Homeschool Review: The Wars of the Jews #hsreviews #memoriapress #simplyclassical #classicalchristianeducation

I have the utmost respect for all things published by Memoria Press and appreciate that they offer quality resources to help parents provide a classical CHRISTIAN education for their children.  The Wars of the Jews is a high school curriculum in the Christian Studies program of Memoria Press and serves as an excellent introduction to Christianity as a whole.  Based upon the book The Fall of Jerusalem, written originally by Josephus, a Jew and Roman citizen in the first century A.D., and translated for modern study by William Whiston, The Wars of the Jews offers personal insight into the destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent spread of Christianity. 

Although it is considered a "short course" that can be completed in only a few months of study, it is not one to be taken lightly.  The amount of history discovered and discussed is amazingly in-depth as it comes from actual eyewitness account.  Reading through the pages of The Fall of Jerusalem is like taking a peek into a series of personal journals.  You can see, hear, and feel the battles raging around you.  How cool is that?

The Wars of the Jews set consists of the following three parts:

• The Wars of the Jews Student Guide (26-pages) serves as a workbook to make sure that students understand what they read in the text.  It gives the breakdown of chapters and offers a space to fill-in-the-blank as you read and study. 
• The Wars of the Jews Teacher Guide (35-pages) is a replica of the Student Guide with the answers for all of the lessons included.  The pages are numbered exactly the same for easy reference.  Additionally, it includes a 30-question Josephus Test and Answer Key.  This comprehensive test has students fill in vocabulary words, identify imporant people, places, and things from the book, recall specific quotes and who said what, complete short answer discussion, and label and draw on a map.  There is even an opportunity for Extra Credit.
• The Wars of the Jews text (141-pages) begins in Book V, Chapter 6 of The Fall of Jerusalem.  The text is illustrated throughout with black and white pictures and contains endnotes for further clarification. It ends with Book VI, Chapter 10.  Each paragraph within a chapter is numbered for ease of translation.

All three books are softcover.  The Student Guide has a glossy finish for durability.  There are no designated lesson plans so students are able to work at their own pace through the set.  There are 10 lessons, a comprehensive review, and a final test included in this curriculum.  The lessons specify which chapter(s) are to be read in order to complete the corresponding pages.  Each lesson contains a Facts to Know section (pictured below) and 5 - 10 short answer Comprehension Questions.  Several lessons also include a short Vocabulary section.

The translated text was not a difficult read once we became accustomed to the writing style.  Since the translated text begins with Chapter V of the original text, there is a bit of a learning curve to reading it, but once you have begun you will step easily into the story and have no problem following along as the action transpires in the Roman/Jewish war.  An earlier study of this portion of history  whetted our appetite for more information, so we were enthralled from the very beginning of the text.  I think that you will find it just as interesting as we do.  The constant reminder that GOD takes care of mankind offers encouragement to us as we walk through the day-to-day that is our crazy life. 

As always, Memoria Press has given us well thought out resources that encourage a Kingdom focus.  The early history of Christianity is one that we should all be more familiar with and reading about the early struggles help us to better appreciate our freedom to worship.  I am using this set as a personal study so that I can help the middle schoolers in my ministry to better understand GOD's Word for themselves.  Knowing that GOD was right with HIS people through the darkest of times helps us to hold onto the faith that HE is with us always today.

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I was given the opportunity to review the The Wars of the Jews:  The Fall of Jerusalem from Memoria Press as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   Make sure that you visit the  Crew Review to see what other members of the Crew thought of this Christian Study resource (and others), too.  You can click on the picture below to jump right over there.  

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Homeschool Review: Drive Thru History® "Acts to Revelation" #hsreviews #drivethruhistory #drivethruhistoryadventures #adventurelearning

If you've known me for any time at all, then you know that Drive Thru History® has long been one of our family favorites.  We started out watching the original series on television way back in the day based on the recommendation of a homeschooling friend and it still remains at the top of our list -- we happily share our DVDs and recommend Drive Thru History® to others now, too.  I always loved that the videos were so complementary to Social Studies, History, and Geography lessons and offered easy tie-ins to add a little something extra to our studies.  I truly do consider all things Drive Thru History® as some of the very best homeschool resources available.  The videos help make places and events come to life.  They are simply head and shoulders above the rest.  Because we have enjoyed watching the quirky travel epiosodes for years, I couldn't wait to get my copy of Drive Thru History® “Acts to Revelation”.     

