intelligently and responsibly. There will be song sets with lively singalong lyrics for babies all the way through age 10.
• Ready Set Sing -- These albums contain over 200 favorite songs. There are songs for the little ones like Yankee Doodle, The Bear Went Over the Mountain, Wheels on the Bus, Do Your Ears Hang Low and songs for the older group like When I Was A Child, Leap of Faith, Awake n Laugh, Hush You Muskies. 
• Fun Zone -- This section is where you'll find educational games and activities. It contains interactive learning games, jokes & riddles, and puzzles.

Since we have a more laid back schedule for the summer, I've chosen to let the kids choose which sections of the library they use. Of course, they all hang out in the fun zone at first, playing the games and completing the puzzles. Honestly though, there are not too many choices in that section currently and they soon head to the more educational videos. It's been interesting to see which of the videos the kids pick. Zac (5) likes to follow along with the eBooks in both the Mighty eBook Collection and the Learning Special Needs. Alyssa (7) loves to hang out watching the Baby Signs videos to learn to teach her baby brother. Jake (9) has been choosing to watch the historical videos. I personally have used the Music & Fine Arts the most.

I love that I don't have to worry about what content the kids may stumble upon while they're exploring the site. They have the freedom to search over 1,000 choices. Not only are they entertained, but they're learning, as well. Since it can be streamed anywhere at anytime on any device, it is very easy to use. I'm excited to see what new content is coming this summer and will incorporate the resources into our schooling as time goes on.

You can connect with SmartKidz Media on Facebook and Twitter.


If you'd like to see how other families used this resource, please read the reviews on the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog.

The Forbidden Book

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. Isaiah 40:8 

We were given the opportunity to review a historical documentary from New Liberty Videos. The company, owned by Brian Barkley, produces Christian videos. They offer a variety of topics from the greatness of America to the UFO conspiracy to the mystery of the Dead Sea Scrolls to life after an abortion and more. We chose The Forbidden Book.   

The Forbidden Book is a 58-minute DVD about the preservation of the Bible. From the beginning of time, the Devil has wanted to cause confusion and destroy God's Word.  This documentary is a walk through history and how godly men chose to fight for the preservation of the Bible. Even during the Dark Ages when superstition and ignorance attempted to control the people, men stood firm in their faith. This video tells the stories of early church fathers, John Wycliffe (who translated the Bible from Latin to English), Martin Luther (who exposed wrong doings in the church and preached that justification was through faith and faith alone, Ephesians 2:8-9), William Tyndale (who sacrificed his life in order to make printed Bibles in the English language available to the people), and the countless martyrs who defended their faith and taught their children the Scriptures and were tortured because of it.   

 Did you know . . .

• Ancient Bibles required an entire flock of sheep to provide the parchment for one 4th century New Testament.

• The cost of a Bible in the 1300s, easily amounted to a priests whole yearly income. 

• The Geneva Bible was quoted by William Shakespeare over 5,000 times in his plays. 

• The first Bible printed in the United States was in 1663 and was a translation for the Algonquin Indians.

• By 400 A.D., the Bible had been translated into 500 languages.

• By 500 A.D., the Bible had been reduce to only 1 language.

 

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matthew 24:35

Having grown up in a Christian home, attending a Christian school, and graduating from a Bible college, a lot of the information was review for me. I was taught a love of the Scriptures early on. I learned how men and women defended their faith and refused to back down even when death was imminent. Too often, I think, we take our Bibles for granted. There was once a time when people gave all to hold a copy of God's Word in their hands, when seeing the Scriptures in your own tongue was all but a dream. Now, we have multiple copies lying around the house. May we always understand that It is a precious Book, one to be read daily and obeyed. 

This video is full of facts and information and is narrated by Dr. Craig Lampe, a Bible historian. While I have studied this subject over the years, it was a good review and reminder. The DVD, which costs $19.95, is recommended for a general audience, but I wasn't so sure a documentary would hold the attention of my littles (8 and younger). My husband and I sat down to watch it by ourselves. Within minutes of starting, I knew that I had been right. The kids even walked into the room at one point when they heard that a movie was on, and quickly went back to the other room to play. While the information is great and the topic is important, the execution is a little dry. It would be good for an older student or adult who truly wants to learn about the people God used to preserve His Word for us today.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, 
for correction, for instruction in righteousness: II Timothy 3:16

To read more reviews of the Forbidden Book or one of the other videos offered, please head to the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog.

