Emilia's "Faces of History" presentation for Classical Conversations (video)

Emilia (10 years old - 5th Grade) recently finished her Classical Conversations Faces of History presentation for Cycle 3 - American History.

She wrote a five paragraph essay and then prepared this speech.  

The goal was to give enough information that others could guess who she was, but no one knew.  

 

We picked someone that isn't well-known.  

 

She learned a ton and had fun in the process! 

You can watch her presentation below if you're interested.

Essentials Class 2014/15 "Faces of History" Cycle 3

End of the Year Field Trip

Our last field trip for the year was visiting the LST 393.

It is "one of the last two Landing Ship Tanks (LST) of the 1,052 built during World War II"

Here are a bunch of pictures.  :)

After the tour, we ate at a park and then went to the beach where the parents all huddled under towels or wore jackets and the children all swam in the cold, cold water.  

Typical.

"My Perfect World" Books

In our history book, The Mystery of History, we recently learned about Sir Thomas More, the author of Utopia. 

I thought it would be fun to hear my kids' ideas of a perfect world, so I had them write their own "Utopia" books.  I wanted something more substantial than folded sheets of paper stapled together.  I finally settled on these blank hardcover books from Rainbow Resource.  The kids were very excited to write in a "real" book. 

   
Emilia wrote about how everyone would believe in Jesus, have enough clothes to last a lifetime (such a girl), no one would take drugs, fall down, get sick, or hurt, everyone would have everything they needed ("like food, toys, toilets, and houses"), and each person's yard would be divided into the four seasons so they could enjoy every season at all times.  Brilliant. 

You can tell she has a daddy who's involved in politics.  :)

Emilia's page

Jonny started his book by saying that there would be "no real fighting or getting hurt".  Then he added that no one would lie or cry, there would be no more slavery, scabs, bee stings, or mosquito bites.  Everyone would go to church and...he ends by saying, "I'd be able to eat all the time."  That kid can consume the food.  Let me tell ya.

Jonny's page

Those two red things are "slobbery kisses".

I know they will get a kick out of these when they get older because their ideas of a "perfect world" will no doubt change over time.  I'm guessing slobbery kisses won't sound so disgusting to Jonny in the future.  ;) 

Matthew, not to be left out, started making a list for his "perfect world", but never got around to making the book.  I can't remember all of his ideas, but the first one was great. 

"No one would get bit by their friends." 

Now that would be a perfect world.  

Did You Know?

Thomas Edison didn't speak until he was 4.  He was labeled "addled" (mentally confused) after only 12 weeks of school.  His mom took him out and schooled him at home. 

Picture Credit

Winston Churchill was labeled "slow" and "backward" at school.  He hated school the whole way through.  He said,  

"My education was interrupted only by my schooling" 

and  

"Where my reason, imagination, or interest were not engaged, I would not, or I could not learn." 

Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin:  Picture Credit

Abraham Lincoln only had 1 year of formal school.  He was self-educated by reading good books. 

Picture Credit

Gustave Eiffel couldn't pass a drawing class in school and found most of school to be a waste of his time.  He went on to design the Eiffel tower, the frame of the Statue of Liberty, and many other buildings and structures.

Picture Credit

Ansel Adams, at age 12, was dismissed from the private schools he attended because he was too restless and couldn't pay attention.  He was then privately tutored by his father and aunt.

Photograph by Ansel Adams (credit

While our children may never become famous photographers or inventors (which isn't our main goal of education anyway), it's enlightening to know that not everyone was designed by the Lord to do well in our man-made institutions of learning.  And guess what? 

That's great! 

You can read this short article for some of the many more stories like the above.

Henry VIII and His Poor Wives

We just finished learning about the awful fates of most of Henry the Eighth's wives in The Mystery of History.

Trying to remember the stories of each of his six wives can be a daunting task, but this history program has a great project idea for recalling these ladies.

Emilia really enjoyed the process of making this game/memory box and she loved quizzing her dad and I.

Her outfit and hair have nothing to do with this lesson.  She just wanted to be this for the day...

I almost skipped a project for this lesson because it was a rather long lesson by itself and we all know that projects take time and make messes.  I am so glad that I didn't skip it.  By making this box with the fact cards inside, I'm quite certain she has retained much more than she ever would have if we had only read the text and discussed it.

FYI:  #1: Divorced   #2: Beheaded   #3: Died giving birth   #4: Divorced   #5: Beheaded   #6: Outlived Henry (Whew!)

I'm keeping this box out on the counter as a reminder of the excitement she had while doing this lesson.  Because, although the book itself really is an interesting read, there's just something about creating that helps the brain make connections.

And there's just something that kids enjoy about making messes.  :)

Recognizing Art

Emilia's eyes were shining, eager.  "Mom, doesn't this look like something Raphael would paint?"  She held up stamps that my mother-in-law had in her purse.  To tell you the truth, I couldn't remember who painted this particular painting, but I was thinking it was probably Leonardo Da Vinci or Michelangelo.  But, sure enough, she was right! 

We've learned about various famous artists in our history book, The Mystery of History, so I shouldn't have been surprised that she knew who painted this Madonna and Child, but I was.  To say that I was happy would be an understatement.  I was thrilled! 

The academic part of homeschooling can be intimidating at times with thoughts of, Am I doing enough?  Are we learning the right stuff?  Will my children be smart?!, rolling through my mind.  But when the Lord allows me to witness moments of recognition, understanding, or connection...ahhh...it's pure joy! 

I understand that being able to recognize famous works of art is not the most important thing in life.  We pray that our children will first and foremost love and serve God.  But we also pray that they will be able to engage in the many different conversations that flow through the everyday.  That includes, but is not limited to, art.

Hopefully exposing them to some art culture will help them be able to engage more effectively - for the glory of God. 

I attempt to teach using Charlotte Mason's idea of exposing children to the best of the best in art, literature, music, etc.  

Talk of "engaging the conversations" I first heard from a good friend of ours, Chris Brewer, who recently published, Art that Tells the Story, a very well written and aesthetically pleasing book that portrays the Biblical story of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Consummation through (modern) art.