Turn on the hose and have some watery fun floating bottle caps
down the current of a L.O.N.G. aluminum foil river on the sidewalk out front, of course!
Where the Blacktop Ends |
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What do you do with a little boy at the end of a long hot summer day?
Turn on the hose and have some watery fun floating bottle caps down the current of a L.O.N.G. aluminum foil river on the sidewalk out front, of course!
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One recent aftenoon while baby was napping, we 2 played a math game (Candy Land) and ate brownies with cold milk!
I make this recipe even though none of has food allergies. They're just really good. Gluten-Free Brownies Melt together 1/3 c plus 1 TB butter and 6 TB cocoa powder Add: 1 1/2 c Gerber baby Rice cereal 1/4 tsp. salt 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 tsp. baking powder 2 eggs 1 c. sugar Nuts and/or chocolate chips Bake at 350 in an 8 inch greased square pan for almost 20 minutes. Can top with powdered sugar or frosting. Each new season has found our family playing, working and dreaming together out in the wooded portion of our farm land. We're out there most in spring and autumn when the weeds and undergrowth are either died off or not grown up yet, or during a mild winter when the snow isn't up to our necks. On the most pleasant days we've sat in the dappled shade and envisioned a path, a "Garden of Eden-ish" fieldstone path running through the trees neatly lined with colorful shade-living flowers and plants, wood benches, a babbling stream and possibly a pond in the center of a soft grassy clearing. You know, something from the pages of a magazine or fairytale. But the reality of a overgrown grove in summertime is more along the lines of mosquitoes, impassable tall weeds and grass, thorny branches, and lots of stinging nettle, not to mention the 100 year old pile of trash that former owners accumulated in a far corner :( Oh, but it's fun to ignore all that and to make plans. After our recent weekend retreat, we came home inspired and ready to run with an idea that had taken root long ago and was now ready for some growth. The very next afternoon my husband got on the lawn mower and disappeared for a while into our weedy woods. During the weekend's sessions, our lovely plenary speaker, Jennifer Gagnon, shared with us how, after she read the book The Nature Principle the first thing she was inspired to do was turn her kitchen table so that it faced the window. One simple change. Now all members of her family could notice the birds out the window and all their funny little habits, and the clouds in the sky etc. With this little change she was nearly effortlessly fostering the habit of observation in her formerly somewhat uninterested family members. It often takes a new idea and bit of intentionality to get us to think out of the box doesn't it? She also shared how science is commonly approached in today's schools. With some informed calculations Jen estimated that there are a couple thousand individuals who are involved in the process our writing our national science standards. Each one represents a certain group with a different adgenda they are trying to promote. This larger group of people puts together a comprehensive list of things kids should know before they graduate. From these curriculums and textbooks are written. I have been on our state's education website and read through some of the standards in the past. They are overwhelming, even to me, a teacher who was trained to use them. In schools students read through explanations and summaries of scientific information in their textbooks. They review terms they need to know. They are presented with experiments and are expected to reproduce their knowledge on a test. That is the bulk of their learning, and from that teachers hope students will fall in love with science, possibly even choosing it as a lifelong pursuit. Some do. It is different in a Mason approach. When kids are yet the littlest of little, they are to be given the wide world to explore, experience, discover, and they are given hours of time in which to make connections with it in a personal way. I read this article recently that said: “Hands-onexperience at the critical time, not systematic knowledge, is what counts in the making of a naturalist.” “Between the ages of six and twelve, children have an innate desire to explore the woods, build forts, make potions from wild berries, dig to China, and each of these activities is an organic, natural way for them to develop environmental values and behaviors. Instead, the “look but don’t touch” approach cuts kids off from nature, teaching them that nature is boring and fraught with danger.” “…the imaginative, constructive practice of fort building actually fosters the sense of connectedness that land trusts [and many others] want to cultivate in young people.” I also read this, "During the six and seven months each year in the twelve fiercest formative years of his life, Abraham Lincoln had the pads of his foot-soles bare against the earth." - Carl Sandburg Jen explained that when kids get a little older, their vigilant teacher/mothermakes sure that only the best living science books are put into their hands, actual stories that put them in directly touch with the great minds of science, that they might re-live the discoveries right alongside the person they read about. And while they read, if an idea strikes their fancy, the child will then want to do some of their own experimenting, to see just how that scientific idea works in real life. Their patient mother then takes them to the hardware store and helps them pick out the supplies they need to test out the theory. When finished, the child makes entries in a notebook, drawings or words or test strips from the experiement, whatever they need to tell all about what they learned. It's a form of narration. This is how a passion for science begins and grows. And the process is the same from elementary to high school. Sigh. That takes away some of my future high school worries (few though they are since my kids are so young). Based on some of the questions that were being asked at the retreat, I think this is really hard for some conscientious mothers/teachers accept this, to feel like this truly is enough (even better) for a high schooler because they don't want their child to miss something important for college. At one of the sessions some sad statistics were shared about how few college students ever even take a science course unless it is required. And how many of our nation's science related jobs are being taken by people who grew up and learned science in other countries, and how with the rise of technology this younger generation's interest in science is lacking. This new way of learning is not meant to be all-encompassing. It is a portal to a wider universe. It is an inch wide but a mile deep. So, anyway, when my husband got done mowing (well, while he was fixing the mower after finding an old hidden fenceline, oops. Thankfully our only glitch.) I followed an exuberant 5yo into the woods and down our new path. He was oooh-ing and aaah-ing and saying "Oh, look, Mom!" To him it was magical and his imagination was already bubbling over with wild turkey hunts and soldier marches. We have been out on at least one walk every day since, once with umbrellas during a lovely evening rain.
