Asterix Series

Description

Ancient history course a little dry? Kids needing to come up for air every ninety seconds in a desperate attempt to divert attention elsewhere? Maybe you're even somewhat thankful when they do...? Asterix and Obelix are your ready-to-use answer! Set in Ancient Rome - the year 50 BC - when "Gaul is entirely occupied by the Romans. Well, not entirely..." One village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the Roman invaders, and while you might imagine that life is hard for these villagers, it is even harder for the legionaries in the fortified camps surrounding the village. A secret potion gives the Gauls invincibility for a short time, making it very hard for the legions of Roman soldiers to ever get the upper hand. They get a break now and then, though, as the many adventures of Asterix, Obelix, and Dogmatix (man's best friend) take them all over the ancient world - from Persia and India to Egypt and Athens, Switzerland, Britain, Corsica, Belgium, Spain and many other places in between. The authors have masterfully captured the characteristics of each nationality and region and used them to create this hilarious series of comic books which bring the ancient world to life. Without even realizing it, children will be introduced to the different foods, ways of dressing, languages, architecture, and customs of these ancient peoples. The cartoon drawings are very detailed and comical and are accompanied by an expertly written text full of word play and puns. While there is also a lot of fighting between the Gauls and the Romans - and the Gauls and the Gauls - it is all in a similar style to the old Batman series on TV - Bong, Pow, Biff, Crash, and nobody's ever hurt more than a band-aid, a black eye, and some stars around the head. Written back in the 1960s, this timeless series was a favorite when my brothers and sisters and I were kids - and I still don't think you will find a better comic on the market. They are printed in the UK, so there are some British-isms, but they just add to the flavor. So join Asterix, Obelix, Dogmatix, Cacofonix (the bard), Vitalstatistix (the chief), Unhygienix (the fishmonger), Geriatrix (the village senior), Fulliautomatix (the blacksmith) and the rest of the village as they hold tight to their independence from Julius Caesar's Roman legions. - Zach

Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Other
Other methodologies
Religious Content
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.