Piecing Your Heart Together: A Review of Dr. Livingston's Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle: The Human Heart

 

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this puzzle from Genius Games in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

How do you piece your heart together? With an anatomy jigsaw puzzle from Genius Games! The Human Heart jigsaw puzzle is 100% medically accurate as it was designed by Mesa Schumacher, a certified medical illustrator. This puzzle will be a welcome addition to your homeschool science studies or your summer learning adventures. 

Genius Games has produced numerous fun puzzles that our family has enjoyed (I share other links and reviews at the end of this post). And the Dr. Livingston's Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle Series contains the following puzzles: 

• The Heart
• The Brain
• The Eye
• The Hands
• The Feet
• The Head
• The Abdomen 
• The Thorax
• The Arms
• The Legs 

About This Puzzle 

The Human Heart Jigsaw Puzzle is 22 inches by 28 inches, making it one of the smaller puzzles we've completed from Genius Games of late. It has 597 pieces that focus on the "powerhouse of our cardiovascular system" – the heart. 

With this puzzle, you'll be able to see the atria and ventricles, the pulmonary vessels, and the pericardium. These parts of the heart and more are labeled on the inside of the lid. So, after you finish the puzzle, you could ask your children to label the heart that they just pieced together. This would make for a fun, hands-on way to test their anatomical knowledge.  

Our Thoughts 

While our younger children, aged 8 and 10, found the puzzle a little too difficult, our oldest (who graduated a couple years ago) found it to be just the right level of difficulty. Personally, I found it to be on par with The Thorax puzzle we reviewed several years ago. 

There were tricky parts, as it has rather large sections that are the same color, but we completed this puzzle in less time than it took us to complete the Pregnant Mother Anatomy Puzzle. Sometimes, all it took was to walk away for a break, and then we would see new connections. 

One feature I love about the puzzle is that it comes in a nice, sturdy box with a magnetic lid. The box itself can stand upright on your bookshelf. So it looks like a book. If you had the entire collection, you could place them on your homeschool science shelf, and it would look very lovely indeed. 

I would recommend Dr. Livingston's Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle: The Human Heart to those families who are looking to add some fun to their science lessons. Whether your children are studying anatomy or not, this puzzle provides a nice hands-on learning activity. It fosters cooperation in addition to discussions on science.

More Puzzle Reviews 

Do you want to see more from Genius Games? Check out these reviews! 

Teaching Homeschool Science: A Review of Owl Anatomy Floor Puzzle

Homeschooling with a Dinosaur Puzzle

Studying Anatomy with Puzzles: Pregnant Mother Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle Review

Puzzles in Our Homeschool

Book Club: Book Review of All's Fair in Love and Christmas

 

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Sarah Monzon's new novel, All's Fair in Love and Christmas, is a unique Christmas story set in an office. The main characters, Mackenzie Graham and Jeremy Fletcher, are pitted against each other for a promotion at their office. The person with the most Christmas spirit will win the promotion. Both Mackenzie and Jeremy really need the promotion to help them with increasing financial responsibilities. 

About the Book 

All's Fair in Love and Christmas is a 236-page paperback novel from Bethany House Publishers. Included in my edition is an excerpt from You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Toni Shiloh. Chapters sort of alternate between focusing upon Mackenzie and then Jeremy, as we see why they want the promotion and how they are trying to bring Christmas into their office space. 

In addition to the main characters, there is a handful of other characters connected – either because they work together or because their lives are important or intertwine with Mackenzie and Jeremy. Keri is Mackenzie's best friend and roommate who stands by her side during bouts of anxiety and worry about the promotion.  Jeremy's circle includes officemates, his niece and nephew (whom he is looking after due to his sister and brother-in-law's early death), and Alejandro.

While working towards the promotion, Mackenzie and Jeremy bring a lot of Christmas cheer to the office. Jeremy decorates with pine boughs, gifts pomander balls, and brings cookies and a hot chocolate bar. Mackenzie works hard on getting to know her officemate's Christmas memories and helps to bring those to life. She hides Mary and Joseph as they journey to Bethlehem (and eventually join the manger for Christmas Eve). She also brings in all the gingerbread house ingredients to bring a coworker's memory to life.

My Thoughts (Spoilers) 

So, I started off really loving the book. If the story only revolved around the competition between Mackenzie and Jeremy, I would not have had a hard time reading it. Jeremy is seeking the promotion because he sees the rising cost of taking care of his niece and nephew. So, he has a plan, and that includes the promotion.

