Direct Links to Colonial Williamsburg EFT Reviews by Laurie H. (Teacups In the Garden):

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - HARSH WORLD THIS WORLD (2011-12).

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - A MORE PERFECT UNION (2011-12).

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - FREEDOM BOUND (2010-11).

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - THE AMAZING TRADE SHOP SCIENCE RACE! (2010-11).

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - FOUNDERS OR TRAITORS? (2010-11).

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - THE BILL OF RIGHTS (2010-11).

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE (2010-11).

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - THE SLAVE TRADE.

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - WESTWARD!.

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - JAMESTOWN UNEARTHED.

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - A MORE PERFECT UNION.

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - EMISSARIES OF PEACE.

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - REMEMBER THE LADIES.

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - FREEDOM BOUND.

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - IN PURSUIT OF SCIENCE.

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - MAKING HISTORY LIVE.

Read Laurie's thoughts on the EFT - YORKTOWN.

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Enjoy these unpaid reviews of the Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trip series by Dawn H., Homeschool Mom and Independent Curriculum Reviewer from Georgia:

"Treasure Keepers"

Treasure Keepers introduced my family to the work of conservators. In this CSI-like episode, student detectives search for the "agents of destruction" which have caused decay in items of historical importance. Meanwhile, the conservators of Colonial Williamsburg teach what these agents are and how conservators work to reverse or prevent their effects.

We thoroughly enjoyed this episode. The detective theme captured my boys' interest, and they learned that science and history can intersect. This was of particular interest for my science-loving son, who often has little interest in history. In fact, the entire electronic field trip series, with a commitment to living history, has piqued his interest in what used to be his least favorite subject.

I am glad we took the electronic field trips this year. Our overall experience has been wonderful. My sons have been made to think and have had many of their questions answered. They have learned much about their past and have wondered and dreamed about their future. They have enjoyed the presentations and felt as though they have personally met the men and women who built our great country.

Because of the incredible price offered by the Homeschool Buyers Co-op, I will be sure to purchase this series in the future. We look forward to participating again and again.

"The Slave Trade"

The most recent Colonial Williamsburg EFT, "The Slave Trade", made my family think deeply about difficult issues.

This EFT presented both the tragedy and significance of the slave trade. Many difficult questions were addressed. Why didn’t our founders abolish slavery? How did the slave trade affect the colonial and early American economies? How did such a tragic institution take grip of our country and become an integral part of our way of life? How did the trade finally come to an end and what were the results?

As usual, this EFT package includes quality programming, games, and lesson plans that make for an excellent study on this important topic. Colonial Williamsburg succeeds time and time again in bringing history to life and causing students to reflect on its significance.

"Westward!"

WESTWARD! presented the story of Daniel Boone forging his way into the Kentucky wilderness. The video segments brought to life the hardships of being the first “Americans” to venture into an undeveloped land. My children’s eyes were opened to how very easy their modern lifestyle is, and we gained a greater appreciation of those who came before us.

I was particularly impressed with the careful treatment of Daniel Boone’s faith and relationship with the Natives. The teaching materials, video segments, and interactive games make students consider the issues of western land ownership and how treaties between Great Britain and the Natives were often ignored. My sons and I had to consider whether white men had the right to push forward into land that was recognized as the Native’s.

However, the series also points out Boone’s remarkable character, particularly his ethical treatment of the Native Americans, even when attacked and taken captive himself. I thought the treatment of the controversial issues of Boone’s time period were handled fairly and that students were prompted to act like real historians… to gather information, consider a variety of perspectives, and draw conclusions.

I must be a big kid, at heart at least, because once again I was drawn into the Q & A sessions. At times I almost forgot that Daniel and Rebecca Boone were not really there in person and that I was actually listening to re-enactors. The Boone re-enactor discussed how the Golden Rule governed “his” actions and relationships with the Natives. The relationship between Daniel and Rebecca was portrayed as a loving one, and Rebecca’s contributions as Daniel’s helpmeet were recognized and applauded.

The online games for this session were the best to date. My boys enjoyed working with an interactive map. They also played two games in which they lived a day in the life of Daniel and a day in the life of Rebecca. They enjoyed shooting dear and elk in Daniel’s day. They thought that Rebecca’s day was more difficult and said that “Mom’s are the best!” Thank you, Colonial Williamsburg!

"Jamestown Unearthed"

The Jamestown Rediscovery Team has worked since 1994 to uncover artifacts that give us a better understanding of what life was like inside the Jamestown Fort. Today as we watched Jamestown Unearthed, the team of archeologists explained the process and importance of their work.

At first, I feared my sons would be bored by this more documentary-style piece. There were a few re-enactment scenes; however, most scenes took place at the dig site.

I was wrong. Both of my sons thought this was the most interesting field trip so far and enjoyed learning from the experts. They listened intently to every word, making comments and formulating questions. I think they felt as though they were actually at the dig site, and they wanted to go to Jamestown and find artifacts of their own afterward. This episode gets an A+ for getting students interested in the work of interpreting history.

