Like many homeschool families and educators, I have spent a fair amount of time browsing the internet and making wish lists of books and curriculum I would like to have for the new school year. There are so great products and resources available that adhering to a budget can be troublesome if not near impossible.
“If only we could get curriculum for free!” I have often heard my friends proclaim. I am delighted to take part once again in the annual Back to School Toolkit Giveaway.
This post contains affiliate links for resources we absolutely love and truly depend on.
Back to School Giveaway
This year, I am giving away a geography themed basket loaded with resources that will provide you and your children with activities and lesson plans to keep you busy all year long.
Bright Ideas Press has donated their popular WonderMaps CD. Designed with easy-to-use layers that allow you to enjoy great customizable features with just a click, WonderMaps is the perfect addition to your geography resource library. WonderMaps was created not only with hundreds of world maps but also a large selection of historical maps that cover everything you need for The Mystery of History vols. IIII and All American History vols. I & II.
Also included in the Travel Around the World basket are the following resources:
Discovering China (Multicultural Education Series)
, by Dianna J. Sullivan, was written for grades 4-8. This paperback guide provides a great start to a unit study on the culture of China. It includes many printables and activities to learn a few Chinese phrases and to explore the Chinese calendar, holidays, folktales, and cultural traditions. It even includes recipes for popular stir fry! 48 page paperback
Australia: An Interdisciplinary Unit by Merle Davenport was developed for grades 6-8. It covers the physical geography of Australia as well as the cultural geography. Some of the activities include making your own Boomerang, creating a timeline of historical events, graphing natural resource exports, making a star projector to learn about the constellations to compare how navigation differs in the southern hemisphere, and learning the strike (slang) of Oz (Australia). 48 page paperback
The Galápagos islands were originally called the “Enchanted Isles” because the capricious meandering of the Humboldt Current had the effect of making the islands disappear and reappear to passing ships. The Galápagos Across the Curriculum is a fun, hands-on life science unit study that provides ample opportunity for kids to explore the diversity and remarkable history of the islands. This unit study is full of inquiry-based activities and lesson plans that can be easily integrated into a larger life science curriculum. 12 page eBook (PDF)
The perfect accompaniment to your Galápagos unit, Galapagos Bedtime Stories by Paula Tagle Saad is charming book with many watercolor depictions of the animals in the archipelago. As the protagonists of the tales, most of the tales are told from the perspective of the featured animal. Factual information about life cycle, habitat, feeding, etc. are woven throughout. It also includes a glossary of terms in the appendix.
Find more giveaway baskets at the iHomeschool Network’s annual Back to School Toolkit Giveaway – Giveaways Galore! There are over 34 baskets!!
There are so many wonderful products in these baskets, I encourage you to enter them all.
You won’t want to miss Barb’s Handbook of Nature Study basket or Brenda’s Essential STEM Supplies.
154 comments
Wendy
August 17, 2015 at 4:34 am
What a neat idea. Would love to win a basket
Allison
August 17, 2015 at 6:03 am
Looks amazing! We’re studying Darwin this year, and especially love the look of the Galapagos unit!
Cait Fitz @ My Little Poppies
August 17, 2015 at 6:16 am
Great resources! We’ve been dying to try Wondermaps!
BunnyMomRocks
August 17, 2015 at 6:44 am
this year we are going to focus on Europe. Last year was the Middle East
Julie
August 17, 2015 at 7:32 am
We are focusing on the ancient world (incorporating History and Geography).
Kathryn Page
August 17, 2015 at 8:25 am
What a fun way to start the year!
juniebugj
August 17, 2015 at 8:56 am
We’ll be focusing on the US this year.
M tipton
August 17, 2015 at 8:58 am
Europe and Asia
Jess McCarthy
August 17, 2015 at 9:07 am
We are going to be studying American history and geography this year.
brandyplacyBrandy
August 17, 2015 at 9:09 am
I would love to try Wondermaps! We started geography for the first time this year and finding quality maps has been difficult.
Rachel
August 17, 2015 at 9:19 am
Wow! How exciting! This is going to be my first year homeschooling. My daughter who is 7 years old. We would be beyond blessed to win. Thanks you for this opportunity.
