Everyone has heard of the Lots and Lots of (firetrucks, trains, jets and planes) DVDs haven’t they? (well, nearly everyone – we don’ t even watch TV other than DVDs and even we have heard of Marshall Publishing) And while we have never before viewed any of their DVDs, we were sure that we would like them once we learned they had a Pony Express film! Through the The Old Schoolhouse (homeschool magazine) Review Crew, we were offered the chance to review our choice of educational DVDs. It was a hard decision between Marshall’s Lewis & Clark DVD and their Oregon Trail/Pony Express one because both are of such interest to us! (I suppose that I should fess up right here, and right now, and admit that I ultimately chose The Pony Express because the film was longer.LOL!)
The Oregon Trail and The Pony Express DVD is not an ‘entertainment’ film; it’s a bit more like a dated documentary – but that’s not all bad! I’m just mentioning it because if your child’s senses have to continually be pacified by constant, chaotic, noise and movement, then this may not be as enjoyable to them as it was for us. Suggested for 4th grade and older (younger children can definately enjoy this), and approx. 50 minutes in length, the DVD it consists of 2 separate films, one each for both The Oregon Trail (35 min.) and The Pony Express (16 min).
The Oregon Trail part of the DVD explains and shows some of the reasons that pioneers chose to strike out for unknown lands – the incredible scenery they would have seen (oh, to hit the road right now…), the joys and sorrows that they would face (did you know that 10% of the travelers striking out for OR died on the trail? that means that, statistically, with 14 in our fam, we would have lost at least one!), and the hardships that would be their constant companions on the trail (and I think that hitting a grocery store evey 4 days when we are ‘on the trail’ is hard – imagine trying to keep 12 or 14 people fed while living out of a covered wagon!!!).
The Pony Express footage was also interesting as it covered the short lived life of the illustrious Pony Express. Anyone who has kids interested in TPE has already heard that TPE lasted only (roughly) a year and a half, but did you know that the riders had only 2 minutes to change horses? and they changed horses every 10 to 15 miles??? Or that the cost of mailing a letter via TPE was about the same as mailing a medium size first class flat rate BOX now?(adjusted for inflation of course) ‘We’ have always been interested in the Pony Express and the dangerous lives that it’s riders led, at least interested for the past 18 years or so – since Greg was a little boy. He started it and has managed to pass it down to the other boys – the big boys even have Pony Express shirts that their Aunt Gayle bought them – they have PE advertisements on it – you know, under 150 pounds, height restrictions, no family…
I will admit that I love to give my kids the option to do a bit of their ‘school’ via the TV – and they all sat down and watched it. Even Greg (who comes over for dinner – makes his momma quite happy to get to see him so often 😉 ). One of the fun things that my kids just do, and it started after our first year traveling, is to pipe up, and practically yell, depending on who is saying it,”Been There!” whenever they see somewhere in a film that we have been (I’m waiting for the “Done That!” to start…). The ‘little boys’ (who aren’t very little) are the ones that do this the most; they were able to pipe up with that several times while watching the DVD! 😀
The kids enjoyed the DVD! It was educational, and entertaining, and would be a great springboard for a unit study based on those events, or even just to get the kids interested in either the Oregon Trail or the Pony Express so they will want to learn more. Also, included on the DVD, at the end of the footage, is a study guide for you to access if you would like additional information/schoolwork on the Oregon Trail and Pony Express.
The Oregon Trail and The Pony Express DVD retails for $24.95, but is on sale for $19.99 (and you can get free shipping on your order with the coupon code ‘TOS27′). Would I pay $20 for this dvd? Depends – if I were doing a specific study or wanted to get a certain child to show an interest in either happenings, maybe. But I absolutely would pitch in $5 to go in with friends and purchase one to share (consider it a $5 rental fee! LOL!) and watch on our turn (hmmm…sounds like a great excuse for a get together!); or pitch in $20 and get 4 different films to pass around (sorry – love to do stuff like that! LOL!). Marshall Publishing carries some other historical shows like Lincoln at Gettysburg, The Historic Expedition of Lewis and Clark, or George Washington Carver. These could be a great addition/supplement to your bookwork on the same subject!
If this sounds like something your family might enjoy also, you can check out Marshall Publishing at their website, The Oregon Trail and The Pony Express DVD here, and other TOS reviews on this film, and 3 others, at the TOS Review Crew Blogroll. I hope that your travels, whether they be by covered wagon, ‘pony’-back, car or RV (woot!woot!), are just as full of (good) adventure, discovery, and learning opportunities as those pioneers who blazed the trails and paths of the Oregon Trail and TPE years ago. May your life be filled with adventures and discoveries too!
*Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of The Oregon Trail and The Pony Express DVD in exchange for my honest opinion (or that of my kids…); no other compensation was received.
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