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"A Singing Science Text for Understanding the Concepts of Life Science Using Traditional, Patriotic and Camp Tunes of Long Ago"

This clever learning set teaches basic concepts in Life Science through cleverly written songs (to tunes like Battle Hymn of the Republic and Dixie). There are eleven songs in all, with a chapter in the text and three pages in the workbook corresponding to each song. These are the song titles:

• "The Scientific Method" (to the tune of "Dixie")
• "All Living Things" (to the tune of "I Love the Mountains")
• "Invertebrates" (to the tune of "Clementine")
• "Coldblooded Vertebrates" (to the tune of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home")
• "Birds" (to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It")
• "Algae, Fungi and Nonvascular Plants" (to the tune of "Go Tell Aunt Rhodie")
• "Vascular Plants" (to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic")
• "Protozoa" (to the tune of "Listen to the Mockingbird")
• "Genetics" (to the tune of "Shortnin' Bread")
• "Viruses" (to the tune of "Yankee Doodle")
• "Oh Bacteria" (to the tune of "Oh Susanna")

The song lyrics are very creative and are loaded with worthwhile content. For example, here is the first verse and refrain to the first song, "The Scientific Method" (to the tune of "Dixie"):

Oh, what do you think a scientist does to solve a problem found because many scientists are scientists 'cause they're great problem solvers. There is a systematic way they go about 'most every day. It's methodical and it's logical, The scientific method.

[Chorus:] A way to solve a problem, a way, a way. The scientific method is a way to solve a problem. A way, a way, a way to solve a problem. A way, a way, a way to solve a problem.

Subsequent verses go on to explain the method in detail. My children and I really enjoy singing along with the CD in the car. The songs are performed with a silly tone (imitating the appropriate styles for each song), but by real musicians and with real instruments (no synthesizer - hurray!).

The text, in addition to the lyrics and music (including guitar chords) for each song, contains three to nine pages of information that further explores each topic. Children will memorize the basics (particularly terminology and basic facts) in the songs and then fill in the details by using the text. One could easily introduce the songs to quite young children and use the text a little later on or use the whole set together in upper grade school.

As an example, the segment on "All Living Things" covers (in seven pages) characteristics of living things (reproduce, move, grow, resond to a stimulus, carry on metabolic activities and have a precise structure); needs of living things (energy, water, oxygen, food, living space and proper temperature); the cell as the "building block" of living things; classification of living things and levels of organization. The text is simple and easy to follow and highlighted by pen and ink drawings and charts.

The workbook (reproducible for use in one classroom) includes three pages for each song. A fill-in-the-blanks lyrics page (with a list of words to choose from); an "objective" page (workbook-style review - true or false, matching, questions with short answers, etc.) and a page with a number of short essay-type questions. An answer key is included in the back of the workbook.

I am very impressed with the depth of content, creative presentation and reasonable cost (the workbook may be photocopied for use by your own family, but an additional workbook is only $6!).

A note in the beginning of the text gives some detailed info on how this resource can be used:

This book and CD and tape set can be used by students of many ages. Younger elementary students can benefit by becoming familiar with scientific terms through casual listening, yet may not fully understand the information until later. Middle school students often study life science in six grade; the text and musical arrangements are geared for this age and older students. The information covered in the songs and text should be very familiar to high school students before they study biology in greater depth.

...Ideally, these resources should be in addition to hands-on activities where observations and applications can be made. In this way the knowledge learned through reading and singing can become known through experience as well.

You can listen to some sample songs from the CD by clicking here.

Madeleine Takes Command is a story of heroism. Based on a true account in the winter 1692-93 in the wilderness of French Canada, fourteen-year-old Madeleine, along with her brothers, twelve-year-old Louis and ten-year-old Alexandre, hold down the fort against a raiding Iroquois party.

