the WRITE Balance: Cooking Up History: A Homeschool Legacy Review

One of the things I love about Mr. Butler, especially when I ask him to, he loves getting in the kitchen and cooking something up. The kids have certainly taken their cue from him and are always asking to help with whatever we are making. Their enthusiasm in the kitchen made selecting Homeschool Legacy's Cooking Up History with the Founding Presidents for review something I knew they would enjoy. Especially considering how much this year's presidential election has turned into a circus, I enjoyed discussing the lives of some of our original leaders in this country for a change.

Homeschool Legacy and their Once-a-Week Unit and Micro-Studies were born of a homeschooling family's love and success with a unit study approach in learning that they now share with others in hopes of enhancing not only educational benefits but also long-term spiritual and family relationships. We found the unit studies to do just that! Each lesson provided opportunities for everyone, including my 3 year old, to participate and gain from, but also the chance work together as a family.

As you can see, our unit covered cooking and some of the favorite dishes of our founding presidents. These pictures are of George Washington's favorite, Cherry Pie. Each week's lesson included a dish to cook, along with some background into the foods traditionally enjoyed during their time in the White House. In addition to the main event of cooking, there would be interesting facts about their lives, wives, and presidential significance, with varying links and activities to be included. For example, when studying George Washington, we learned to draw his face with the help of an online video. Thomas Jefferson's lesson included looking up several words that he had coined, while James Madison allowed for learning about the War of 1812. One of the things I found to be missing might be a simplified schedule or list including all the possible activities. The information ultimately comes in paragraph form, but it wouldn't take much for me to make my own list, so perhaps I'm a little spoiled! ;)

With my son only being in 1st grade, of course there is some information lost on him, but that is the beauty of a unit approach. Some things will stick, the memories will build stronger bonds, and as they get older the value they get from it will shift as well. One of the appealing things about unit studies is how flexible they are. These are intended for once a week, but you absolutely could stretch it out over a week or add in as much complementary work as you desired. Any approach still produces benefits in the family and education.

Is your family involved in Boy Scouts of America or American Heritage Girls? Turns out Homeschool Legacy's Once-a-Week Unit Studies is the only curriculum that helps earn badge requirements while doing schoolwork! There are many different studies available including a timely one for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. With our politically correct society, our heritage sometimes gets pushed around a bit in the media. Doing a study like the one below would help really solidify the history of Thanksgiving instead of letting the reactive media shape our understanding.