Progeny Press Literature Study Guides - Frog and Toad Review

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Progeny Press is a Christian publisher owned by Michael and Rebecca Gilleland. They provide families with literature guides for more than 100 classic and popular works. Their mission is to provide a curriculum that teaches children to think clearly, understand literature, trust the scripture for guidance, and enjoy themselves while they do it.

A moms review: 
I am so proud to say that my daughter (age 8) is now a reading machine. She loves to read and each week when we visit the library she visits the early reader section and picks out a stack of books. So as a homeschool mom I am always looking for fun ways to enhance the books the children are reading. And that is where Progeny Press comes in handy. There are hundreds of literature guides available for children in grades K-12. We received a copy of the Frog and Toad Together e-guide to review.

The majority of the literature guides available are for Newbery, Caldecott, ALA Notable Book and Coretta Scott King award winners. So you can rest assured your children will be reading quality literature. Each literature guide is available in three versions: a physical book, a CD with a PDF ebook, or a downloadable PDF file. All of the versions however contain the same content. The upper elementary, middle and high school guides have the added bonus of being interactive, which allows children to type their answers directly into the PDF and save their work. In the back of each guide is an answer key as well.

Each guide is intended to take 8-12 weeks to work through, though the early elementary level may take less time.  To work at this pace, children will need to complete approximately one page per day. Following this format your family could complete 3-4 study a year.

More about Frog and Toad Together Book and E-Guide:
The Frog and Toad Together e-guide and book are recommended for children in grades K-3. The book is a Newbery Honor award winner and was written by Arnold Lobel. It is part of the, "I Can Read Book" series which contains over 200 titles by some of the finest authors and illustrators. The text is large and easy to read which is perfect for beginning readers. But even if your child isn't reading yet the book makes a great read aloud too. The Frog and Toad book is all about friendship and there are 5 short stories in the book. The dynamic duo enjoys baking cookies, gardening, going on adventures, and dreaming together. The stories are funny and fascinating and teach important lessons too.

We completed the Frog and Toad Together e-guide (which is 34 pages) in about 2 weeks. In the front of the e-guide is a note to the instructor which explains how to use the study guide. Next there is a synopsis of the book, information about the author and several, "before-you-read activities."

Progeny Press recommends reading the entire book before working on the e-guide, however we choose to read a chapter and then do the corresponding pages in the guide. We read 3 chapters one week and 2 the next. For each chapter there are several who, what, why, how type questions as well as open ended questions to discuss with your children. These questions help reinforce what they read as well as get them thinking. And in the back of the guide is an answer key should you need it. For the questions I would let my children dictate their answers while I wrote them down. For each chapter there are also fun hands on projects. These include experiments, crafts, baking, completing worksheets and more. At the end of the e-guide are a couple additional printable activities including a venn diagram and word search. There are also suggestions for further reading in the back of the e-guide.

Click here for a sample section of the guide!

Additional note:
If you are a secular family you can easily skip the scripture portions of the study guide if you choose and still take a lot away from the e-guide.

Gwyn (8 yrs old) review:

I really liked the book and the fun projects and crafts. I learned all about the importance of friendship.

Links to follow:
-Progeny Press Website
-Progeny Press Facebook
-Progeny Press Twitter
-Progeny Press Pinterest
-Progeny Press YouTube

Where to buy:
The Frog and Toad Together e-guide is currently $11.99 and can be downloaded directly from the Progeny Press website. The prices of other e-guides may vary.

Click here for more Progeny Press reviews from the The Schoolhouse Review Crew.

CHALK Preschool Online Curriculum - And It's FREE

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details. This is a sponsored campaign with Mums the Word Network and CHALK Preschool. All opinions are my own.

CHALK Preschool started in 2004 when 3 people with a shared ambition came together to create an educational curriculum, environment and space that would create a new standard for all preschoools. CHALK opened their doors in 2005 in Illinois and began providing well-rounded, structured education, enhanced with play and creativity. As you can imagine the demand for CHALK preschools across the country began to grow and so CHALK decided to create an online preschool!! Now they can share the gift of education not only with the entire United States, but also the entire world. And guess what? It's all FREE!

A moms review:
My children love online learning and educational videos. So I had a feeling that CHALK Preschool would be a huge hit, and I was right. Signing up for a FREE account was very easy and only required entering my name, email address and a password. After that there was a brief introduction video explaining how to use CHALK. Finally I entered my son's name and birthday. It literally took less than 10 minutes and he all set to take his first lesson.

CHALK is great for any child in the preschool age range which is 2-5 years old typically. However it is totally up to the parent to decide if their child is ready for the CHALK preschool lesson plans. I created an account for my 6 year old son who is a little delayed in some areas. However the videos are so much fun that even my 8 year old wanted to watch them and get involved. And you know what? There was definitely information in the program that was a good refresher for her too. She also loved the letter worksheets!

The CHALK lessons, games and activities are all tons of fun and prepare your child for kindergarten. Each day there is a different lesson plan which covers core subjects such as math, science and literacy. There are also supplemental subjects such as art, music and even dance. Lessons can be completed at any time of the day from any device that has internet connection, including mobile devices. It took my children about 45 minutes - 1 hour to get through the daily lesson plan.