Drive Thru History® “Acts to Revelation” is an 18-part miniseries (3 DVDs) that begins right where the last miniseries ended, but stands alone to make history come alive in a new way.  The previous miniseries, The Gospels, chronicled the life of JESUS from the historical landscape surrounding the announcements that a SAVIOR is coming to HIS birth, life, ministry, and miracles.  It was a most excellent teaching tool to learn about and celebrate all things JESUS.  “Acts to Revelation” begins with the resurrection of JESUS and takes us on a journey throughout the Mediterranean region looking at the people, places, and events that launched the Christian faith.  Over the course of more than NINE hours of mesmerizing video, we get a first-hand look at the world of the first Christians.  (For example:  I have read the account of Pentacost numerous times, but to watch it play out onscreen gave me chills.  By the same token, "standing" nearby during the stoning of Stephen made my stomach churn and seeing John in exile on Patmos offers a new appreciation for the meaning of relationship.)

Here are the logistics that I think you should know:  Housed within a hardback cover (pictured above), the 3- DVD set includes a Study Guide broken down for each of the 18 episodes.  The Study Guide contains a brief Summary of each episode, five Discussion Questions to help you grasp each episode (answers to these are found in the back of the guide), a Reading list that points to the biblical text for context of each episode, and a Side Road section that shares more detailed information about one of the places or events discussed in the given episode.  Further logistics that you will find interesting are that the runtime for each episode is between 27-30 minutes long.  This is perfect for a daily lesson and discussion.  At then end of each video, you see the following message:

This show hopes to provide some illumination to the history of the New Testament, but there is NO SUBSTITUTE for reading the SCRIPTURES yourself.  [emphasis added mine]

Y'all . . . I cannot even begin to tell you how happy that makes my heart.  THIS is what it is all about.  Watch the video, enjoy the scenery, love the journey -- but READ YOUR COPY OF GOD'S WORD.  Obviously, the target audience for the Drive Thru History® videos would be Christian families, but please, please, please feel free to share them with friends and family who may not yet know the grace and love JESUS.  While your ENTIRE family will find something to enjoy in this set, middle schoolers and older students (adults included) will reap the most educational benefit from it.  And please use it as an ADDITIONAL resource with your Bible right there, too.  

That said, let me tell you how “Acts to Revelation” -- The World of the First Christians is impacting me and my personal Bible study.  We are big "series bingers" at my house and I began by watching through the videso on a "play all" setting.  I wanted the big picture and knew that I could watch a few episodes at a time to get an overall look at the history of the New Testament.  That completed, I knew that I would NEED to go back and watch at a slower pace with my Bible open and pen ready to take notes.  From the very beginning when Dave Stotts (he's your tour guide on this journey) establishes the credibility of the primary source of the book of Acts by explaining that Luke was not only a historian, but also an eyewitness to some of the history himself, I was enthralled.

I have taken tons of notes right on the pages of my Bible and I am constantly pushing pause to underline, highlight, and write something else down that I did not know or did not put together from my own reading.  I love being able to SEE the Cenacle (did YOU know that's what the Upper Room is called?  I didn't.) as I read about the 120 followers prayerfully awaiting for their next instructions.  I needed to write notes about the birthday of Christianity—Pentecost — and wanted to add flames above the words when the followers of THE WAY began declaring the words of GOD in their own tongues. May I boldly proclaim the gospel of JESUS right where it is least expected.  May I wait CALMLY to hear from GOD just as those early Christians did.

The middle schoolers at church really enjoyed our studies of The Gospels last year during Lent and I am happy to now share with them The World of the First Christians.  The Discussion questions make small group times so easy for me to put together and they encourage the students to listen carefully as we watch the videos in class.  What I am most excited about, though, is that they are learning why the Bible matters.  Thefast-paced design of the videos holds both their interest and their attention.  They ASK to continue watching and they are LEARNING while they watch.  Drive Thru History® makes GOD's WORD personal and that old Stevie McQueen jeep helps make it real.  My kids now see the Bible in relevant terms and not just as some unappealing long ago text.  That, my friends, is a win any day of the week in my book.

