Back to Bible, Character, & Worldview Curriculum Reviews
Review by Bridgette Taylor
– What Every Child Needs to Know about Western Civilization
– Color the Western World
– Calendar Quest
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“What Every Child Needs to Know About Western Civilization” by Marcia Harris
“What Every Child Needs to Know About Western Civilization” by Marcia Harris Brim is an amazing curriculum that will provide your student with a solid overview of world history. Detailed maps, pictures, and full colored “Hats of History” cards bring this unit alive. This study guide is packed full of materials, so the only other thing you will need is a copy of Calendar Quest by Jennifer Johnson Garrity, also available from Brimwood Press.
Western Civilization consists of 16 lessons. Broken up into 5 lessons a week, it is easily completed in a month. The introduction clearly states the purpose of this curriculum and the teaching tools provided therein. Unlike other guides of this sort, Western Civilization takes care not to overwhelm the teacher or the student right from the start. There is a sample schedule included for the benefit of the teacher and it is fully customizable to your scheduling needs. Brim has also included a student introduction that gets the student eager to begin their adventure.
Each lesson includes a section entitled “Teacher Preview” which covers lesson preparation and objectives. Preparation is simple, copying the map and providing colored pencils, scissors, etc. Learning Through Literature is the next section and this is where you will read from Calendar Quest by Garrity. Discussion questions and a geography activity sum up each lesson. Woven into each lesson is yet another helpful section entitled “History In a Nutshell”. This section details key events, conflicts and other essential information from that era. Each one includes an illustration that matches the “Hats of History” cards and can be colored in by the student. Also included are activities for reinforcement such as writing prompts, games, quizzes, and timeline activities to be used in conjunction with The Scroll Timeline also put out by Brimwood Press. The Scroll Timeline is optional, and is not required for completing Western Civilization. Although, it is highly recommended in order for your student to gain the best possible understanding.
What I appreciate most about this curriculum is that the lessons are engaging. Both, the teacher and the student are excited about what you are learning together. Every one in your family can benefit from this fantastic study. Brimwood press has proven, yet again, why their curriculum is fast becoming indispensable to the home-schooling family.
“Calendar Quest” by Jennifer Johnson Garrity is the literary companion to “What Every Child Needs to Know About Western Civilization” by Marcia Harris Brim.
In this exciting historical novel we follow Lindsie Birdwell and her friend Evan as they are whisked through time in an empty refrigerator box. Their guide, S. Kronos, is none other than the one we modern day people refer to as Father Time. Father Time takes Lindsie and Evan on a magical ride through 5,000 years of history. Spanning fourteen different historical periods, Father Time introduces us to the historical authorities that reformed our calendar into what it is today.
This exciting and often hilarious adventure introduces us to many historical figures such as Ptolemy, Constantine, King George, and Eisenhower, just to name a few. Students and teachers alike are enthralled as we flow from era to era learning all about the history of our calendar. This novel is the perfect companion to Western Civilization, but is also an enjoyable read in it’s own right. Brim and Garrity make history exciting, not only for the student, but for the whole family. This curriculum is sure to become one of your family’s favorites.