Some of the topics covered include:

• Numbers
• Letters/Alphabet
• Shapes, Colors & Sizes
• Recognize Patterns
• The Weather
• Days of the week

The system is so easy to use and features large easy to use navigation buttons. For my children I simply created a short cut icon their computer so they could just click on it and do the daily lesson at their leisure. Very little parent involvement is needed for children in the 6-8 age range, that's how easy it is to use. All children need to do to get started is click on one of the subject buttons on the left and then hit play on the video player or they can select play all over on the left. If they don't select play all they will need to continue hitting play after each video completes (it will automatically advance to the next one in line). For each daily lesson there are printable worksheets as well as recommended craft projects to enhance the lessons. Each video is just a few minutes long and very engaging. There are also fun games and songs throughout which help your children learn and remember. 

At the top right corner of the video player is a light bulb icon and "Parent Tip." Here parents will find helpful tips and suggestions to enhance their child's learning.

There is also a "Free Play" area where children can listen to songs. And a "Parent Portal" where parents can get helpful information on everything from hands on learning to tips for getting the children to help out around the house. You can also download a materials checklist and cooking lesson recipes in the parent portal.

Both of my children love CHALK and access it just about everyday completely on their own accord. The program is fun, interactive, engaging and thorough and it's a great fit for all learning styles. As a homeschool mom it is important for our family to have access to quality online educational programs especially ones that are affordable and it doesn't get much more affordable than FREE! 

Be sure to also check out the CHALK Preschool Blog, CHALK Preschool Newsroom and don't forget to follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

Rowyns review (age 6):
I really like the video lessons. They are fun and teach stuff. I like the worksheets and crafts too. They are fun to do with mommy and Gwyn.

Where to enroll:
I highly recommend you give CHALK Preschool curriculum a try! It's great for children already enrolled in a preschool program as well as homeschoolers. You can use it as a supplement or full curriculum. And since it's completely FREE so you have nothing to loose!

Boredom Busters For Road Trips

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Mom, I'm bored! Are we there yet? How much longer? We have all heard these common phrases on road trips, right? Well that's where boredom busters come in handy. Here is a list of 10 boredom busting ideas for your next road trip. With these ideas in your mom arsenal you are guaranteed to never hear these dreaded phrases again.

1) Audio Books - Audio books are not only great for children, but also adults. Check with your local library, visit Amazon or check out my previous posts about audio books (one post has a list of 7 websites where you can download FREE audio books). Two of our favorite audio book series are 39 Clues and Guardians of Ga'Hoole, both of these will keep you busy for awhile.
2) Mad libs - Mad libs can be tons of fun and educational too. You can pick them up at Amazon for around $3-$6 or possibly at your local Dollar Tree. You can also print FREE Mad Libs here.

3) Mobile devices and hand held games - I think just about every family now owns a tablet, iPod, hand held game device, or old cell phone. And there is nothing wrong with using these devices to help keep children busy in the car. With all of the FREE eBooks,  FREE educational apps and movie streaming options available children are guaranteed to stay busy even on the very long trips. My children also love taking their Educational Insights Hot Dots sets on road trips.
4) Scavenger hunts - Every child loves scavenger hunts. Download this FREE Road Trip Scavenger Hunt that I created for my children. They have a blast with it, even on our short trips.

Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

5) Trip journal pages - Here are a couple of trip journal pages that I created. These are meant to be fun and sneak in some learning too.

The first one is a FREE Travel Journal Page and can be used for car trips, plane trips, train trips, etc. It includes questions like what was eaten during the trip, how many miles were traveled, etc.

Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The second is a FREE State Journal Page. This is tons of fun and compliments our favorite children road atlases nicely.

Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The third is a vehicle journal page.

Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

6) Activity and coloring books -  You can find loads of FREE activity and coloring pages online. Or hit up Amazon and your local Dollar Tree.
7) Old fashioned car games -  Do you remember the find the alphabet game? In case you have forgotten how to play it, here are the rules. You must find the letter "A" anywhere outside the car (storefront signs, billboards, street signs, vehicle tags, etc.), then the letter "B," and so on. When you find a letter you must shout out the word & the letter you found, & nobody else can use the same sign to find the same letter. The first person to find "Z" is the winner!

You can find more old fashioned game ideas and printable mad libs, activity pages and coloring pages over at Spoonful.com.

We love playing the alphabet game so I decided to make a FREE Letter Game Printable. This provides another option for playing the alphabet game. Instead of shouting out the word each player can write the word they found. Or for another variation you can also use it as a scavenger hunt and try to find something that starts with each letter, good luck spotting a zebra!

Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

8) Magnetic play kits - When my kids were toddlers magnetic play kits were their favorite travel item. You can purchase these on Amazon for around $10. Or you can easily make your own using a cookie sheet from Dollar Tree. Just place magnets onto the back of stickers, paper dolls, foam pieces, wooden pieces or even felt pieces and ta-da you have your customized magnetic play kits great for road trips. Make It & Love It has a great example, check out her DIY magnetic paper dolls.

