George Washington DNG Review

It's February!!!!  Just in time for President's Day, our family was able to study our country's very first President using Amanda Bennett's George Washington DNG.  This product was provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 

Honestly... it sparked many needed and necessary conversations.  My kiddos are 4, 5, and 6, so they are young.  They actually didn't know who or what a President was, so we spent time discussing the role of the leader of our country.  Caleb asked about our current President, so we found pictures of President Obama online and read about him.  Then, throughout the week, if he heard the TV or radio mention him his ears immediately perked up. 

I suppose, I never paid attention to how often even a 5 year-old would hear the President's name in passing.  Whether I approve or disapprove of President Obama's character or varied political decisions is not the point, I can still teach and impart to my children a respect for democracy, the position of President, and the USA. 

Amanda Bennett's George Washington DNG was the perfect tool to aide and facilitate in doing thus stated previously.  In true download-n-go fashion, I was provided with all I needed to facilitate an intensive, week-long study of one of our country's founding father's.  Designed with students in grades K-4 in mind, the material was definitely age-appropriate while equally engaging and exciting.  DNG's always include stellar websites and video clips, phenomenal graphics, a comprehensive resources list, notebooking pages, and lapbooking elements, and the George Washington DNG was no exception.   

An overview of the DNG follows along with a glimpse of some of the included activity pages.
Day 1: Who Was George Washington?
Day 2: People and Places in George Washington's Life
Day 3: The Accomplishments of George Washington
Day 4: Lessons to Learn From George Washington
Day 5: Remembering George Washington

The kiddos loved learning first about George Washington the person:  his boyhood and The Legend of the Cherry Tree, his great adventures in battle, his hunting dogs, etc.  Then, they enjoyed learning about the many accomplishments of George Washington and the ways in which he is remembered today. 



Since my little ones are at the younger end of the intended age spectrum, I did opt to use less of the writing and more of the hands-on activities.  The kids painted their own cherry trees, sculpted play-dough replicas of Mt. Rushmore, and created Lego Washington Monuments.  (Yes - I have pictures to insert later.  New camera, so I have to learn how to get the pics from camera to computer.  It's a process - for me at least!!!  So consider this post TBE - to be edited...)  Even still, it is very exciting to know that in a few years I can use this DNG again when my children are more autonomous and able to write more on their own.  It will be interesting to see them tackle this study with just a few more years of life experience.  I believe, as 3rd and 4th graders, they will gain an even greater understanding and appreciation of the beginnings of our great nation. 

For $7.95, you can add the George Washington DNG to your teaching resources.  Not only will it serve you well, but it will please your children.  Rather that a token "President's Day" lesson or mere mention, be intentional this year.  Gift your kids with the opportunity to truly learn about a persistent leader who led by faith and example.

The entire Download-N-Go series is worth looking into.  I know my family has been nothing but delighted in all of our DNG experiences.  Don't miss out!  Click here to visit Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett.

Finally, be sure and visit the George Washington DNG Blog Tour and see what other homeschool families have to say about their George Washington DNG experience.