This EFT package offers the same quality teaching supplements as the ones before it. We did a little “digging” ourselves in an online archeology activity. We also learned how archeologists interpret the past by examining their findings and reading primary sources.

Again, the teacher's guide offers everything you need to teach a unit on Jamestown. It includes a variety of activities which make hands-on, living history easy to implement in your homeschool.

I cannot wait for the next EFT --- Westward! --- in which we will learn more about Daniel Boone, a distant relative of mine and my husband's!

"A More Perfect Union"

This month, the talented re-enactors of Colonial Williamsburg dramatize the events surrounding the ratification of the United States Constitution. Colonial children follow this process by watching debates, listening to conversations among citizens, and reading primary sources such as the Pennsylvania Minority Report. My children enjoyed the presentation but, more importantly, learned valuable lessons about the time period, the Constitution, and the responsibilities of leadership.

The live broadcast of the video was divided into three segments so that "Benjamin Franklin" and "Patrick Henry" could answer viewers' call-in or email questions. The Q&A sessions added so much to the program. Watching the re-enactors banter as they answered student questions entertained as well as informed. We learned more about the federalist's and anti-federalists' positions and gained an understanding of the need for compromises within the Constitution.

Additionally, the electronic field trip package contains lesson plans and online activities. With documents, informative content, activities, graphic organizers, and more, the teacher's guide offers everything needed to prepare students for the viewing experience, complete follow-up work, or to teach an entire unit on the Constitution.

The online activities continue to be one of my favorite parts of the electronic field trips. In one activity, my sons determined the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. In the second, they proposed a new plan for the framework of our government. Their proposals were rejected or accepted by each state, and they had to continue to revise until they found the "right" plan.

The only disappointment of the day was not being chosen to ask a question during the live broadcast. The re-enactors captured my son's imagination, and he swooned at the idea of getting to talk to them, particularly his hero, Patrick Henry. Even though another student asked the question he had in mind during the broadcast, my son insisted on emailing his question to Benjamin Franklin afterward. Receiving the response from Mr. Franklin made his day!

What a great morning we had watching history come to life! I was left with only one quandary... why wasn't history taught like this when I was in school?!

"Emissaries of Peace"

Anyone who has made the trip to Virginia's Historic Triangle knows that the historians and re-enactors at Colonial Williamsburg are masters at what they do. The living-history experience of their 18th Century town sparks the imagination and makes their visitors feel as if they have traveled through time to witness the birth of America first-hand. Through their electronic field trip (EFT), Emissaries of Peace, my family was able to enjoy that same quality, living-history experience without leaving our living room.

The EFTs include much more than the just the video content. The provided teacher's guide offered ample information and lesson ideas. My children took part in discussions and role play, completed graphic organizers, and interpreted primary sources. The lessons were easy to implement and effective, providing lots of opportunities for higher-order thinking.

The attention to detail in the video segments provided the authentic learning experience I expected from Colonial Williamsburg. Costuming, scenery, and the use of the Cherokee language added to the appeal of the story, and my children watched with interest. When the video ended, they asked if there was another segment to watch and wanted to know how long they would have to wait for the next.

My children loved the accompanying online activities that I used as follow-up exercises. In these games, they negotiated a treaty between the Cherokee and the British governments and traced the Trail of Tears. Both of these interactive tasks fully engaged my children and made them feel like they were accomplishing grown-up tasks. Though fun and appealing to children, the games are not child-like and gave my children a better understanding of diplomacy, the plight of the Cherokee, the relationships between the British and the Cherokee, and the issues faced by both groups.

We did not participate in the live broadcast for this particular episode and were not able to email a question to Henry Timberlake or participate in the online question and answer session. We look forward to fully participating in the next session. I am sure the live event will only make this experience even more rewarding.
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Enjoy these unpaid reviews of the Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trip series by Christy L., Homeschool Mom and Independent Curriculum Reviewer from Ohio:

"Remember the Ladies"

My daughter and I really enjoyed the March EFT from Colonial Williamsburg's - Remember the Ladies - which gave us a better understanding of women's lifestyles, workload, and legal rights during the 1700's.

With all our modern conveniences, we have forgotten how difficult women's work was in the past, or how limited their options were. We can't fathom not having the right to vote, or the freedom to go where we please! And, it is hard for women today to imagine a time when we did not have the right to manage a business, own property, and make legal decisions.

As usual with these EFT's, history was brought to life before our eyes in a very informative and enjoyable way. These field trips, along with their online activities have added so much to our history studies this year! I highly recommend this series --- you won't be disappointed!

"Freedom Bound"

This program was an eye-opening one for my children, and even for me. Although we've read about slavery and have understood some of the suffering involved, the presentation by Colonial Williamsburg presented information that was new to us, and made it all more real to my children as they watched.

