L.E.D.™ Resources & Recommendations

The Story of Inventions
By Michael McHugh / Christian Liberty Press

A great resource for digging a bit deeper into the lives and work of those who contributed to progress through inventions. A couple other options are below.

Great inventions, historical biographies, strong morals, and the godly character traits necessary for success are highlighted in this collection of stories. From the steam engine and the printing press to television and computers, a wide range of inventions is covered in short chapters that include reading comprehension questions. For older elementary students. 354 pages, softcover from Christian Liberty Press.

Champions of Invention
By John Hudson Tiner / New Leaf Press (Master Books)

Short biographical sketches of inventors. We use this as needed or desired along with the above.

The great minds of the past are still with us today in many ways. Individuals who explored the natural world hundreds and thousands of years ago have given us a treasure of knowledge in all the sciences. In this exciting series from educator/author John Hudson Tiner, short biographies of the world's most gifted thinkers will inspire the leaders of tomorrow. Study the life of the "forgotten" inventor, Joseph Henry, whose exploration of electricity set the standard for later innovators. Find out how a personal tragedy paved the way for Samuel F.B. Morse to put aside his painting and develop the telegraph. These valuable learning guides will give students accurate accounts of lives from the annals of science, and explain what those scientists believed about the world around them.

For Those Who Dare: 101 Great Christians and How They Changed the World
By John Tiner / New Leaf Press (Master Books)

Another book of biographical sketches. Not all of these are scientists, but many are. We use it to fill in with the above 2 resources.

Here is a roll call of faith. The parade of notable lives presented here should stir everyone to greatness, but especially young people. These heroes are determined individuals who succeeded while remaining faithful to their Christian principles. As role models for today, they show that God can do great things through a life submitted to Him.

The New Way Things Work
By David Macaulay / Houghton-mifflin

This and an old How Things Work by Usborne are always fascinating to show us how those machines work, that are made by the people in the books above

Did you know that the principle behind the zipper also governed the building of the pyramids? Discover concepts behind inventions and technologies in this visually entertaining reference book. Provides comprehensive coverage of the workings of hundreds of machines and devices - holograms, airplanes, compact discs, cash machines, and much more. Grade level 3+.

Mr. Pipes Comes to America
By Douglas Bond / Christian Liberty Press

Are Hymns considered the Arts? It's worship. But it's music, so I put it here. We love this series. Read more about it on my blog here.

Cultivate a love of traditional hymns in your young believers as they follow Mr. Pipes from his cozy English cottage to America! From Plymouth to Amesbury, Princeton to Boston, Mr. Pipes leads Annie and Drew on a delightful historical adventure, teaching them about the lives and music of John Eliot, Phillips Brooks, John Greenleaf Whittier, and other great hymn writers. Includes music and lyrics. 194 pages, softcover.

The Gift of Music: Great Composers & Their Influence
By Jane Stuart Smith & Betty Carlson / Crossway Books & Bibles

My favorite composer study book, but the biographies are a bit beyond young children. The one below isn't quite what I want either, but it works as a compromise for children. Where's that in-between resource from a Christian perspective?

"The arts are not extraneous . . . but a vital and essential part of our existence," write the authors. This stimulating overview integrates the biographies, beliefs, and music of 45 composers from Schutz to Shostakovich; and suggests recommended reading and listening to expand your students' understanding and appreciation of great music. Joyously written from a Christian viewpoint. 317 pages, softcover from Crossway Books.

Meet the Great Composers Kit #1
By June Montgomery & Maurice Hinson / Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.

I'd prefer a little more depth, but these are a good introduction for children. Kit #2 covers different composers. You can also buy these without the Activity sheets.

Meet 17 renowned composers of the Baroque through Contemporary periods! Designed to be completed in 20--30 minutes, each unit study features a picture, short biography, and brief overview of the music of a composer, as well as a question-and-answer page. Kit includes a 72-page book, 17 reproducible activity sheets, and a CD that presents works by each composer. An excellent introduction to classical music!

Favorite Poems, Old and New
By Random House, Inc

We usually find other poems from the time period, not necessarily about the history of it, in here. Inexpensive booklets of poems by one author are also nice to have - by Dover Publications.

Dig into the riches of the very best of children's poetry---from William Shakespeare to Lewis Carroll to A.A. Milne. This treasury of 700 all-time favorite children's poems is a classic kids of all ages will turn to again and again. Discover time-honored favorites like "Casey at the Bat" and "The Wreck of the Hesperus"! Delightfully illustrated by Caldecott Award-winning artist Leonard Weisgard. 598 pages, hardcover from Doubleday.

God & the History of Art Revised
By Barry Stebbing / How Great Thou Art

Nice biographical sketches of the artists and overviews of the art periods. More prints are found either in our collection of old Home Schooling Today magazines, Dover publications (art cards), or online. There are many art sites, but an easy place to find pics you can download is Wikipedia.com.

Art historian Sister Wendy Beckett once said, "Looking at art is one way of listening to God." As your children journey through this 5-year curriculum, they're sure to hear God's voice along the way. More than 250 lessons blend art history with hands-on instruction in drawing and painting---and feature illustrations by homeschoolers. Includes 35 paint cards. Ages 10 and up. 454 reproducible pages, softcover.

The Christian History of the American Revolution: Consider and Ponder
By F.A.C.E.

You'll use this resource for so much more, but it also has biographical sketches of artists that are not included in God and the History of Art.

This volume asks Americans to think upon the relationship between the liberty of the Gospel and American political liberty. From 1765-1775 the Colonists engaged in a Constitutional Debate to determine their Biblical basis for the American Revolution. The "Introduction" includes some of Verna Hall's finest writing on American Christianity. 736 pages, gold-stamped blue vellum. Embossed Paul Revere eagle. Illustrated. Biographies. Scriptural references. Index of Leading Ideas, by Rosalie J. Slater.