Review: Christmas Comes To America

HOMESCHOOL LEGACY

 

 

 

Well, the month of December is just around the corner. Everyone knows what that means: Family, Food and the Christmas holiday! Our family loves Christmas. We first want to remember what Christmas is all about, the most important thing, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus! There is nothing like the joy of Christmas. During this time of the year, I like to make school fun. A month or so ago, I was contacted by Homeschool Legacy and given the opportunity to review their Once-A-Week Unit Study----Christmas Comes to America. I thought what a perfect opportunity to have tons of fun learning other Christmas traditions.

 

 

 

Once-A-Week Unit Studies are written for homeschool families, in my opinion, to make learning fun. Why Once-A-Week unit studies? There is no prep-time or work, easily incorporated into anyones schedule, very flexible and Biblically-centered, which is a big plus for our family. Once-A-Week means to do your unit study one day each week.

 

Christmas Comes to America focuses on the history of American Christmas traditions. This study shows one common thread among the cultures. Gift-Givers: Sinterklaas, Christkindl, Father Christmas, among others. These symbols represent the True Saint Nicholas.

 

I will give you an example of no prep-time or work. Each once-a-week study comes with a pick & choose read-alouds list for non-readers, optional books, videos and music list. There are books you read to go along with the study. Each week you are to read one of the books independently and one as a family read-aloud. There are four weeks in this study:

 

Week 1: The Dutch

Week 2: The English

Week 3: The Germans

Week 4: An American Christmas

 

Each week we learned the different names of the gift giver for each country. For example, the Germans have Christkindl (where we get Kris Kringle from) - Christ Child. There are so many activities in this unit study. From making and drinking hot cocoa and marshmallows to building a gingerbread house. We are having so much fun with this. I am looking forward to doing some of the activities we were unable to do. This is definitely  a unit study you don't want to miss!

 

This once-a-week study can be purchased at Homeschool Legacy for $17.95. Go get this study and have a fun Christmas Study for the month of December. They also offer other studies like the one our family used here while back entitled Lewis & Clark: From Sea to Shining Sea which we thoroughly enjoyed.

 



Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of the product in exchange for my honest opinion. All my opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations.

Wild Cherry Bark Syrup

As you know, I doctor my family using herbal remedies as much as I can before we go to doctors. I am all for going to the doctor when it is necessary but if it is something that I can cure or make better with herbs, that's the way we roll.

I have many herbal books I use on a daily basis but the one I go to the most often is Be Your Own "Doctor" by Rachel Weaver M.H.





Recently, my oldest bug came down with a nasty cold. She began with a stuffy nose and sinus pressure and then ended up with a cough. I decided to do the herbal treatment we used the last time she came down with this.

For her age and weight, she was to take 1000 mg vitamin C, 2 droppers of echinacea tincture, Garlic salve rubbed on chest and fresh garlic and 1 cup of respiratory tea (2 parts peppermint, 1 part oregano, 1/2 part echinacea, 1/2 part mullein and 1/2 part comfrey leaf), every hour when awake. I made a mullein tincture a while back, so instead of using mullein in her tea, she took 2 droppers of mullein with the echinacea tincture.

This is a real aggressive herbal treatment, and done so immediately, you will not have a really sick child.

I also found in this book how to make a Wild Cherry Cough Syrup. I just purchased Wild Cherry Bark from my favorite bulk herb store, www.bulkherbstore.com, so I figured what better time to make this than right now!

This is one of the simplest ways to stop a cough.

Recipe from the book:

Fill a quart jar with shredded wild cherry bark. Fill it again with vodka or brandy. Do not worry about the alcohol. You will distill almost, if not all of it, when you simmer this mix with honey. Anyway - most over the counter cough syrups have at least 5-7% alcohol, nighttime syrups have 15-20% and so do most asthma medicines. This will have less. Let it set for three weeks. Then strain it in a kettle and add the same amount of honey. Heat until the honey is melted and then simmer about five minutes.

DO NOT USE THIS FOR CHILDREN UNDER ONE BECAUSE OF SOME CONCERN ABOUT HONEY AND BOTULISM.

Here it is in a mason jar when it is complete and ready to use. I will store it in an amber bottle in the refrigerator to keep it fresh and good.

She is on the mend and feeling better. I really believe God give us these wonderful herbs for us to use, and everyday I realize that our Creator placed all of these wonderful things in our world for us to learn from and use for the healing of our families.

Here is a link for this wonderful book. I highly recommend it. It has been a life saver in our home. I hope if you decide to purchase and use it, it will be a blessing to you and your family like it has for mine.

God bless!

        



Linking up at NEW LIFE ON A HOMESTEAD., LIKE A MUSTARD SEED