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Thursday, July 30, 2020

Experiencing Biology with Journey Homeschool Academy {A Homeschool Review Crew Review}

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.



The younger children and I have enjoyed using a new science program for the last several weeks. This Experience Biology: Elementary program is being created by Luke and Trisha Gilkerson, as is an Experience Astronomy: Elementary program, both of which are a part of Journey Homeschool Academy. They also have an astronomy course for high school.


We have lifetime access to this course that is geared toward children ages 6-11. Though the main portion of the program is online, the program has been designed with different learning styles in mind. While online we watch the main video lesson and the memory video, but there are also book recommendations, hands-on activities (very important in our homeschool), memory work, copywork, and quizzes. So, a person who is interested in using this program would need a computer with internet access, a printer, access to the recommended (but not mandatory) books, and supplies for activities (there is a section where you can find the complete activity supply list, plus they are listed in each lesson). 

When I first log into the program, I come to my dashboard.


From here the children or I click onto the Experience Biology: Elementary course.


Luke and Trisha Gilkerson join us onscreen to teach the lesson.


They are planning for the program to have a total of 30 lessons. If you do one lesson a week, the course will last an entire school year.

To the left of the screen you will find the list of lessons. When you click to expand it will reveal the lesson, memory video and the link for the extra material. This extra material includes the hands-on activity instructions plus any needed printables for the activity, copywork pages in print and cursive, and flashcards for the memory work.

Here is a list of all the lessons that have been added to the program so far. 
  • Lesson 1: What is Life? 
  • Lesson 2: The Building Blocks of Life
  • Lesson 3: The Secret Code of Life!
  • Lesson 4: Fueled Up!
  • Lesson 5: What's in a Name?
  • Lesson 6: Biomes Everywhere!
  • Lesson 7: Itsy Bitsy Teeny Tiny Creatures
  • Lesson 8: The Junk Drawer Kingdom
  • Lesson 9: The Fungus Among Us!
  • Lesson 10: What is a Plant?
  • Lesson 11; The Wide World of Plants
  • Lesson 12: Mean, Green, Energy Making Machine
  • Lesson 13: Roots and Shoots
  • Lesson 14: The Reason for Flowers
  • Lesson 15: It Begins with Seed
  • Lesson 16: Amazing Animals
  • Lesson 17: Silly Sponges
  • Lesson 18: Wiggly Worms
  • Lesson 19: Majestic Medusas and Patient Polyps (Cnidarians)
As we work our way through the lessons, we can mark them complete.



Luke and Trisha do a great job teaching the individual lessons. I love that they also take us "Back in Time" to learn the history behind the lessons. 


I especially like that they use props from the Back to the Future movies (the Delorean and the Flux Capacitor make an appearance in each lesson).


So far, while going back in time, we have learned about some interesting scientific history facts.

In Lesson 1 we went back to the beginning of creation.
In Lesson 2 we went to the year 1665 and learned a bit about Robert Hook and his homemade microscope and his work in discovering and naming cells.
In Lesson 3 we found ourselves in Cambridge in the mid 1900's with James Watson and Francis Crick discovering DNA.
In Lesson 4 we learned about Jan Baptista van Helmont who lived in the early 1600's in Belgium. Did you know back then there was the belief that trees ate the soil to grow?
In Lesson 5 we went to the year 1732 and learned about Carl Linnaeus and his exploration of plants, animals, and minerals as he worked on a classification system.

I can't wait to see where and when we go next.

After watching the lesson video, the children watch the memory video. Luke and Trisha will tell the students what specific details out of the lesson they want them to focus on and memorize. And we have flashcards to help us do just that.


 Plus there are different quotes or Bible verses that the children get to use as copywork.

I have the children work on both their print and cursive.



I love that Harold has been particularly excited about practicing his cursive. It has improved quite a bit during this past month.



What is really exciting is that the program also includes a hands-on activity with every lesson. 

Their favorite activity was creating DNA out of licorice, toothpicks and colorful mini marshmallows.





But they've also colored different types of cells, following the instructions which also gave descriptions of each of the different cell parts.



The did some cutting and gluing while figuring out whether the picture was a producer, consumer or decomposer.


