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The Adventures of Munford ~ Review

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Have you ever looked at a droplet of rain and wondered where that tiny droplet has been or come from? Maybe it was a local stream, a river far away or somewhere across the ocean. What if you could see and hear what that water droplet had seen?
 
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Meet Munford. He’s two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen ~ a water molecule. He has traveled the world as rain, sleet, steam and has seen some amazing things in his lifetime. Munford brings your child along on his travels, teaching geography, history, science and more in The Adventures of Munford book series by Jamie Aramini.
 
imageWhen we received the set of books in the mail, McKenna walked off with the books and started reading them right away. She is currently reading the third book in the series and really enjoying them! We know she is absorbing the info, because we constantly hear about Munford during the day.
 
One night at dinner {and in the midst of reading The American Revolution}, McKenna shouted out ~ “Watch out! You might be drinking Munford!”…which then started everyone giggling and laughing. I love the creative twist on history that the series offers along with an imaginative narrator. So far McKenna has learned about The American Revolution, learned about an inventor in Munford Meets Robert Fulton, and is currently exploring with Munford Meets Lewis and Clark. The last book on her list is The Klondike Gold Rush.
 
Find Out More

Each of the books is published by Geography Matters and sells for $8.95. From now until the end of October, you can get 4 books for the price of 3 with the coupon code 4MUNFORD43. The books are written for all ages, but reading level is around a 3rd – 5th grade level. We could definitely use these as read-alouds for our younger boys {and most likely will!}.

The Giveaway

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I received four books from Geography Matters to review and provide my honest opinion, and in this case, my daughter’s too. I do not have to return the products and I was not paid for this post.

Betty Lukens Learning Fun With Felt

Our kids have always enjoyed any felt set that I attempted to put together for them. I say ‘attempted’ because these were really basic and pretty boring felt sets. Nothing like the full-color fun designs that are a part of the sets from Betty Lukens.

We were sent four different felt learning sets to have fun with. Here’s what we chose…Forest Camping Adventure, Days of the Dinosaurs, Under the Sea and Adventures in Space.

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All of the felt learning sets include a 13″ x 15″ Felt Play Board, over 20 pre-cut felt pieces and a handy plastic storage bags with handles. I absolutely love that the pieces have already been cut out for you. The sets are ready to play with the moment you pull them out of the bag! The storage bag has been WONDERFUL for keeping track of all the pieces and also is a slim case for storing.

The first time I pulled them out with the intention of distracting the kids ~ and they ended up playing for hours! Kaleb even pulled out his toy dinosaurs to interact with the felt set. :)

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I was planning to use the space themed felt set a little later for Kaleb {and we still will}, but McKenna has pulled this one out several times to play with already.

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The biggest hit so far has been the camping felt set. All of the animals included are much loved especially because we’ve seen the majority of them in our own backyard.

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All the sets are ones that we will be using throughout the year as part of our learning time and just for fun! The website has a variety of felt sets to choose from, including felt activity books, Bible felt sets, educational sets and more. The Carville felt set is one that I am sure our boys would love…and is on our Christmas list for them.

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Betty Lukens has also offered my readers a 15% off coupon code ~ use Creations during checkout and you’ll save a bit on any order you place!

I received four felt sets from Betty Lukens at no charge to use with my family in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I do not have to return the products and I was not paid for this post. All opinions expressed in this post are mine…or my kids.

All About Reading Level Pre-1 Deluxe Giveaway ~ a $120 value!

The new All About Reading site has been launched and to celebrate, All About Learning Press is offering one of my readers an amazing giveaway ~  the All About Reading Level Pre-1 Deluxe Package, a $119.95 value!!

You are going to LOVE this!!

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All About Reading Level Pre-1 was designed for children in preschool and kindergarten to prepare children for reading. It focuses on the Big 5 Skills {the five fundamental pre-reading skills}: letter knowledge, phonological awareness, print awareness, listening comprehension, and motivation to read. It includes reading activities, cds, crafts, and SO much more!

Read my in-depth review of All About Reading Level Pre-1 here.

{We love Ziggy, yes we do!}

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Here’s how you can win…

To enter all you have to do is tell me ONE of the three extra components that is in the All About Reading Level Pre-1 Deluxe Reading Package. That’s it! If you already own it, enter anyway ~ you can bless a friend if you win! :)

If you’ve been wanting to buy it, but worried you might win it ~ buy it!! If you win, I’ll refund your money!!

Want to earn a few extra entries? Give yourself an extra entry for each of the following:

Enter to win a Deluxe All About Reading Level Pre1 Package from @marierippel & @jolantheerb ~ details here: http://bit.ly/q5yKsu

  • Click on the banner below and grab the free activity book to see JUST how cute Ziggy is {if you’ve already downloaded it, give yourself an entry}.

Additional Information

The giveaway will be open until 8pm EST Sunday, August 28th, 2011. Winner will be announced by Thursday, September 1, 2011. This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only.

