We all know that homeschooling isn't just about curriculum. Homeschoolers are a group of people who can adapt most anything to make it an educational experience for their  families.  When I was told that a board game manufacturer had decided to take part in the Crew this year, I was excited!  Games are not only fun, by they are often educational and are a great way to introduce new concepts to your children in a non-threatening way.

We R Fun Inc. is the producer of two games that I think you'll find to be BOTH FUN & EDUCATIONAL.  Keith Gohl and his sister Ev Johnson created Life on the Farm as a way of introducing the interesting and sometimes challenging world of farming to their city relatives.  Here is what they have to say about this game:

This Legen-'dairy' board game combines fast 'moo'-ving action with real family farm mishaps for 'udder'-ly unpredictable fun! Imagine - you own a nostalgic American family farm (and the gamble involved in running one)! As you race against your neighbors to buy more cows, your income and your expenses grow as fast as your herd does! Collect your 'Milk-Check' when you pass the barn - market values can change with each roll of the dice! This game is filled with authentic family farm life experiences, yet it is easy to understand and play. A real family game - it was designed so ages 8 to 108 can easily play together, comfortably! First to "Retire" wins!

This game has won various awards and honorable mentions, so it's definitely worth checking into for your family. My 9-year-old loves it!

Often at our house my 3-year-old is left out of game playing.  He was just thrilled to see that there was a Life on the Farm game just for him - the PRESCHOOL VERSION!  I have to admit that, though this game is geared toward the little ones, our whole family enjoys it!  I love that the playing pieces are soft and foamy and filling your "puzzle barn" with animal pieces is so much fun.  My Ian is great with colors and is currently learning counting skills, so this game ties right in with what he's learning.  The creators say:

No reading required. Soft feel of this non-toxic foam Playmat / Board Game and Farm puzzle set. Draw a card and match colors to move along the Gamemat - it's fun to take turns! Land on an animal square and match it with a puzzle piece to put in your barn - Fill the barn with farm animals and you win! This is a lot of FUN to play with Preschoolers!

At $25 and $20 respectfully, these games are affordable and of high quality.  The boxes are very solid and the playing pieces are sturdy and should prove to be long-lasting.  Both games would make wonderful Christmas gifts.  They can be purchased directly from the company, at specialty retailers, and at Kmart.com.

Our First Mates each received either Life of the Farm or Life on the Farm Preschool Version to play and review.  See what they have to say:

It almost seems unfair for me to write the informative post about Virginia Soaps & Scents because I already know that I am biased!  I am the lucky person who got to review the products from Virginia Soaps & Scents for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine last fall.  I admit, in that review, that I started out skeptical; but I came out a die-hard fan of handmade soaps and other products - especially those made by Virginia Soaps & Scents.  Needless to say, I was thrilled to find out that they would be teaming up with the Crew this year to help introduce the world to their products.

So, what will the Crew be reviewing?  A nice assortment of "pamper yourself" goodies:

Handcrafted Olive Oil Soaps - these soaps are "real" soap, not detergent (like many of the soap products that you buy in the store).  They are avaiable in 20+ fragrances (as well as in fragrance-free).  The soaps are a 4.75 oz. bar (except for the adorable Bed & Breakfast Samplers that the Crew received, which are also available to purchase); they can be purchased individually or in bulk.  They are long-lasting and produce a nice lather.

Shampoo Bar - these bars are available in 5.5 oz. size, in 2 varieties - original and the new formula for fine or oily hair.  One bar will easily get you the same amount of washings as a 32 oz. bottle of your regular shampoo.  It's a different feeling and takes some getting used to, but these bars are pretty neat!  They are available in 4 fragrances.

Laundry Soap Kit - have you ever thought about making your own laundry soap?  If you've been thinking about, but haven't taken the plunge yet because maybe you're scared or unsure, then this kit is just what you need.  Everything is included to make a batch of laundry soap that will last awhile and save you lots of money.  Trust me, you'll be hooked (I've been making my own since writing my review last year).

Virginia Soaps & Scents has lots of other great products that you'll want to check out - gourmet soaps, shaving soaps, total body bars, lotions, scrubs, and powder, lip balm, and lavender linen spray.  And, just in time for your Christmas shopping,their holiday fragrances are back (warning: the pumpkin spice scent tastes good enough to eat!)

Here's what the Crew thinks:

Children have an inborn sense of wonder and excitement about nature.  They love being outdoors, picking grass, watching animals and birds...most of them even like bugs!  We homeschoolers can capitalize on that interest as we teach our children about the natural world, and Nature Friend magazine is here to help.  With full-color photos and articles about animals, weather, and all things nature, Nature Friend can guide parents through science topics that kids of all ages will love.
 
Each issue offers intriguing articles and first-hand stories, crossword puzzles, trivia questions, and reader-submitted photographs, drawings, and questions.  Each Crew Mate has received the August and September issues of Nature Friend along with their supplement Nature Friend Study Guides.  These guides provide additional word puzzles, research ideas, tips on nature photography, and even writing lessons.  The Study Guides help parents make the most of the educational information in Nature Friend.
 
Nature Friend is unique among children's nature magazines because all the information is presented from a Christian, Biblical perspective.  God's hand in nature is honored throughout the magazine.  The magazine's first issue was published in 1983 by the Brubaker family.  Nature Friend is now published by Kevin and Bethany Shank of Dayton, Virginia.  They describe Nature Friend in these words:

We are a children's magazine the whole family, including the grandparents, can enjoy. We publish twelve issues per year, six of which are gently nudged towards an older age. They are the January, March, May, July, September, and November issues. This is easiest to observe by the two-page art lesson that goes a bit more in-depth than the one-page lesson. While 8-16 may be a nucleus, we publish drawings by 3-4 year olds and quotes/writings from parents and grandparents.

Please check out Nature's Friend for yourself - then come back here and read what the Crew has to say.