Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history. -Plato
The words hit me hard. It was a hymn I had heard several times – a form of poetry repeating the truths that I’ve read in Scripture for many years now, and yet… I just had to drop everything and think, reflecting upon Who Christ is and who I am in Christ. It was unexpected yet needful. That’s the power of poetry. It can jolt us into recognizing the things we take for granted. It’s oftentimes a beautiful reminder that the only things in life that truly matter are those of eternal value.
In our own homeschool, the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty can often be lost amidst our more pressing core academic goals. That doesn’t mean it’s not important. One of my greatest lessons learned through the past decade of homeschooling is that the most important things are often the things that don’t have checkboxes. Because my checkbox-checker mentality causes me to overlook that which I should not neglect, we’ve started to incorporate art and poetry study into the basic skill of handwriting. It has been a way for us to easily integrate the study of the true and beautiful so that it becomes an integral part of the overall school routine. This has been the driving force behind our latest copywork book, Script-n-Scribe™ Truth Traveler.
Although it’s a simple skill, copywork can greatly enhance a child’s ability to write well later in life because it provides exposure to the ideas and techniques of the great masters of words. Copying a poetic passage and responding to works of art increases powers of observation and elocution while introducing children to that which is lovely.
While the primary goal of this resource is to provide picture study prompts and copywork for students to practice penmanship, the book can be used as a framework for 1) building listening, dictation, and narration skills, 2) pursuing oral and written composition, 3) memorizing poetry to build vocabulary and imagery techniques, and 4) extending art study, vocabulary, and English grammar lessons.
The copywork in this book includes a gentle introduction to basic English grammar concepts, including sentence parts, types of sentences, and parts of speech. Each picture study introduces an English grammar concept using copywork prompts that also encourage the student to notice the details in the artwork. Most of the artwork is related to ancient empires, and each art study is also paired with a related poetry selection and Scripture.
- Twelve carefully selected poems that reinforce virtue, truth, work, and redemption through the ages. Featured poets include Ben Jonson, William Ralph Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, George Washington Doane, Charles MacKay, Sam Walter Foss, Ellen H. Gates, Henry Van Dyke, and Myra Brooks Welch.
- Copywork pages for all twelve poems (over 100 pages of copywork!)
- Scripture verses related to each poem (over seventeen Bible verses). All except two passages are NKJV. One passage is from KJV (Philippians 2:3-4) and one passage is from NIV (Romans 12:13-15).
- Mini-poster pages for each poem showing a featured artwork selection
- Thirteen works of art from eleven different artists: Vincent Van Gogh, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Ivan Aivazovsky, Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Edwin Lord Weeks, William Collins, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, William Bradford, Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, Cesare Biseo, and Jean-Leon Gerome
- A gentle introduction to English grammar concepts including: parts of speech (nouns, adjectives, prepositions, verbs, adverbs, pronouns, conjunctions, interjections), sentence parts (phrases, clauses, subjects, predicates), and sentence types.
- Memorization plan to assist with memorizing the poems
- Ideas for further extending the art, poetry, and English grammar study
If you’re seeking to enjoy more poetry and art during your ancient history or world empire studies, this book provides a simple means of fulfilling that goal!
Read testimonials of our Script-n-Scribe Cursive Curriculum here.
For children new to cursive handwriting, check out the Script-n-Scribe Introduction to Cursive: Roller Coaster Writer and the Script-n-Scribe Letter Connector. If you’re studying American history, be sure to check out our American history, poetry, and art study copybook, Script-n-Scribe Americana.
Note: FREE media mail shipping for orders over $100! Free shipping will be automatically applied to your order at check-out. Visit our shop here.
Physical items (books and/or other tangible products) ship from our shop within 3 business days. Tracking information is sent to the Paypal email address used at checkout as soon as your item is shipped. If you purchase the PDF download version, you will receive instant access to the ebook version of the item you purchased, and the download link will automatically send to the Paypal email address used at check-out.
Script-n-Scribe™ Truth Traveler
Script-n-Scribe™ Truth Traveler PDF Only
Format: PDF Download (Mac & PC Compatible), 146 pages. For individual family use. Download sample. (The PDF includes an appendix with the poems and corresponding art formatted for printing as cards for reference or review.) Download link is automatically sent to the Paypal email address used at checkout.
