Combining Download N Go, Unit Study Adventures, and Passport Geography in Your Homeschool

We often hear from homeschool moms who love Download N Go (DNG) and love Unit Study Adventures (USA), and are crazy about our Passport Geography titles, and are trying to find ways to combine them all. Perhaps you are homeschooling several children of all ages. You want to use DNG with your younger children, but they're not age-appropriate for your 8th-grader. Yet, you desire to keep the subject matter of your homeschool similar for all of your children. 

I thought it would help if I put together some ideas for you to use, to make this process easier. Each subject category will list one or more 4-week USA studies with a few DNG units that mesh well with them. I’ve also matched up the Passport titles with the topics. Hope this helps!

Subject:  Oceans
USA: Oceans, Sailing Ships, Lighthouses
DNG: Whale Tales, Dolphin Days, Sunny Seashells, Summer Sensations, Sensational Sharks

Subject: US History
USA: Patriotic Holidays, Trains, Lighthouses, Sailing Ships
DNG: George Washington, Davy Crockett, Prairie Pioneers, Lewis & Clark

Subject:  US Government
USA: American Government, Patriotic Holidays
DNG: Constitution Celebration, Ben Franklin, George Washington, Independence Day, Flag Day
 
Subject: Space
USA:  Space
DNG: Magnificent Moon

Subject: Flight
USA: Flight
DNG: Amelia Earhart, Kite Capers, Magnificent Moon

Subject: Thanksgiving
USA: Thanksgiving
DNG: Autumn Treasures, Prairie Pioneers, Hoppin' Popcorn

Subject: Christmas
USA: Christmas
DNG: Expedition Israel, Crunchy Cookies, Winter Wonders, Bountiful Bread

Subject: Easter
USA: Easter
DNG: Easter Promise, Expedition Israel, Spring Surprises, Bountiful Bread

Subject: Animals
USA: Horses, Dogs, Oceans
DNG: Handsome Horses, Astonishing Animals, Terrific Tigers, Creation Camouflage, Sensational Sharks, Incredible Insects, Goofy Gecko, Dynamic Ducks
Passport: PP France, PP Germany, PP Italy, PP United Kingdom

Subject: Art & Creativity
USA:  Scrapbooking
DNG:  Crazy Cartoons, Creative Composers
Passport: PP France (Louvre, Monet), PP Germany (Mozart, Beethoven), PP Italy (Michelangelo, da Vinci), PP United Kingdom (Beatrix Potter, C.S. Lewis)

Subject: Sports
USA:  Baseball, Olympics 2014
DNG: Simply Soccer, Football Frenzy, Discover the Brain, Discover the Senses

Subject: Food
USA: Gardens
DNG: Pizza Party, Chocolate Challenge, Hoppin' Popcorn, Bountiful Bread, Crunchy Cookies

Subject: Outdoors
USA: Gardens, Pioneers
DNG: Roller Coasters, Cavernous Caves, Twisting Tornadoes, Volatile Volcanoes

Subject: Technology
USA: Digital Photography, Auto Racing
DNG: Rocking Robots, Roller Coasters, Creative Composers

I hope this helps get you started imagining how you can use both Unit Study Adventures, Download N Go®, and Passport Geography™ titles together in your homeschool--creating exciting days and making things easier on you, the homeschool teacher!

Blessings,
Amanda B.

It’s All About the Ducks

Here on the farm, we are smitten with ducks. We’ve got a farm pond, and we always have ducks paddling around in it. From the time the children were young, there have been white ducks, mallard ducks, wood ducks, and others. The children have loved having ducklings waddling around, and so have the grownups.

From the ducks, they learned about the life cycle of birds, the importance of taking care of them, and just how beautiful God’s animals can be. We loved learning how birds fly, how they nest, how their feathers work, and the importance of flying and swimming lessons. They will never forget reading books like Ping the Duck and Daniel’s Duck. We’ve carried over our love of ducks into the world of Duck Dynasty these days, enjoying the antics, as well as their times of prayer and emphasis on family. We are still talking about ducks, from points around the globe. ;)

Dynamic Ducks was a labor of love to write, as I tried to share our fascination with another one of God’s creations. I hope you and your crew enjoy it!

Blessings,
Amanda B.

Sharks & Savings Go Hand in Hand!