And they have used cute little monster/creature cards to work on their classifying skills. I loved that they both had some unique ways of sorting their creatures.



And we finish up our week by having the children take the lesson's quiz. There are usually 7-9 questions, either multiple choice or true/false.


I love that these lessons have a variety of ways for the children to learn, and that it is very flexible. The children are introduced to some detailed information, but aren't expected to remember everything they are introduced to. And because we have lifetime access, we can go back through the course when they get older, to have them work on learning more information, if we so choose. Maybe at that point we will add in the recommended books. Unfortunately that was something we couldn't do this time because of limited library access due to covid-19. However, there was enough information given in the videos, that I wasn't concerned about not having the books. 

I appreciate the resources that are provided, such as the quiz answer key (in case mommy isn't quite sure what answer they are looking for), a complete recommended reading list given in both lesson order and alphabetical order, and a complete supply list for all the activities. 

This is a wonderful science curriculum for elementary aged children, and I look forward to working through the remainder of the course in the coming school year. I highly recommend it for your homeschoolers.

You can find Luke and Trisha Gilkerson on Facebook and Instagram on the Intoxicated on Life pages.

Don't forget to click on the banner below to see what my fellow Crew Mates had to say about the different science courses available from Journey Homeschool Academy.


Experience Biology: Elementary Level, Upper Level and Experience Astronomy: Elementary {Journey Homeschool Academy Reviews}

Throwback Thursday Blog-Style #317: July 30, 2020

Welcome back to... 


I know, I know, Throwback Thursday seems to be all about sharing pictures from the past, great memories that mean something to you, that you would like to share with others. At least that is how it appears to me. Throwback Thursday wasn't something I was participating in, and then I came up with an idea.

I thought it would be great fun and a help to my blog to share old content, but not just any old content. Each week I will share an old blog post from a previous year, any year, BUT it has to be from the current week (for example, something I've posted around July 30th, from any previous year)  I will go in, edit the post if needed, add a pinnable image if I don't already have one, and share it on Facebook.

Would you like to join in? You do not need to edit your past post in any way, you don't need to create a pinnable image, though it couldn't hurt, in fact it will help your blog traffic to add quality pinnable images to your posts.

Just go into your archives, choose a favorite post from this current week from any previous year, and link it up below. (If you don't have anything from this current week, it is still okay to link up with a post from a previous year around this time. And if you haven't been blogging for a full year, feel free to share any earlier post.)


Please make sure to share from the past as instructed above.  The spirit of Throwback Thursday Blog-Style is to share posts from the past. Please follow the guidelines. I would hate to have to delete your link.
Thank you

I will be pinning posts to my appropriate Pinterest boards and will be randomly selecting a Featured Throwback Thursday post to share next week. Just a note, I will be sharing a picture from your post if you are selected as the featured post, but I will link back to your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. By linking up you are giving me permission to use your picture in the post. 

Here is my Throwback Thursday post

Here is this week's randomly selected
Featured Throwback Thursday post:

Waco Mom shared


To participate, link up below. It would be great if you could visit several of the other posts that have linked up. Stop by, comment, and pin images so we can help each other.

No button currently, and there won't be one until I can figure it out seeing as Photobucket has changed things. Feel free to still share the picture in place of the button. Just link it to my Throwback Thursday Blog-Style permalink please.



Happy Throwback Thursday!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Monday, July 27, 2020

Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up- July 28, 2020


Welcome to Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up with your hosts Karen @ Tots and Me, Emily @ Emily Reviews, Shelly @ The Attic Girl, and Rena @ An Ordinary Housewife.

So glad you could join us as we share our giveaways on  Tuesday's Giveaway Link Ups. 

This link up will be posted Monday at 7 PM est. and run all week long! Make sure you stop in as often as you can to list your latest giveaways.

Here is how to use the Giveaway Link Up

1. Post your reviews and/or giveaways, as many as you have, be sure to add the end date (family friendly please)

2. Help spread the word about the giveaway link up by grabbing our button, Tweeting or posting on Facebook. (Not mandatory- but it helps get more exposure to your giveaways as well!)