It's hard to believe such a thing could have happened in our country's recent history. Even a child, when presented with this small sampling of events that took place, can see that it was wrong! Colonial Williamsburg is doing a great service to all Americans with this series... helping us to remember the good and the evil done in our past, and to learn valuable lessons from it all.

Take advantage of the great deal offered on these monthly EFTs through the Homeschool Buyer's Co-op... only $49 for seven great field trips. The next order deadline is March 19th. Our family has enjoyed them tremendously!

"In Pursuit of Science"

Think we have a corner on science these days, compared to the colonists? Well, maybe we have made a lot of progress, but we certainly owe a lot of it to the curiosity and intelligence of our predecessors!

Colonial Williamsburg's EFT, 'In Pursuit of Science', follows young Daniel Lee as he runs errands for his father. His curiosity about the inventions being used in daily colonial life prompts him to ask how and why things work the way they do. He learns about cylinders and water pressure, water glass magnifiers, levers used in printing presses, astronomy, light and electricity.

I enjoyed seeing how the colonists used their knowledge of science to improve their way of life. They were continually striving to learn more, record their observations, and invent useful devices that put what they had learned into practice. So much of the information behind many of the modern conveniences we take for granted today was just being discovered in the eighteenth century!

If you haven't yet opted in on this GroupBuy, it's not too late. All seven of the Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trips are only $49... a savings of 90%. And, you can continue to watch them repeatedly throughout the school year, as well as access teacher resources and lesson plans. I would love to take our family to visit Colonial Williamsburg one day, but until then, this is a fabulous alternative -- and much more affordable!

"Making History Live"

Making History Live gives a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of Williamsburg's Living History programs. The African American music program was the first topic covered in this EFT. It points to music's roll in the survival of the slaves. Music was used not only to communicate with each other in spite of language differences, but also to encourage each other, and even to communicate information when not allowed to talk to each other! (For example: a song about a drinking gourd gave instructions on following the Underground Railroad!) Historians from Williamsburg, the Smithsonian, and Africa have paired songs handed down here in America with traditional songs from Africa that were hundreds of years old, to come up with a historically authentic and accurate portrayal of the music of the slaves.

This EFT provided students a chance to see all the hard work that goes into character presentations, from searching for primary resources, to the piecing together information about the time period, to script writing and acting.

Why do the folks at Colonial Williamsburg go to such trouble? I love this quote from today's show: "Performance offers a different way of teaching history that allows you to become part of that time." Indeed. I was moved to tears by some of the excerpts from the programs. Colonial Williamsburg certainly knows how to make history live!

"Yorktown"

Colonial Williamsburg has hit a home run again, with the second electronic field trip of the 2008-2009 school year: Yorktown. This intriguing portrayal of both sides of that pivotal battle in the Revolutionary War would be a great addition to anyone’' history studies! In fact, combined with the teacher guide, internet links, and other material you have access to from Colonial Williamsburg's website, the electronic field trips could actually make up a complete year of study for your students.

The Homeschool Buyer's Co-op discount enables you to access all seven of the Electronic Field Trips this school year for only $49. Not only can you watch them live, but you'll also be able to replay them as often as you wish for the entire school year! There are many advantages to watching live, such as participating in the call in Q & A's, but we all have those crazy days when our schedule just doesn't accommodate everything we'd like it to! Knowing you'll have the opportunity to watch it later if needed makes it an even better bargain. I highly recommend this series of field trips!

"The Will of the People"

"The Will of the People" aired online today (October 16, 2008) as Colonial Williamsburg's Electronic Field Trip (EFT) series kicked off for the 2008-2009 school year. This series of EFT's promises to make history come alive for your children, and it most certainly does!

This first episode covered the election of 1800 from Thomas Jefferson's perspective, and provided interesting comparisons and contrasts between elections of the past and present. Before viewing the program, I tended to think of all the founding fathers holding very similar beliefs, but surprisingly, Jefferson's race against John Adams was a bitter fight, and election results hotly debated -- even more so than the recent election of 2000.

Students from around the country sent in excellent questions, some of which were answered live throughout the program. While my own daughter's question regarding the electoral college was not aired, she did get to speak to a historian who answered the question over the phone for her!

This episode increased my desire to find out more about Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and the positions of the Federalist and Democratic Republican parties. I am eager to research these topics as our family will be studying early American history later this school year.

The Homeschool Buyers Co-op's GroupBuy brought the normal price of the Colonial Williamsburg EFT's from $500 down to the affordable amount of $49! What a phenomenal deal for seven high-quality, interactive field trips! Included with the subscription, online teacher resources and student activities add even more opportunities for learning. Broadcasts can also be viewed anytime during the school year, in case you miss the live airing; but I highly recommend the live version so that your children can participate in the question and answer sessions. The next time this GroupBuy becomes available, I suggest you take advantage of it!

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