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Kwik Stix Paints Review – Art Supplies Every Family Needs!

Nov72016
November 7, 2016 by 26 Comments

kwik-stix-tempera-paint-sticks-low-mess-and-fast-dry-painting-for-kids

There are some new art supplies in our house that everyone is in love with – Kwik Stix. The mom (and neat freak in me) is absolutely in love with these solid paint sticks and wishes we had them years ago!  All of the kids have had fun painting with them over the last few weeks and we would love to share more about them with you all as well. 

Disclaimer: I received these products in exchange for review on my blog. The opinions expressed on my site are my own, and were not influenced by the company or free product provided.

What Exactly Are Kwik Stix? 

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In short, Kwik Stix are quick and easy paints to use. Rather than pulling out brushes and lots of runny paint (or needing to mix up tempera paint from powder), Kwik Stix are solid tempera paint sticks that come in a tube similar to a glue stick. They come in a variety of colors too. We received packs of Kwik Stix Metalix, Kwik Stix Neon, and a Classic 12 pack of assorted Kwik Stix colors. 

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Honestly we weren’t sure what to expect at first, but the paint comes out incredibly smooth and dries right away (packaging says 90 seconds although we didn’t time it – it was quick). If the paint gets a little low, simply twist the bottom of the stick and more paint comes up from the tube. 

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Now I don’t know about your kids, but we have one (or two) that are a little bit particular when it comes to their painting endeavors. They don’t like mixing colors – and heaven forbid anything should smear! Kwik Stix were FABULOUS in this regard because they dried quickly and we could go from one color to the next without overlap or mixing. 

In addition no messes, I have to say that I absolutely love the lack of clean up on my part. Other than making sure caps are put back on each Kwik Stik, there was no paint on the table, hands, floor – or anywhere it shouldn’t be. While I do think various art mediums are good for kids to work with, these have definitely made their way into the ‘priority to use’ part of our supplies because of their simplicity of use. 

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We have loved these enough that I am planning to purchase a pack of the thin Kwik Stix for more detailed projects. Kaleb especially has loved these and they will work well with his art curriculum this year. Above is his finished Home Art Studio project that was done on watercolor paper using some of the neon and classic Kwik Stix. (See the video for a peek at him working on the project.)

If you have a local Target, they are now carrying Kwik Stik and you can also purchase them on Amazon. Definitely a ‘must add’ to your art supplies! 

Enter to Win a Kwik Stik Package

One of you will win a Kwik Stix package – the same sets we were sent to review: 12 pack, metalix, and neon! Enter to win using Rafflecopter below.  Open to US addresses only.  Giveaway ends November 20, 2016 at 11:59 pm.

Be sure to visit The Pencil Grip site and learn more about Kwik Stix through the following sites: 

Website:  http://www.thepencilgrip.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/thepencilgrip
Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/KwikStixPaint/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ThePencilGrip

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Filed Under: Art, Opinions and Reviews 26 Comments

Robotics for Kids – Building Q the Robot

Oct112016
October 11, 2016 by 2 Comments

EEME is a blog sponsor and we received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. All opinions expressed are my personal, honest opinions. You can read my full disclosure policy for more details. 

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Over the last year Zachary has learned so much about circuits, and this past month he was able to dip his toe into a bit of robotics thanks to EEME. When you add in his curiosity of robots thanks to movies like Star Wars, the opportunity to create his own robot was something he couldn’t wait to do. I am beyond thrilled with the new line of robotics products coming from EEME – and I think you will love them too. 

Q the Robot

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Q the Robot is a project kit that will guide your child through the process of building a 3 wheeled robot that follows light. He is the first in a series of robotics projects from EEME – and there is no coding required to get started! Once completed, Q follows light around using two sensors, or photoresistors. When light is shined directly onto the sensors, Q turns to follow the light. 