Mowing a path may seem very common sense, but to us it took a little thinking outside the box. One fairly simple change opened up a new avenue for us to get in touch with nature and foster a love of science in our kids and ourselves. My mind and heart are full- just the right amount of full after last weekend's retreat. I came home pondering many things but mainly the subject of science and what it looks like where we are at- with little ones. It's nice to be writing this blog post now that it's been one week since the retreat began. It's good think about what we have already done to enrich our life and to implement some of the ideas gained, never sitting stagnant, but moving forward at a steady (sometimes slow) pace. I'm thankful for the vitality of this education/life we have chosen. One of the main thoughts that has stuck with me is that our aim is toward learning that is a mile deep, though it may only be an inch wide. There are many implications to such a statement, but one of them being that this type of learning is not hurried or surface level with the aim being a test at the end of the chapter. There is thought and meaning. It is alive! It is rich and lasting. There is something calming about embracing this philosophy. I dont need to worry that my child might not get everything he needs to know. Not even I, as the teacher, can 'get' everything! I have the "indefatigable Teacher" with me each step of the way who will lead my chlid to just the right things he needs for learning and growing. I rest in this. I look forward to sharing a little more about this time and these ideas I'm pondering,
and to sharing one special thing we've done here at home since we got back! More to come............ It was a windy saturday evening shortly before bedtime and we took a quick trip to the shore. Can you tell what we're doing?............ geography And hymn study....... "When peace like a river attendeth my way When sorrows like sea billows roll Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say It is well. It is well with my soul" We let the 'waves' crash on our ankles. Drew 'maps' with sticks in the smooth sand.
Watched the sun play peek-a-boo with the clouds. Poked dead fish with sticks. Followed the 'sea billows' far out on the water as they came nearer and nearer and then diminished into greyish foam at the waters edge. It was one of those nights spent with my boy that I want to remember fo always. By the way we had a wonderful weekend at the Living Education Retreat! More to come...... This week is full as I prepare for an upcoming retreat!!! I'm really looking forward to the time and conversations ahead. Hope to see some of you there!
I've been wanting to buy one of these for a while to house our butterfly collection. I've also been eyeing some shadow boxes at the craft stores in the area. But I kept thinking, "Surely I must be able to make something...." (as I often do!) Well, last night I made the attempt. And I must say I am pleased! The picture really doesn't do justice. This box is sturdy, neat-looking and functional. My only dislike is that the cellophane on the cover is quite susceptible to glaring in the light. But hey! It's what I had to work with! Mason recommends keeping nature collections with kids, though, one Parents Review article I read discouraged the keeping of insects and bird nests and eggs for fear of children losing a respect for nature and becoming too rough with it. So, to clarify- all of our collections have truly been nature 'finds' previously dead, that we happen upon and care to treasure the beauty of. It really has become a fun hobby!
Here's what I used: a shoebox with removable lid, x-acto knife and scissors, contact paper, packing tape, clear cellophane (off of some 12x12 scrapbook supply packaging), foam insulation board, white linen fabric scrap and hot glue, and quilting pins. First I cut down the box to the depth I desired, and I cut the center out of the lid. I taped it up for strength and covered it with contact paper. I trimmed the cellophane to fit inside the cover and taped it around the edges to the inside of the cover. Then I cut the foam board (left over from our house building project) to size and hot glued the fabric to it. Then I glued that in place and pinned our collection to it. I added twine to the back to hang it next to our shelf of other collected items. When I went looking online for a simple tutorial for such a thing. I really could not find anything satisfying. And you know that they say... Necessity is the mother of invention! How do you house your collections? |
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"I am recording this so that future generations will also praise the Lord for all He has done." -Psalm 102:18 I am a mama to 2 sweet brothers who aspires to a "thinking love" toward my children.
Take a peek into our journey towards a living education inspired by the writings of Charlotte Mason. Be sure to leave me a comment if you're inspired! I prefer to keep my text and images right here. Please don't copy without permission. Thanks! Categories
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August 2018
I Participate"In this field small efforts are honoured with great rewards, and we perceive that
the education we are giving exceeds all that we intended or imagined.”
- Mason “It may be that the souls of all children are waiting for the call of knowledge to awaken them to delightful living.”
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