The problem with most textbooks is that children must be pushed and prodded to use them.
However, there is one book that is so full of interesting facts and ideas that it is like a vitamin pill, and yet children crave it like candy: The World Almanac and Book of Facts.
(Technically, it’s a reference book, but since I homeschool and am not bound by convention, anything can be a textbook for my children!)
Just the other day I received a free copy in the mail, and before I could look at it, it had disappeared. Over the next few days I would catch a glimpse of it as it made its rounds all over the house, from one child to another, and sometimes I managed to nab it and return it to my desk, but it didn’t stay there for long!
Finally, I have been able to sit and peruse this copy for myself. I can see now why my children could not put it down! There are sections for just about everything, from sports statistics to U. S. history, to science and technology, and every page is replete with information.
As I am leafing through the pages of this tome, the gears in my mind are turning, and ideas are forming of all the ways I could harness the natural interest it generates…
…I could leave it out in the open, catch someone in the act of reading it and strike up a conversation (this is a sneaky but very effective way of encouraging learning).
…I could have a child read through the book and pick a topic they would like to do a notebooking page on.
…I could create a notebooking page for studying a state or a country at a time and use the Almanac as the primary reference tool.
…I could have a child compare stats on football, baseball, any sport, and have them create their own charts and graphs.
…I could have a child create a game using the Almanac–something like 20 questions.
…I could have a child create a map and then make sure they include population density, arable land, etc. for each country.
…I could have a child create a timeline using the world history or U.S. history sections.
…and on, and on, and on!
If you are like me and truly appreciate homeschooling without all of the nagging and stress, then I’m sure you’ll want a copy, or two, or three…
…and the best part? They are so cheap! You can actually purchase a paperback copy (or in Kindle format) on Amazon for about $8, which is an amazing price for such a useful book!
*Disclosure: Although I received a free copy of this book for review, I will not receive any reward for purchases, and the opinions above are my own.
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