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| I love the My Garden book...just tooooooooooooooo many treasures. |
This past week we had warm weather...in the 80's. Spring is calling us in February. Our older son also hit the baseball field...yes, I am a sports mom, now in her 21st year of children playing sports. I have at least earned a stadium seat don't you think? The week just yelled "time to play in the dirt, either baseball or gardening." Since we now have a new yard, which provides us room for a larger garden, Benjamin and I took our education on an outdoor adventure.
Literature ushered in our passion for exploration, ignited by the reading of Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer, which led us to the store for supplies for a worm farm. Benjamin would become a farmer! Laughingly, I purchased cow manure, a by-product, that in my youth, we shoveled into my Dad's truck for free from our grandfather's farm. Science would be explored as we examined the anatomy of a worm. Personification was enjoyed through the reading of Diary of a Worm.
I couldn't help but throw in one of my all-time favorites, Beatrix Potter. When Benjamin was born, I added even more of her books with Benjamin Bunny. Benjamin set laughing and giggling through the DVD, Beatrix Potter, The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends. I have read these stories to him through the years and this wonderfully animated DVD just brought the characters to life. We now had a vision for our garden. Thank you, Mister McGregor. We also decided we would make a scarecrow. Do we really need one? No, but that would just add more delight to our garden patch.
Growing Vegetable Soup allowed us to dream about the fruit of our labor. Dirt under my fingernails reminded me I would need to forgo having long fingernails this season. I am more of a "use-the-hands forget the gloves" girl. Sharon Lovejoy's Sunflower Houses continue to add fuel of inspiration. Her books and Beatrix Potter also begged us to explore with pastel colors for our art lesson. I think our unit will continue to expand this week as the weather man forecast sun with slightly cooler weather in the 70's.
Our creative "sidetrack" allowed Mom a chance to enjoy the warm spring weather, while establishing our first garden of vegetables and flowers in our new yard. Books coming to life was our inspiration.
What is inspiring you right now?
Just in case it looks like I am totally new to this gardening adventure....here are some of our adult children in our garden adventure when they were young. Gardening stopped when sports for all four began to dominate.
Just in case it looks like I am totally new to this gardening adventure....here are some of our adult children in our garden adventure when they were young. Gardening stopped when sports for all four began to dominate.
16 Joining in with more words:
Time goes soooooo fast!! Love gardening time. Such a good thing to for children to participate in doing... LOTS of life lessons in gardening. You deserve so much credit for all you do, Janette. Amazing. blessings ~ tanna
Good morning! Oh I LOVED the Beatrix Potter books. By the time I got to Mel I had them all practically memorized! Soo fun. And the worm farm sounds like a such a good idea. I bet Benjamin is loving it! It's been warm here too but I heard it is going to by rainy here today and not much over 50. Maybe winter isn't quite finished yet after-all. Have a wonderful day Janette! HUGS
Yes, I have always loved teaching like that. I am glad you have a young one still to do it with. I miss that part.
I love your pictures of your family. I think that all of the time. How fast it went by.
Have fun.
At our house we are HUGE believers in "teachable moments." I have a wonderful picture of our then 6-yr-old daughter and my husband sitting on top of a pile of dirty laundry looking at the world globe - learning where Kuwait was. It was the early '90s, and the Persian Gulf War was just hitting the news. Benjamin (and you) are both fortunate indeed! Enjoy your warm week, friend.
I'm trying to wheel my cart around Blog Land and catch up. I just read your wonderful post below and can't wait to try the hummus recipe.
I love reading posts like this one about homeschooling moms or teachers of any kind to bring the learning right smack out of the box and into living color. Your children are so blessed, Janette. I have a dear young friend who is considering the move to homeschooling for next year. I am going to send her this link to inspire her.
I've been waiting for this post to show up "for real." How fun to be excited about learning and to have a hand's on experience. It's always good when the teacher is excited about the lesson, too!
I used to love where the sidetracks took us.
Fondly,
Glenda
Oh it is the season isn't it. I planted my tomato seeds into little pots this weekend...now just waiting to see what will grow (seeds from last year so may not all germinate)Winter isn't finished here yet, this morning it was 32 and there was ice on the windows
I too am a hands in the dirt kind of gal...tons of gloves but I never seem to use them
Have a great day
I didn't homeschool during the year but we had summer programs to learn basic household tasks. We did laundry, cooking, cleaning, budgeting, etc. Logan reflects on those days now, with more enthusiasm than he did then.
Some familiar old friends - aka books - in your pictures but some new ones I'll have to look for for my crew as well. It's been awhile since I've been at your blog - it's good to read your writing again, Janette!! :)
Grand times - homeschooling and taking those "roads less traveled" for bunny trail adventures! That's really where teaching and learning happen - I have found!
I'm doing this whole drama semester on Beatrix Potter. We're studying her life, and her stories, and creating our own animal stories - to act out - since it is drama class we're talking about. I spend a lot of time teaching life lessons thru literature. My students are not really destined for the stage - however, they are destined for life. I have a platform to speak into their lives in this public school as the drama enrichment teacher. Theatre games are temporal - studying story and planting seeds of truth and the knowledge of the heart - from which all dramatic motivation has its genesis - is something the Lord can use when I'm no longer there.
Our first Constellation Academy workshop is this Saturday! Stepping out in faith and returning to firm foundations in educational philosophy to assist the call on home schooling families. I'm looking forward to the Lord growing our garden . . .
Joy!
Kathy
"..spring was calling us in Feb." too - until last night. Then it hailed and snowed, and we are told it may snow again tonight.
Yikes - I'm confused.
Wow, any reason to get outside is a plus for me! Spring! I hear and see so many birds that have returned from their wintering areas. Good see them, as well as listen to their songs.
I remember the books you mentioned, at least a few. They should be a part of every childhood. Love your pictures as well, Janette!
awww...loved that last picture!
I still love the children's book section at the bookstore. I usually go there before I go anywhere else. Beatrix Potter will always be a favorite as well as Winnie the Pooh stories.
Your post today makes me miss home
school so much.
Blessings~
my oldest turned 16 last weekend and I look at her and still see that baby I held in my arms. Time really does fly fast. Thanks Janette for sharing your world. Five sons...and a home schooling mom....double wow. And some things are timeless like the Beatrix Potter books....my girls loved them too. Have a great thursday.....
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