My family has always enjoyed sitting down to watch an episode (or three) of the fast-paced adventures led by tour guide "extraordinaire" Dave Stotts and it has been my pleasure to review both Drive Thru History® – “The Gospels” (The Extraordinary Life of JESUS of Nazareth) and Drive Thru History® Adventures in addition to this new series.   For more information about Drive Thru History® “Acts to Revelation”, please make sure to check out the following Social Media pages:

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I was given the opportunity to review Drive Thru History® “Acts to Revelation” from Drive Thru History® as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this resource (or just click on the banner below.)

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Homeschool Review: FOR THE TEMPLE (Heirloom Audio) #hsreviews #HeirloomAudio #FortheTemple #LiveTheAdventure #BringingHentyBack #AudioAdventures

Did you know that there is a brand new G.A. Henty audio adventure from Heirloom Audio and it just may be my favorite one yet?  FOR THE TEMPLE is a fascinating listen that will have you anxiously awaiting what comes next.  There's a little bit of everything packed in this story -- travel, romance, war, peace, and JESUS.  What could be better?  Voiced by a host of family favorites like Brian Blessed, Cathy Sara, and George Blagden, the 2 1/2 hour production will fly by as you join in the adventure and learn to follow the WAY.  It makes for the perfect car ride companion -- and there's even a Study Guide to help you turn it into a more in-depth learning tool at home.

You know how I know?  I recently enjoyed the rare occasion of being in my vehicle all by myself -- weird, right?  Both of my parents had separate surgeries out-of-town, so I spent a few days riding up and down the interstate alone.  I knew from our past experiences with Heirloom audio theatre that For The Temple would keep me interested and awake in the wee hours of the morning drive, and I was absolutely not disappointed.  I had no idea what this story was about before I put it into my CD player and turned it on, so I hung onto every word from each scene as the story of a young man named John unfolded.

For The Temple began quietly enough with the introduction of John (the son of a vineyard owner who is content with growing the best grapes around and producing the finest wine possible) and Mary (the girl who is slated to be his wife) working the grapevines and preparing for harvest together.   It quickly intensified when mischeivous Mary tricks John into an "easy" boat ride on the Sea of Galilee as a storm brews.  Interestingly enough, as the storm raged on John and Mary, rain poured down on my vehicle as I drove so I felt like I was right in the middle of the Sea of Galilee with them.  As the rain beat down outside, I turned up the stereo and leaned into the storytelling of Mr. George (Henty).  Through the providence of GOD's plan, John and Mary are rescued by Josephus who then invites John to join him for military training.  This is a pivotal point in the young man's life as he realizes that indeed "the time is coming when every Jew who can bear arms will be needed in the service of his country."

John becomes quite the leader as the story continues and he tricks Roman soldiers, saves towns and cities, and fights when he must for the love of the Temple -- and home.  The dark moments of history come to life around you as 3,000 Jewish people are crucified when they attempt to flee Roman invasion, but the light of JESUS shines as you hear testimony from Nicodemus about his late-night meeting with LOVE.  It is amazing to take part in some of the very first church meetings and hear the Scripture taught from those early believers.

I firmly believe that For The Temple should be required listening (and studying) for all students today.  As I listened, I couldn't help but think of the political climate we now find ourselves in as compared to the evil of that day and time.  It reaffirmed my commitment that we stand with Israel.  In my opinion, this is an important piece of  history that MUST be remembered.  I'm sharing this CD set with my family, but not just for entertainment purposes.  We must remember.  We must learn.  We must take a stand.  Y'all, this one really is that important.  That's why it is my very favorite.

And did you know that Heirloom Audio offers a super-cool extra in the form of their Live the Adventure Club?  It's an online masterpiece that includes bonus downloads for all of their audio theatre productions and gives you the opportunity to listen right along online.  These digital components have included study guides and quizzes to go with each of their extraordinary adventures, as well as read-along scripts and resources to make your "listening" time an educational treasure.  There are kid activities for each of the stories (coloring sheets, scavenger hunts, word searches) and daily devotions and articles for parents to use on this journey.  It's a great community to be involved with and will greatly benefit your homeschool world.