Teri Knight
August 17, 2015 at 9:19 am
We are planning on studying Europe and Australia this year and maybe some of Africa if we get to it.
Krista B.
August 17, 2015 at 9:21 am
This is perfect timing! We are planning on studying World Geography Countries and Cultures this year. This basket would be a wonderful blessing for our family! Thank you!
Heather H.
August 17, 2015 at 9:22 am
We are doing a big study on Africa as we have a very close friend who spent a year there as a missionary and my daughter wants to learn more about the culture.
Melissa C
August 17, 2015 at 9:23 am
We’ll be studying ancient history this year, so the eastern world.
LizT
August 17, 2015 at 9:55 am
We’re studying Ancient World cycle 1! this year, and also classification of life charts.
camartinez82
August 17, 2015 at 10:04 am
I love this basket!
jennifer mathesz
August 17, 2015 at 10:34 am
we’re doing asia/europe
ericaleigh76
August 17, 2015 at 10:38 am
How awesome! WonderMaps!!!
ericaleigh76
August 17, 2015 at 10:39 am
We’re going to study Northern Europe this year.
Lisa T
August 17, 2015 at 10:48 am
This year we are focusing on countries of the Middle Ages. Thank you for the giveaway!
Edwina
August 17, 2015 at 10:55 am
This would be a perfect addition to our plans to start studying world geography this year! Since our autistic son has issues not being able to understand new concepts easily, it may be a challenging year. We’re introducing places it won’t be easy to visit without a plane and passport! Quite a lot of our past homeschooling years included field trips to help him better understand what we were teaching.
Edwina
August 17, 2015 at 10:59 am
We plan on starting our world geography lessons with Egypt probably. Maybe Greece? Somewhere in that area of the world. Haven’t really decided yet since we’re trying to finish up our US history and geography lessons.
cynthia garcia
August 17, 2015 at 11:06 am
I would Love to win this Basket
Crystal Abel
August 17, 2015 at 11:07 am
We want to study Japan this year.
katie
August 17, 2015 at 11:16 am
thank you for the chance.
Ambre Sautter
August 17, 2015 at 11:29 am
Europe and the Cradle of Civilization
Kristi
August 17, 2015 at 11:37 am
We’re studying the Middle East and Europe this year.
Joanie
August 17, 2015 at 11:42 am
The Mediterranean and Europe. She is into all things Greek and World War 2. Interesting combination!!!
Jennifer V
August 17, 2015 at 11:48 am
We are doing Five in a Row so we will be “visiting” many places. I am stockpiling as much geography resources as I can. It’s a fun subject and having wonderful resources certainly helps me keep the girls interested, engaged and loving to learn!
Heather Ingram
August 17, 2015 at 11:54 am
We are studying ancient history and life in ancient Bible lands.
Barb Sheffer
August 17, 2015 at 12:05 pm
United States
Kristi Ryder
August 17, 2015 at 12:16 pm
We studying the ancient world in history and are planning to really focus on the Middle East for geography!
shalea p
August 17, 2015 at 12:50 pm
Africa
Susannah B
August 17, 2015 at 1:09 pm
We are doing a basic overview of geography to learn continents, countries, oceans, etc. for my younger students. We are also studying the Americas in depth with older students. Would love to win!
Julia Cosgrove
August 17, 2015 at 1:15 pm
We try to work in as many places as possible but this year’s focus will be on the United States and the ancient world for the younger one.
Tanya
August 17, 2015 at 2:45 pm
We are studying Ancient History this year.
Ashley Perry
August 17, 2015 at 2:57 pm
We plan on studying Australia since my son is so interested in the animals there!
ourfullnest
August 17, 2015 at 4:05 pm
We are mainly studying the United States this school year
Beth
August 17, 2015 at 4:15 pm
We’ll be doing US geography to go with our Modern History. We may hit some other countries through the year.
Jessica Andrews
August 17, 2015 at 4:18 pm
We are focusing on the US this year.
rebecca
August 17, 2015 at 4:54 pm
north america
Jen
August 17, 2015 at 5:16 pm
We are doing a trip around the world this year. Hitting every continent.
amy bauman
August 17, 2015 at 5:57 pm
SouthEast Asia
amybradsherAmy
August 17, 2015 at 6:22 pm
The United States
thecottagedream Stephanie
August 17, 2015 at 6:23 pm
We are studying different areas. We are studying the United States, all 50 states and Bible geography.
