TOS Review: DVD: Dive into Diversity
When I started planning our school year, I pulled resources together for a science unit studying oceans and sea creatures. I called it “Under the Sea.” Then I found out the TOS Homeschool Crew was going to have an opportunity to review DVDs from Dive into Your imagination. We would be able to give our preference for which dvd we would like: Dive into Diversity, Who lives in the Sea?, What Makes a Fish, a Fish? Much to my joy we were assigned to this review and we received Dive into Diversity.
Much to the disappointment of Supergirl, I postponed our Under the Sea unit so that we could include the Dive into Diversity DVD and the Educator Guide that Annie Crawley generously provided in PDF format.
Let me speak just a bit about the Educator Guides. These are HUGE (over 300 pages for the guide for Dive into Diversity!) They are jam packed with information and activities. The sections include: “How to use this book”, a section devoted to each “chapter” of the DVD, Treasure Chest Terms (vocabulary definitions), Special Section: “Ocean Annie teaches you about Scuba Diving”, and “Educator Key” (Answer key).
For each of the DVD “Chapter” sections you will find: Concept/Topics to teach, Character Education, Getting Started, Imagination Value, Classroom Activity Station (each chapter has several of these), Activity Station Book Stall which includes book suggestions, DVD Transcript, Go Blue! Ocean Annie Tips to Help Our Environment, and Activity Pages.
My favorite aspect of the Educator Guide is the section of questions and answers. These are intended for a brainstorming session with a group of students but I used them as comprehension/discussion questions with Supergirl.
I also found several of the activity sheets to be very appropriate for Suprgirl (developmentally delayed. Functions at 1st grade level). I had both the Prek_K level and the Grade 1-3 level and I used material from the grade 1-3 guide. She especially liked the coloring pages:
Now let’s talk about these beautiful DVD’s! Here’s a description from the back of the Dive into Diversity DVD:
Dive into Diversity teaches children about the variety of life under the sea and how animals rely upon on one another for survival. Take a ride to a dept of 1500 feet in the deep sea with a submarine pilot! Find out what happens on the reef at NIGHT. Learn what eating ice cream and brushing your teeth have in common. Why do crabs have claws? What can grow three feet in just one day? You and your children will be entertained while learning about the sea with an upbeat original score just like the first two DVD’s in the series, What Makes a Fish, a Fish? and Who Lives in the Sea?
There are 8 chapters on this dvd:
- Night Diving on the Reef
- Submarine Pilot
- Swim in a Kelp Forest
- Invertebrates of the Sea
- Coral Reef Living
- Vertebrates: Animals With A Backbone
- Wacky, Weird, Crusty Crustaceans
I am so glad I waited until we had received this DVD to start our “Under the Sea Unit”. I’ve been using the dvd clips to introduce a topic. Then we discuss the questions. I have other resources so we can read more about the topic like coral reefs or invertebrates and we’re using a lapbook to create a notebook. I’ve inserted some of the activity pages in the notebook. Sometimes she just watches the DVD just because. Whenever I put the dvd on, her sisters come to watch it as well. Each chapter is fairly short. Also you can watch the dvd with English, Spanish or just music. We have really enjoyed watching this dvd and we’ll continue to use it as part of our “Under the Sea” studies. The DVD is a very enjoyable part of of our studies!
Dive into Diversity retails for $19.95. Here are some special offers:
Annie sent out this offer by email:
For the entire month of May and June, there will be free shipping with any order placed at www.AnnieCrawley.com/store in honor of your followers. Also I will have discounted rates on the educator guides too.
She communicated that the both levels of the educator guide would be free with the purchase of the DVD. Here is what I was told:
As a special for the Homeschool Crew and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and followers Annie Crawley of Dive Into Your Imagination, she will gift you a set of PDFs with purchase of the DVDs. When you place your DVD order, just let her know in the notes that you are a Homeschool Parent!
Here are some websites you’ll want to check out! She has books, DVD’s and even coloring pages!
www.AnnieCrawley.com
www.DiveIntoYourImagination.com
www.Youtube.com/AnnieCrawley
www.Youtube.com/OceanAnnieTV
My Bottom Line: I highly recommend the DVD. We have loved it so much that when we found another title at the library we had to check it out. I think the Educator Guide is really geared for school situations. Many of the activities would be very difficult to use in a homeschool setting with just one student. I could see the guide being useful in a homeschool co-op setting where you have a group of students.
Click on the banner below to read what my fellow crew mates had to say about the three different DVD’s from Dive into Your Imagination.
Disclaimer: As a TOS Crew member, I received this product free of charge to review. I am required to write a review but I am not required to write a positive review. This review contains my and/or my daughters’ honest opinion with, hopefully, enough detail as to why I/ we liked or did not like a product so that my readers can make an informed decision. I received no compensation.
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