Go Science Series 2

I've said many times that my kids love science. Love as in they'd preform experiments all day if they could. Not only do they enjoy watching the experiments themselves, but they want to know the hows and whys behind them, too. (They totally get that inquisitive mind from their daddy. I don't really care why something works, I'm just glad that it does, ha.) They were thrilled to receive 2 Go Science DVDs series 2 to review from Library and Educational Services.

Library and Educational Services is a small, family-owned company right here in Michigan. They've been in business as a whole-sale distributor for 35 years, selling to libraries, schools, resellers, specialty stores, missionaries, daycare centers, and ministry leaders. They carefully select their merchandise to ensure they represent Christian morals and values. I personally have ordered from them and have been very pleased with the products.

The Go Science DVDs are filled with the high-energy demonstrations of Ben Roy, teacher at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and former director of a science program on television. Ben captivates, motivates, and inspires students to get excited about science and points people to God.  

Our first selection was volume 4: Motion, Friction, Electricity, Light. Each of the experiments were filmed with a group of children for a Christian TV broadcast. The demonstrations last anywhere from 3-10 minutes a piece. Mr. Roy is very personable and involves the children. He asks them questions about their likes and such before calling them forward to help with the experiments.

There are many demonstrations on this volume:

• Tablecloth Trick
• High Bounce Balls
• Marble Gravitron
• Yo-Yo Big Spool
• Bowling Ball
• Friction
• Floating Rice
• Simple Motor
• Nail Magnet
• Jumping Rings
• Food Coloring and Bubbles

My kids (8, 6, 4) love watching these. They laughed as they tried their own marble gravitron, were amazed at the jumping rings, and couldn't wait to try floating rice. My daughter explained, in depth, how we could make our own simple motor. My son keeps asking me questions about science to see if I know what he's recently learned. They also think it's really neat that the whole series, every demonstration, shows how God made science and everything that happens is because of Him. I love how Mr. Roy not only grabs the kids' attention, but uses that influence to point them to the Creator. In the food coloring and bubbles section, he uses the experiment to show that our sin is red like crimson, but Jesus blood can make us white as snow. 

Our second choice was volume 7: Engineering, Design, Flight. This video is full of demonstrations, as well:

• How Much Will it Hold
• Leaning Tower of Lyra
• Nail Balance
• Trebuchet
• Centrifuge
• Walking on Eggs
• Bed of Nails-Small
• Rocket Balloons
• Vinegar Rocket
• Toilet Paper on Paint Roller
• Film Canister Rocket

Any time you talk about a trebuchet or rocket, you're going to gain the attention of my little ones. It's exciting to watch objects fly through the air, using things you can find around the house. And it doesn't matter how many times they've seen it, they want to see it again. They were eager to try walking on eggs themselves, trying out a bed of nails, and sending rockets flying into space (or at least across the yard). Mr. Roy carries that same enthusiasm throughout each demonstration. You can see that he truly loves science and God, and it's contagious. At the end of each episode, he states,"When we learn more about science, we learn more about our Creator, God." And that truly is what these videos are all about.“

science, we learn more about our Creator, God.” - See more at: http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/library-and-educational-services-review/#sthash.K2aud3rB.dpuf

“When we learn more about
science, we learn more about our Creator, God.” - See more at: http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/library-and-educational-services-review/#sthash.K2aud3rB.dpuf

“When we learn more about
science, we learn more about our Creator, God.” - See more at: http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/library-and-educational-services-review/#sthash.K2aud3rB.dpuf

Each individual volume of the Go Science series 2 can be purchased from Library and Educational Services for $8.97 (retails for $14.95) or the entire 7-volme set can be purchased for $59.82 (retails for ($99.70). The videos are geared towards kids 4-12 and are perfect as a starting place for experiments, as supplemental work, or as a motivation for kids who are not excited about science.

My little ones thorough enjoy watching these, and they can't wait to preform more of the experiments at home themselves. I love that they're learning science and how it correlates to God. We'll get plenty of enjoyment from these DVDs for many years. 

If you'd like to see more of what Library and Educational Services has to offer, you can request a catalog. There is also a demo video from the series.

Don't forget to head to the Crew blog to read more reviews of the other volumes in the Go Science series.