Video of the Week -- Pioneer Life for Children (Series)
RSSFrom SLJ February 2005
Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA -- School Library Journal, 01/24/2005
3 videocassettes or 3 DVDs. color. 23 min. ea. with tchr's. guide. Prod. by JWM Prods. Dist. by Schlessinger Media. 2004. $89.95 ser., $29.95 ea. Includes: Daily Pioneer Life (ISBN 1-4171-0046-X); The Pioneer Journey Westward (ISBN 1-4171-0047-8); Westward Expansion in the U.S. (ISBN 1-4171-0048-6).
K-Gr 5-An enthusiastic female narrator leads viewers on a journey into the past in this exceptional series. Daily Pioneer Life shows the jobs men, women, and children were expected to perform for their family's survival. Diet, food preservation, schools, social life, and other aspects of daily life are covered. In The Pioneer Journey Westward, students learn about preparations and supplies as well as typical pioneer routes. Clothing, daily life on the trail, chores, and challenges are all presented. Westward Expansion clearly shows how the United States grew both west and south to reach its current continental borders. Steamboats and the intercontinental railroad are highlighted. It provides information on various land purchases and acquisitions, and their impact on a growing nation. Each video begins with a quick introduction and ends with a short review. Maps, artwork, and historical photographs are used, but reenactments comprise the largest part of the programs. A board game provides transitions. New vocabulary and important concepts are introduced and defined in context. Short excerpts from journal entries of explorers, settlers, and pioneers provide primary source information. Interesting facts are highlighted in the "Did You Know" segments, and "Then and Now" offers opportunities to compare and contrast modern life with that of the pioneers. Important individuals such as Chief Sitting Bull, Lewis & Clark, and Daniel Boone are briefly highlighted. Native American issues are discussed. This beautifully organized series clearly brings aspects of American history in the 1700's and 1800's to life, providing a solid foundation for students. A welcome addition to American history studies, it deserves a place in every elementary library.