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Included in the kit: 

  • 4 AA batteries (if you accidentally leave your robot on, you’ll need to replace these – *cough*) 
  • 2 large wheels and a caster wheel
  • 2 motors
  • chassis platform for body of robot
  • a LOT of small parts (screws, nuts, capacitors, photoresistors, labels, velcro, brass posts, switch, resistors, transistors, wires, and LED light) 

Over the course of 34 short lessons, kids ages 10 and up will be able to build their own robot. For our 11 year old, it took a little over an hour.

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I managed to snap a few pictures of Zachary in the building process, but the truth is – he did the bulk of it on his own. Initially I walked into the schoolroom one afternoon and found him snapping his own pictures to show the building process. 

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After snapping a few pictures, Zachary went to work on the body of the robot. With this project we did need to pull a few supplies from around the house, including a screwdriver, scissors, a pen, and a flashlight stronger than 300 lumens. 

robotics for kids - Q the robot from EEME project
All in all, it was a project that didn’t require as much wiring as some of the past projects we’ve worked on from EEME, a little more ‘building,’ and a lot more learning about how photo resistors work. 

Below is a short clip where Zachary explains the various components of the robot and how everything works. (Feed readers can watch here). 

Skills Learned from EEME

playing with Q the robot

One of the things I love most about the projects we’ve worked on with EEME is the independence Zachary has learned in the process. While I typically am around while he works on his latest electronic creation, and was very excited to see the Q the Robot project, I managed to miss out on the bulk of his newest creation because he has become so independent. Zachary pulled out the iPad, logged onto the site for the video tutorials, and completed the bulk of the project without me knowing he was working on it. I only knew he was done when Q started running on the floor behind me! 

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He has learned to problem solve and review if he cannot figure something out – before coming to me with questions. When his robot didn’t initially work, he went back to watch a few short videos and see what he may have missed – turns out it was something he connected wrong. Although it was frustrating for a moment, he is also learning to pay careful attention and not try to skip ahead all the time (something he tends to do). Working with circuits and electronics has taught him there is a process to getting things done. 

Here’s another quick video showing how Q moves around in the house – just remember to turn the switch off when you’re done, or you may need to replace the batteries (wink). Fortunately, that was MY fault. There is a handy light to alert you the battery pack is still on. 

More Q the Robot to Come!!

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EEME makes hands-on projects and provides FREE online lessons to teach kids electronics, fostering their curiosity for how things work and prepping them for the STEM opportunities of tomorrow. Each project kit is paired with online curricula to not only show your family how to assemble the kit, but more importantly, teach them how it works.

Continuing robotics projects are in the works (one level is already available) that will build on the base Q the robot – and the next step involves coding! Read more about the future EEME robotics projects on their blog. 

Monthly subscription projects and various project kits are also offered from EEME. Be sure to check out a few of our other project reviews: Project Amp, Project DIY Light Display, Project Attraction, Project Tentacle, and Project Genius. 

Don’t miss the FREE interactive online lessons to teach your family the fundamentals of electronics. Sign up for FREE to access EEME’s online lessons.

Follow the EEME blog or find them on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

 

Perfect for ages 10+

Time Required: 1-2 hours

Parental involvement: varies based on child

 

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Filed Under: Opinions and Reviews, Reviews: My Favorites 2 Comments

Homeschool Science Kits

Sep202016
September 20, 2016 by 2 Comments

homeschool-science-kits

This year we decided to take a more informal approach to science and focus on experiments and other hands-on learning opportunities. Our youngest absolutely loves the chance to explore, create, and build, so when we were given the opportunity to try a homeschool science kit from Insight to Learning, we knew it would fit right in with our plans for the year! We were sent the fourth grade engineering design kit, one of the kits included in the fourth grade subscription, and had so much fun with the five activities we worked on from the engineering kit. 

 

Homeschool Science Kits

home-school-science-kit-from-insight-to-learninga peek inside the 4th grade engineering kit – each activity is individually bagged

One of the unique things about Insight to Learning is the opportunity of a homeschool subscription by grade level or purchasing individual kits for your child. Both offer different perks, but here are few things to love about the grade level homeschool subscriptions. 

