Flashlight Egyptian Tomb Tour

Camster (left in coral), Sher Bear (blue floral) and Jor Man (right)

Littles and their mom at the mummy diorama

The Fitchburg Art Museum, in Fitchburg, MA, opened their new Egyptian exhibit last week.  And we were among the lucky home schoolers who got to be the first ones to see it.  This was another of the programs organized by the Family Resource Center.  I am so grateful for them, as I would not have known about this museum otherwise.  We are making friends at these outings, as many of the same kids and parents were also at the Rhode Island School of Design the previous week.

The museum staff did a marvelous job of keeping the kids (and the parents) interested and curious about the exhibits.

Everyone's favorite part was the flashlight tour of the "tomb".  A corridor was painted with the story of what happens after you die (according to the Ancient Egyptians).  We sat in the dark hallway while the docent pointed her flashlight at the walls, pointing out the various gods and goddesses, and telling their stories.  It was a captivating presentation for all but the very youngest of the visitors.  There was a tunnel you could crawl through, which the girls loved.

She did an excellent job of explaining mummification

Following the flashlight tour, the docent took us through the exhibit and showed us the large collection of artifacts, including a real mummy, uncovered.  The kids were all sharing their knowledge of Ancient Egypt - and it was really fun to see how much they have assimilated into their knowledge already.  Sher Bear told everyone about our mummified chicken.  LOL!

Using Hieroglyphics to decorate Obelisks

We took a lunch break before going on to the arts and crafts room to make Obelisks and Egyptian Necklaces.  The girls were so excited just to color and cut out the paper necklace.  It reminded me that they love to do crafts, and I want to incorporate more simple crafts into our days.

Everyone liked using hieroglyphics to write their names and simple phrases.  Sher Bear found a chart of them in one of our Egypt books, and has been writing things in hieroglyphs ever since.

The educator explains how to fold the Obelisks

I was very impressed with this museum and their staff.  Following the official class, we toured the rest of the museum on our own.  I have been to some museums where they have been visibly uncomfortable with the children being there, and I have felt rushed to leave.  This was not the case at Fitchburg.  Everyone was warm and welcoming to the kids.  They talked with us, and gave us suggestions as to what to look for.  Upstairs, they had a monoprint exhibit, with a film explaining monoprints.  We were all so fascinated, that we want to do some monoprints now.

I cannot believe that I forgot my camera that day!  But I did.  And the Director of Docents at the museum was kind enough to send me these pictures to include in my blog.  Thank you, Ann!

Wish you were here!

Graduation

Jor Man's Sand Tiger Shark poster

Last week the big kids "graduated" from both Aquarium School and Animal Academy.  This was our tenth month of going to Boston for classes once a month.  What an adventure!

I wasn't at all sure how this was going to work.  Afterall, as unschoolers, we are not in the habit of "making" our kids do their homework.  But both classes had final projects of a report and a poster about an animal.  Jor Man would (if he were in school) be in 4th grade.  So I imagine he might have such a project to do in 4th grade, although I don't remember writing reports until 6th grade.

Campster's Sea Horse poster

But Campster would be only in 1st grade, if she were in school!  So it seemed funny to me for her to "have to" write a report and do a poster.  In any case, neither child had ever done anything like this before.

Happily, both classes had assignments throughout the year which were much shorter and led up to the final projects.  I always told the kids what the homework was, and that they didn't have to do it.  Of course, I pointed out that the other kids in class would probably be doing the work.  I'd say something like, "So if you want to work on it, and you'd like help, I'm available this afternoon, and tomorrow morning.  But if you leave it until the last minute, I might not be free then."

Jor Man in front of his poster

Jor Man balked the most.  I just ignored it.  And by ignore it, I mean that I didn't get unhappy about it.  It wasn't easy.  I have strong "wishes" for my kids to "do well" and make me look good.  (Lovely!)  But I know that if I try to use unhappiness to motivate my kids to do what I want, they will learn to use unhappiness to try to motivate me to do what they want (whining, moping).

The posters were fun to do, and kind of got the ball rolling.  I can't say enough good things about repositionable spray adhesive.  Just don't let the kids use it themselves, unless you want your whole house to function like a post-it!

The reports were more of a challenge.  Like I said, Jor Man balked big time about doing the two-page report.  I chose to reframe it for him:  They had done a few shorter "reports" throughout the year of about a paragraph or two.  So we collected all of the ones about Sand Tiger Sharks (his aquarium animal) and photocopied them.