9) Favorite books - Load up on your favorite books. We always keep a stack of books in the car. They are great for short and long trips. Or you can load up your mobile device with FREE eBooks.
10) Art/Craft supplies - Crayons, markers, stickers, tissue paper, pom poms, scissors, glue, tape, etc are great for road trip crafting. Just throw everything into a ziplock baggie for easy storage and protection. Use a cookie sheet from Dollar Tree as a table. And let your little traveler's imaginations run wild. You never know what will spark some creative crafting fun during a trip! Also check out this DIY Travel Coloring Case over at Family Fresh Meals (a sandwich box container would work great too).

Head over to WordTraveling.com to check out some other amazing #TravelEffect posts. While you're there be sure to enter the amazing giveaway too!

25 Southeast Staycation Ideas

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Vacations are a rare treat for us due to only having one vehicle (which is very old) and limited funds, but over the last 8 years we have done a lot of staycations. We live in Georgia and I love it here, because there is always something new to see and do. And if we happen to run out of things to explore in GA we can hop in the car and get to FL, AL, TN or SC in just a few hours for a day trip.

To get you started on your southeast staycation here are 25 past blog posts, which contain information about some of favorite spots in the southeast!

1. Over 200+ Free Things To See And Do In Georgia
2. Your Georgia Fieldtripping Guide
3. 10 FREE GA Fieldtrips
4. Wild Adventures - Valdosta, GA
5. Childrens Museum - Atlanta, GA
6. Fernbank Museum - Atlanta, GA
7. Museum Of Design Atlanta - Atlanta, GA
8. HIGH Museum of Art - Atlanta, GA
9. Cagles Dairy - Canton, GA
10. Legoland - Atlanta, GA
11. Treetop Quest - Duluth, GA
12. Atlanta Botanical Gardens - Atlanta, GA
13. Elachee Nature Center - Alpharetta, GA
14. Historical Marietta, GA
15. Etowah Indian Mounds and Tellus Museum - Cartersville, GA
16. Fabulous, Fun Filled Fieldtrips - Savannah, GA
17. Malibu Grand Prix - Norcross, GA
18. Georgia Aquarium - Atlanta, GA
19. Carlos Emory Museum - Atlanta, GA
20. Rock City - Lookout Mountain, GA
21. Adventure Science Center - Nashville, TN
22. Titanic Museum - Pigeon Forge, TN
23. 30 + FREE and Frugal Things To Do In Beaufort, SC
24. Hunting Island State Park - Beaufort, SC
25. Geocaching Adventures - available in any state or country

For even more ideas check out the Summer Staycation Ideas post over at the Schoolhouse Review Crew Blog.

Native American Folktale, Flute Craft And A Giveaway

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

We had tons of fun with the Poppins Book Nook blog series last year and we will be continuing that fun all throughout 2014. This month's theme was, "Folktales" Keep reading to learn more about the books we read and fun crafts we made. There is also a giveaway is at the end of the post!

Books:
Gwyn is fascinated with Native Americans and it is one topic that she is constantly exploring. Earlier this month we attended the Mothers Day Powwow in Canton, GA. This event is held every year and is one that we try not to miss. There are arts and crafts, tasty foods, tepees, demonstrations, dancing, music and warriors on horseback.

So it comes as no surprise that the kids picked out a Native American folktale book for this months book club. Night Dancer is a lyrical picture book poem about Kokopelli a southwestern Native American God. The book is 32 pages and great for children of all ages. In the book Kokopelli, the god of dance and music travels through the desert at night playing his flute and inviting the desert animals to join him. Along the way Coyote, Snake, Tortoise, Javelina, Jackrabbit, Tarantula, and the children of the Rio Grande Pueblo village follow Kokopelli and join his midnight dance.

Craft Project: 

Here is the fun project we did to go along with this months theme.

Straw pan flutes:

Materials:
-8-10 Straws (larger straws like the ones from McDonalds will probably work better)
-Tape
-Scissors

What to do:
There are a few ways you can make these and we opted for the easier way, but if you want to work in some math you can have children measure out the straws to these measurements 3-1/2 inches, 4 inches, 4-1/4 inches, 4-3/4 inches, 5 inches, 5-1/4 inches, 5-3/4 inches, 6 inches

1. Have children line up 8-10 straws. The straws should form steps and each one should be about 1/2 inch shorter than one before.
2. Next place a piece of tape on the table and lay the straws onto the tape. After all of the straws are placed onto the tape take the ends of the tape and fold them over the straws to secure them together.
3. Finally cut one side so that the straws are straight across and even.
4. Blow gently across the flat side to make some pretty sounds.

Let the children experiment with the straws adding more or less, cutting different lengths, etc. It is tons of fun and a great lesson in music!