Everything you need is included in the box. I’m a huge fan of not having to plan or gather materials, so when everything needed is included, pre-packaged for you, and the experiments are ready to go, it’s a huge bonus. Pull out the teacher’s manual, the activity bag, activity sheets, and start learning! You’ll have the chance to work through various experiments without the hassle of scouring your house trying to find everything you need at the last minute.

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No need to purchase expensive equipment you won’t use again. Subscriptions include everything needed, along with a prepaid label to return all of the durable equipment (the stuff you wouldn’t use again). 

A new kit every 6-8 weeks. Work through the kits at your own pace, and when you are finished, box up the durable equipment, ship it back, and a new kit will be on the way to you.  Each box you receive has five to six activities for your family to work through, separately packaged, and there are five complete kits with each grade level (a total of 25 activities). 

Each of the homeschool science kits focuses on vocabulary words for the activity, explains how to complete the activity, and also provides questions to ask. As children design and complete activities, they evaluate their creations using the go-along activity sheets. 

If you like the looks of a particular level kit, each of the kits in the homeschool subscription is available for purchase and also comes ready to teach – and you don’t have to return a thing. 

Inside Our Engineering Science Kit

Over the last few weeks I’ve been sharing a peek into our activities from Insight to Learning via Facebook and Instagram. Our homeschool subscription came with five activities from the fourth grade engineering kit: building a parking garage, fixing a roof, straw rockets, boat racing, and water filtration. Two of the activities Kaleb loved the most were fixing a roof and water filtration. 

Fixing the Roof…

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In this activity, Kaleb was given the problem of constructing a house following specific guidelines and using only the materials provided: straws, paper, tape, glue, and scissors. The main goal was to make sure water would run off the roof of the house and not collect. 

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Trying to visualize the lines of the roof was difficult at first, so we took a little trip outside to see how our own roof lines were designed (since we know water runs off properly). This helped him get a better idea how to set up a porch and build. The paper house was one he built by himself (very, very meticulously, I might add – and likely took much longer than the activity slotted time might have been). 

Water Filtration Activity

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This was the one activity Kaleb wanted to do over and over again. He took great joy in making water as disgusting as he could (creek water + dirt + charcoal from our fire pit = nasty). 

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Using the items in our activity bag from Insight to Learning, we constructed a water filtration system. After running our water through once, Kaleb tried adding a little more sand and also more rocks to see if the filtration would be any better – and also ran it through the filter twice. The second filtration definitely helped out. 

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You can see in the above picture how much was actually cleaned out of the water and caught in the larger rocks. Granted the final product wasn’t quite enough to make him want to drink it, but so much better!  

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The other three experiments we enjoyed as well, although one of them we couldn’t get to work as instructed (the boat race). We decided to try some alternate ideas for the boat activity, but still couldn’t get it quite right as our boat kept flipping over and partially sinking. Building an 18″ tall garage was a little challenging for Kaleb, especially when I knocked it over while measuring (he may have been at 16″ when that happened). He earned big kudos for rebuilding and making it stronger in the process (grins).

Try a Homeschool Subscription

From kindergarten through fifth grade, Insight to Learning offers science kits with a homeschool subscription option. If you have more than one child participating, add $5/month to any subscription and receive enough materials for two students. 

First time subscribers can also save 50% on their first month’s subscription – no expiration date for this special! Simply sign up via the website form, and Insight to Learning will mail a check for $12.50 in your first shipment – don’t worry, their system alerts them to first time subscribers. View the full kit terms here. 

Follow Insight to Learning on the following social media sites: 

 

Thanks so much to Insight to Learning for sharing one of their kits with us! 

 

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Filed Under: Opinions and Reviews 2 Comments

Learning How to Make an Electromagnet – Project Attraction from EEME

Jul142016
July 14, 2016 by 2 Comments

Learning about electromagnets with Project Attraction from EEME

One of the best additions to our homeschool time this year has been the projects from EEME. Zachary has absolutely loved the hands-on learning and put it well into practice. One could say he is ‘wired’ this way (and yes, the pun was definitely intended)!

Learning about electronics one project at a time and gaining the knowledge of the ‘why’ behind how things work has been encouraging and confidence-building for Zachary. He has since started asking his dad to help out with projects (or may have attempted some on his own – cough), but it has given him a much deeper interest in how and why things work the way they do. 

Learning How to Make an Electromagnet

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Using Project Attraction from EEME, Zachary learned how magnetism is related to electricity and built an electromagnet. The project taught about: 

  • reed switches
  • electric current and heat

Overall, Zachary was able to finish the project in about an hour and a half (build time is approximately 1.5-2.5 hours) because he had a little bit of a hang up on one portion of the process and needed my help. Typically, he is able to work through the steps without parental help (I love that), but the fine wire used in the building of the electromagnet was more challenging and  required a little assistance from me at that point in the project. 

As with all of their projects, there are short step-by-step video tutorials to follow along in the building process. All of the materials needed for the project were enclosed in the box and detailed in the first video:

  • a small magnet
  • an LED
  • a 2″ wire
  • a resistor
  • a reed switch
  • a metal bolt with tape around thread
  • a thin wire coil
  • sandpaper
  • AA battery
  • rubberband
  • paperclip

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The timing of this project from EEME couldn’t have been better. As part of one of our co-op classes for The Mad Scientists Club book, the kids participated in a science fair where they chose a short story read during the year and then worked on a project based on what they learned. They needed to explain the scientific principle behind the project and create a display to showcase their learning. 

The electromagnet project fit in perfectly with the story “The Voice in the Chimney,” and Zachary was able to base his entire science display on this project. (We won’t talk about the short detour he took after putting together the project when he considered creating a much larger electromagnet using his father’s riding lawn mower battery. Fortunately, someone caught onto the boy’s mind meandering and he lived to see another day.)

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On a much more sane note, Zachary put together a science board explaining how electromagnets worked and showed the one he had created using Project Attraction and then another he tried on his own following the same principles learned in the video clips from EEME. I love that he was able to use the one project as a jumping off point to create more and learn more!

One of the big things learned during this process was the heat generated when creating the electromagnet (the bigger one he created generated more heat, so THANK GOODNESS he didn’t get far on the one with the lawnmower battery). The current flowing through creates the warmth/heat and the battery can also quickly drain if left connected. 

Things to LOVE About EEME

Aside from the fact that all the supplies are included in each of the EEME project kits, the video curriculum is well put together and explain the building process in detail. Each of the videos is between 2 – 10 minutes long. In addition:

  • videos explain the step-by-step process AND the principles involved (how/why something works) – a huge help for parents who don’t know the answers themselves (cough)
  • shorter videos help those with limited attention spans
  • comprehension questions ensure kids are understanding what you are doing
  • videos can be stopped/paused if needed during the process
  • the videos are free to watch – check them out here and get a peek!

The projects would be wonderful extensions to current curriculum or even as after school learning – or even make a great gift! There are different purchase options available, including a basic monthly subscription, individual projects, and a 6 month Project Set. They have different purchase options, and we’ve completed the first four projects so far from the basic subscription.  You can find more information on the EEME website, or follow them on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

Learn More About EEME

EEME makes hands-on projects and provides FREE online lessons to teach kids electronics, fostering their curiosity for how things work and prepping them for the STEM opportunities of tomorrow.

Each project kit is paired with online curricula to not only show your family how to assemble the kit, but more importantly, teach them how it works.

They also have FREE interactive online lessons to teach your family the fundamentals of electronics. Sign up for FREE to access EEME’s online lessons.

Project Attraction is one of the projects in the Builder Basic 6 Project Set and also the fourth project in EEME’s monthly subscription program. Zachary has thoroughly enjoyed all he has worked on (especially Project Amp) – a HUGE thumbs up from our family!

As I mentioned, we’ve worked on several other projects from EEME. If you’re interested in learning more about their monthly subscription program, be sure to check out the below posts for more information:

Building an electromagnet with Project Attraction - EEME

Project Attraction is perfect for ages 7+

Time Required: 1.5 – 2.5 hours

Parental involvement: varies based on child

 

We received this kit as part of a review campaign, and this review is our honest opinion. Our family has loved the various projects and highly recommends them. 

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Filed Under: Opinions and Reviews, Reviews: My Favorites, Science, STEM, Uncategorized, Zachary 2 Comments

5 Reasons We Recommend Heirloom Audio Dramas

Jun232016
June 23, 2016 by 4 Comments

We are so excited to have Heirloom Audio as a sponsor of Homeschool Creations. Be sure to read through for some special savings just for readers of our site! Reasons we love and recommend Heirloom Audio dramas - a review from Homeschool Creations

Confession. Audio books and drama weren’t always high on my list of homeschool priorities. There was a time early on in our homeschool journey (until the last 3 years or so), that I considered it something akin to cheating if we listened to an audio book instead of reading the book. Then our family was introduced to Heirloom Audio and our perspective completely changed. We have grown to love a good audio book, and so far nothing can compare to the audio dramas from Heirloom Audio. I’d love to share five reasons we recommend that your family drop everything and pick up one (or more) of their audiobooks. 

5 Reasons to LOVE Heirloom Audio Dramas

Have a few minutes? (Hang in until the end of this post too, since I have a great coupon code for you to use when ordering! Email subscribers can view the video clip using this link.) 

1. The entire family will enjoy them. The productions from Heirloom Audio are something the entire family will enjoy – from younger children (ages 7 through adults), they are something to listen to and get caught up in, no matter what your age. 

2. They are incredibly well-produced. Unlike boring narrators and ho-hum story plots, Heirloom Audio productions will pull you in from the first few moments of listening with their full cast (a different actor for each character), music score, and stories that follow G.A. Henty books. From the actor voices of Kirk Cameron to Helen George (Call the Midwife), the directors have worked hard to provide a quality cast and drama you will want to listen to over and over again. 

3. Car trips become enjoyable and quiet. While this may seem like a silly reason, if you have loud kids and/or a lot of them, you’ll fully understand the wonderful thing that happens when children become enraptured in an audio drama. Squabbling stops and quiet reigns as everyone focuses on something they love!

4. History comes ALIVE (and you’ll learn a lot!). Aside from quality production, the audio drama Swords clash. Music soars. And listeners are drawn into the historical period and feel a part of the scenes. Each drama will teach your family little nuggets of history in a memorable way. These are perfect for auditory learners!

5. Each audio drama includes a full teacher’s guide. Expand your listening adventure with the discussion questions, activities, Bible study, and more that come along with each of the different adventures from Heirloom Audio. There is enough included to use the guide as a curriculum guide and talk with your children on how the lessons learned apply to their lives today – and the best part is, they’ve done all the hard work for you. 

 Latest Audio Drama from Heirloom Audio

Heirloom Audio Beric the Briton-6-2

As I mentioned in the video, there are five audio dramas available from Heirloom Audio, including their most recent addition, Beric the Briton. 

  • Under Drake’s Flag
  • In Freedom’s Cause
  • With Lee in Virginia
  • The Dragon and the Raven
  • Beric the Briton

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Our kids were ALL thrilled to see a new adventure arrive from Heirloom Audio (there may have been a literal squeal from McKenna when she saw it sitting on the counter). The only problem for our family is finding a time that everyone in the house can listen together. There is MUCH discussion on how the audio book may not, under any circumstances, move one iota of a second because a family member may miss crucial information. Thank.you.very.much. That family member may at times even be a parent. 

Personally, Beric the Briton has been my favorite of all the CDs we’ve listened to so far (granted, I’ve loved all of them). Beric takes place during the spread of the Roman Empire into Britannia and follows Beric and his friend as they are put in service to Nero and still long for the freedom of their own country.

“This tale of the Roman invasion of ancient Britannia remains one of G.A. Henty’s most popular novels of all time. Join Beric and his best friend Bodouc as they live the adventure of a lifetime – captured by the Romans, trained as gladiators, and placed in the service of Emperor Nero himself! When the story of a mysterious “Christus” begins to circulate the Roman Empire, Beric and Bodouc are forced to confront their pagan past. Will the two young prisoners be able to overcome their thirst for revenge and discover the source of true forgiveness?”

