Do you remember any of the books that you read in your high school literature class? I recall a few, and I can't say that I enjoyed the selections. A few years ago, when I was deciding which course my oldest daughter would take during her freshman year, I was less than impressed with the suggested books. That's when a lightbulb turned on for me. As a homeschooler, I had the final say in our literature studies. The question was, what do I choose? Thanks to Progeny Press , who came to my rescue with their study e-guides from a Christian perspective. All I had to do was pick a book, grab a guide, and get to work. A couple of years later, I remain a fan, and I was excited to receive two more study e-guides to use and review, the Animal Farm Study Guide , and the Little Women Study Guide .
Michael and Rebecca Gilleland are the founders of this company. I appreciate their mission- "to teach our children to think clearly, to understand literature, and to rely on the Scriptures for truth and values, and enjoy themselves while they do it!" What wonderful goals! You know what else is wonderful? Their study guides! Let me tell you about our two. I'll begin with an overview of each story, and then what the individual guides provide.
Just in case I didn't make it clear, these are digital study guides. The books are not included, you'll have to purchase or borrow your own copies. I love the convenience of these. They come in the handy pdf's, so I don't have to wait for shipping and delivery notices. I can just download and get started. I don't even have to print if I don't want to, because this is interactive, so we can type our work right into the pages. It doesn't get too much easier than that.
The stories:
Animal Farm tells of a revolution that comes about when a group of farm animals turn against their farmer, Mr. Jones. They are lead by two literate pigs, Napolean and Snowball, who are at first, good leaders, with all of the animals working for the common good and equality of all. Circumstances go awry when some animals become "more equal than others", and the corruption and power struggle begin.
The book was written by George Orwell, and as an aside, it's frighteningly relatable for our time. The target grades are 9-12. There are 93 pages. You can plan on working through the material in roughly 8-10 weeks, depending on your schedule. So, if you complete four different books and guides, you'll have your literature course all set.
Little Women was written by Louisa May Alcott. It is the story of the March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. They live with their loving mother in the Civil War era. Their father is away, as a chaplain. It's a story that details the lives of each young woman and how they make their way into the world. It's a classic story with love, laughter, grief, and survival. I love it, sigh.
This guide is 94 pages long, and targeted for grades 8-12. Like Animal Farm, it can be completed in 8-10 weeks or so.
Both guides follow the same format. A table of contents lays out all of the work, and it's very simple to follow. Sections are divided into several chapters. The guide includes a synopsis of the story, background information of the author, and helpful information about the book's time, setting, and cultural references.
Worksheets include fill in the blank questions, vocabulary, as well as lessons that teach about aspects of writing, including similes, metaphors, proverbs, etc.. As the guides represent a Christian worldview, there are passages of Scripture to read, meditate on, and compare with various chapters in the books. Then, there are optional activities for chapters that include cooking projects, crafts, science, and more.
Did I mention that I love these guides? They are a fantastic way to make literature pop in your homeschool, co-op, or book club. Students with a range of learning styles will benefit from them. We've looked at the high school offerings, as we have teens, but Progeny Press offers guides for virtually every age group, so families can find selections that will span multiple grade levels. We'll be using these this year, and likely for the rest of our high school days. Check out this wonderful company. Also, read the other Homeschool Crew reviews as they have tried out other titles that may be of interest to you. Happy reading!
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