Curriculum Yellow Pages
By Deborah Taylor-Hough, Leanne Ely, Brook Noel and Penny E. Stone

What if you wanted just a little more information on a topic to extend or liven up your unit study? Need a little something to make that textbook come alive? You could run a search engine yourself and check out the sites. Or, you could refer to your newly purchased copy of "Curriculum Yellow Pages" for a much quicker fix thus saving yourself some of that really precious commodity that we refer to as "time."

Champion Press has some very unique and wonderful books. "Curriculum Yellow Pages" is no exception. It features 501 websites with free worksheets, unit studies, lesson plans, tools, and resources for grades Kindergarten through five. Now while most of these websites have free information, worksheets, and other printouts or games, some are available to download for a slight fee. Because the Internet is constantly changing, some sites that I researched were no longer available; however, most were more than I had expected. Some contained oodles more information than the topic listed. Of the topics no longer found, some contained other information that could be utilized on a different subject and most contained links to even more educational sites!

Topics are arranged under headings in alphabetical order. The sub-topic and grade levels are listed along with a brief description of the information available on the site. If a lesson plan is included, it is listed with the author, if known. Highlighted topics are as follows: Animal Studies, Architecture, Art, Art History, Art Techniques & Projects, Art Color & Theory, Careers, Drama, Poetry, Literature, Journalism & Book Writing, Writing & Research, Reading Comprehension, Language Arts Skills, Grammar & Spelling, Foreign Language: Spanish, German, French & Latin, Celebrations, Homeschool Portals, Educator Resources, Gardening, Geography, Fitness, Nutrition & Safety, History, Native American Culture, Math, Money and Finances, Music, Physical Education, Personal Development, Science, Weather, Space, Physical Science, and Technology.

"Curriculum Yellow Pages" is a handy reference tool to have, especially for those times you are looking for something a little different, a little "extra." Considering that most of the "stuff" is free, it might save you a little money. It definitely will save you some time. You might even find some ideas for that unit study that you hadn't planned, but your children seem very interested in at the moment, if you know what I mean...With "Curriculum Yellow Pages," you will be able to meet the challenge of those little "teachable moments" when they arise!
-- Product Review by: Teri Lucas, Staff Writer, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Day Tripping
By Teri J. Brown

Would you like to add a few field trips to your school year, but you're not exactly sure where to begin? Maybe you've exhausted (you think) all of the common sights around your house and just need a few "new" ideas. Day Tripping by Teri J. Brown hosts a varied array of suggestions for educational adventures that turn the ordinary into the extraordinary!

For those of you who may be thinking, "Oh, I just can't bear to take another one of those 'family' field trips again," Day Tripping opens with a few positive reminders of why field trips are important and how they may even turn out pleasurable with a little planning. For others who still may need some extra prodding, Chapter 2 hosts the "Field Trips Do's and Don'ts." Chapter 3 covers the planning aspect of your educational adventure so that it doesn't turn into an "educational misadventure!" Now that Part I has covered the preparation, planning, and wherefores, but not the where-to-goes, you are ready to roll onward to Part II.

Part II of Day Tripping guides you through the long and short roads of adventure, the highways, and the bi-ways. Choose your avenue for the day: History, Geography, Culinary Arts, Government, Nature, Industry, Botany, or Communication to highlight a few. Day Tripping includes notes on writing an objective for your trip, preparation ideas to enhance the experience, follow-up for after the trip, and suggested activities for utilizing your newfound knowledge. Scattered throughout are lists of books, websites, other resources, and even experiments. There is a "field trip template" for recording. Finally, a small list of additional field trip resources is given.

If you are not good at organizing, need some "fresh" traveling ideas, or simply want to boost your student's morale with a well-planned field trip, Day Tripping covers it all. With a little time and imagination, your family can explore an unknown frontier. You don't need a lot of money for the majority of these daylong excursions, so scoop up the kids, put some gasoline in the car and begin the adventure!