MFW ECC Questions

[LarlaB]

I bought a used teachers copy of MFW Exploring Countries and Cultures and have a few questions about books/add-ons. :) My DD is going into 2nd grade and so I know I'm going to have to modify a bit but at least its somewhere to start. :)

 

1. Should I buy a copy of the student pages? My DD will be going into 2nd grade, so a lot of this will have to be scaled back for her. What exactly is included in the student pages?

 

2. Any recommendations on a multicultural/international kids cookbook? I've been looking at "Around the World Cookbook" & "The Kids Multicultural Cookbook" as add-on's.

 

3. For her age, what would the most useful books be? I'm likely going to skip the Gr5-8 "World Geography" (too advanced) and am not sure about "Geography from A to Z" or "Maps & Globes". Otherwise, I'm buying what is recommended.

 

I appreciate any input from those who have used ECC would be awesome!

 

Thanks!!!!

Laura

[Lori in MS]

I would recommend getting the student pages. This greatly reduces the photocopying and a full color premade geography game is included which saves you a lot of time not having to make one.

 

 

I don't know about the cookbook. We got cookbooks from the library. They are on the book basket list. Maps and globes and Geography from A to Z are fine for a 2nd grader. I would only have them copy 1 definition per week from the geography book. You are right about not doing World Geography.

 

 

You might want to get Kingdom Tales which is a new read aloud included in the 2nd edition. The other new book is God Speaks Numanggang. Both of these are great.

 

Make sure to read a lot of the picture book and easy readers included in the book basket. I got them from the library. The one book that is good to purchase as you would use it the whole year is Children Just Like Me.

 

Some of the missionary read alouds were a little advanced for a second grader. I remember them not enjoying Cameron Townsend very much. You might try to get simpler versions of those stories. I read them all to my 2nd grader and they learned a lot but I could tell it was a little difficult at times for them to listen. YWAM publishes a series of picture books with rhyming text for most (if not all) of the missionaries studied in ECC. It is called the Heroes for Young Readers series. Amazon.com has a buy 3 get one free promotion on these books. http://www.amazon.com/Nate-Saint-Heavenbound-Heroes-Readers/dp/1576582299/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280161369&sr=1-1

Edited July 26, 2010 by Lori in MS

[Donna A.]

Ditto Lori's post, and I'll add on a bit more:

 

1. Should I buy a copy of the student pages? My DD will be going into 2nd grade, so a lot of this will have to be scaled back for her. What exactly is included in the student pages?

 

Yes. These include the John 3:16 coloring pages, of which there's one for each country you study. It's a child in their native costume, John 3:16 written in that country's language, and a flag of that country, as well as a small inset map showing the country highlighted in its region of the world.

 

Also included are maps (she can color these, even if she needs help with labeling), science sheets, and the pre-made geography game which is in color and on cardstock. Probably more, too, but that's what I remember offhand.

 

 

2. Any recommendations on a multicultural/international kids cookbook? I've been looking at "Around the World Cookbook" & "The Kids Multicultural Cookbook" as add-on's.

 

You'll find some recipes popping up in the lesson plans, so you may not need a separate cookbook. Try a few from the library before you make a purchase, so as to get the one(s) you really want to spend money on.

 

 

3. For her age, what would the most useful books be? I'm likely going to skip the Gr5-8 "World Geography" (too advanced) and am not sure about "Geography from A to Z" or "Maps & Globes". Otherwise, I'm buying what is recommended.

 

I agree about skipping "World Geography" if you don't have an older child doing it. I'd be sure to get:

 

Kingdom Tales

God Speaks Numanggang

Geography from A to Z

Maps & Globes (although if you can find this one at the library, it's only used for the first couple weeks of ECC... but you do need it, one way or the other)

 

...and everything else in the Basic package. Although if you already have a world wall map, you don't need to buy another one.

 

The inflatable globe is kind of a fun tool, but if you already have a globe, you don't need it. Unless you have younger children who might want to toss the inflatable globe around and play with it. ;)

 

The Great Animal Search and Origami books, again, are just fun tools to "play" with. Some kids like 'em, and some don't.