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All About Spelling Giveaway!! {closed}

All About Learning Press, the parent company of All About Spelling and All About Reading, is launching a brand new site, created to bring both product lines together in an easy-to-maneuver website. To celebrate they are offering one of my readers a complete spelling program ~ the Level 1 Spelling Kit with the Deluxe Interactive Kit, a $79.90 value!!

WOO HOO!!!

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All About Spelling teaches “phonograms” {letter combinations} that are the base for building words. Children use letter tiles that can be made magnetic to spell out the words and sounds that you are practicing. There are also flashcards included in the set along with the teacher’s manual. This hands-on aspect has really helped in our learning. Read my in-depth review of All About Spelling here.

{GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED ~ THANKS!}

To enter all you have to do is tell me ONE of the three extra components that is in the Deluxe Interactive Kit. That’s it! If you already own it, enter anyway ~ you can bless a friend if you win! :)

Want to earn a few extra entries? Give yourself an extra entry for each of the following:

  • Follow @marierippel on Twitter
  • Send out a tweet or a note via Facebook {feel free to copy/paste the message below}:

Enter to win a Level 1 Spelling Set w/Deluxe Interactive Kit from All About Spelling & @jolantheerb ~ details here: http://bit.ly/qYz0J0

Additional Information

~ Visit All About Spelling on Facebook. I can’t give you an entry for ‘liking’ {thank Facebook for that}…but it would be really nice if you did!

The give away will be open until 8pm EST Friday, August 19th, 2011. Winner will be announced by Sunday, August 21, 2011. This giveaway is open to US residents only.

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Note: This giveaway is linked up with Hip Homeschool Moms

Bead and Water Blocks ~ Guidecraft Mom Review

Who doesn’t love wooden blocks? Really, when building with them, the possibilities are only as limited as your imagination. When you add in fun, colorful blocks ~ well, building just got better!

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We have a big bin of wooden blocks and recently received Crystal Bead Blocks and Shimmering Water Blocks from Guidecraft to use in our building adventures.

The Bead Blocks and the Water Blocks both come in a set of eight blocks per package ~ four rectangle blocks and 4 half circle blocks in the colors of red, yellow, green and blue. They are made from hardwood with acrylic centers. The beads inside are colored plastic and the water blocks have added glitter inside to make them shimmer.

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The boys {and girls} have been using them to build some beautiful buildings and the half circle blocks add gorgeous colors to their creations. The overall verdict? They will be sticking around in our block bin for some time to come. These are blocks that I will keep around for years and have handy for our nieces and nephews too as they grow up.

My personal favorite? The bead blocks. The sound they make when shaken is fun and would be great for younger kids too.

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Find Out More

Crystal Bead Blocks and Shimmering Water Blocks can be purchased directly from the Guidecraft website, via their NEW Facebook page, or from Amazon. Be sure to check out their Rainbow Blocks too ~ we LOVE those!!

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As a Guidecraft Mom blogger, I was provided this product to review. I was not paid for this post and all opinions expressed in this post are mine…or my kids.

Red Wagon Tutorials ~ Science Giveaway!!

Red Wagon Tutorials

 

If you’ve been wondering how you were going to teach science to your 7th – 12th grade children, Red Wagon Tutorials may be the answer for you! Steve Rosenoff, the instructor for Red Wagon Tutorials, has offered a giveaway for my readers ~ read on to find out more!!

A Bit About the Red Wagon Tutorials

For the past ten years, Steven Rosenoff has been teaching science courses full-time. Three years ago, he felt lead to start a new ministry, Red Wagon Tutorials.  In addition to the individual module downloads, co-op teacher lesson links, online recorded classes, flash drives, and live-feed course programs, Red Wagon Tutorials now offers a thirty-two class lecture series recorded on DVD in an MP4-HD, double-disk, format.  

Each class is sixty to ninety minutes in length, depending on how they are used.  Currently there are presentations available for:

Physics will be added next year along with Health & Fitness, Geology, and Astronomy in the future.   

Red Wagon Tutorials is endorsed by Dr. Jay L. Wile and here’s a little something that I love about this company ~ for every DVD sold, one is given away to a missionary family!  Red Wagon Tutorials is currently serving missionaries in forty-five countries with free DVDs and curriculum support. 

Would You Like to Win a Flash-Drive Science Class?

One of my readers will win one flash drive science course, your level choice! These sell for $125!! If you purchase a flash drive class during the giveaway time and win, your purchase will be refunded!! Additionally, this giveaway is open internationally!!

To enter, simply leave a comment letting me know what science level you would choose from Red Wagon Tutorials!

Additional Optional Entries: Come back here and leave a comment letting me know you did any of the below so you can get your extra entries!

Win a full year of #homeschool science from Red Wagon Tutorials and @jolantheerb! Enter thru 7/19: @http://bit.ly/nIGHQE

Giveaway Information:

  • The give away will be open until midnight EST Tuesday July 19th, 2011. Winner will be announced by Thursday, July 21, 2011.
  • Make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry, winner will be chosen at random!
  • Please leave a way for me to contact you in your entry otherwise another winner will be chosen.
  • NOTE: This giveaway will ship internationally!!
  • In order to enter the contest you must leave a comment on THIS post.

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