Terri
August 17, 2015 at 6:30 pm
We’re doing a survey of the 4 major historical time periods and their locations in preparation for the next 4 years of high school when we study each in more detail.
April P
August 17, 2015 at 6:56 pm
We plan on doing a general geography, along with Biblical geo.
wendy
August 17, 2015 at 7:09 pm
We’ll be studying the USA and France
Heart of a Philanthropist Blogger Kim
August 17, 2015 at 7:34 pm
We are focusing on the United States and Asia this year.
Sandra
August 17, 2015 at 7:46 pm
We’ve all been looking at the Galapagos!
frugalhsmom
August 17, 2015 at 7:47 pm
We are going to study North America this year along with US History.
Christa Gillen
August 17, 2015 at 8:22 pm
Love geography and would love to win these supplies!
Anna Arvidson
August 17, 2015 at 8:32 pm
I’m swooning over the Wonder maps CD. If we win I’ll print off some Biblical maps.
mommy2darlings
August 18, 2015 at 12:33 am
We will be studying Europe and Asia this year. Thanks for the chance to win!!
Michelle F.
August 18, 2015 at 12:45 am
We are doing general geography and focusing what sparks the kiddos interests
Shari Neal
August 18, 2015 at 2:28 am
We will be doing a survey of the whole world this year, so these books would be helpful. Thanks for the great giveaway. 🙂
JuanitaW
August 18, 2015 at 3:55 am
We are studying Japan this year
Janet
August 18, 2015 at 4:17 am
I have not made up my mind yet! I want her to definitely learn more about America.
Angela Hall
August 18, 2015 at 4:31 am
We’ll be focusing on South America mostly.
Judi S
August 18, 2015 at 5:01 am
The Galapagos unit study and book look like fun. Thanks
Jennifer H.
August 18, 2015 at 5:08 am
I plan on studying the US as well as Europe (since we are doing a middle ages study this year)
Courtney R
August 18, 2015 at 6:23 am
We are focusing on an overview of the entire world.
Anna Pry
August 18, 2015 at 7:27 am
We haven’t decided yet but we may study South America this year.
Emily
August 18, 2015 at 8:11 am
Europe and the Middle East will come up a good bit for us.
Leanne
August 18, 2015 at 8:21 am
We will be studying Ancient Greece and Rome.
Maysaa
August 18, 2015 at 11:26 am
We will study Europe, Asia, as well as Antarctica, and Australia.
marillionflower
August 18, 2015 at 9:51 am
We are going to be studying China
lunaysabel
August 18, 2015 at 11:37 am
We are planning to study Overview of the entire world and hilippines
Charlene
August 18, 2015 at 12:07 pm
We will be studying Europe and the Ancient World this year. Thanks for a great basket!
Hope
August 18, 2015 at 12:21 pm
The US.
Deborah F.
August 18, 2015 at 12:27 pm
We are studying the ancient middle and far east this year!
Sarabeth
August 18, 2015 at 12:36 pm
We will be doing Mystery of History Volume 4 this year, so primarily the western world.
Deborah F.
August 18, 2015 at 12:37 pm
We are studying ancient middle and far east. nice giveaway, thanks!
Emily Clair
August 18, 2015 at 12:38 pm
We are studying mainly the US this year, although we are learning about Canada a bit too!
Christy J
August 18, 2015 at 12:41 pm
We will be studying the ancient world this year.
Julie
August 18, 2015 at 12:58 pm
We dip in and out of different countries as the interest hits, but having a Galapagos unit would definitely lead us in that direction!
Deanna Barkley
August 18, 2015 at 1:04 pm
the ancient world
Tammi
August 18, 2015 at 1:13 pm
We are studying all of them, but not in depth. We are reading about different missionaries and learning about the places they went to. Next year we will choose the one we found most interesting to study in depth.
Anna L.
August 18, 2015 at 1:20 pm
Ancient world: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Israel, China, India, Greece, Rome
Jessica Sanders-Parmer
August 18, 2015 at 2:15 pm
We plan on studying Europe, North and South America this year.
Michele Amos
August 18, 2015 at 2:29 pm
We’ll primarily be studying Ancient/Medieval Europe.
altairmama
August 18, 2015 at 2:55 pm
The North and South America
Kristina Best
August 18, 2015 at 3:05 pm
Not sure yet, Haven’t started planning yet.
Amy Lopez
August 18, 2015 at 3:05 pm
The ancient area of the world.
Jessica Thompson
August 18, 2015 at 3:25 pm
I have heard great things about Wondermaps! I would love to win.
Leah
August 18, 2015 at 3:57 pm
World Geography
Jennifer Evans
August 18, 2015 at 4:32 pm
We are doing Asia and Europe
Daymi Perez
August 18, 2015 at 5:56 pm
We would study the ancient world.
ByGrace
August 18, 2015 at 6:20 pm
Mid-east, Rome, Greece
Sheila
August 19, 2015 at 8:48 am
USA
Tara Ziegmont
August 18, 2015 at 7:35 pm
I’ve had my eye on the WonderMaps CD for a long time, so this is a great opportunity. Thanks for hosting it!
Tara Ziegmont
August 18, 2015 at 7:36 pm
Also, we are studying the US this year. We have studied many other countries of the world, but we’re focusing on our country this year.
mandy Ferguson
August 18, 2015 at 7:58 pm
We are focusing on the Ancient world. My oldest and I plan to do a unit on Australia and New Zealand, because that’s where I spent my childhood.
Amberley
August 18, 2015 at 10:06 pm
We are studying the United States this year.
Dorothy Boucher
August 18, 2015 at 10:13 pm
Ancient History here
micheller911
August 18, 2015 at 11:15 pm
We will probably study Europe as my 4th child is spending her senior year of high school in Germany in a student exchange program.
Jessica
August 18, 2015 at 11:53 pm
Ancient lands-middle East, Rome, Greece, etc.
Jackie Garrison
August 19, 2015 at 2:36 am
We’re currently studying America
Christine
August 19, 2015 at 3:57 am
We will study Alaska for sure since one of their older brothers is getting a job there. My oldest daughter lives in Taiwan so we continually look for things to learn more about Asia.
Kristi
August 19, 2015 at 6:27 am
We are studying Mid-east at the time of creation
Bridget Green
August 19, 2015 at 6:38 am
Europe
Sharon Dail Normark
August 19, 2015 at 6:46 am
Rome, Greece, and America.
Jessica Medina
August 19, 2015 at 10:41 am
United States
Sundi
August 19, 2015 at 10:45 am
We are studying the world, but focusing on Europe for a while!
R G
August 19, 2015 at 11:11 am
We will be studying through the 10/40 window this year. This looks like a great resource.
Leah Williams
August 19, 2015 at 7:16 pm
Thanks for hosting this great giveaway! We will be studying The Middle East and Asia this year.
Michelle
August 19, 2015 at 12:01 pm
We haven’t decided what we are going to study…
Heidi S.
August 19, 2015 at 12:49 pm
We are studying American History the first half of the year.
Virginia Mills Reyes
August 19, 2015 at 1:43 pm
We are studying the US, but could really expand with these resources!
ourhomeschoollifemom
August 19, 2015 at 1:45 pm
I love geography! We are finishing up a study on our 50 states, but then are moving on to studying countries around the world. So this would be great! Thanks for the chance to win!
Maureen
August 19, 2015 at 1:50 pm
My two youngest are studying America and my eldest is studying the world continents.
Susie-Homemaker
August 19, 2015 at 2:04 pm
We’ll be studying North America, then moving onto South & Central America as time allows.
Jessica
August 19, 2015 at 2:10 pm
We’re taking a trip around the world with Confessions of a Homeschooler’s “Expedition Earth” and using Veritas Press for geography that centers on the European regions. (Because we’re studying the middle ages!)
Marilyn
August 19, 2015 at 2:22 pm
Great way to learn about other countries.
Marilyn
lorih824
August 19, 2015 at 2:56 pm
United States this year.
Valerie Brock
August 19, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Awesome giveaway! This year we are studying the western hemisphere.
