Every Thanksgiving I am abundantly blessed to gather with my immediate family, extended family and friends in celebration of all God has done for us and our country. This year my children and I will have a deeper more thorough understanding of one of the most important times in America’s history, thanks to Dayspring Christian Academy and The Pilgrim Story.
If you’ve already watched the short clip above or clicked on the links I included then you have an idea of what The Pilgrim Story is about and you know that the cost of the course is $99. What you don’t know is that, if it is possible to fit this into your budget, it is well worth it!
This is a self-guided, self-paced, interactive online course. This means that after you enroll you will have access within 48 hours, and then for the following 6 months you can view it whenever it’s convenient for you. It doesn’t meet at a specified time. This has been a huge bonus for my family! Technically it is designed for grades 3 – 6, but the writer, Mary Stauffer, has led over 20 guided tours of Plymouth, Massachusetts using “the words of our country’s forefathers to teach the Pilgrim’s Story” and I personally believe students of all ages can gain insight from this study. I’ve been able to use this course myself, ahead of my younger children, because I wanted to and not because it is a necessity. I’ve only had to assign it to my older ones and nothing else is required from me. They don’t even have to view it at the same time or at a designated time each day. They have the freedom and flexibility to fit it in and around their individual schedule.
The heart of Dayspring Christian Academy is Psalm 78:1-8. “It is important for children to learn about their history, so they do not forget the great things God has done.”
The Pilgrim Story teaches and preserves the truth of our nation’s past. It highlights the Pilgrim’s dedication as Christians, well-grounded in The Word of God. It clearly displays God’s hand of providence in their lives and the life of our country. It reinforces the fact that “this nation has enjoyed freedom because it was founded on principles found in The Bible.“
Because Dayspring Christian Academy teaches using The Principle Approach of Learning, there are Principles of Christian Character and Biblical Principles of self governance, hard work, perseverance and Christian Liberty throughout the presentation. The course is organized in 5 Units of 3 or 4 Lessons each, with a Virtual Field Trip to Plymouth, MA at the end. Each Lesson is 30 – 45 minutes long, plus an optional 60 – 90 minute Enrichment Activity.
A Lesson consists of:
- items needed for activities
- documents to download
- description of contents
- review of previous lessons
- vocabulary words
- a student worksheet for notes
- enrichment activities
- lesson review and
- suggestions for further reading
A Student Notebook is a key component of The Principle Approach and is a valuable record of their learning. You’ll need a 1-inch binder and 5-tab dividers, one for each Unit.
Unit 1 – Introduction
Unit 2 – Preparation
Unit 3 – The Journey
Unit 4 – The First Winter
Unit 5 – 1621 – 1623
I copied the list of Recommended Books, chose which ones I wanted by grade level and then requested them from my library ahead of time. Open Source Books, with free online access, are also listed. Reasoning Questions for Writing Practice or Oral Presentation are included, along with Answer Keys, Grading Rubrics, and Activity Guides. Review Questions provide a great Recall Assessment and there is a Unit Test at the end of each unit. Dayspring Christian Academy will actually grade, record and maintain the Unit Test grade for one student, when the multiple-choice test is taken.
I do wish the video clips were closed-captioned, so my students would have the added benefit of reading along with the narrator, otherwise I am absolutely thrilled with The Pilgrim Story and the knowledge we’ve gained!
Comments or Questions?
Dayspring Christian Academy
120 College Avenue
Mountville, PA 17554
or Call – 717.285.2000
Also note that several of my Crew mates had the opportunity to review this course and you can read their opinions when you click the graphic below and follow the link provided.
I hope your Thanksgiving is especially blessed this year.
Blessings,
Disclaimer* I received 6 months online access to The Pilgrim Story, in exchange for my honest review as a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you for your comments.
Contents of this blog are copyrighted; they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
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