Mackenzie's need for the promotion is tied to her mother, and this is where I struggled. Mackenzie's mom, Caroline, has Alzheimer's. This really hit home because my own mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2020 and lived with us until her death in April of 2022. Many of the events, feelings, and memories shared as Mackenzie's own in the book were very similar to my own experiences. This was not something I was prepared to read in a Christian Christmas Romance novel. If I wasn't reviewing the book, I think I may have even put the book down unfinished, because it was too raw. 

I don't think my feelings about Mackenzie and her mom take away from the book. In fact, it probably demonstrates how well-written/researched the book is since it brought out such raw emotions in this reader. For example, I shared some of the same emotions as shared in book:

"A small sense of dread fills me as I near Mom's door. I hate this feeling, and guilt is a constant companion to it, but I can't seem to suppress either one. Standing in front of my mom's room is a bit like standing in front of a mystery door on a game show. I never know what awaits me on the other side" (96). 

Add in the fact that Mackenzie suffers from social anxiety (which has also impacted my own life), and it made the book not as lighthearted as I wanted it to be for Christmas. I do love one of the ways that she tries to combat her anxiety. 

Would I recommend this book? 

I would recommend All's Fair in Love and Christmas, with the caveat that it includes a character with Alzheimer's. I think this is important to know before walking into the book. I really loved the reliance upon God, prayer, and friends and family in the novel. I felt that the Christian aspect of the characters' lives was woven in naturally which is wonderful to read. And in the end, it was a very happy Christmas, indeed. 

Studying Anatomy with Puzzles: Pregnant Mother Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle Review

 

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this puzzle in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Our family enjoys puzzles! This time, we completed the 488-piece Pregnant Mother Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle as a family. It is not your typical square or rectangle puzzle as it depicts a pregnant woman kneeling, which brings an additional but fun challenge. This unique, anatomically correct puzzle is brought to you by Genius Games. 

About the Puzzle 

When completed, the Pregnant Mother Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle two feet wide by three feet high. While the head, arms, hands, legs, and feet depict the mother from the outside, there is a cutaway of her chest, back, and abdomen so the viewer can see inside. The puzzle is conceptualized and drawn by Mesa Schumacher, a Certified Medical Illustrator. So, it is very accurate.

A small anatomical guide is included, rolled up within the box. You can use this guide/poster to learn a little bit more about a pregnant woman and her body. Or you can use it to help you put the puzzle together. It labels the different parts of the body and gives you some simple facts to share with your children.

 My Thoughts 

As usual, I was very pleased with the quality of this puzzle from Genius Games. We have reviewed several others. None of them has disappointed us. The quality of the pieces is quite good. They are sturdy pieces that will stand up to being put together more than once.

I think the puzzle is very tasteful. It depicts the mother's breast and uterus in surprising detail, allowing for the opportunity for good conversations. One thing we were able to discuss while putting the puzzle together was how the organs get compacted and moved around while the mother is pregnant. 

The puzzle took us several hours to put together. The most difficult parts were the arms, legs, and hair, as the colors were all very similar. We ended up completing the inside and outside (after finding the pieces that formed the edge) and then trying different pieces at random to see what would fit where. 

I would recommend this puzzle for families who are interested in learning more about anatomy, pregnancy, and working together. It is a quality puzzle. 

Do You Like Puzzles? 

I've reviewed several puzzles from Genius Games. If you want to learn more about them, please visit my other reviews. 

Puzzles as Science Resources: A review of the Doctor Livingston JR. Human Brain floor  

Teaching Homeschool Science: A Review of Owl Anatomy Floor Puzzle

Homeschooling with a Dinosaur Puzzle

Puzzles are Great Fun! A Review of the Human Heart Floor Puzzle

 

Supplementing Fifth Grade with a Geography Workbook

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from Timberdoodle in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

We added an additional workbook into our homeschool routine to supplement our fifth grader's lessons. We used Skill Sharpeners Geography - Grade 5, courtesy of Timberdoodle, to study the world in spatial terms, places and regions, physical systems, and human systems. 

Concepts and Lessons 

Unlike the second-grade workbook, I didn't assign all the lessons to our son out of the fifth-grade workbook. Some lessons didn't fit into our studies or our worldview. And we also skipped several hands-on activities. 

There were quite a few lessons that were great supplements to our regular social studies and history lessons. For example, both hands-on activities from The World in Spatial Terms allowed our son to work on real-world skills. He had to map a route and plan a vacation in Europe using trains. These were great activities that focused on skills he may someday need. We don't just rely upon GPS or Google maps for directions. Physical maps are key to getting where you need to go. 

Another lesson in the Human Sytems unit allowed us to talk about farming, crops, and ingredients. From reading about terrace farming to examining food in our pantry for wheat, corn, or rice, our son explored food and farms.

We still have three experiments or hands-on activities saved to supplement our science and geography lessons. We will be making a rain gauge, making mountains with graham crackers, and an igloo. 