Here is a list of the wonderful bloggers participating in the Poppins Book Nook be sure to visit them for more fun ideas:

Enchanted Homeschooling Mom ~ 3 Dinosaurs ~ To the Moon and Back ~ Planet Smarty Pants ~ Farm Fresh Adventures ~ Growing in God's Grace ~ Chestnut Grove Academy ~ Learning and Growing the Piwi Way ~ The Usual Mayhem~ Preschool Powol Packets ~ Monsters Ed Homeschool Academy ~ Adventures in Mommydom ~ Teach Beside Me ~ Life with Moore Babies ~ Kathy's Cluttered Mind ~ Are We There Yet? ~ Our Crafts N Things ~ Hopkins Homeschool ~ ABC Creative Learning ~ Joy Focused Learning ~ P is for Preschooler ~ Laugh and Learn ~ A Mommy's Adventures ~ Inspiring 2 New Hampshire Children ~ World for Learning ~ Ever After in the Woods ~ Golden Grasses ~ Our Simple Kinda Life ~ A glimpse of our life ~ Journey to Excellence ~ Happy Little Homemaker ~ Little Homeschool Blessings ~ Simplicity Breeds Happiness ~ Raventhreads ~ Water on the Floor ~ Learning Fundamentals ~ Tots and Me ~ As We Walk Along The Road ~ Stir the Wonder ~ For This Season ~ Where Imagination Grows ~ Lextin Academy ~ The Canadian Homeschooler ~ School Time Snippets ~ Peakle Pie ~ Mom's Heart ~ A Moment in our World ~ Every Bed of Roses ~ Finchnwren ~ At Home Where Life Happens ~ Suncoast Momma ~ The Library Adventure ~ Embracing Destiny ~ Day by Day in our World ~ Our Homeschool Studio ~ A "Peace" of Mind ~ Thou Shall Not Whine ~ SAHM I am ~ eLeMeNo-P Kids ~ Simple Living Mama

Poppins Book Nook Giveaway! 
Every month the Poppins Book Nook group will be offering readers a chance to win a brand new storybook or product that ties in with our theme for the month. This month one lucky entrant will win a copy of the E.H.M. curriculum Journey into the World of Folktales and one copy of the book that is required to teach it called Around the World in 80 Tales by Saviour Pirotta to further their learning alla bout folktales. If you wish to become a E.H.M member to receive access to hundreds of printables join here for only $15.00.

Entrants must be 18 years or older and reside in a country that receives U.S. Postal mail. This giveaway is brought to you by the company Enchanted Homeschooling Mom who is owner and founder of the Poppins Book Nook. By entering this giveaway you are alsoacknowledging that you have read and agree to all of the Rafflecopter terms& conditions as well as Enchanted Homeschooling Mom's disclosures found here.  Just enter the Rafflecopter below to win:

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Linking up with: Jay Daniel 4's Mom, Mama to 4 Blessings

Classroom in the Caribbean — Using Holidays to Teach

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

You've probably thought of buying books for the kids, and all manner of educational games, to help them to learn. One thing that might not have occurred to you is how educational a holiday is. Holidays to the Caribbean are particularly incredible and a fun-filled learning experience! Geography, geology, ecology and biology are everywhere for your children to see, hear and sometimes even touch. Here are some ideas:

Caribbean Geology and Geography (Fascinating!)

There are countless islands with many different shapes, sizes and characteristics. There are the relatively flat islands like Barbados, Anguilla and Anegada (a British Virgin Island) which were gradually formed over many generations mainly from coral reefs. These islands have amazing white sand beaches and light blue water. In contrast, other islands like Dominica and St. Vincent were formed primarily from volcanic activity. These island gems are mountainous, with lush forests and gushing rivers.

Ecology and Biology in Action

The Caribbean has beautiful, colorful plants and animals. Some live only in a particular island, like the St. Lucian parrot. You might be fortunate enough to get a chance to swim with the sea turtles. These graceful and gentle creatures are indeed a joy. Seeing baby turtles actually hatching and bravely marching down to the ocean is a real thrill. Sadly, because of the threats facing young turtles from predators, pollution, and difficulties finding food, only a few actually survive to adulthood.

A walk in a tropical forest can have many valuable lessons. Tropical forests ecosystems are home to an incredible range of flora and fauna, making them an irreplaceable source of food, medicines and materials used in housing and jeweler making. Snorkeling over a healthy coral reef is a special treat. Healthy coral reef ecosystems are teeming with many different kinds of soft and hard corals, fish, shellfish, and much more. Each living creature has its own special role to play in the ecosystem. Coral reefs support fishing industries, generate revenue through tourism and protect fragile coastlines.

Both tropical forest and coral reef ecosystems are extremely valuable to society. They’re rich and vibrant when they’re healthy. However, they’re extremely fragile, so threats such as over-harvesting and pollution can quickly destroy them. Once degraded, it’s very difficult for them to recover and become established again. It’s vital that conservation activities are maintained to protect and manage them.

Clearly, there’s more to the Caribbean than just pirates. Taking your kids to the Caribbean can definitely give your children the chance of a lifetime to learn lessons that they’ll never forget. No doubt, they’d rather learn under the sun than in a classroom!

Special thanks to Charlotte Evans for writing this fabulous guest post.

Over 50 Staycation and Vacation Ideas Around The USA

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Did you see my post yesterday about 30+ Free and Frugal Things To Do In Beaufort SC? Well if you are looking for even more free and frugal staycation or vacation ideas be sure to check out all the great posts below. Also be sure to check out my post with over 200+ FREE Things Family Things To Do in Georgia from last month.

