Homeschool Court - Crew Review

 

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.

I recently had the privilege to review the Homeschool Court Student Worktext, Teacher Manual and Case Summary materials from Homeschool Court. This course is an overview of the American judicial system and ends in a mock trial. It is written for high school students. I would say that the curriculum is teacher-intensive as there is a lot of discussion throughout the course. After we reading each chapter, we orally discussed the given questions about the American judicial system. Here is a breakdown of the nine chapters.

In chapter one, students learn why we have laws and some basic legal vocabulary. In chapter two, students understand the Biblical foundation upon which our country’s legal system was founded, apply Biblical principles to legal issues, and explore some important people and events in American legal history. In chapter three, students discover the participants in the court system and differences between various types of witnesses. In chapter four, students learn the difference between state and federal courts, trial and appellate courts, and civil and criminal courts – and how to decide in which jurisdiction to file a case. In chapter five, students explore the variety of the law while getting a taste of criminal, civil, and constitutional law. In chapter six, students distinguish between the step-by-step process involved in trials and appeals, as well as the physical set-up for each. In chapter seven, students practice their skills of persuasion while crafting witness questions, opening and closing statements, and a strong strategy for their trial or appellate case. In chapter eight, students use a team approach to prepare diligently for the mock trial. In chapter nine, students enjoy the fruits of their labor during the mock trial.

After reading through the Student Worktext, we were able to read through the Case Summary materials and let the debate begin. For this review, we were given the following Case Summary materials: Dog Bite at the Dog Show, Forging Mama’s Signature, and School Prayer. Each case provides a case summary, lower court decisions, and elements of the law.

After working through the course materials with our family, I think this would be a fun curriculum to incorporate in our co-op classes and I think it’s a great teaching tool for teaching high school students about the American judicial system. Visit the Crew Blog to read more reviews from the Homeschool Review Crew.

Homeschool Life Magazine - Spring 2021

 

The Homeschool Life Magazine will empower readers with homeschool help articles from preschool through high school, will enrich readers with curriculum giveaways, and will encourage readers using Biblical truths to live out God's calling and stay the course. Check out the Spring 2021 issue:

• Learning Styles: The Auditory Learner by Veronica Whitley
• Hands-on History: Ancient Pyramids by Melissa Roy
• Help! How Do I Homeschool on a Budget? by Susan Reed
• Learning in Everyday Life by Danielle Papageorgiou
• Finding Strength in Your Child's Weakness by Lee Ann Rubsam
• Lab Lesson: Snow by Annette Vellenga
• How Do I Do That? Actress! by Kimberly McGee
• Preschool Theme Day: Spring by Jessica Carpinelli
• Preparing a High School Transcript by Susan Reed
• Raising Children in Christ-like Character: Kindness by Jenna Ouano
• Project Passport: The Middle Ages by Home School in the Woods
• High School Prep Genius by College Prep Genius
• Acts to Revelation by Drive Thru History
• Our Star-Spangled Banner by Notgrass
• Organizing the Schoolroom by Meredith Curtis
• Homeschooling in the Great Outdoors by Amanda Bowers
• Teaching Your Kids Not to Quit by Gwendolyn Little
• Unit Study: Victorian Age by Meredith Curtis
• Virtual Field Trip: The Louvre by Shannan Swindler
• Will Your Children Kneel or Bow? by Dianna Wiebe

Homeschooling is more than an academic alternative - it's a way of life! Get your Spring 2021 issue of the Homeschool Life Magazine today! 

Handbook for Writers - Crew Review

 

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.

If you are looking for a writing tool for your high school student, check out Excellence in Literature Handbook for Writers from Everyday Education. This 420-page digital book has two primary sections.

The first section provides an introduction to essays and arguments. In this section, students learn how to set up an argument, how to organize the main body of an argument, how to write paragraphs for deductive structure and inductive structure, and how to write arguments about literary works. If your student studies debate, the chapters on constructing an argument are very helpful. What I like most about this section is that it gives students sample formats, like sample formats for topic sentences. But it is also a great teaching tool. It also tells students what topic sentences to avoid.

The second section provides an introduction to usage and style. In this section, students learn about sentences, troublesome words in writing, basic punctuation, parallelism, and basic formats for essays and research papers. What I like most about this section is that it helps parents evaluate student papers. When grading writing papers, simply note the section number, for example 6.7 place of modifiers. Then the student can look at this lesson in the handbook and see how to correct the error.

Ian Johnston and Janice Campbell have written a great resource for high school students that answers questions about writing, grammar, punctuation, and more. Visit the Crew Blog to read more reviews from the Homeschool Review Crew.

Using Literature to Teach about World War One in Elementary School

 

Many of us use a curriculum to teach history; but using literature to teach history can be a great teaching tool. I am continuing this history literature series with some of the best books to teach about World War One. Using literature to teach history illuminates the time period, helps integrate the history curriculum, and enriches social studies. With my love for literature and history, it only makes sense to combine the two, so I have gathered some of my favorite books that teach about World War One in elementary school.

See Inside the First World War by Rob Lloyd Jones is a flap book packed with information about the First World War, from the start of the conflict in 1914, to its resolution in 1918. It includes scenes such as a battleship fight, the war in the skies, trenches on the Western Front, and a tank battle in no man’s land.

Where the Poppies Now Grow by Hilary Ann Robinson is about childhood friends, Ben and Ray, as they find their innocent war games become real as the Great War rages around them. Set during the First World War, in simple rhyme, Where the Poppies Now Grow takes readers on a journey of friendship set against a changing landscape of innocence, of war, and then of peace.

DK Eyewitness Books: World War I by Simon Adams is an easy to understand guide to the world’s terrible war. Real-life photographs with clear explanations will give you a look into one of the worst conflicts in history. From the causes of the war to the challenges in battle and the consequences afterward, this book covers the intense four-year battle on land, sea, and up in the sky.

The National Archives: World War I Unclassified by Nick Hunter is packed full of amazing photographs and original documents from the National Archives, real-life artifacts and documentation enable readers to build a true and real account of World War I and how it shaped the world. From the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferninand to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, WWI Unclassified takes readers on a journey back in time to discover the amazing story behind this terrible war.

These are only a few of my favorite books that teach about World War One, there are so many more out there! Feel free to share in the comments what you consider the best book to teach about World War One in elementary school.

Happy Homeschooling!