BIG news! You're wait is almost over, Sensational Sharks is on the way! Preorder your copy now for just $5 and we’ll also email you a copy of the Resource List so you can start gathering your books. And stay tuned . . . a Sensational Sharks co-op is coming soon!

This week we are helping you start the new school year with ease! We have 3 ways for you to save, plus some amazing deals lined up AND a FREE planner download that will help you prepare for the next school year!

1. We want you to have your best year ever! To help you get started we are allowing you to make your own sale this week. SAVE 33% on EVERYTHING you purchase when you add $150 to your cart!
2. Purchase 10 units in July and you earn a FREE unit in August. Purchase 15 units and we’ll give you 2 FREE units in August! To qualify, the 10 unit studies can be purchased at anytime during the month and we keep track of them for you. Take advantage of the "buy 5, save $5" deal and you are half way there! There is no limit and it includes sale items!
3. We have all of our must-have planning, encouragement, and record keeping tools on sale now! 

Unit Studies 101 - $15 
Portfolios 101 - $10
Download N Go Teacher's Guide - $10
Unit Study Journal - $5
MP3 resources - $1 ea

Sale ends 7/27/13.

Don't forget to grab your FREE Build a Year Planner! It makes planning so very simple AND you save big in the process. We'll be offering weekly savings this month on a huge variety of titles to help you fill in the planner for a year of exciting learning adventures!

For more fun, follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter!

Do You Have a Child Who Loves Horses?

Do you have a child who loves horses? Encourage their interests with Horses Unit Study Adventure or Handsome Horses Download N Go, on sale this week for just $5 each!

Horses
Four Week Study
K-12

From a stick horse to a rocking horse, we are introduced to horses at an early age, and continue to be mesmerized by them throughout childhood. This study uses this interest and curiosity to help kids learn about history, science, geography and the care and keep of horses.

In this four-week unit study, your student will learn about horses--the history of horses, science of horses, the various breeds of horses, the basics of caring for a horse, and how horses are used today. 




Handsome Horses
One Week Study
K-4

Since the beginning of time, horses have played a role in cultures around the world. History is filled with adventurous stories of horses: Egyptian pharaohs, wars, cowboys, Native Americans-the horse has been an integral part of each moment in history.

There's so much to learn about the horse-anatomy, types and breeds, and horse occupations, as well as the care and keeping of horses. There are art lessons, amazing videos, and fun facts to see and learn along the way.

These beautiful and intelligent animals will take your family on an unforgettable journey from the past to the present, and everywhere in between!

Not sure which horse study is right for your homeschool? Check out these FREE samples to decide!

Horses Sample Page
Handsome Horses Sample Page

Sale prices are valid through 7/20/13

Score and Save BIG!

Hey sports fans, this week is just for YOU! Score points with your kids and save BIG! In addition, we have 3 ways to save and FREE planner download that will help you prepare for the next school year!

1st way to save:

Buy 5, Save $5 - purchase 5 titles of your choice at one time, and we will give you $5 off your order - this includes sale items!  There is no limit and no codes required. It's really that easy to save, and we are getting the sale started with 5 fun titles - check it out below!

2nd way to save:

Purchase 10 units in July and you earn a FREE unit in August. Purchase 15 units and we’ll give you 2 FREE units in August! To qualify, the 10 unit studies can be purchased at anytime during the month and we keep track of them for you. Take advantage of the "buy 5, save $5" deal and you are half way there! There is no limit and it includes sale items!

3rd way to save:

We have some great deals lined up on our specials page that will help you score BIG! Check them out!

Handsome Horses - $5
Simply Soccer - $5
Football Frenzy - $5
Baseball - $5
Horses - $5
Athletes in the Bible -$5

Sale ends 7/20/13.

For more fun, follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter!

Don't forget to grab your FREE Build a Year Planner! It makes planning so very simple AND you save big in the process. We'll be offering weekly savings this month on a huge variety of titles to help you fill in the planner for a year of exciting learning adventures!

Animals & Kids: Keeping Them Learning

Kids and animals—a match made in heaven, indeed. All of our children have loved animals from the time they were old enough to see the animals in books, at the zoo, in the backyard, and in movies. If you want to see a child smile, take him to the monkey section of the zoo. It never fails to make me laugh when watching children enjoy the monkey antics!