Adapted from the book, Beric The Briton, by G.A. Henty

One of the things most interesting to me in this story was the battle formations and the differences between the Romans and the Britons. Beric studied and learned from their battles, understanding that his tribe needed to change their methods in order to see different results. The kids and I talked about how battles have evolved over the years – different weapons, materials, and strategies – and it was a great jumping off point for more discussion!

Introduce Your Family to Heirloom Audio

Heirloom Audio Stories

Each CD set is normally $29.97 and available for individual purchase, but different specials are available including this special offer for my readers. If you are at ALL interested in these audio adventures, you’ll want to CLICK HERE  and view the special (includes eight total audio books – 2 of each, one to keep and one to share, at $10 each CD set). Note: Be sure to put “2” in the quantity field when you checkout to receive the discounted price.

 

Has your family listened to any of the Heirloom Audio adventures before? I’d love to hear your thoughts as well and what you most enjoy! 

 

We received Beric the Briton at no cost from Heirloom Audio to review. All opinions expressed in this post are our honest thoughts and feelings.

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Filed Under: Audiobooks, Opinions and Reviews, Reviews: My Favorites, Sponsor Thanks 4 Comments

Teaching History Through Audio Drama

Apr122016
April 12, 2016 by 42 Comments

Our family loves audio books, but audio drama adds an extra element to a story that can’t be matched. Rather than a narrator reading a story with little added in, audio drama brings the story to life adding music, real-life sounds, and actors to portray different characters. These keep our kids on the edge of their seats (maybe the adults too) because they are filled with so much adventure and excitement. 

Our kids have grown up with Adventures of Odyssey and other amazing audio drama and over the last several years we have listened to all of the releases from Heirloom Audio. From car trips to time at home, the audio adventures remaining on our shelves are those that have the added element of audio drama, especially those from Heirloom Audio Productions. 

The Dragon and The Raven audio adventure from Heirloom Audio Productions

Last month we received The Dragon and The Raven, their newest adventure, and immediately had it playing in our van as we traveled. Based on the book The Dragon and The Raven by G.A. Henty, we followed the story of the Danes (Vikings) as they conquer kingdoms in England, and the Saxons try to hold them back. Set in medieval England, this is a story that reaches far beyond the battlegrounds, spilling over into family, royalty, defending your land, and men learning the importance of forgiveness. 

Hearing different battle formations explained and more deeply understanding the ongoing war between the Vikings and the Saxons, as well as ‘meeting’ King Alfred of Wessex. Over the course of two and a half hours our family was completely engaged in the entire story. The van was quiet and we all were learning as we listened. I LOVE that history comes to life through the ‘animated’ word and our family is learning while listening. What better way is there to remember great kings, battles, and the adventures of so long ago?  

Although we haven’t used it yet, there is also a go-along study guide to help children understand the storyline, vocabulary, and more about the author G.A. Henty and King Alfred the Great. We have used the companion study guide for Under Drake’s Flag and they are well-laid out and full of information for families! The inclusion of the study guides are a huge resource for families. 

Recommended: Ages 6 and up

Find Out More and Purchase for Your Family

Heirloom Audio dramas

If you are at ALL interested in these audio adventures, Heirloom Audio has a great special that includes their four audio dramas to date at huge savings. CLICK HERE to view the special and find out more (includes eight total audio books – 2 of each, one to keep and one to share, at $10 each CD set). 

Each CD set is normally $29.97, but different specials are available, including the special offer for my readers. 

Win a Copy 

Heirloom Audio would love to put a copy of The Dragon and The Raven audio adventure into the hands of one my readers! Would you love to start listening? Follow the directions in the Rafflecopter widget below and enter! :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

We received this CD at no cost from Heirloom Audio to review. All opinions expressed in this review are our honest thoughts and feelings.

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Filed Under: Audiobooks, Opinions and Reviews, Reading 42 Comments