In elementary school I wrote a report about George Washington Carver, but as an adult the only thing I seemed to remember was that he was an African American who discovered many ways in which to use the peanut. I am so glad my kids and I had the opportunity to watch George Washington Carver: An Uncommon Way. We learned that Carver's life was about far more than peanuts!

By watching this DVD, in less than an hour you and your children will discover so much about this incredible man and his remarkable journey from slavery to fame. Truly someone who can be looked up to as a hero, Carver was a man of humble beginnings, ingenious agricultural achievements, steadfast faith, and impeccable character.

I was very excited about watching this DVD with my kids because the time period in which Carver lived was still fresh on my children's minds. We spent the first half of the year studying the Civil War and the Gilded Age. As we sat down to watch, I started out with a pad and pen in hand, intending to jot down a few notes in order to write this review, but I found that I couldn't stop writing! I became thoroughly engrossed in this excellent production as I learned about Carver's uncommon life--from his kidnapping as a baby and his sickly childhood to stories of his love for God's creation, especially plants, and details concerning the rejection he was forced to endure throughout his lifetime because of the color of his skin. Since I ended up with six pages of notes, I think it is safe to say that I was genuinely impacted by this uplifting documentary.

When the DVD ended, I asked my sons (ages 8 and 11) to tell me what they'd learned. (My kindergartner watched with us, but because of her age, she wasn't very interested.) Naturally, they listed Carver's outward accomplishments, so I spent some time with them discussing that while those were very important, it was his inner man, his passion for serving others that I wanted them to remember. Though he became known to others as the "Peanut Man," he didn't think this was his greatest work. "It is simply service that measures success," said Carver. And that's the message I want my kids to remember and carry with them for the rest of their lives!

I was greatly inspired by this man's life, and I think you and your children would be too! So far, this DVD ranks as one of my favorite products I have reviewed. It is on sale now for under $15.00, and I highly recommend that you add it to your homeschool library.

Product review by Brandi Tesreau, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, December 2010