The story opens with Madeleine's mother regretfully leaving with her three youngest children to go to Montreal on business. As the oldest child of the seigneur, Madeleine is left in charge of the estate. With the constant threat of raiding Iroquois parties, burning, killing, and destroying, tension builds as Madeleine anxiously awaits her mother's return. Suddenly, while on patrol in the woods, the garrison is attacked and the tenant farmers are either captured or massacred as they make their way to the fields. Madeline, her brothers, an elderly servant, and two useless, cowardly soldiers are left to defend the fort and the remaining wives and children of the workers, who huddle together in the blockhouse.

Through Madeleine's ingenious ideas, they are able to present the appearance of far more militia men defending the fort. Hoping for reinforcements, they must battle against the constant threat of an open assault, as they observe the Iroquois darting in and out of the woods, threatening to do more harm, yet their biggest danger may be their own fatigue from the constant watch.

Who is to blame for all the fighting? The author presents a fair account of the turbulent times, giving blame equally to all sides and prodding the reader to reflect on the true Christian response to war and hatred.

Since this is a recording, the narrator also plays a role in the story. The narrator in this production is a woman with a sweet and soft-spoken voice. Her French pronunciation is impeccable. It is the suspenseful storyline, rather than her presentation; however, that carries the listener's interest. With each new turn of events, my children eagerly anticipated the next chapter. Will the reinforcements come in time to save the fort?

Nasco, 23" x 23" laminated poster

I have used homemade hundreds charts for years - they've been a great help for Math in preschool, kindergarten and early grade school. I was so excited when I saw this item in a catalog because it is advertised as a "double-sided wipe-off white board with sheet magnet-receptive surfaces." I immediately dreamed up all sorts of fun things my little ones could do on this board with skip-counting, covering numbers, etc.

I was immediately disappointed in the quality of the board. It really is more of a thick poster than a board. It seems to be made of two cardstock poster-sized sheets with a thin metallic sheet in between. The three sheets are laminated together with a rather thin laminate (I honestly couldn't tell at first if this was the packaging to be removed - it wasn't!). Nevertheless, I decided to give it a try and hung it on the wall. My first grade daughter very happily proceeded to draw x's over all of the even numbers (this was fun!). We discovered soon afterwards that our markers (Expo2 dry erase markers) would not erase from this board. We tried two different kinds of dry-erasers, a special dry-erase board spray and finally windex and paper towels.

I want to make clear that Customer Service at Nasco was very easy to deal with in getting my money refunded. But this is a product I recommend avoiding.

Making Music Praying Twice is a music and movement program for the young Catholic child. There are a variety of ways the parent can use the program. It can be used with your own children or with other families in a homeschool co-op or a group class for the parish. Because the program is highly adaptable, the age range is quite wide. The class could be for newborns through age 5, or toddler through second grade.

If you are familiar with the song books from days gone by like the Catholic series, We Sing and... or secular series from the same time period, this series is similar to them in that the “Children’s Songbook” includes a number of young children’s songs written as simple melodies along with the words.

The parent manual is loaded with creative ways to implement the program. Along with each song are suggestions on how to use the song, such as “play a simple beat with hands or sticks and sing the song” for Little Drummer Boy. Each song also includes "Milestones to Observe" and "Cross References". Some songs in the parent manual include guitar chords as well. This program encourages the children to actively participate with their whole bodies; either playing instruments, dancing, or using egg shakers. The back of the book includes other helpful information: glossary, suggested listening, further reading, and more.

For the parent who is not confident in sharing music with her own children, she can first listen to the CDs. The voices are pleasant to listen to, the melodies are not too complicated. To add interest, the background accompaniment varies from track to track.

A sampling of the songs include Ave Maria, Billy Boy, Did you Ever See a Lassie, Michael Row the Boat Ashore, Father I Adore You, Clementine, and many more.

If you have wanted to include music in your homeschool program for your younger children, but have been reluctant because of lack of resources or knowledge, this is an easy-to-use program that is highly adaptable to your needs.

The complete package includes five CDs, five Children’s Songbooks, and a teacher’s manual. The Children’s Songbooks include Ordinary Time—Fall, Ordinary Time—Winter, Advent-Christmas- Epiphany, Lent, and Easter—Pentecost. Items may be purchased separately.

For more information, please visit their website.