 

You probably don't need the Complete Book of Animals unless you have younger children that would enjoy hearing the stories. There are both pullout stories and activity sheets in this book. Probably depends on how much "more" your child(ren) want to read about animals.

 

The Ecosystems book has lessons in it for "everybody", and then advanced lessons for older students, so you won't use all of this book, but you will use it.

 

Also ditto the pp about the missionary bios. I'd get the "younger" version that she mentioned if your child doing ECC is only 2nd grade.

 

And most importantly.... have fun! :001_smile:

[LarlaB]

Does anyone know if the changes in the 2nd editionTeachers Manual warrant upgrading? I am interested in Kingdom Tales & Ecosystems, but would rather just add in those books. :)

 

 

I would recommend getting the student pages. This greatly reduces the photocopying and a full color premade geography game is included which saves you a lot of time not having to make one.

 

 

I don't know about the cookbook. We got cookbooks from the library. They are on the book basket list. Maps and globes and Geography from A to Z are fine for a 2nd grader. I would only have them copy 1 definition per week from the geography book. You are right about not doing World Geography.

 

 

You might want to get Kingdom Tales which is a new read aloud included in the 2nd edition. The other new book is God Speaks Numanggang. Both of these are great.

 

Make sure to read a lot of the picture book and easy readers included in the book basket. I got them from the library. The one book that is good to purchase as you would use it the whole year is Children Just Like Me.

 

Some of the missionary read alouds were a little advanced for a second grader. I remember them not enjoying Cameron Townsend very much. You might try to get simpler versions of those stories. I read them all to my 2nd grader and they learned a lot but I could tell it was a little difficult at times for them to listen. YWAM publishes a series of picture books with rhyming text for most (if not all) of the missionaries studied in ECC. It is called the Heroes for Young Readers series. Amazon.com has a buy 3 get one free promotion on these books. http://www.amazon.com/Nate-Saint-Heavenbound-Heroes-Readers/dp/1576582299/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280161369&sr=1-1

 

Thank you SO much for your reply & input- its so valuable. :) Thanks for the heads up on the read-alouds. I've heard of the YWAM books, and will borrow them from a friend. :)

 

 

Ditto Lori's post, and I'll add on a bit more:

 

 

 

Yes. These include the John 3:16 coloring pages, of which there's one for each country you study. It's a child in their native costume, John 3:16 written in that country's language, and a flag of that country, as well as a small inset map showing the country highlighted in its region of the world.

 

Also included are maps (she can color these, even if she needs help with labeling), science sheets, and the pre-made geography game which is in color and on cardstock. Probably more, too, but that's what I remember offhand.

 

 

 

 

You'll find some recipes popping up in the lesson plans, so you may not need a separate cookbook. Try a few from the library before you make a purchase, so as to get the one(s) you really want to spend money on.

 

 

 

 

I agree about skipping "World Geography" if you don't have an older child doing it. I'd be sure to get:

 

Kingdom Tales

God Speaks Numanggang

Geography from A to Z

Maps & Globes (although if you can find this one at the library, it's only used for the first couple weeks of ECC... but you do need it, one way or the other)

 

...and everything else in the Basic package. Although if you already have a world wall map, you don't need to buy another one.

 

The inflatable globe is kind of a fun tool, but if you already have a globe, you don't need it. Unless you have younger children who might want to toss the inflatable globe around and play with it. ;)

 

The Great Animal Search and Origami books, again, are just fun tools to "play" with. Some kids like 'em, and some don't.

 

You probably don't need the Complete Book of Animals unless you have younger children that would enjoy hearing the stories. There are both pullout stories and activity sheets in this book. Probably depends on how much "more" your child(ren) want to read about animals.

 

The Ecosystems book has lessons in it for "everybody", and then advanced lessons for older students, so you won't use all of this book, but you will use it.

 

Also ditto the pp about the missionary bios. I'd get the "younger" version that she mentioned if your child doing ECC is only 2nd grade.

 

And most importantly.... have fun! :001_smile:

 

Thanks for the details on the student pages & add-on books. :) The John3:16 pages are already in the back of the 1st edition teachers manual...again, I wish I new more specific updates from 1st edition to 2nd.

[KJsMom]

I'm in the middle of planning our year and we will be using ECC. As the pp mentioned, there are recipes included in A Trip Around the World and Another Trip Around the World and maybe a couple of other places in the lessons. If we choose to try additional recipes I will just google them.

I think we will enjoy using The Complete Book of Animals. I found it at Sam's Club for $6.88.

I also purchased Children Just Like Me and How to Bake an Apple Pie and See the World. Both are recommended reading and used multiple times.

I am using this primarily with my rising 4th grader, but my K'er will tag along. Can't wait!

There is a forum on the MFW site where you can find lots of information as well as yahoo groups. One is specifically for buying and selling items used for MFW.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MFW-ECC/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MFWFamilies/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mfwcurriculumswap/

http://board.mfwbooks.com/

[Donna A.]

Does anyone know if the changes in the 2nd editionTeachers Manual warrant upgrading? I am interested in Kingdom Tales & Ecosystems, but would rather just add in those books. :)

 

Thanks for the details on the student pages & add-on books. :) The John3:16 pages are already in the back of the 1st edition teachers manual...again, I wish I new more specific updates from 1st edition to 2nd.

 

With 1st edition you'll have to make the geography game yourself, as well as photocopy the Appendix pages. That alone is probably no big deal, but...

 

The TM is laid out totally different now. I think it's a lot more user friendly. You also have all the new books scheduled w/page #'s in 2nd edition, whereas those don't show up in 1st edition manual. You could read Kingdom Tales and Numanggang at your own pace, but the scheduling would definitely affect the science. However, you *can* use the Ecosystems books as a stand-alone resource... but to tie it in with the countries being studied in ECC, you'll have to figure out which lessons in Ecosystems correspond to the topics in ECC.

 

Also, I *think* there was a country name change or something else specific to the geography that requires using updated sources. I don't recall what that was, though.

 

Can you make 1st edition work? Yes, but it'll take a more work on your part. *I* would upgrade (oh wait, I did :lol: ), but you don't HAVE to. It's your call. :001_smile:

[Lori in MS]

Does anyone know if the changes in the 2nd editionTeachers Manual warrant upgrading? I am interested in Kingdom Tales & Ecosystems, but would rather just add in those books. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't think you need to upgrade to the 2nd edition if you are willing to add in the extra books. The most valuable thing about the 2nd edition IMO is that they scheduled the 7th-8th grade supplement and did the student pages. The geography game instructions in 1st edition are outdated, countries have changed, etc, but if you get the student pages with the game included, that problem would be solved. I don't think it would be difficult to schedule the Ecosystems book just match up the biome with the country. You might not even use that book that much with a 2nd grader. It wasn't included when I did ECC 5 years ago. My oldest was 2nd grade and I just got a lot of library books on the habitat for each country and read them to ds.

[Amy in KS]

If you are just interested in the game, you can get the teacher supplement. The teacher supplement has the games and the map outlines.

[LarlaB]

Thanks for all the help! I really appreciate the input :)

 

I decided to stay w/ the 1st edition of ECC because (1)I already own it and (2)this only needs to be a 2nd grade level...Ecosystems looks great, but probably far, far more than we need.

 

I bought basic MFW ECC materials (Hero Tales, Geography from A-Z, Trip Around the World, Another Trip around the World, Maps & Globes, Wee Sing, passports & stickers from RR to add to what I've already collected) I stayed w/ the 1st edition science recommendations (Wild Places, Great Animal Search & Living Encyclopedia).

 

But, I chose to skip the World Geography Textbook, Christian Hero Books & teacher supplement pages.

 

I added Kingdom Tales, God Speaks Nummangang, an Evan Moor Geography book, a "Name that Country" geography board game (in lieu of the ECC game) and will be borrowing the YWAM books. (And will be using Galloping the Globe text for additional K-3 activities)

 

So for those keeping score, its a hot mess of tweaking- LOL- but seems like a good fit for us. :)

 

Thanks again for input, experience & advice. :)

[Donna A.]

LOL, I like that "hot mess of tweaking". :lol: Sounds like you have a fun year in store! :thumbup:

[krismoose]

Well put, LarlaB :D We'll be doing something similar this fall with my dc - where did you find the Name That Country game?

[Lori in MS]

Your plan looks great. Sounds like a fun year!