Jor Man with his TuaTara poster and report, and Campster with hers on Rabbits

Then we cut the photocopies up into sentences, and organized them by topic.  Some were about the animal's classification; some, the exhibit; and some were about what the animal ate.

We then sprayed a couple blank pieces of paper with spray adhesive, making huge post-its.  Then we placed the sentences in paragraphs.  Jor Man was able to see how a report is organized.  We added opening and closing paragraphs and he had his report!  When it came time to work on his Tuatara report, he knew what to do, and wrote it himself.

The Campster was excited to work on her poster and reports.  For Aquarium School, she chose Sea Horses as her animal.  Thankfully, she had an option to do either a report or a series of five cartoons.  She chose the cartoons.  It was really fun to see how creative she got with her cartoons.  They are all her own work.  I just coached her through the process.

For her report on Rabbits (her Animal Academy animal), Campster and I checked out books from the library.  I read portions of the books to her, and she would comment when there was something she wanted me to write down for the report.  We talked about how we need to write things in her own words.  

Campster and her friend holding Campster's "Cartoons" for her Sea Horse report

Then we took the notes and read them aloud.  Afterwards I asked her to dictate her report to me, and I would write it out.  She did a great job, no problem.

Jor Man discusses Sand Tiger Sharks with the President of the Aquarium

The classes, did a great job of celebrating the end of class and the kids' learning.  At the New England Aquarium, they had the kid's posters up and their reports out on display.  The administration of the Aquarium all took the time to come by and see what the kids had done.  Jor Man had an extended conversation about Sand Tiger Sharks with the President of the Aquarium.  Jor was very excited about this.

Wish you were here!

American Girl

Since buying their Just Like You dolls, Campster and Sher Bear have been very excited about all things American Girl.  When we were in Chicago, a Facebook friend mentioned the American Girl store there.  While we didn’t have a chance to get to the store while in Chicago, I did see that there was also a Boston store.

I made a reservation online for the American Girl Bistro.  And this afternoon, after Aquarium School, we headed over to the store in Natick, just outside of Boston.  The girls had been saving their money, and planning their purchases for weeks. 

Well it was worth the wait.  The girls were in heaven.  And, surprisingly, even Jor Man found the place delightful.  There were two levels of dolls, books, clothes and accessories.  So much to look at.  Much addition and subtraction was done.  “If I bought this, could I still buy this?” 

We came in time for tea, but the tea menu (though lovely) was not accommodating to my new gluten-free diet.  So we ate dinner.  Dinner was $16.95 per person for all but Sher Bear, who was able to eat from the $9.95 4-year-old and under menu.  Yes, it was expensive.  And the portions were mostly doll-sized!  But the smiles on the kids’ faces were worth every penny. 

The dolls were able to join us at the table thanks to special doll seats that attached to the table itself.  The waitress brought out little chocolate chip muffins for the dolls to share with the girls.  Everyone who works there was very warm, friendly and willing to listen to my kids’ endless stories with enthusiasm. 

I enjoyed the décor.  Little details like doll hangers in the bathroom stalls made me chuckle.  It was a little girl's dream come true.

I snuck and bought each girl’s doll a new t-shirt with American Girl Boston on it.  I hope they will have the dolls for years to come, and will remember our trips to Boston when they see the shirts in the future. 

We have watched several of the American Girl Movies - and they are a great jumping off point for discussions of history.  I am hoping that when Campster is able to read chapter books, she will enjoy reading their books.  I think their historical fiction is, while not great literature, a fine start for historical study that may ignite an interest in the child that can then be followed up with other books.  I do not care, however, for their other books which are more "how to" books - as I find them to be too modern and self-indulgent.

Sher Bear bought a hair care kit for her doll, and can't wait to try it tomorrow.  Campster bought roller skates for her doll, and slippers for herself.  The doll sized puppy that she had intended to buy was sold out.  We had an opportunity to discuss how we handle such disappointments.  

But my very favorite moment of the visit was when Jor Man pulled me aside.  “Mom,” he said, “I want to spend some of my money to buy  hairstyling for the girls’ dolls.  Do you think that is a wise way to spend my money?”

“I think it is a kind way to spend it.”  I said.    So Jor Man went and told the girls that he would pay for each of them to have their dolls’ hair done.  Many hugs were exchanged.  And the decision-making began.  What color ribbons?  Which hair-do?  They have a whole section of the store for hair styling.  Little barber chairs line the counter, with mirrors overhead to give a full view of the styling process.  The girls were quite pleased with the results, and with their brother.

Wish you were here!