A - D

Phoenix-Metro, Arizona ~ Mom Endeavors
Scottsdale, Arizona ~ Saving For Someday
Tucson, Arizona ~ Desert Chica Ramblings
Bentonville, Arkansas ~ This Sweet Life
Fullerton, California ~ More with Less Today
San Diego, California ~ Southern Cali Saver.com
Denver, Colorado ~ Bargain Blessings
Washington, District of Columbia ~ Kidventurous

F - I


Jacksonville, Florida ~ Saving The Family Money
Orlando, Florida ~ The Educators' Spin On It
Tallahassee, Florida ~ SwagGrabber
Tampa, Florida ~ Not Consumed
Chicago (and suburbs), Illinois ~ A Savings WOW!
Chicago, Illinois ~ Entertaining Chicago
Fort Wayne, Indiana ~ Simplified Saving
Indianapolis, Indiana ~ Chaos Is Bliss
Des Moines, Iowa ~ Eat, Play, Love Des Moines

K - P

Northern Kentucky (Boone, Kenton, Campbell Co) ~ Simply Sherryl
Annapolis, Maryland ~ The Happy Housewife
Boston, Massachusetts ~ Maven of Savin
Grand Rapids, Michigan ~ Give Me Neither
Metro Detroit, Michigan ~ Saving Dollars and Sense
Oakland County, Michigan ~ Everyday Savvy
South Haven, Michigan ~ Bargain Briana
Twin Cities, Minnesota ~ Creative Couponing
Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas ~ Kosher on a Budget
Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas ~ Kansas City Mamas
Southern Missouri ~ Getting Freedom
Omaha, Nebraska ~ Family Fun in Omaha
Reno (& Northern), Nevada ~ Premeditated Leftovers
Buffalo/Niagara Falls, New York ~ Anns' Entitled Life
Syracuse, New York ~ I am THAt Lady
Cincinnati, Ohio ~ Adventure mom
Columbus, Ohio ~ Cleverly Simple
Dayton, Ohio ~ Savings Lifestyle
Northeast Ohio ~ Raising Lifelong Learners
Northeast Ohio (Canton, Akron, Cleveland) ~ Sisters Shopping on a Shoestring
North Central Oklahoma ~ From this Kitchen Table
Portland, Oregon ~ Frugal Living NW
Erie, Pennsylvania ~ Growing Kids Ministry
Harrisburg/Central, Pennsylvania ~ Family Balance Sheet
Lancaster, Pennsylvania ~ Pandora's Deals
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ~ The Coupon High
Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) ~ Bucktown Bargains

R - W

Providence, Rhode Island ~ Everyday Family Living
Beaufort, South Carolina ~ Kathys Cluttered Mind
Chattanooga, Tennessee ~ Living Chic on the Cheap
Nashville, Tennessee ~ The Hands-On Homeschooler
Arlington, Texas ~ Baby Boomer Rants
Bryan/College Station, Texas ~ How to Homeschool My Child
Dallas, Texas ~ Surviving The Stores
Fort Worth, Texas ~ Coupons and Freebies Mom
Houston, Texas ~ Melissa's Bargains
Katy, Texas ~ Moms Confession
Rio Grande Valley (McAllen), Texas ~ iLoveMy5Kids
Salt Lake City, Utah ~ Teach Beside Me
Charlottesville, Virginia ~ How to Have it All
Richmond, Virginia ~ Vacation Maybe
Williamsburg, Virginia ~ The Talking Suitcase
Seattle, Washington ~ Thrifty NW Mom
Oshkosh, Wisconsin ~ A Little Bit of This and That

Top 10 Netflix Documentaries For Children

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net

My children love documentaries and watch at least 2 a day on Netflix. And you know what I don't mind, because you can learn a lot from documentaries and travel to far away destinations. These documentaries cover history, geography, science and more.

Here are some of their favorites on Netflix:

1) Mystery Files - these are short 23 minutes biography type files about famous people like Hitler, Joan of Arc, Abraham Lincoln and more.
2) National Geographic Documentaries - There are several great documentaries which are about 1 hour long. Some of my children's favorites are Amazing Planet, The Human Body, Secret Yellowstone, Extreme Alaska Denali National Park,
3) Beyond Survival with Les Stroud - Learn about the indigenous tribes around the globe and experience their culture, techniques and secrets. Episodes are about 45 minutes long.
4) Disney Nature - Currently Wings of Life and Crimson Wing are on Netflix, hopefully the rest will be added soon. These documentaries are a little over 1 hour long.
5) Micro Cosmos - This is a 75 minute documentary that takes a fascinating look at the world of insects and other tiny creatures through powerful microscopic cameras and special microphones.
6) The Life Of Birds - Learn about over 300 species of birds in this documentary series. Episodes are about 50 minutes long.
7) Inside - These are really short documentaries and only about 20 minutes long. There are several including Pixar, McDonalds, DeBeers and more.
8) How Stuff Works - There are currently 2 seasons on Netflix and episodes are about 40-45 minutes long. These shows unravel the questions behind the food items we take for granted.
9) How Do They Do It - go behind the scenes to do things, and make the things that form our modern world. There is 1 season and episodes are about 20-25 minutes long.
10) Dear America - These shows are based on a book series and though they are not a true documentaries they are very informative and filled with great historical information.

