Walk in the woods

There is really nothing better than a walk in the woods when there are lessons to be done...

Medicine Pouches

As part of our long-lasting and somewhat meandering study of aboriginal culture, the boys and I started reading Sioux Winter by Bill Freeman (Note to self: reading books together = fun, reading books as part of a 'lesson' = bad) I should know better by now, don't you think?

Anyway, in order to keep little fingers busy while we were reading the boys sewed together the pieces from a kit to make medicine bags that they got for Christmas.  A lovely coincidence...

The got them all put together and then promptly ran off to fill them with secret treasures. 

Bruce Trail Revisited

The boys are taking up the challenge of hiking the Bruce Trail again, and wanted to explore some new ground.  We went out to Mono today to the McCarston Lake Side Trail.  It would be so nice to be able to hike with another driver in the group so that we could go in a straight line instead of either having to double back or pick side loops!

Here is a bit of what we saw...

The College Royal

The University of Guelph College Royal is a perennial favorite in our home.  I think this is the 3d (or 4th?) year that we have gone, and we all love it.  here are some pics from our latest trip...

Winter Fort Making

Today we went over to a local conservation area with our Friday Friends group to play around with winter survival skills.  The kids were challenged with making a fort in the woods with a few items that they were hypothetically able to salvage from a plane wreck.  A tarp, some string, a plastic bag...

Plaster molding

Our Friday Friends group went to the Homer Watson Gallery this morning to learn about Homer Watson, see some of his paintings, and make some masterpieces of their own.  They used clay to make molds, and then cast them with plaster.  Charlie decided that making a dinosaur 'fossil' was a good idea. 

Science Happens

Just when I get myself worked up into a frenzy about how little time I have been able to spend on 'official lessons' with the boys, they do something so natural, exploratory, and undoubtedly educational that I have no choice but to smile at my lack of faith.

Today William got out his more 'mechanical' Lego pieces and build this little vehicle that has an elastic inside that helps it to push off of a hard surface and project itself across the floor.  Will wasn't happy with how hast (or slow) it went, so he got to work. 

He spent the better part of a hour after that exploring traction and resistance.  Did it go faster with plain plastic wheels?  What if he added rummer tires?  Would gears for wheels work?  Carpet?  Linoleum?  Hardwood?  (Rubber tires on linoleum proved to be the fastest, in case you are interested)

Thank you, oh homeschooling fairies, for a much needed reminder about how kids really learn!