The 51-page Study Guide for For The Temple is available and it will help younger students really grasp the lessons in the storyline while it helps older students more deeply explore the history of the Zealots and learn more about the new followers of The WAY.  The Study Guide aids students in understanding the literature behind the audiodrama. All of the Heirloom Audio dramas are based off of books by G.A. Henty and the Study Guide helps you find the connection between entertainment and education.

Dividing each track of the CD into three main sections, the full-color Study Guide directs students to Listen Well, Think Further, and Define Words.  Listening Well questions simply ask students what they've heard and makes sure they are hearing key points in the story.  Thinking Further questions take things a step further by asking students to describe and compare what they are learning and require that students move beyond the surface and dig in to the lesson being taught.  It offers map skill opportunities and a more in-depth study of things discussed on the CD.  For example, students are encouraged to describe the armor worn by the common Roman foot soldier and draw a sketch of a Roman soldier in armor.  To do this, they'll need to do independent research and explore history on their own.  Defining Words offers vocabulary words to be learned and studied.  There is also a book list included for older students to learn more about the destruction of Jerusalem and then, there's my favorite part, three Bible Studies that complement the production. That's what I love most about Heirloom Audio.

For more information about this drama or any of the others lovingly produced by Heirloom Audio, please visit the following Social Media sites:

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We have thoroughly enjoyed listening to and learning from each of the audio dramas that we have reviewed (Under Drake's Flag, In Freedom's Cause, With Lee in Virginia, The Dragon and the Raven, Beric the Briton, The Cat of Bubastes, In the Reign of Terror, Captain Bayley's Heir, Wulf the Saxon and St. Bartholemew's Eve) -- and FOR THE TEMPLE is no exception.  We enjoy sharing all of our audio theatre productions with our friends and family.  We've actually made Heirloom Audio an integral part of our homeschool life and we think you should, too.

I was given the opportunity to review FOR THE TEMPLE from Heirloom Audio as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this audio drama and see how they are utilizing the Study Guide in their own homes (or just click on the banner below -- it will take you right there.)

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Homeschool Review: Paddington Bear (Branch Out World) #hsreviews #BOWresources #projectfuntolearn #PictureBookExplorers

Way back in college in 1988, I had the opportunity to hang out in Paddington Station when we visited jolly old London as part of a British Studies class.  I was super excited about that particular Underground stop because of my love of a certain friendly bear named Paddington who traveled all the way to England as a stowaway from Peru.   Do you remember reading about him?  I've always loved that bear.  I was excited about pulling out my pictures from my trip and sharing them with my daughter as we toured the pages of  Branch Out World's Lit Study Paddington Bear.  Part of the Picture Book Explorers series, Paddington Bear is a 69-page unit study based on the book Paddington by Michael Bond.  (You will need a copy of this book to accompany your study.)

The PDF file can be viewed directly from the computer or tablet screen or it can be printed and added to a binder for easy access.  Written specifically with students ages 5 - 10 in mind, Paddington Bear offers a wide range of learning opportunities for families and can be easily adapted for use with students of all ages.  The Picture Book Explorers series utilizes a literature-rich approach to study.  Families are encouraged to read their particular book of study together every day for five days and to work through activities that complement the story.  These activities offer greater explorations in the fields of

• history and geography (through the setting of the story)
• literary devices, grammar, and creative writing (through the vocabulary of the story)
• art and illustrations (through the pictures of the story)
• animal studies and hands-on experiments (through the science of the story) and
• math (through crafts and recipes that relate to the story).

For further study, Paddington Bear suggests additional resources that will enhance learning including books and videos.  There are tons of ideas and activities offered for each day of work and parents are encouraged to pick the ones that will be most compelling for YOUR children.  This is perfect for home educating families to cater to the strengths of their students.  There is something for everyone -- even food.  Littles will be enthralled with a toast and marmalade tea party and middle schoolers will like sharing Peruvian snacks of popcorn, raisins, banana chips, and Brazil nuts.  At my house, we are looking for Inca Kola -- a popular drink that supposedly tastes a little like bubble gum or cream soda -- now that we've learned about it.

Because Branch Out World is a British company, they offer a fresh perspective on the study of Paddington Bear.  The map work and fact sheets offer a nice challenge for older students and the discussion of the push and pull factors of migration is an awesome addition to high school geography.  The authentic recipes (ever heard of caster sugar before?) sent us searching for conversion charts.  Coloring is always fun, no matter how old you are, and my animal-loving daughter enjoyed looking up basic facts about the Andean Bear and filling out the guided worksheet.  You already know how much I love a timeline and the way that it helps us all to be more aware of the relationship between different historical events.  It was interesting for us both to place our dear friend, Paddington, in his rightful place in history.  Add some studies on architecture and gardening and you really do have the perfect literature unit for all students.

I know that younger students will enjoy putting the included passport together and making the mini-books that accompany the study.  Of course, the shaving cream art is fun for everyone (me included).  My daughter and I enjoyed looking through travel posters of England and Peru and even pulled out my photo album that included receipts, pictures, and a daily journal of my visit to England.  The unit study allowed us time to explore together as it brought a childhood favorite book to life in the heart of a high school senior.  How fun is that?


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I was given the opportunity to review the Paddington Bear Lit Study from  Branch Out World's Picture Book Explorers series  as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this topic pack and how they used it (or just click on the banner below).  

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Homeschool Review: YWAM Publishing's Billy Graham #hsreviews #YWAMPublishing #ChristianHeroes #ChristianBiographies #Truebiographies #HeroesofHistory #HeroBiographies #TrueStories #ChristianHeroesThenandNow #Homeschoolcurriculum #Teachthemwell

You might remember me sharing that my mother-in-love gifted us with a set of books years ago that shared the inspiring stories of Christian heroes and missionaries and we all fell in love with them.  We've enjoyed reading quite a few titles from YWAM Publishing ever since and couldn't wait to get our hands on Heroes of History - Billy Graham: America's Pastor (206-pages, softcover) when the opportunity to review arose again.

We have previously enjoyed reading and reviewing two other books from the Heroes of History series (Milton Hershey:  More Than Chocolate and Ben Carson:  A Chance at Life) and one from the Christian Heroes:  Then & Now series (Jim Elliot:  One Great Purpose).  All of these books are available in either paperback or e-book format and there are Downloadable Unit Studies/Curriculum Guides available for most every title.  Bring on the Study Guides!  You already know how much I appreciate the way these guides add a new dimension to our living history studies and the Billy Graham Unit Study is no exception.

I was about 10 years old when I saw Billy Graham in person.  He held a rally in Jackson, MS and my family was in attendance.  (Sidenote:  the MainMost was there with his family, too, although it would be quite a few years before our paths crossed.)  I will never forget hearing that distinct voice as Billy Graham shared the LOVE of JESUS with a packed-out crowd.  My uncle was a music minister and was helping to lead music at the crusade so we were invited backstage before the service began.  I was in awe then, and I am still in awe today, of a man who was totally and completely sold-out to GOD.  Over the years, I've read several of the books he has written and many of his wife Ruth's books, so I was overjoyed to share this book about him with my children.  Of course, they know who Billy Graham is and have heard me say many times that I firmly believe that GOD had placed Billy in this particular time in history to walk us through some pretty tough things as a nation, but I wanted them to understand a bit about the man behind the passion for themselves so that they could fully appreciate his calling.

Divided into 17 chapters, Billy Graham:  America's Pastor welcomes the reader to walk alongside one of the greatest men of all times and join him on the day-to-day.  We have learned so many things as we study the pages of this book.  Did you know that Billy Graham used to be called Billy Frank?  We didn't either.  At the ripe old age of 13, when Billy Frank asked JESUS to come into his heart and become LORD of his life, he dropped the Frank to signify to himself and those who knew him that he was a new creation in CHRIST.  What a wonderful thing for my children to read -- and even better was for them to find out that Billy gave his testimony for the first time at the ripe old age of 16.  He was nervous and awkward and stumbled over his words, but he spoke when called upon and GOD was faithful to the one HE had called.  How important it is to me that my children see the footsteps of FAITH and the FAITHFULNESS of the FATHER.

Billy Graham:  America's Pastor is written in a conversational tone that makes it easy to understand.  Through its pages we see the calling and the shaping of the called.  Billy Graham was energized as he spoke about JESUS and he did not shy away from speaking truth to anyone -- presidents, foreign leaders, rich, poor, famous, or just regular folks like me and you -- Billy knew that we all need a relationship with GOD and he shared just how to have that.  He was on a mission and nothing derailed him from that mission.  Did you know he even turned down a visit with the Prime Minister because GOD was sending him elsewhere?  This book invites you in to his life and travels and introduces you to his family and friends in such a way that you'll feel like you've known them all of your life.  Billy Graham was such a national treasure for us all and I'm overjoyed that my children now have a better understanding of who he was.  It makes their work with Operation Christmas Child a little sweeter because they know the man who raised and loved its founder, Franklin Graham.

One of my favorite things about YWAM Publishing is that they offer such great resources to complement good literature.  What I like about the Study Guides is that they give ample opportunity for students to take the reading of a book SEVERAL steps further.  With guides for small groups, classroom use, and homeschoolers, they make it easy to pick up and learn.  The Unit Study Curriculum Guide for Billy Graham is divided into two parts.  Part One is 74-pages long and Part Two is 5-pages long.  Part Two contains the Social Studies reproducible resources to be used with the Social Studies chapter of Part One.

Part One contains 8 Chapters.  There are Key Quotes that complement the book and could be used for memorization, a Display Corner that offers suggestions to make this a hands-on study with timelines and pictures displayed in a corner or room of your home, Chapter Questions that break down each chapter of the book with pertinent questions to aid your students in reading comprehension (answers are provided in the appendix), and Student Exploration options that contain activities to reflect a variety of learning styles (arts & crafts always call to my daughter, but online videos appeal to my son).   We have discussed the Community Links chapter and enjoy finding evangelical offerings right here at home and appreciate both the Related Themes and Culminating Events chapters because they ecourage us to stretch outside our comfort zone when we near the completion of our study.  We aren't there, yet, but we are discussing how to celebrate Billy Graham when we finish this study.  BUT  . . . my all-time favorite chapter of the Study Guide is the Social Studies chapter.  I love the maps and timeline and so does my girl.  You can see her progress below as she marks places significant to Billy's life in red and cities where he held rallies in purple.  A fun way for us to personalize this is to mark the places that we've actually been and visited.  It's a neat way to bring it all home.

The entirety of the Study Guide is designed to open up conversation and that it does.  I can think of nothing better for us to talk about that the beauty of what the LOVE of GOD provides HIS people.



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You will definitely want to check out the two newest hero titles.  Benjamin Rush: The Common Good (a Heroes of History title) and John Newton: Change of Heart (a Christian Heroes: Then & Now title) have just been release this month.  I can't wait to add them to our library.

I was given the opportunity to review Heroes of History - Billy Graham: America's Pastor from YWAM Publishing as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   Make sure that you visit the  Crew Review to see what other members of the Crew thought of it and other titles, too.  You can click on the picture below to jump right over there.  

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Homeschool Review: Drive Thru History Adventures #hsreviews #drivethruhistory #drivethruhistoryadventures #adventurelearning

History has long been our favorite subject at Long Leaf Academy and we've watched many of  Dave Stotts' Drive Thru History episodes throughout the years.  You can imagine how excited I was when we were introduced to the new Drive Thru History Adventures video curriculum.  Currently, there are three curriculum sets available.  These include Bible History, American History, and Ancient History  Each set is comprised of 12-18 weeks of video lessons (25-30 minutes long), extra suggested readings that help students dig a little deeper into what they've watched, discusion Worksheets (with Answer Key provided), artwork, illustrations, and JESUS.  You probably know me well enought to know that that's my very favorite part. I love that Dave reminds us on every step in our journey that it all points back to JESUS.

For purposes of review, we've been focusing on the American History Adventures and I've got to tell you that even this momma learns something new within every video lesson.  Dave makes studying and learning history so much fun.  The videos are high energy and packed full of information that takes what we've studied in our textbooks and breathes new life into it.  We enjoy being "along for the ride" in Dave's red Jeep as we hit the road on adventure across America.  He is funny and informative and leaves you wanting more. 

Although the description for the American History Adventures states that it covers the time period from Columbus to the Constitution, the truth of the matter is that it begins long before the birth of Columbus.  Dave makes sure to explain the "history" of  history by laying the groundwork for what is to come.  

"History is more than just about remembering dates.  It's also about the confluence of events.  One of the things we like to do in Drive Thru History is to connect the dots -- those seemingly unrelated events that add up to some amazing moments or turning points in history."

