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.
Lately, as I scroll through various social media platforms, I've seen a recurring theme with parents- the desire to equip their children with life skills that will prepare them to go out into the world and thrive. As parents, we make sure that we provide teaching in math, science, art, language arts, p.e., and more. Those are important subjects, and they are important. But what about courses like economics? I don't see many parents including much of that subject before college. I certainly didn't take such a course in high school. I'm happy that the same will not be the case for my daughters. This month, Boundary Stone provided our family with their Economics Online Course Bundle for one student to use and review. I'll admit up front, that I was as enthusiastic to look this over for myself, as I was for my 16 year old to take it.
This is a timely and relevant statement.
You will need the following materials for this course:- Clarence Carson's Basic Economics, 4th edition textbook- Whatever Happened to Penny Candy, by Richard Maybury-The Law, by Frederic Bastiat* the course provides a link to a free PDF for The Law if you cannot obtain a copy
You have twelve months to complete the online class from the date of your purchase. Beyond that, you can set up your own schedule and complete the lessons at your own pace. With the exception of the quizzes and tests, which are taken and graded online, parents determine how they will determine grades. There are suggestions in the orientation section if you need some help with that.
The physical textbook for the course (noted above, Basic Economics) is divided into three sections with varying subheadings under each section title. These are the headings:
Section I - The Framework of Economics1 - Why Basic Economics?2 - In the Nature of Things3 - Government4 - Society and Morality5 - Property
Section II - The Production and Distribution of Goods6 - Scarcity and Economy7 - How We Get What We Want8 - A Medium of Exchange-Money9 - The Age of Inflation10 - The Market and Prices11 - Failed Attempts to Control Prices12 - Monopoly and Competition13 - The Means of Production14 - The Entrepreneur and Production15 - The Distribution of Wealth16 - International Trade
Section III - Politico-Economic Systems17 - Manorial-Feudal System18 - Mercantilism19 - Free Enterprise20 - Corporatism21 - Welfarism22 - Communism
The online part of the course is made up of four Units, which are then divided into learning modules. Within those modules are again, varying numbers of lessons and quizzes.
This is a very interesting course, because while it is an economics course, also included are bits of Bible, history, government, and social studies. So, if you or your student (and maybe especially your student, ha!) are expecting a boring class, you'll both, I'm happy to say, be wrong. Also, the class provides a timely and relevant message for our students. I don't need to tell you about the turbulence we're seeing in our country, and in our world. There is a push by some to abolish our current system, and it is critical that we, and our students understand what that would mean.
Video overview.
Instructor Paul Cleveland.
The online section provides the guide for completing each lesson. Begin with the orientation video. As you watch the clips and complete the steps, you'll mark the sections as complete, and you'll be able to keep track of your progress.
The physical text is well organized. It is divided into modules, for example, 2.1, 2.2, etc. There are pop up boxes here and there with various facts. Also on the side of some pages are vocabulary and definitions, as well as short biographies of historical figures. At the end of the chapter are study guides that offer summaries, main points, review questions, additional activities, and resources for further study. There is also an optional Budget Project that you might have your student complete over the course of the class. Instructions for completing that project are also found in the textbook.
Study guides are found at the end of each chapter
Vocabulary can be found throughout the text.
Whether you are an adult or a high school student, this is a fantastic course! I never would have expected to get excited about an economics course, but this resource is amazing. I'm confident that my 16 year old will finish it with a well rounded understanding of the fundamentals. Next year, I'll have my 15 year old take it as well. As far as I'm concerned, this is a must have in your homeschool curriculum.
You'll find plenty of quotes from historical figures.
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