When they are interested in animals, follow their interests and build from that starting point. From elephants in Horton Hears a Who to elephants in Marco Polo’s story, you can stretch their imagination and their knowledge with unit studies. Our children love any and all animals, and our book collection reflects this fascination. Give books about animals as gifts and for special occasions if you have a child who loves animals. When our daughter graduated from veterinary college, we gave her a very special edition of a favorite book: The Story of Dr. Doolittle!

What is the title of YOUR child’s favorite animal story? Post it here as a comment, and let’s exchange some fun titles and ideas!

Blessings,
Amanda B.

Get Ready For an Eruption of FUN With Volatile Volcanoes!

From the first signs of ash and steam erupting from the peak, to the lava flow and the explosive sounds that accompany an erupting volcano, these are astounding geographical wonders to behold for kids of all ages. As the rivers of molten rock run down the sides of the volcano, kids ooohhh and aaaaahh and stare with wonder. They are fascinated with these fiery mountains!

Volcanoes make a perfect unit study topic and provide a wonderful learning tool. From the parts of a volcano, to the flow of lava, Volatile Volcanoes is going to take your child on a new and exciting learning adventure!

Get  Volatile Volcanoes DNG

on sale now through 7/13/13 for just $5!

Teaching is EASY When You...

Get ready to capture their curiosity with some fun summer titles on sale this week!  In addition, we have 3 ways to save and FREE planner download that will help you prepare for the next school year!

1st way to save:

Buy 5, Save $5 - purchase 5 titles of your choice at one time, and we will give you $5 off your order - this includes sale items!  There is no limit and no codes required. It's really that easy to save, and we are getting the sale started with 5 fun titles - check it out below!

2nd way to save:

Purchase 10 units in July and you earn a FREE unit in August. Purchase 15 units and we’ll give you 2 FREE units in August! To qualify, the 10 unit studies can be purchased at anytime during the month and we keep track of them for you. Take advantage of the "buy 5, save $5" deal and you are half way there! There is no limit and it includes sale items!

3rd way to save:

To help make school time feel like play time, we have some great deals lined up on our specials page! Check them out!

Discover the Brain - $5
Discover the Senses - $5
Terrific Tigers - $5
Goofy Geckos - $5
Volatile Volcanoes - $5

Sale ends 7/13/13.

For more fun, follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter!

Don't forget to grab your FREE Build a Year Planner! It makes planning so very simple AND you save big in the process. We'll be offering weekly savings this month on a huge variety of titles to help you fill in the planner for a year of exciting learning adventures!

We're giving away a Kindle Fire!

Win a Kindle Fire 

and take USAB Unit Studies on the go!

This week, we have some super fun topics on sale that will help you make school time feel like play time. AND, last month's promos were so popular that we are continuing them again this month!  Read on to find out about one one of our biggest sales of the year, and then don't forget to scroll down for a chance to win a Kindle Fire! 

1st way to save:

Buy 5, Save $5 - purchase 5 titles of your choice at one time, and we will give you $5 off your order - this includes sale items!  There is no limit and no codes required. It's really that easy to save, and we are getting the sale started with 5 fun titles - check it out below!

2nd way to save:

Purchase 10 units in July and you earn a FREE unit in August. Purchase 15 units and we’ll give you 2 FREE units in August! To qualify, the 10 unit studies can be purchased at anytime during the month and we keep track of them for you. Take advantage of the "buy 5, save $5" deal and you are half way there! There is no limit and it includes sale items!

3rd way to save:

To help make school time feel like play time, we have some great deals lined up on our specials page! Check them out!

Creative Composers - $5

Digital Photography - $6

Scrapbooking - $6

Auto Racing - $6

Space - $6

Heroes of Invention - $6

Sale ends 7/06/13.

For more fun, follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter!

Don't forget to grab your FREE Build a Year Planner! It makes planning so very simple AND you save big in the process. We'll be offering weekly savings this month on a huge variety of titles to help you fill in the planner for a year of exciting learning adventures!

This giveaway is over and we have chosen a winner!
Congratulations to Elizabeth B. of Ashland, NY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hold on Tight!

There are some things that every child looks forward to with great anticipation, and one of these is finally being old enough and tall enough to ride the roller coaster!

Using this fascination, this study helps them learn about roller coasters, experience the fun of designing their own roller coaster, and have fun watching roller coasters speeding around their tracks across the globe. This topic is a winner around the world, and what better way to learn about gravity and Isaac Newton’s first law of motion?

From the history of roller coasters to the science of how a roller coaster works, there is much to be learned in this study!

For a Sneak Peek - take a look at this video link (but, hold on tight!)

Just for you, get Roller Coasters on sale this week, for just $5! Sale ends 6/22/13.

Lunch in the Snowball Cafeteria

One of my favorite childhood family destinations was our yearly trek to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. We went camping there and made so many terrific memories. Just as soon as the campsite was set up, we would all pull out sweaters (it is cool down in the cave!) and head off as a family to hike the cave. We went at every opportunity, listening to the ranger’s educational presentations, touching the stalactites and stalagmites, sitting down by the streams in the cave, and watching the ranger’s flashlight play over the blind cavefish. We loved every moment of it—we were captivated!

However, the coolest visit was the time that we got to take the

tour of the cave that ended with lunch at the Snowball Cafeteria. It captured our imagination. The entire ceiling of this cold cafeteria was covered with stalactite-looking formations that looked like snowballs! We sat and talked about all that we had heard and learned, and then we wondered about how far the cave branches reached. Did they reach all the way to Ohio or Alabama?

Celebrate these days of adventure with your children. Check out Cavernous Caves and dig in! Let the exploration begin, and the learning will go hand in hand with the curiosity! Cavernous Caves is on sale now for just $5!*

Blessings,

Amanda B.

*Sale ends 6/22/13

Pioneers and Science - Part 2

Most people don't usually think of science in the lives of the pioneers, while children usually think of that first! Questions such as "How far did they have to walk every day?" and "How do you hunt deer?" and "How did they find animals?" and " How did they know which way to go if there weren't any road signs?" are a few of the endless list of questions that are repeatedly asked by inquisitive children! Take this opportunity to feed that interest, finding out some of the answers to these kinds of questions as well as learning so much more.

Autumn has proven to be a great time to investigate the outdoor world and nature as the pioneers might have experienced it. In addition to the history and people involved in this movement west, your children can learn more about the daily lives of these people—how they spent their days, what their biggest problems were, how they found food and water, and what they actually saw along the way. Try studying pioneers in the "first person," and make it more realistic to your children.

Many children have never had the chance to go to a stream or river early in the morning to watch for animals coming for water, observing the animals firsthand. I'll never forget the first time that my father took us all to a stream at sunrise when I was a child, teaching us to sit quietly just out of sight and observe the wildlife that started each morning with a visit to the river. I had never known how brave animals could be when they thought they were alone in the wilds! There by the stream were raccoon and deer and all kinds of creatures, and it was breathtaking for these city kids!

The books written by Jim Arnosky, such as Crinkleroot's Book of Animal Tracks and Wildlife Signs (grades 1–4), have captured some of these lessons that I learned as a child, with all of the "wow" and wonder that I remember first-hand. Arnosky's book, Secrets of a Wildlife Watcher (grades 5 and up), has taught us so much about observing wildlife on some of these hikes. The children can learn all about spotting animals by the signs they left behind, just like the pioneers had to do over one hundred years ago.

Their natural curiosity about animals makes this a wonderful opportunity to introduce the concept of the animal kingdom and how animals are classified. If possible, try to find a map of the United States that shows animals that are native to specific regions. We found a map from the Smithsonian Institution that included this information and it is still displayed on a wall in the den. (Many museums and educational stores also carry this type of map.) I would also recommend a good, basic field guide or handbook about animals and/or mammals. One of our favorites is A Handbook of Nature Study, by Anna Comstock, for grades 5–12. This book has sections for many types of animals, as well as plants found in North America. Another reference for your students is Mammals of North America, by John Burton, of the Science Nature Guide Series, for grades 4–9.