Units We Skipped 

There were more than a few pages, lessons, and units we skipped. Some were a little too complicated to do at this time (dinosaur dig hands-on activity using bones of a whole chicken) and the solar oven. Others discussed ideas we don't necessarily agree with, while many of the application activities did not supplement our lessons. But that is the great thing about homeschooling. You can pick and choose what to use and teach.  

My Final Thoughts 

Skill Sharpeners Geography – Grade 5 provided many supplemental lessons for our fifth grader. While I don't think I would purchase the grade 6 workbook, I am very happy we were able to review grade 5. If you are looking to add additional geography lessons to your homeschool day, check out the Evan-Moor series of Skills Sharpeners at Timberdoodle. 

Interested in More Resources from Timberdoodle? 

Art 

Including Art in Your Homeschool: A Review of Inspired by Vincent Van Gogh

Art History for All Ages: A Review of Have I Got a Story For You! Downloadable Art History Video Series (Renaissance)

Puzzles 

Puzzles in Our Homeschool: A Review of  Dr. Livingston's Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle: The Human Thorax

Finding The Fun in Homeschooling: Adding a Puzzle into your Chemistry Course

Social Studies 

Critical Thinking and Supporting History: A Review of U.S. History Detective® Book Two

Including Geography in Your Homeschool: A Review of Skill Sharpeners Geography - Grade 2

Homeschooling with a Dinosaur Puzzle

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this puzzle in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review and was not compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you!

During December, it is fun to incorporate learning activities that are educational and fun. There are many ways in which you can do this, including games, baking, music, and puzzles! We had the opportunity to review the Tyrannosaurus Rex Floor Puzzle courtesy of Genius Games. Working on this puzzle allowed us to focus on cooperation, critical thinking skills, and a quick introduction to a future homeschool science course. 

Homeschool Fun 

Working on puzzles such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex Floor Puzzle is great fun for our children. Our third grader and fifth grader enjoy challenging floor puzzles. This Turn N Learn Puzzle is quite challenging, as it is a 2-in-1 reversible floor puzzle. One side depicts the skeleton of the T-Rex, while the other features the T-Rex with his brown and green scales. This brings an added challenge as children must figure out which side they need to complete the puzzle. 

About the Dinosaur Puzzle 

This 100-piece puzzle is over four feet long when fully assembled. And the skeleton side glows in the dark! The pieces are rather thick and sturdy. 

The box contains a velcro closure for easy storage. And inside, you will also find a fun fact sheet about the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Please keep in mind that the information may not align with your worldview if you are a Creationist or believe in a young Earth. 

Future Homeschool Science Course 

In the New Year, our fifth grader will be taking Dinosaurs and the Bible Homeschool Course with SchoolhouseTeachers.com. This course looks at the exciting world of dinosaurs and paleontology from a Biblical perspective. Our son will be taking the new interactive course which will allow him to learn about dinosaurs and how they fit in with a young-earth creationist worldview. 

Completing this dinosaur puzzle in advance of his coursework has allowed him to ask questions about what different people believe in regard to dinosaurs, their place in science and history, and their extinction. We have even talked about how opinions regarding dinosaurs have changed from when I was a child to the publication of the novel Jurassic Park to the remakes of the books and movies. 

Our Thoughts 

This dinosaur puzzle was a hit with our children. It allowed us to work together and take a slower approach to homeschooling during December. I would recommend the Tyrannosaurus Rex Floor Puzzle to any family or school that wants to learn more about this famous terrible lizard. 

Love Puzzles 

If you love puzzles, don't forget to check out my other reviews featuring puzzles from Genius Games, including a Turn N Learn Owl puzzle and a Human Heart Floor Puzzle.

Wordless Wednesday: Snoopy Ornaments

 

This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Learning Year Round: Christmas Homeschool Plans

This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

The month of December affords homeschool families with a lot of wonderful opportunities for holiday homeschooling. Learning year-round takes on a special meaning for the Christian homeschooler at Christmas time. We can set aside our normal routine and books and spend time focusing on Jesus and Christmas. 

Making Small Changes 

If you aren't ready to put away all the homeschool books during December, you can start adding in small changes. Swap out the books in your morning basket or at read-aloud time with Christmas ones like A Christmas Carol, Christmas in the Manger, or Bear Stays Up. 

In addition to books, change out the music you play during the week. We often listen to music during art or while working on independent projects. During this time of year, we listen to my different Christmas playlists. 

