Mystery of History | Luv'N Lambert Life

Recently, I was asked to review WonderMaps from Bright Ideas Press for Timberdoodle Co. I literally JUMPED at the chance to review this item. WonderMaps is one of the BEST accessories any homeschooling family can have.

This what my screen looks like when I start Wondermaps.

WonderMaps is just that: wonderful maps included in one quick download or on a convenient disk for use with any history program available. With WonderMaps, the user can pick the features they want displayed and then print off the needed maps to use as necessary. Maps of Ancient lands to today’s modern landscape are available for the user to print. Outline, political, topographical, and even reference maps are included in either black and white or color, including names of specific elements as the user sees fit to create.

A map showing all the customizable choices in action.

A map showing only the borders and names of the countries.

Your basic blackline map.

This is a page from the software showing

choices of maps for this section of history.

My own personal map printout in my classroom notebook.

WonderMaps includes 60+ state maps, 60+ country maps, 125 historical maps and includes 25 biblical maps. There are also complete map sets created for use with Mystery of History Vols 1-3 and All American History Vols 1-2.

I am personally using this wonderful resource with Tapestry of Grace and Mystery of History for our Ancient History lessons this year. These maps have been a wonderful introduction for us. They were extremely simple to create and print out. I love that I can add as many features as I feel necessary and remove as much as I need to too! Starting out with history, I try to keep maps simple so as not to overwhelm my children and reprint more detailed maps as we expand on that topic. With WonderMaps I can easily print out just what I need.

Visit Timberdoodle today to purchase WonderMaps or see their amazing line of homeschool products. Be sure to order a free copy of their catalog to shop from the comfort of home. Stop by and “like” Timberdoodle on Facebook too!

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me free by Timberdoodle Reviewer Blog Team. I was asked to give my honest opinion of this product in exchange for use of the product in my home. No money was exchanged during this review.

As I mentioned in my last post, this year we will be stepping out of unschooling and into more structured school-style. Think relaxed but formal. I think a little more structure is necessary for our days and what better place to start than with school.

Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t use grade levels in our school. I consider both Winston and Emmalee to be Elementary level and in comparison to public school, they are on different levels in different subjects throughout the spectrum. I do not place them into one single catergory because of this.

That said, I do consider my youngest to be in preschool. She will be beginning “real” studies with us this year. We will work through various workbooks, learning letters and numbers, number relation and early writing skills. I’m not 100% sure what curriculum I will be using with her yet but hope to figure it out very soon.

Winston and Emmalee will be continuing much of the curriculum we used last year. We will be adding and changing several things but I am still working out the details. The books we will be using are as follows:

Who is God? And Can I Really Know Him

This book is part of the What We Believe series published by Apologia Press. We began it last year but will dive into it further this year. I hope to add the accompaning color book at some point before we finish the book. It is a look at Biblical Worldview written for Elementary level students (ages 6-14).

For Science, we will be working through Apologia’s Exploring Creation series. Astronomy, Botany, and Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day are the current titles we own but I hope to add the others soon. We LOVE this science program. Each book fully covers its subject, instead of working in bits and pieces like other science curriculums. Each book also relates the subject to the Bible and teaches a child to see science through God’s eyes instead of the world’s view.

For Reading, we will be working through Pathway Readers reading program. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this reading program. The books are simply written but very enjoyable. They are Amish style, keeping twaddle to a minimum. They are perfect for Charlotte Mason type homeschools.

For Grammar, we will also be using Pathway’s Climbing to Good English program. We haven’t use this yet so it will be new for us. I really think it’s perfect for my kids though and that they will really enjoy it. I guess we will see! We will also continue working with Scott Foresman’s Grammar and Handwriting books, which we also LOVE (and they are FREE).

For Math, we will continue to use Miquon. We absolutely LOVE Miquon. It’s perfect for us. The kids love the simple activities. They also love using the Cuisenaire Rods for each activity. Some days we even pull out Lego’s to use instead, which the kids love even more!

For History, we will be using multiple things and I am totally EXCITED! History is by far my favorite subject to teach. This year I found a great deal on Tapestry of Grace, Classic Edition. I know there is a newer version and I should probably invest in that but if we like Year One Classic this year, I will go with the new version next year. Just going to take our time and see how it goes!

Along with TOG, we will be using both Mystery of History Volume 1 and Story of the World Volume 1.

We will be using these with TOG as our main history curriculum and Mystery of History as our secondary history, while using Story of the World stories and activities to add to and fill in as I feel necessary. Using the three of these together will give us the best well-rounded version for History over-all.

These are the things I know we will be using this year but I’m still working out details. I have other curriculum we will be using too but I haven’t quite completed that list for us. I’m really looking forward to our lessons this year and I know the kids are too. Now just to finish writing up schedules and lesson plans so we can get started.

What are your curriculum plans for this year? I love hearing what other’s are using so please comment, share a link and share! <3

Wondermaps {Timberdoodle Review}

2011-2012 Curriculum Part 1