Boston - part three

 

After Aquarium School, and doing a little sightseeing, we head to our hotel. When I was setting this whole thing up, I remembered a hotel I had stayed in when I was 17. My family had vacationed on Nantucket that summer, and stayed in several hotels on the long drive there and back from Chicago. One hotel made a particular impression on me, all those years ago. Now it is known as the Holiday Inn, Boxborough, MA.  It has a huge atrium with a pool and the rooms all around it. To a kid it is heaven. So I called the hotel and negotiated a great rate, based on the fact that we would be there 10 times in the coming year. In addition to a really great rate, they have a Kids Eat Free policy. The kids can’t decide which is better, the swimming pool, or the breakfast buffet. To save money, we pack the cooler with snacks and eat dinner in the room. Then we have the buffet for breakfast.

After breakfast, we swim again. We get late checkout after lunch, and head to the next class.

This is another class coordinated by Family Resource Center. Animal Adventures is a mini-zoo, run by creationist Ed Laquidara in Bolton, Massachusetts. They have ferrets, alligators, snakes, lemurs, lizards, wallaby, bunnies, pigs, chickens, skunks, owl, bobcats, parrots, turtles, chameleon, goats, Komodo dragon and more! The kids are taught how to care for these animals, scientific terms, and an appreciation for God’s creation. Once, they were taught how to wrangle alligators. The alligators’ mouths were taped shut. They started with the 2 foot long alligators and worked their way up to the 6 foot alligator. That’s right. My 6 year old girl has wrangled a 6 foot alligator. There is homework for both classes. I let the kids decide if they want to do it or not. So far they’ve wanted to do it.

The ride home is long and everyone is tired. But we love our vacation school. The next morning is all about unpacking and laundry. They are getting good at both!

Wish you were here!

Boston – part two

After the big kids come from Aquarium School, we hear their excited stories of what they did in class that day. Then we have free time to explore Boston. We like to go to Legal Seafood restaurant. They have delicious seafood and are very kid-friendly.

There are many wonderful museums in Boston. We’ve been to the Boston Children’s Museum – love it! The Museum of Science is a great place to spend a day or two! For a tour of the city, be sure to try the Duck Tours.
A combination land and river tour – they even let Jor Man drive while on the river.

A little farther out, in Sudbury, Massachusetts, we discovered Longfellow’s Wayside Inn. This is the oldest running inn in America. There is a mini-museum inside. But my favorite part is the tavern. It is the oldest part of the inn. Jor Man was so interested in the tavern and its furniture that he kept the barkeep busy answering his questions. The friendly barman showed my kids secret passageways and hiding places where children were kept safe in Indian attacks! There is a dining room and a gift shop, as well. But I recommend spending a while in the tavern and just feeling like you’ve gone back in time. The cheese plate was delicious. We’ve gone back several times.

Henry Ford (yes, THE Henry Ford) fell in love with the place – bought and restored it. He added a reproduction Grist Mill that is nearly the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Your kids will love seeing it in action. They give tours. Mr. Ford also built a chapel, and had the actual schoolhouse about which “Mary Had a Little Lamb” was written moved to the site.

And I promise, in the next post, to tell you about the hotel we stay in!

Boston - part one

This "school year", if we can call it that, my family and I are doing something a little different. My friend has asked me (repeatedly) to blog about it - so here we go.

Family Resource Center is a wonderful organization that coordinates field trips and classes for homeschoolers in New England. For a small fee (I think it's $60) we get access to these classes at a discounted rate, and first opportunity to sign up for them. I talked with the two "Big Kids" (my 9 year-old boy and my 6 year-old girl) about taking some classes with them this year, and they were all for it.

So once a month, on Monday, we all (yes, Big Dad, too!) get in the minivan and drive the 3 hours to Boston. There we have lunch (packed) out on the wharf (weather permitting) and then the Big Kids go to Aquarium School at the New England Aquarium in Boston. These classes are broken up by age group, so Campster is in a younger group than Jor Man. They are taught all about taking care of various animals in the Aquarium. One month, they dissected sharks! The kids LOVE their classes.

Class is two hours long, and since that is a long time for SherBear to stay quiet, we take that opportunity to give her special Mom and Dad time, which she adores. We bought a family membership to the Aquarium ($99), so we get free admission and discounted parking ($25). SherBear loves the hands-on Starfish exhibit and spends at least some time there each trip. She also likes the penguins and the seals.

Weather permitting, we take walks and see a bit of Boston. We've toured Faneuil Hall. And this month, we discovered Christopher Columbus park with a playground. Being the daughter of travel agents, I also like to look at the various hotels.

Oh, and speaking of hotels, I can't wait to tell you what happens next! More to come!

Wish you were here!