3. Take a moment to enter any giveaway that strikes an interest to you!

Featured Giveaways


$25 Amazon GC Worldwide Ends 8/3



Nickelodeon Kids DVD Bundle US only Ends 8/4


Featured Reviews





If you would  like to follow the  hostesses, we will gladly follow you back! Simply leave us a message to do so.

Thank you for linking up with Karen @ Tots and Me, Emily @ Emily ReviewsShelly @ The Attic Girl, and Rena @ An Ordinary Housewife .


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Throwback Thursday Blog-Style #316: July 23, 2020

Welcome back to... 


I know, I know, Throwback Thursday seems to be all about sharing pictures from the past, great memories that mean something to you, that you would like to share with others. At least that is how it appears to me. Throwback Thursday wasn't something I was participating in, and then I came up with an idea.

I thought it would be great fun and a help to my blog to share old content, but not just any old content. Each week I will share an old blog post from a previous year, any year, BUT it has to be from the current week (for example, something I've posted around July 23rd, from any previous year)  I will go in, edit the post if needed, add a pinnable image if I don't already have one, and share it on Facebook.

Would you like to join in? You do not need to edit your past post in any way, you don't need to create a pinnable image, though it couldn't hurt, in fact it will help your blog traffic to add quality pinnable images to your posts.

Just go into your archives, choose a favorite post from this current week from any previous year, and link it up below. (If you don't have anything from this current week, it is still okay to link up with a post from a previous year around this time. And if you haven't been blogging for a full year, feel free to share any earlier post.)


Please make sure to share from the past as instructed above.  The spirit of Throwback Thursday Blog-Style is to share posts from the past. Please follow the guidelines. I would hate to have to delete your link.
Thank you

I will be pinning posts to my appropriate Pinterest boards and will be randomly selecting a Featured Throwback Thursday post to share next week. Just a note, I will be sharing a picture from your post if you are selected as the featured post, but I will link back to your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. By linking up you are giving me permission to use your picture in the post. 

Here is my Throwback Thursday post

Here is this week's randomly selected
Featured Throwback Thursday post:

Waco Mom shared


To participate, link up below. It would be great if you could visit several of the other posts that have linked up. Stop by, comment, and pin images so we can help each other.

No button currently, and there won't be one until I can figure it out seeing as Photobucket has changed things. Feel free to still share the picture in place of the button. Just link it to my Throwback Thursday Blog-Style permalink please.



Happy Throwback Thursday!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Wordless Wednesday: July 22, 2020 (w/linky) - More Callie

We just love Callie. She's such a sweetie.










Looking forward to seeing your Wordless (or not so wordless) Wednesday posts this week.

No button currently, and there won't be one until I can figure it out seeing as Photobucket has changed things. Feel free to still share the picture in place of the button on your Wordless Wednesday post or in a list of Wordless Wednesday linkies. Just link it to my Wordless Wednesday permalink please.


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Monday, July 20, 2020

Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up- July 21, 2020


Welcome to Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up with your hosts Karen @ Tots and Me, Emily @ Emily Reviews, Shelly @ The Attic Girl, and Rena @ An Ordinary Housewife.

So glad you could join us as we share our giveaways on  Tuesday's Giveaway Link Ups. 

This link up will be posted Monday at 7 PM est. and run all week long! Make sure you stop in as often as you can to list your latest giveaways.

Here is how to use the Giveaway Link Up

1. Post your reviews and/or giveaways, as many as you have, be sure to add the end date (family friendly please)

2. Help spread the word about the giveaway link up by grabbing our button, Tweeting or posting on Facebook. (Not mandatory- but it helps get more exposure to your giveaways as well!)

3. Take a moment to enter any giveaway that strikes an interest to you!

Featured Giveaways


$25 Amazon GC Worldwide Ends 8/3



Nickelodeon Kids DVD Bundle US only Ends 8/4


Featured Reviews





If you would  like to follow the  hostesses, we will gladly follow you back! Simply leave us a message to do so.

Thank you for linking up with Karen @ Tots and Me, Emily @ Emily ReviewsShelly @ The Attic Girl, and Rena @ An Ordinary Housewife .

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter