The Old Schoolhouse® Product & Curriculum Reviews
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Pennies a Day Review by Kim Kargbo
Izzit.org2002 Filmore Ave, Suite #1
Erie, PA 16506
888-242-0563
http://www.izzit.org
This is a FANTASTIC resource! This 13-minute DVD is a "must-see" for any family desiring to increase their children's exposure to global issues and the larger world. Pennies a Day is part of the Ultimate Resource series from Izzit.org, a company that provides educational resources related to global issues, economics, and social studies. In Pennies a Day, you enter the life of Minara, a woman from rural Bangladesh, and see how her life was changed through a microcredit loan scheme started by Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2006. Along with the excellent video about microcredit to Bangladeshi women, the DVD also includes a Teacher's Guide pdf file that provides you with worksheets, discussion questions, and quizzes.
The DVDs in this series have numerous applications for homeschooling families. The company targets the series at the 4th - 12th grade level. There is nothing inappropriate or extra "heavy" in the video that would preclude any age from watching and enjoying it. I plan to incorporate it into my high schooler's international economics class, but I'll have my younger children watch it as well. The length is just right for holding attention, even of younger students, and they will gain from it--if only by learning about another culture. Izzit.org says the resource can be used in the following subject areas: business, civics, culture, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, geography, global issues, government, history, international studies, peace, political science, poverty, religion, social studies, sociology, and women's studies. To all of those, and more, I say "yes." It would work well as an addition to a geography study or as a resource for studying world religions. The worksheets and questions that come with the DVD provide application in a variety of subject areas and also give related project ideas.
The DVD costs $25.00, and I believe it is well worth the price. If you don't care about global issues, economics, or cultural awareness, then this video isn't for you. Otherwise, it's worth a look. There are additional resources available on Izzit.org's website for teachers (including homeschoolers), and you can even choose a free DVD when you join their site. It's not your usual homeschool curriculum, but it is a worthwhile investment.
