Yesterday we finished up Stopping by Woods. We looked for all the hidden animals and counted them. We enjoyed the art - such beautiful art! And talked a little bit about the snowflakes. We read an interesting book, Summer Coat, Winter Coat: the story of a snowshoe hare by Doe Boyle (Smithsonian Wild Heritage Collection). I just happened to see it at the library and it worked nicely with our book. We also read A Letter to Amy by Ezra Jack Keats because A. it was a very rainy day and this book is about a rainy day disaster and B. we read The Snowy Day and I wanted to read a couple of other books by him which we own. :) If all conditions are right today, we may make snowflake cookies.
School has been pretty much a bust this week because of various errands, illnesses, and unexpected appointments, but I'm hoping to catch up some history and science today with Carrie and Thomas and start rowing Katy and the Big Snow with Abby. I found some good books to go with it at our tiny library and I think she'll enjoy them. I also have a couple of projects up my sleeve that will be fun for her.
You know, I love unit studies, both long and short. It's fun to do all the projects and activities. But it's also perfectly OK to snuggle on the couch with the kids and simply read and talk about the subject matter. Every unit study doesn't have to be glorious and perfect. I noticed when I was almost finished with Westward Ho! that I had mostly added in cooking projects and that one sewing project - I should have thought of some boy things to do, too, for Thomas' sake. But I didn't and he had a great time and was sorry it ended. Most of my FIAR books are done with a few read-alouds and a lot of conversation. I don't have time for lapbooks very often and I don't have resources here that I've had in other places we've lived. But Abby LOVES FIAR and I still do, too, even after having gone through it several times with 4 children. Unit studies should be a tool, not a master. School should be a joy, not a drudge to the child or the mother.
1 comment:
Thanks for the reminder that "it is ok to snuggle up on the couch and just read the books" I'm glad to hear there is a Mom out there who doesn't have time for lapbooks either. I think your involvment with them in the kitchen will give them precious memories and skills they will take thru life....
Post a Comment