*We may let our children watch things other parents may not approve of. So before you let your children watch any of these I encourage you to preview them first.

I will try to post a top 10 list of our favorite documentaries at least once a month!

Documentary printable:

This journal page is great for any documentary, get yours here for FREE or click the photo below.

What are some of your favorite documentaries?

Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con BIG Ticket Giveaway

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Every year Atlanta Comic Con draws tens of thousands of visitors. It is a can't miss event for every geek, comic book lover and fantasy enthusiast. Comic Con will be held May 30th - June 1st at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Atlanta Comic Con brings it all - Movies, Comics, Toys, Video Gaming, Games, TV, Graphic Novels, Horror, Wrestling, MMA, Original Art, Collectibles, Anime, Manga & More! It is Georgia’s best new Comic Con!

Some of the special guests include Kevin Sorbo, Lauren Cohan, Karen Gillian, Robert Knepper, Michael Rooker and more. For the entire program and guest line up visit the Comic Con website for further details.

Atlanta Comic Con is a family friendly and each adult ticket includes free admission for 2 kids under 10 years old.

Our geeky family is really excited, hope to see you there!

Discount Code:

Do receive an awesome discount on tickets ($16.45-$18.80 off) follow these instructions:

1. Click on our ticketing link: http://wizd.me/ATL_TIX

2. Choose either Friday or Sunday 1-day Ticket

3. Add to Cart & Checkout

4. Enter "ATLBLOG" in "Discount Code" section

(*discount code expires Saturday 5/31 at midnight*)

(*discount may not be applied to any previously purchased tickets*)

Now time for the giveaway: 
From now until May 28th (midnight) I will be giving away 2 Comic Con tickets per day! 2 winners per day will each receive 2 adult tickets (up to 2 kids under the age of 10 get in FREE with each adult ticket). Tickets may be used either on Friday or Sunday. Tickets will be emailed to the winners on or around the 28th-29th. Under the mandatory entry please be sure to list the name and email address you would like your tickets under. 

Only the first entry is mandatory. Other entries are optional and give you extra chances. This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook in any way. The winners will be posted on the rafflecopter widget and will receive their tickets via email from Comic Con marketing.

**Please note the requirement of providing your name and email address in first entry is only used to send your contact info to Comic Con if you win. You will not be added to any email list of any kind. Your email is needed so that Comic Con can email your ticket to you and add you to the list. 

Please wait a moment for Rafflecopter to load.....
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Winners List:

1. Sheryl B. and Cleve W
2. Derek S. and Melissa H.
3. Adam B. and Cara S.
4. Leighann E. and Kristin P.
5. Jennifer B. and Tracy V.
6. Melissa S. and Sarah C.
7. Steven H. and Margaret W.
8. Matt G. and Adonis I.
9. Trisha D. and Kim B.
10. Jamie H. and Kelly C.

Congratulations! You should have received an email from me and will receive your voucher from Wizard World on or around the 28th.

Free and Frugal Things To Do In Beaufort, SC

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One of the great things about living in Georgia is that we are only a few hours away from South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama. We have been lucky enough to explore several areas in these amazing states and as soon as we are a two car family again we hope to do a lot more exploring. Last May our family visited Hunting Island State Park in Beaufort, SC. We went camping for several days with our family and extended family and had a blast. And I completely fell in love with the area.

Beaufort county is a warm, hospitable region filled with amazing history, heritage, nature, arts and culture! Known as the Low Country this region offers something for every explorer. Beaufort county consists of 6 towns and cities and hundreds of named and unnamed islands.

Here are 30+ FREE and frugal things things to see and do in Beaufort county:

Beaufort
Beaufort is located on Port Royal Island, one of the largest Sea Islands along the southeast Atlantic  coast. And it is one of only a handful of US towns that has had it's entire downtown designated as a historic district by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The city was founded in 1711 and has maintained its antebellum architecture and small town atmosphere.

Beaufort National Cemetary - The cemetery is FREE to visit and provides visitors with lots of fabulous historical information. Beaufort National Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. The burial sections are arranged in the shape of a half-circle with roads arranged like the spokes of a wheel. There are several Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery. And there are several monuments to honor the brave men and women who have served our country throughout history.

ARTworks - Browse the galleries for FREE Tuesday through Saturday. Founded in 1991 ARTworks applies the many creative tools of The Arts to strengthen artists and to enrich audiences, collectors, and visitors through high quality arts experiences and arts education programs 365 days a year.

Beaufort Tree Walk - This self guided tree walk tour is FREE. You can download the guide book in PDF format here.

Sheldon Church Ruins - Travel back in time with a visit to these beautiful church ruins. Sheldon Church has lain in ruin for more than 120 years. Its gable roof, pediment, windows, and interior have disappeared, but the classic simplicity of its design still remains. One of the first Greek-Revival structures built in the United States, Prince William's Parish Church, erected 1745-55, was once one of the most impressive churches in the Province. FREE to explore.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Beaufort History Museum - $3 admission. The Beaufort History Museum traces its roots to July 20, 1939, when its constitution was approved at a meeting of the original board of trustees. The museum was formed “to increase and diffuse knowledge by the maintenance of a general museum and library of art, science, history and industry; the preservation and protection of objects and places of artistic, historic or scientific interest; and by furnishing instruction and recreation.”