Kris Bell
August 19, 2015 at 4:12 pm
I like the options – some I had not thought of. Nice.
Amy S
August 19, 2015 at 4:16 pm
We will be studying the US this year.
Judith Martinez
August 19, 2015 at 4:35 pm
We are planning on doing an overview of the world this year rather than focusing on a specific region.
Elizabeth Fogle
August 19, 2015 at 5:11 pm
We are going to study the United States! Hey we’re in Kindergarten, gotta start close to home!
Leah Brislin
August 19, 2015 at 8:01 pm
We’ll study the United States this year.
Amanda Likens
August 19, 2015 at 8:08 pm
United States
Jennifer
August 19, 2015 at 8:18 pm
My son chose to concentrate on North & South America this year. We’ll see if we get much beyond the USA 🙂
Kimberly W.
August 19, 2015 at 11:18 pm
Northern America
Debi Bernhardt-Schuhow
August 20, 2015 at 6:14 am
Thank you for hosting this giveaway!
Debi Bernhardt-Schuhow
August 20, 2015 at 8:01 am
Studying USA right now.
Shay
August 20, 2015 at 8:29 am
We are studying North America this year!
Illean Ray
August 20, 2015 at 8:47 am
United States
Rebecca Hughes
August 20, 2015 at 11:52 am
We will be studying Europe as well as several others
Lynn
August 20, 2015 at 12:21 pm
We plan on studying Europe this year. Thank you!
skhoov
August 20, 2015 at 12:47 pm
We’re going to be studying the eastern hemisphere!
Steph
August 20, 2015 at 1:13 pm
We’re doing US Geography this year.
Rachel
August 20, 2015 at 3:41 pm
Studying the United States right now.
Lorie S
August 20, 2015 at 8:25 pm
We will be studying the African Continent
Irina Goldberg
August 20, 2015 at 8:41 pm
We are studying Antarctica right now!
Jennifer
August 20, 2015 at 9:12 pm
What a neat giveaway!
Jennifer
August 20, 2015 at 9:14 pm
We are focusing on the US this year – but the Galapagos stuff looks super interesting!
3gigglygirlsathome
August 20, 2015 at 9:28 pm
My middle daughter has requested a study of China this year so that is in the plans. She reads everything she can get her hands on about China. I’ll be adding Discovering China to our list of resources to look for if we don’t win this one. – Lori H
hollie
August 20, 2015 at 10:55 pm
Europe
Emily
August 21, 2015 at 2:08 am
We’ll be studying the US this year.
Great giveaway, thanks for the opportunity!
Jamie Fambry
August 21, 2015 at 4:36 am
Weare in Kentucky, USA.
Leah
August 21, 2015 at 6:49 am
We’re studying year two of Diana Waring’s History Revealed, which takes us from AD 30 to 1799. (WOW!) So we will be focusing mostly on Europe, but will touch on other regions -including the Americas- as we move through the year. Thanks for the giveaway!
Deana
August 21, 2015 at 7:41 am
We are studying ancient bible history this year, so mostly the Middle East.
Beth S
August 21, 2015 at 10:40 am
We’re planning to explore early America this year 🙂
Tamara
August 21, 2015 at 5:36 pm
We will be study US History this year.
amy tolley
August 21, 2015 at 6:22 pm
We are going to study Europe
quantmlife
August 21, 2015 at 7:19 pm
We’re focused primarily on the U.S. (North America) but Australia is also on the agenda (per one student request).
April
August 22, 2015 at 8:28 am
Our theme this year is Rome to the Reformation, so we’ll be studying a lot of the European areas. Thanks for the opportunity to enter this fun giveaway!
Karen W
August 22, 2015 at 1:23 pm
We are actually studying the United States this year, and next year we will be looking at world geography. Thanks for the great giveaway
icefairy
August 22, 2015 at 1:33 pm
Southern Europe
Holly Petrinec
August 22, 2015 at 2:16 pm
Super fun…love learning about the World!
sunny
August 22, 2015 at 7:05 pm
These look great!
Michelle Crooker
August 22, 2015 at 8:56 pm
The oldest one is doing a study in World Geography, the middle one wants to do US history, and the youngest wants to do US Geography.
Comments are closed.