It is that eplanation of the "confluence of events" that makes these Adventures so fabulous.  For example, did you know that Genghis Khan, Marco Polo, Mohammed, and JESUS all play a part in the discovery of America?  Of course, we knew that Christopher Columbus gets tons of credit for America, but we'd never connected the dots with the rest of that lineup before watching Episode 1 of American History Adventures.

And there are other things we'd not thought of before as well.  Episode 2 let us in on the secret that the Pilgrims didn't just wear those black and white Puritan outfits with the strange hats and big buckles.  Nope -- they wore colorful clothing with plumes and ruffles and poufy shoulders.  

Have you ever heard of a Newman Window?  Neither had we.  It seems that after waving two lanterns of warning for his friends Paul Revere and William Dawes, Robert Newman escaped from Christ Church in Boston's North End by jumping through a window.  It's now called Newman Window.  Cool, huh?  We also had no idea that the "waving of the lanterns" from the church tower actually lasted less than one minute.  Can you even imagine?  What if the wind had been blowing the trees or the moon had been casting strange shadows?  In less than a minute, they might not even have seen the signal.  Episode 3 explains all of that and reminds us "but GOD."  

You can see even more from the Episode 3 corresponding curriculum in the picture below.  After watching the video, my daughter was able to dig in even more by examining Paul Revere's engraving of the Boston Massacre (pictured on the screen) before answering the discussion questions and reading the suggested Longfellow poem.  Paul Revere's Ride has long been one of my favorites so I enjoyed sharing it with her.  

Listen my children, and you shall hear

Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.

Now mind you, all of the suggested source documents are provided as PDFs and can be read on-screen, but I can't get past the need to print things out here.  I like that my girl can three-hole punch all of the information and worksheets and place them in a binder for future reference.  I'ms still a bit old school, I guess, but it works for us.

Every single episode teaches us something new or gives us a different way to look at the history we have always studied.  It becomes real to us as we see the places we've read about.  In Episode 4, we visited an old graveyard on Copp's Hill and saw the gashes in the tombstones where British soldiers took target practice.  Talk about tacky.  Each lesson fills in the gaps of what we know and what we think we know.  Dave shares some of the most intriguing facts as he expands our knowledge base.

I'm telling you, there is so much good information packed into each of the video lessons that your entire family will benefit from watching them.  The full curriculum is written for students who are 12 and older, but there really is something here for everyone.  Dave Stotts makes sure that every episode is family friendly and even recommends that you sit down together to watch the videos and engage the material together so that you can all process it and learn and study and pray.  He is serious about earning your trust and keeping it.

This online subscription gives your entire family access to all three of the history curriculum sets and is available as a monthly or annual subscription.  You can access Adventures TV from your computer or from your phone (there's an app for that!) so it's super convenient to learn wherever you are. The neat thing about Adventures TV is that not only does it allow for access to the Adventures video series, but it also keeps history up-to-date through Dave's Adventures, Side Roads, Behind the Scenes, and Dig Deeper videos.

Dave's Adventures offer a weekly update on what's happening in the world and highlights specific episodes from each of the three history adventures.  Side Roads videos are short segments that offer a fun look at a variety of topics.  Want to learn a little bit about the history of Groundhog's Day?  It's all there.  Need to know more about Valentine's Day?  He's got you covered.

The Behind the Scenes videos are just that -- little behind-the-scenes clips of Dave on his many adventures.  I have been wanting to visit the Museum of the Bible ever since I heard about it at a conference last year and Dave's behind the scenes visit during its soft opening makes me want to see it even more.   The Dig Deeper videos offer a deeper Biblical lesson that helps students grasp apologetics as they look at history through the lens of GOD's Word.

As an extra bonus right now, if you choose to join with an annual subscription, Drive Thru History Adventures will send you a free set of the The Gospels DVD.  We had the opportunity to review it last year and I highly recommend it to for your family.  I have used it at home and at church this year to supplement our class discussions and the middle schoolers always ask for more.







For more information about  Drive Thru History Adventures and Cold Water Media, please make sure to check out the following Social Media pages:

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This is definitely a resource worth looking into for your homeschool.

I was given the opportunity to review Drive Thru History Adventures as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this history resource (or just click on the banner below.)  You can also check out the winter edition of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine where you'll find a 20% off coupon for the annual subscription on page 19.

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