Waterfront Park - The multi-acre park provides a breathtaking view of the Beaufort River, the Woods Memorial Bridge, the western tip of Lady's Island, the eastern side of Port Royal Island and the northern tip of Parris Island. 

The Arsenal Museum - (location of the Beaufort Chamber VCB Visitor Center) History will come to life with a visit to this FREE museum. Originally constructed in 1799, the brick and tabby arsenal has participated in a number of U.S. wars. During the Revolutionary War, a volunteer company served valiantly. The artillery also saw action during the Civil War during the battle of Port Royal.

John Mark Verdier House - Visit the only planters house in Beaufort open to the public. This prominent Federal-style mansion was built circa 1804 by John Mark Verdier (1759-1827), a successful merchant and planter. Verdier had accumulated significant wealth both by trading indigo and subsequently by acquiring over 1,000 acres used for the growing of highly profitable sea island cotton. $10 admission fee for tour of the house. Civil War exhibit is FREE to visit.

The Anchorage - Stop by and admire a piece of history. The Anchorage, also known as the William Elliott House is believed to be built prior to the Revolutionary War. Stylistic evidence suggests it’s construction dates closer to 1800. This massive home is constructed of tabby and boasts three stories of glorious architecture. The stucco covering the tabby blocks gives the home a look of concrete. The Elliott House is the tallest, double-pile tabby structure. 

William Barnwell House - This is another historic home that you can admire.  The twelve room town house is said to have been built by the Gibbes brothers on behalf of their sister, Sarah Reeve Gibbes, who married William Wigg Barnwell, grandson of the Revolutionary War hero, Major William Hazzard Wigg. During the Civil War, the house served as Union Hospital #4

Other historic sites include - Barnwell-Gough House, John A. Cuthbert House, Fort Lyttelton Site, Laurel Bay Plantation, Seacoast Packing Company, Robert Smalls House and Tabby Manse.

Hunting Island
This beautiful parks has been named One of America's Top Ten Beaches by TripAdvisor. It is located 16 miles east of Beaufort and is South Carolina's most visited state park. You will experience moss covered trees, frolicking dolphins, beautiful beaches, serene waterways, ospreys flying overhead and more!

**Admission fee is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children (ages 6-15). This includes trails, nature center, beaches and visitor center.

Nature Center and Fishing Pier - The Nature Center features live reptiles and exhibits highlighting the park's natural resources. 

Hunting Island Lighthouse - The historic Hunting Island lighthouse was originally constructed in 1859 and is the only lighthouse in the state of South Carolina that is open to the public. From the top platform, for those who are adventurous enough to climb the 167 step spiral staircase, one truly can get a birds eye view of the Atlantic Ocean, the park and surrounding marshes from about 132 feet above the ground. $2 admission fee to climb to the top of the lighthouse.

Visitor Center - The visitor center blends so well with the natural surroundings you would think it "grew" there. The visitor center is a great spot for Hunting Island and local area information. Be sure to check out the alligators or perhaps catch an educational workshop. 

Trials - There are several great trails including the marsh boardwalk and lagoon. These trails offer great wildlife viewing as well as some geocaching too! 

Check out this post about our visit to Hunting Island.

Port Royal
Port Royal celebrates over 450 years of history. It is the second-deepest natural harbor on the East Coast and because of this it attracted Spanish, French and British explorers throughout history. The town of Port Royal is located between Beaufort River and Battery Creek in the heart of SC Low Country.

Bird-lover’s Paradise - Port Royal’s Old Village is home to three diverse habitats: a large open lake, a very rare Bald Cypress swamp with existing boardwalk, and a small duck pond.  This project will provide the community and visitors a wonderful chance to enjoy dramatic lake views, explore different habitats, and offer learning and teaching opportunities about the importance of nature and the diversity of these special habitats.

Cypress Wetlands and Historic Walking Trails - Be sure to check out this beautiful walking trail to enjoy abundant wildlife, bird watching and some history too! Trails are FREE.

Low Country Estruiarium - The Lowcountry Estuarium is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to the principle of “Conservation through Education” The facility’s creatures have been relocated to an interim home in the art gallery/gift shop of the curator, Bob Bender, which is also located in Port Royal at 630 16th St. Ext. Visitation is available seven days a week by APPOINTMENT ONLY by calling 843-524-6600 or 843-263-7969 or email estuarium@islc.net. You should plan on spending 45 min. to an hour or even longer with inquisitive kids. And yes, the critters will be fed during your visit. Visiting the animals is FREE but donations will be greatly appreciated.

St. Helena Island
St. Helena Island is located 5 miles east of Beaufort and offers adventurers a glimpse into rural Low Country life both past and present. The majority of the rural and agricultural land on St. Helena is still worked by native residents, many of whom are descended from slaves.

Penn Center - This 50 acre campus offers tons of great history. There are 19 buildings located on this campus, old burial grounds, Gantt Cottage where Martin Luther King Jr lodged (and drafted his famous “I have a dream speech”), a Nature trail and Chowan creek. One of the buildings was the first school for the children of freed slaves. The campus is FREE to visit. Museum admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children (under 5 yrs old free)

Fort Freemont Historic Park - This historic fort was completed in 1899 and active until 1921. This historic site features 3 distinct elements which offer visitors a unique and diverse opportunity. The park is FREE to visit however donations are accepted.