Science was woven throughout the lives of these hard-working and committed travelers. From their need to understand how to find their way across this vast country and all of its terrains and obstacles, to the need to be able to treat their own sicknesses, deliver babies along the way, take care of sanitary conditions, find safe water, and on and on, science was everywhere in their lives. For older students and adults, try to find a copy of the book The Prairie Traveler: The Classic Handbook for America's Pioneers, by Randolph B. Marcy, Captain, U.S. Army. This book was written in 1859 at the request of the U.S. War Department to provide westward-bound pioneers a reference that would help prepare them for their travels. Now reprinted in its original version, the author described exactly what to take along on the journey, how to travel along a trail, how to camp, how to prevent stampedes, how to cross rivers, how to handle prairie storms, build fires, find water, and hunt on the trail.

For younger students, try to locate a copy of Daily Life in a Covered Wagon, by Paul Erickson, for grades 3 and up. This will help them get a feel for the daily lives from a younger perspective. Try to point out the areas where science applies as they come across them. Another book that adds to their understanding is If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon, by Ellen Levine (grades 3–5).

Enjoy the adventure!

P.S. If you missed Pioneers and Science Part 1, you can read it HERE.

Pioneers and Science - Part 1

Remember the times that you spent playing make-believe pioneers or building forts in the backyard? What a thrill to try to build a fort from Dad's leftover lumber scraps, listen to all of the sounds of nature, and try to move "like an Indian" through the underbrush without cracking a twig! Remember the smell of the rain, freshly turned soil, honeysuckle in bloom? Many a child has spent countless hours at this kind of play in America, and this study allows the same type of creativity while focusing more closely on the details of the Pioneer era in our country.

The lives of the pioneers were less complicated in many ways. They made do with what they had, observed the beauty of nature, and encountered adventure and challenge on a daily basis. They experienced a different pace of life, where the most important things were the simplest things—food, water, shelter, sitting around the fire at night, reading the Bible together, sharing the day's excitements and difficulties, and looking forward to Sunday for their hard-earned day of rest. There are many valuable lessons to be learned from these people and times.

In Prairie Pioneers  your child will blaze the trail with the courageous pioneers as they travel across America, from the Mississippi and on to the prairies and the far West.

Day 1: What is a Pioneer?

Day 2: The Story of the Pioneers

Day 3: Science Secrets of the Prairie

Day 4: Lessons to Learn From the Pioneers

Day 5: Cool Things About Pioneers

Let's travel with them now, feeling their heart's desire to seek freedom and adventure. Take your children along to see the sights through the eyes of the pioneers, marvel at the beauty and intensity of God's world, smell the campfires and taste the trail food, and understand the excitement of finding their own "home place" at the end of the journey. Share these adventures with your children. Let them savor those days and learn to appreciate the history of this country, "one nation, under God." Enjoy the adventure at a special price this week - just $5 thorugh 6/22/13!

Be sure to come back for Pioneers and Science - Part 2 tomorrow to learn some great ideas to get the learning adventure going!

Family Road Trip Prize Package Giveaway

We have a fun week planned here at USAB! This week we are taking a virtual road trip around the USA . . . AND we have 3 ways for you to save while you join us!  Don't forget to enter to win our Family Road Trip Prize Package below- it's packed with fun activities that your children will enjoy! You can also follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter for more road trip fun!

1st way to save:
Buy 5, Save $5 - purchase 5 titles of your choice at one time, and we will give you $5 off your order - this includes sale items!  There is no limit and no codes required. It's really that easy to save, and we are getting the sale started with 5 fun titles - check it out below!

2nd way to save:
Purchase 10 units in June and you earn a FREE unit in July. Purchase 15 units and we’ll give you 2 FREE units in July! To qualify, the 10 unit studies can be purchased at anytime during the month and we keep track of them for you. If you took advantage of the "buy 5, save $5" deal last week, you are half way there! There is no limit and it includes sale items!

3rd way to save:
To kick off our road trip, we have some great deals lined up on our specials page! Join us!

Prairie Pioneers - $5
Cavernous Caves - $5
Davy Crockett - $5
George Washington - $5
Roller Coasters - $5

Specials go through 6/22/13.

Don't forget to grab your FREE Build a Year Planner! It makes planning so very simple AND you save big in the process. During June and July, we'll be offering weekly savings on a huge variety of titles to help you fill in the planner for a year of exciting learning adventures!

We have put together a fun Family Road Trip Prize Package Giveaway just for you! Enter to win today!

Mad Libs on the Road

Orange Interstate Highway Backseat Bingo

Melissa & Doug License Plate Game

Melissa & Doug Family Road Trip Game

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