Suggested grades: 2 to 6
PDF Price: $19.99
Script-n-Scribe™ Truth Traveler Spiral Workbook Only
Our cursive copywork and art study program related to ancient history and world empire studies. Features 12 poems and 13 works of art related to the rise and fall of empires and truths revealed through the ages.
Format: Spiral-bound (139-page) workbook printed in full color. Binding on left side.
Suggested grades: 2-6
Printed Workbook Price: $19.99
Script-n-Scribe™ Truth Traveler Spiral Workbook + PDF
Our cursive copywork and art study program related to ancient history and world empire studies. Features 12 poems and 13 works of art related to the rise and fall of empires and truths revealed through the ages.
Format: Spiral-bound (139-page) workbook printed in full color. Binding on left side. PDF version included with purchase. (The PDF includes an appendix with the poems and corresponding art formatted for printing as cards for reference or review.) PDF is sent automatically upon completion of your purchase in Paypal.
Suggested grades: 2-6
Printed Workbook + PDF Bundle Price: $29.99
Other Script-n-Scribe™ Products
For children new to cursive writing, check out the Script-n-Scribe Introduction to Cursive: Roller Coaster Writer and the Script-n-Scribe Letter Connector. If you’re studying American History or medieval/church history, be sure to also check out our Americana Poetry & Picture Study or Hymns in History Poetry & Picture Study.
Also Available…
Script-n-Scribe™ Hymns in History PDF
Script-n-Scribe™ Hymns in History PDF Only
Description: Study poems of praise from the Middle Ages to Early Modern Times in Script-n-Scribe Hymns in History, which features hymns from the Middle Ages through the early 1900s with historical highlights, related scriptures, and art study along with a gentle introduction/application of English grammar concepts. Features 12 hymns with related historical highlights from the Middle Ages through 20th century conflicts, and 12 works of art with grammar study.
Format: PDF Download (Mac & PC Compatible), 158 pages. For individual family use. Download sample. (The PDF includes three additional pages with the hymns and corresponding art formatted for printing as cards for reference or review.) Upon completion of the check-out process, a download link will be emailed to the Paypal email address used at checkout.
Suggested grades: 2 to 6+
PDF Price: $19.99
Script-n-Scribe™ Hymns in History Spiral Workbook
Format: Spiral-bound (155-page) workbook printed in full color. Binding on left side.
Suggested grades: 2-6
Printed Workbook Price: $19.99
Script-n-Scribe™ Americana
Script-n-Scribe™ Americana PDF Only
Our cursive copywork and art study program for American history. Features 12 poems and 14 works of art related to U.S. History, including historical events and persons from Columbus and the Pilgrims through the early 1900s.
Format: PDF Download (Mac & PC Compatible), 164 pages. For individual family use. Download sample. Read more about this product and view additional purchase options here.
Suggested grades: 2 to 6
PDF Price: $19.99
Script-n-Scribe™ Americana Spiral Workbook Only
Our cursive copywork and art study program for American history. Features 12 poems and 14 works of art related to U.S. History, including historical events and persons from Columbus and the Pilgrims through the early 1900s.
Format: Spiral-bound (164-page) workbook printed in full color in landscape format. Binding on left edge.
Suggested grades: 2-6
Printed Workbook Price: $19.99
Learning Cursive?
Try the Script-n-Scribe™ Introduction to Cursive: The Roller Coaster Writer!
Our introductory (Level 1) program for learning phonograms by sight and dictation and how to form cursive letters. Begins with large motor skills to help young children learn to write. Read more about this product and view additional images and supplemental Montessori-style products here.
Format: Printed, spiral-bound (85-page) workbook with additional 52 pages of instruction cards printed separately on cardstock (26 cardstock pages printed on both sides). Download sample.
Suggested grades: Preschool to 3
Printed Book Special Introductory Price*: $19.99
Script-n-Scribe™ The Letter Connector Spiral Bound Workbook & Cards
Script-n-Scribe™ Roller Coaster Writer and Letter Connector PDF Bundle!
The Roller Coaster Writer and Letter Connector are available as a discounted set. Click here to read more about the Script-n-Scribe Roller Coaster Writer program.
Format: PDF Downloads (Mac & PC Compatible), for individual family use.
Suggested grades: Preschool to 4
PDF Price: $22.99
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