Image courtesy of Friends of Fort Fremont Park website

Seaside Plantation - Stop by to see this Seaside plantation house which is believed to have been constructed by members of the Fripp family circa 1795 to 1810. The house is architecturally significant as a local interpretation exemplary of the transitional period between the Georgian and Federal styles and is historically significant both for its associations with a locally prominent family and for its role in the Port Royal Experiment. Among the outstanding architectural features of the house are the one-story hipped roof portico, tripartite windows, cantilevered elliptical stair, and the Adam style decoration of the first floor right front room.

Parris Island
Parris Island, SC, consists of 8,095 acres, of which only 3,262 are habitable. The remaining acres are primarily salt marsh. Enlisted male training began here in November 1915. Enlisted female training began here in February 1949. Marines have trained on the Depot during each major conflict of the 20th and 21st century:

Friday Marine Graduation - honor our men and women who serve our country by visiting a Marine graduation ceremony. FREE to visit.

Parris Island Museum - Explore the long and rich legacy of the United States Marine Corps as well as the exciting history of the Port Royal region. Thousands of artifacts, images, and other materials illustrate the varied stories within the exhibit galleries from Native American to modern Marines. FREE to visit.

Image courtesy of Marine Corps website

Iron Mike Tour - Take a walking tour of Parris Island. Be sure to stop by the visitor center first to check in and obtain a map. FREE to visit.

Brick Oil House - The only substantial remnant from Parris Island Range Lights is the brick oil house and a mound of bricks at the site of the dwelling. To reach the oil house today, one must travel across abandoned runways and down a dirt road to the thickly forested area where the oil house is hidden.

Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head is a lowcountry resort town located on an island of the same name in Beaufort County, SC, United States. The island gets its name from Captain William Hilton. In 1663, Hilton identified a headland near the entrance to Port Royal Sound, which he named "Hilton's Head" after himself. The island features 12 miles of beachfront on the Atlantic Ocean and is a popular vacation destination.

Gullah Museum - The mission of the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island is to revive, restore and preserve the Hilton Head Island Gullah history for the benefit of all – lest we forget. The Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization that was established in 2003 to preserve Gullah history, culture, customs, traditions, language, stories, songs  and structures on Hilton Head Island. FREE to visit.

Image courtesy of Gullah Museum website

Coastal Discovery Museum - The Coastal Discovery Museum was established in 1985 with a mission to teach the public about the natural history and cultural heritage of the Lowcountry.  The Museum makes learning about Hilton Head Island and the surrounding region a fun filled experience for the whole family. There are salt marshes, open fields, stands of centuries old live oak trees, the State's largest Southern Red Cedar tree dated at 1595, and a collection of some of the oldest buildings that exist on Hilton Head Island. FREE to visit, guided tours are extra. Suggested donation $3.

The Sandbox: An Interactive Children's Museum - This hands-on interactive museum is filled with unique entertaining, and educational play areas to explore. Children can sail away on Captain William Hilton’s ship of discovery or find their Passport to the World in the international airport terminal with a plane ready for little pilots to fly.  $6 adults and children.

Daufuskie Island

This island is a residential "sea island" between Savannah, Georgia and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina about 2.75 miles offshore. The total island surface is just 8 square miles. The island was named a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places due to its Gullah and Civil War history. It's history traces back to Pre Revolutionary War times. It was the site of a skirmish called the "Daufuskie Fight" during the Yemassee War of 1715–1717.

**THIS ISLAND CAN ONLY BE REACHED BY BOAT!

First Union African Baptist Church - Daufuskie's oldest building, and is still in use today as a place of worship. This church was the First Union African Baptist Church. It is listed as a historical landmark and a must see!

Tabby Ruins - Tabby is a building material made from a mixture of ground oyster shells, sand and water. This material was used for buildings on Daufuskie Island, especially on Haig’s Point Plantation. Many slave quarters were constructed of wood and these have long since disintegrated, but remnants of structures made from the very durable tabby remain on Daufuskie Island, Hilton Head Island, and throughout the Lowcountry.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

White School House - The White School House was built in 1913 by the Beaufort County Board of Education for white children who lived on Daufuskie Island. Whether there were twenty students or just one, a teacher was sent to the island. The school closed when the last white child graduated in 1962. Since then, the White School House has been used as fire department headquarters, island library, and thrift shop. Currently the White School House is home to the Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation’s archives.

Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge - located near the bridge to Hilton Head Island, offers an ideal place to enjoy the natural beauty of the Lowcountry. Once part of the plantation of Major General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, a prominent South Carolina attorney, from 1801 to 1815, this wildlife refuge features 14 miles of trails and an abundance of wildlife.
There are two historic lighthouses on the island, but both require tours to visit. But you may be lucky enough to at least get a glimpse of them: Bloody Point Lighthouse, built in 1883 and Haig Point Lighthouse, built in 1873.

Other locations to visit - tour map.

For more great historic sites visit The Historic Marker Database for South Carolina.