Eclectic Unschooling

Saturday, December 9, 2006

Joining forces ...

We recently purchased a set of six DVDs entitled "5000 Years of Magnificent Wonders". A few nights ago we viewed Disc 4: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World*, stopping at different points for further discussion. The entire family enjoyed it from age one on up to Daddy!

For entertainment during a necessary car trip two days later, we brought along Diana Waring's CD set "What in the World's Going on Here" Volume 1. We were thrilled to find ourselves listening to a description of the same time period we had just covered in the Seven Wonders DVD!

It all worked together so seamlessly. I am continually amazed at the natural love of learning the God has instilled in children. It's a joy to redisover that love in myself and in my husband.

GOOD NEWS! I loaded Diana Waring's HomeschoolBlogger blog to make sure I had the correct link and discovered that the CD set I mentioned is on sale for Christmas. I promise you that this would make an excellent family gift! You can go directly to her website for more information.

* Please be aware that ancient deities are discussed in the DVD. We do not study these cultures deeply with our younger children, but we found the information presented to be acceptable. As always, please preview what your children are going to see and hear.

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Saturday, December 17, 2005

Masters of Illusion

Posted in Educational Multimedia

I've turned our homeschool focus a bit toward art recently as we tentatively explore painting in history and personally.

We borrowed "Masters of Illusion" from Freshwater Fred's Lending Library. This short video is very interesting! It covers the use of mathematics and perspective in Renaissance (1400-1550 AD) art . We found the comparison of the artists' perspective drawings to those generated by a computer to be captivating. How very exact their work was!

I have never been good at any form of "art". My paintings are on par with my first grader's work. My drawings are not much better. Handicrafts are a struggle for me, as well. My brain just isn't wired in that direction. I think we'll look for more resources about perspective in art. There might just be some hope for me yet!

If your library system doesn't carry this video and you don't live in a state serviced by Freshwater Fred, it is available for purchase at Amazon.com. The price seems steep for a video less than half an hour in length and it isn't available in DVD format at this time. We plan to purchase it for our home library, though.

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Monday, December 5, 2005

Where do you live?

Posted in Educational Multimedia

Do you live in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio or Wisconsin?

If so, you are eligible to borrow free educational materials from Freshwater Fred's Lending Library.

The materials are sent to you free of charge. You can request up to 10 items at a time for up to 30 days. Return postage is paid, as well! This really is a no-cost lending library.

I highly recommend the DVD set by Ken Burns about Thomas Jefferson. Be aware that the second DVD contains references to a possible slave/slave-owner relationship. We fast-forwarded over that and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of it.

The video about the Washington Monument was equally interesting, as was the story of the artist Winslow Homer.

We were disappointed in the set Understanding the Federal Courts. I don't recommend it.

Enjoy!

Mom deMoose

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