Boundary Stone – an Excellent Economics Homeschool Curriculum

candyfoote

4 years ago

Share the Love - Save to Social Media

(Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.)

Boundary Stone – Economics Online Course Bundle

“It is no crime to be ignorant of economics, which is, after all, a specialized discipline and one that most people consider to be a ‘dismal science.’ But it is totally irresponsible to have a loud and vociferous opinion on economic subjects while remaining in this state of ignorance.” – Murray N. Rothbard

This quote by Murray Rothbard is found in the Boundary Stone Economics Online Course Bundle. It sure rings true today.

Everyone has an opinion, but opinions do not necessarily equate to truth.

How is your knowledge of government and economics? How about your children’s knowledge of these topics?

My parents owned a country-style mom-and-pop store, and I spent my childhood working in it. In high school, I majored in business. These experiences really helped me in the area of economics.

Still, every time I turn on the news I feel the need to touch up my knowledge of government and economics, and I feel compelled to make sure my children understand it.

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. – Thomas A. Edison

TOS Crew Review on the Economics Online Course Bundle

This TOS Crew Review on the Boundary Stone Economics Online Course Bundle couldn’t have come around at a better time.

My daughter, Judy, is a senior in high school, and economics and government are required courses in our homeschool. I was excited to pick up a lot of information myself as she did this course.

As a Christian mother, I really liked the fact that this text also covered the topics of morality, and the need to have morality when it comes to government policies. We learned that governments are ordained by God, and the government structure is set in the Bible.

I also enjoyed the budget project. For this project, Judy was told that her job paid minimum wage. She then needed to figure out how to cover all expenses, including taxes, charitable giving, savings, investments, housing, transportation, insurance, loans, college, personal expenses, care of pets, groceries, and entertainment.

This course also had us read the Constitution of the United States, plus we really enjoyed reading many quotes by our founding fathers.

Best of all, this is a self-paced program, which works perfectly for homeschoolers.

Your students are able to complete the course at their own pace.

This course is able to be completed within one semester, but you will be given 12-month access to the online course with your subscription.

“…There are two Passions that have a powerful Influence on the Affairs of Men. These are Ambition and Avarice; the Love of Power, and the Love of Money. Separately each of these has great Force in prompting Men to Action; but when united in view of the same Object, they have in many minds the most violent Effect.” – Benjamin Frankin

The Economics Online Course Bundle is a Timely Subject for 2020

With the shortages that so many of us have seen thanks to 2020 and the coronavirus, it was interesting to read about scarcity and the means of production.

Learning things like supply and demand, the effects of raising taxes, and inflation seemed like timely subjects.

Topics like partnerships, corporations, and even small, home-based businesses are covered in this text.

I was shocked while reading that some people actually think segregating commercial and residential areas is a good idea!

Economics, Socialism, and Communism

I was really happy to see the chapters on socialism and communism since these words are thrown around so easily today.

I think it is vital that today’s generation understands words like socialism and communism.

The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money. – Margaret Thatcher

We need to teach our children and learn for ourselves, exactly who Joseph Stalin, Karl Marx, and Vladimir Lenin really were, and what the principles they were standing on.

What’s included in the Boundary Stone – Economics Online Course Bundle

Not only will you receive a textbook, but this class comes with a fully online course, including video lessons, online reading assignments, quizzes, final tests, and more.

As a busy homeschooling mama of many, I was thrilled with this system that also kept track of Judy’s work for me!

Before we even began the course, we both signed up with separate emails – one for the teacher (parent) and one for the student.

As teachers, we are required to determine the course grades based on all of the reading assignments, videos, study questions, quizzes, unit tests, and even the budget project mini-course.

An Excel sheet is provided both in a virtual form and a PDF for the teacher to keep track of each grade.

I quickly received a hardcover copy of the 280-page textbook in the mail. (I was actually shocked at how fast it arrived in the mail!)

I also received an email that included a downloadable link with a . PDF of the teacher’s guide, which I promptly printed out.

The teacher’s guide included a course syllabus, a complete overview of the semester, a lesson plan, and answer keys and tests.

(The high-quality textbook, of course, can be re-used by as many people as you like, but the. PDF license for the Teacher’s Guide is for use in one household only. You may not share the license.)

We were also provided with an online version of the United States Constitution, and a printable PDF of the book, The Law by Frederic Bastiat.

We set up accounts. Signed up with emails. Downloaded ebooks, and printed out PDFs. We read over the Constitution online, and sang the Preamble, thanks to the children’s song found on Schoolhouse Rocks.

Finally, the two of us settled down to go over the Orientation Module found in our online lessons.

As Judy’s homeschool teacher, I went over the orientation modules with her in order to ensure that we both understood how the course was laid out and what exactly would be expected of Judy.

The orientation ended with Judy taking a diagnostic quiz on her own. I knew when she had completed the timed quiz because I immediately received an email telling me that she had completed the quiz and told me her score.

After this, Judy was able to jump right into the lessons.

A Different Kind of Economics Class

Boundary Stone’s Economics Online Course Bundle is not your typical economics class.

In fact, there is absolutely no math problems included in this economics course!

Instead, they focus on ideas. They teach your student to stop and think.

And, isn’t that our major goal?!? We need to teach our children to stop and think.

This course is also rich in history too.

Additional Material You Will Need

You will need a few additional items to complete this course.

Whatever Happened to Penny Candy by Richard Maybury – My family, actually already owned and loved this book, so there was no extra expense for us.

(If you don’t already own a copy of Whatever Happened to Penny Candy, you can pick up a copy at bluestockingpress.com.)

The Law by Frédéric Bastiat – This was provided for us as an e-book edition of this book, which I promptly printed out.

Freebies Included

The Law by Frédéric Bastiat e-book.

A household budget Mini-course

The Law Mini-course

Helpful Articles are written by Paul Cleveland and some of his associates

Navigation Points – These are five-minute videos where Paul Cleveland speaks about economics and policies.

A page of their favorite quotes, which was seriously one of my favorite parts. I love quotes!

And, finally, an economics myths quiz.

The Budget Project

Everyone hates the word budget, but I personally think everyone should learn how to budget properly!

Boundary Stone – a Different Kind of Economics Online Course gives your students a chance to learn how to do just that.

Each lesson in the Budget Project gives the students an opportunity to see how difficult it is to balance a budget while living on minimum wage.

It is not impossible, but it definitely takes some knowledge in budgeting the right way.

All of the basics of living are covered, including taxes, housing, transportation, groceries, giving to charities, personal care, loans, college expenses, entertainment, and even pet care.