Williamsburg and Jamestown Settlement

The girls and I took a road-trip to Colonial Williamsburg, Va for the last few days of their homeschool promotion.  We spent 7 hours exploring the shops, playing the spy game, and exploring the grounds of the lovely Govenor's Palace.

(The classic Williamsburg picture)

The girls and I enjoyed seeing what food would have been prepared for the wealthy and they found a fun hedge maze on the palace property.

(Since everyone is in the first person, it was funny when we asked for a selfie.)

We heard the Declaration of Independence being read at the foot of the Courthouse and listened to the fife and drum march the troops into battle.

The girls really enjoyed the cannon firing and notice those purple bandanas....well, those were given to them upon entering for a special spy game.  You would really need a full day to devote to the interactive game, but we enjoyed the first few clues.

It was a full day at Colonial Willaimsburg and sure worth the discounted price.  They have homeschool days in the Spring, Fall, and sometimes Winter.

Jamestown Settlement

Jamestown Settlement was even better than Williamsburg for the kids!  This is separate from Jamestown island.  Here they have a fantastic History museum, Powhatan village, an example of the first Jamestown, along with ships that you are  encouraged to explore.

Seeing how a log becomes a canoe was one of the highlights and they even helped carve out a canoe with oyster shells.

Next we got to see how Jon Smith lived around 1610-1615.

The Susan Constance was the largest of the 3 ships that set sail from England. The girls were thrilled to touch everything on the the ship.

The day ended with racing paper canoes after spending about 5 hours walking around. This place was so interactive and we loved the Powhatan Village.  Jamestown Settlement has homeschool days every Fall.  Next Year we plan to come back to Jamestown Settlement and add on Jamestown Island, and Yorktown.

We had fantastic weather and it was a perfect way to start Fall.  I think the girls now have a better idea of what life was like during the 17th century.  

Six September Activities

I love Autumn!  I love the smell of apples, decaying leaves, pumpkins, and wearing long sleeve shirts. I know it's still summer, but we are getting ready with anticipation.  Here are some activities that we just finished up or have done in the past.

Toilet paper pumpkins:

Pumpkin Play Dough:

Pumpkin Life Cycle:

 Apple Mosaic:

Apple Pie Play Dough:

Homemade Apple Sauce:

Cow's Eye Dissection

Our Classical Conversation group gathered today to dissect a cow's eye.  We are learning about the human body this cycle and the past two science experiments have discussed the eye.

This was the first dissection experience for the children.  I explained that the smell was fermaldihyde and it was used to preserve specimens. (I should mention that this was my first dissection since high school.)

We went step by step: fatty tissue, cornea, lens, retina, tapetum, and optical nerve.

The children also learned how to find their blind spot.  This first dissection project was pretty fascinating and not gross.  The children and Moms walked away with a better understanding of how the human eye is made.

This is a great link to help you understand the dissection process.

- See more at: http://www.halfahundredacrewood.com/search/label/CLASSICAL%20CONVERSATIONS%20CYCLE%203%20WEEKLY%20LINK-UP#sthash.GWj7S7x2.dpuf

FIAR-Madeline

I signed up a few months ago to do an activity and file folder Five In A Row Swap. As with most swaps, they always sound great, but I always wait until the last minute to complete 10 bags.

I chose the book Madeline, by Ludwig Bemelmams.

Below are the activities that I made for our swap.  I know it will be a big help receiving nine other book activities to use during the year.

Trace the Eiffel Tower for younger kids.

Madeline Match

Learn to draw the Eiffel Tower and fun facts.

Play dough mat

Madeline search and find

Homemade French Bread

I would love to hear what you've been rowing.

The smell of Grandma's house

I was recently gifted two vintage tablecloths that belonged to my Grandmother.  She has been with her maker for nearly 15 years and I believe she is my guardian angel now.

My family currently uses her rock maple circular table.  We can't seem to get rid of it.  It doesn't fit our kitchen space well and it's not incredibly beautiful.  We got rid of the hutch that went with it two moves ago, but the table still remains, along with her memory.

During our visit to PA, my Aunt went down to her basement and pulled out Grandma's vintage fringed tablecloths. She never used them due to her table's size- lucky me!

Shortly after returning home, I pulled those vintage beauties out and had planned to wash them, but the smell stopped me.  I felt like the food critic in the Disney movie Ratatouille as I was transported back in time.  My heart started to ache and tears welled in my eyes, happy tears, wishing I could once again talk to my dear Old Nanny.

Those tablecloths remain unwashed in my cabinet.  I don't want to lose that smell of moth balls, old wood, and something sweet.  For it's the smell of my Grandma's house, if only all smells could be so endearing.

Leaf rubbing & nature journaling

It's a beautiful day here in North Carolina. 

It's perfect for leaf rubbing and nature journaling.  

My girls love to discover nature. They select a fallen leaf and rub the paper with oil pastels, then then they look up tree name in our nature books. 

They think each tree has a different scent so they like to rub the leaf in their journal, like a scratch and sniff sticker.

Lancaster County, PA

I took Lancaster County for granted when I was growing-up. I found the endless corn fields and supply of fresh produce in exciting. Yet years later, we stop and watch the horse and buggies trot by and look at awe at each Amish community. I am glad that I can share this experience with my children.  We head home with a car full of fresh picked corn, melons, a shoe-fly pie for our neighbor, and sweet bologna.

- places to see:

Choo Choo Barn

PA Railroad Museum

The Turkey Hill Experience

Strasburg Railroad

Cotton- field to fiber

Our 4-H Textile group had a wonderful field trip last month. We learned all about cotton and how it goes from the field to the fiber.

We learned that the cotton buds are edible and it takes 1 plant to knit a sweater.

The girls took the cotton from the plant and brushed it until it was fluff.  The fluff was then spun onto a make shift spinning wheel made from a mason jar lid and cabob stick.  Spinning is such an art!