What do you do during lunchtime? Our children watch either Minno or RightNow Media or listen to me read aloud. During December, I break out our box of Christmas-themed holiday DVDs for lunchtime. Some of our favorites include: 

• The Muppet Christmas Carol
• VeggieTales: The Toy That Saved Christmas
• The Year Without a Santa Claus
• White Christmas

Fun Activities 

If you are looking to incorporate more Christmas activities while learning year-round, you can look at art lessons from SchoolhouseTeachers.com that focus on Christmas themes. Or you can work on crafts, cards, and gifts. 

Another feature of SchoolhouseTeachers.com that I enjoy is the holiday-themed worksheets. This year, I printed out one about Advent, where our children will write a poem and some coloring sheets, but there are more options, including ones for math! 

Switching Up the Entire Day 

There are a couple of options left to you if you want to holiday homeschool the entire month. You can keep working on normal subjects but with a Christmas twist from unit studies. For example, Homeschool Complete offers a Christmas Unit Study (K-6). Lessons include reading, mathematics, arts and crafts, and more. Another option would be the White House Holiday Unit Studies offered by Silverdale Press LLC, which includes a Christmas-themed one.

You can also ditch all the subjects and work on relationships. Prepare the house for Christmas by cleaning and decorating. Bake Christmas cookies and prepare yummy treats and treasures as gifts. Go ice skating, skiing, or participate in other winter sports. Learn Christmas hymns or carols and sing or play them for others. There are many options available. 

As a family, select from things to do in your area. Go see Christmas lights, drink hot chocolate, or choose a new hobby (or return to an old one). Spending time together during December is a wonderful way to learn during the Christmas season. 

What are some of your favorite ways to homeschool during December? 

Teaching Homeschool Science: A Review of Owl Anatomy Floor Puzzle

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this puzzle in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Teaching homeschool science is such a daily joy! When we look at homeschool science curriculum and resources, there are so many great options and approaches available to us. From fun science experiments to interesting books, we can bring our homeschool science lessons to life. Another great option is floor puzzles. The Owl Anatomy Floor Puzzle lets our children see both the anatomical structure of a great horned owl and the feathered view of one, as the puzzle is 2-in-1 reversible. 

About the Puzzle 

This puzzle is from Genius Games Junior, featuring 100 pieces in a unique "turn-n-learn" approach. The puzzle pieces are very sturdy. As it is reversible, you will need to look at the pieces closely to pick the right side to match up. It is over 3 feet long when completed, definitely making it suited to completion on the floor.

The box itself is sturdy with a velcro closure. Inside, there is a laminated fact sheet which provides information about the great horned owl, allowing you to easily teach homeschool science. The anatomy side is drawn by a certified medical illustrator and shows the muscles, heart, crop, and more. 

Learning About the Great Horned Owl 

This large predator is native to the Americas. We are fortunate that we can hear one from our living room on many evenings. We haven't spotted it yet, though!  Share these facts with your child as you complete the puzzle together. 

• Life span of 20-30 years.
• 19 to 35 inches big.
• Over four feet wing span. 
• Large ear-like tufts give it the name great horned owl 
• Actual ears are holes under the feathers on its head. 
• Its call is one long hoot followed by two or three shorter hoots. Listen to different calls of the great horned owl at the Audubon Guide to North American Birds. 
• They eat mostly mammals such as mice, rats, and rabbits but will eat birds and reptiles, too. 
• Both parents take care of the young.

Science Fun 

Our children and I had a lot of fun putting together the Owl Anatomy Floor Puzzle. I made sure we had all the puzzle pieces flipped the correct way, and then we got started! We completed the anatomy side first, which was a bit easier because of the break up in color with the internal organs. 

It took less than an hour to put the puzzle together. The side showing the downy exterior did take a little longer. We tested pieces based on color, shape, and size. When the entire puzzle was put together, it was beautiful. The pieces fit together so well that it didn't really look like a puzzle. 

Our daughter really loved the puzzle. She has asked to complete it again almost every day since it arrived. So, not only is it educational, but it is fun and a winner. 

I highly recommend this series of puzzles from Genius Games Junior. The company has also produced a shark and a tiger. These are perfect for teaching homeschool science or just as a fun activity. They would make great gifts for the holiday season or a birthday. 

Interested in More Puzzles 

Please check out my review of other puzzles from Genius Games! 

Puzzles as Science Resources—a look at the Doctor Livingston JR. Human Brain floor puzzle

Puzzles are Great Fun! A Review of the Human Heart Floor Puzzle—a review of the Doctor Livingston JR. Human Heart Floor Puzzle

Anatomy Puzzle for Kids: A Review of the Dr. Livingston JR Human Body Floor Puzzle—a review of the Dr. Livingston JR Human Body Floor Puzzle

Puzzles in Our Homeschool—a review of the Dr. Livingston's Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle: The Human Thorax