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Our break officially ends today. Monday, we will slide back into more scheduled and structured learning, feeling refreshed, and, I hope, ready to tackle some of what I feel are the hardest bits of American history. (Helllo, Civil War.)
It was a great Scholé Pause for both me and my children. In addition to a whole host of natural learning rabbit trails that took us to some very fun places in our books and through our computer, we did more traveling in two weeks than I think we’ve done all year!
Some highlights:
Our deeper dive into Westward Expansion completely overtook one full day, bringing us the opportunity to discuss the physics of both Conestoga wagons and Prairie Schooners and why one was the transport of choice for heading out on the Oregon Trail. After lots of study and discussion, the kids built their own models from craft supplies and odds and ends and yes, turns out longer and narrower is your best bet.
We listened to The Oregon Trail by Francis Parkman. Highly recommended; reminded me in many ways of the writing of Ralph Moody of Little Britches fame.
We spent wide afternoons pondering the lives of Wild Bill Cody (thanks to this book, which is a classic), Kit Carson (this book is also by Ralph Moody!), and Jim Bridger. We never got to Jedidiah Strong Smith, but I think I might save this book about him for the long winter months, when certain little boys need more fuel for their imaginations as they stalk the creek.
We did listen to Farmer Boy again, as planned, but alas, all the good cooking will take place today and this weekend. Pregnant Momma is not the best at kitchen time, even when the inspiration is so bountiful. I’m planning stackcakes and fried apples (but not apples and onions) for tomorrow’s breakfast, but today’s selection is Bird’s Nest Pudding. I think it will make a great Bible Study dessert for tonight, though it will likely be served with vanilla ice cream instead of regular cream since we missed our milk pick up this week.
Geography took a fascinating turn as we looked at Minnesota and, in turn, iron ore mining. Thanks to google, we learned about Bloomery furnaces, and John Mark has made plans for smelting his own iron as soon as he collects enough likely rocks. Seriously, there are a wealth of “diy backyard smelting” videos on youtube, and it’s just the kind of inspiration a pre-teen boy needed to start thinking about the possibilities right here on his own little plot of land.
I already shared about our trip to the Sequoyah Birthplace and Museum. In addition, we snuck in a trip to an art museum, the grounds and gardens of Henry Clay’s Ashland Estate, and finally, the Ark Encounter. It was a lot of going and doing for a family that is usually rooted close to home, but it was a lovely respite from the norm as well as being something educational and edifying for all of us.
And just like that, our break comes to an end. I’ll spend today making sure I’m fully prepped for the weeks ahead, as well as sneaking in that baking project with some eager kiddos. There’s whole stack of new books on their shelves that they are straining to get at, but I will try to hold them off until Monday. Or maybe not. After all, isn’t that increased appetite for learning isn’t what the Scholé Pause is all about?