No.552: My Mother Culture Plans for 2021-2022

This post contains affiliate links.

My monthly Mother Culture plans were quite hit or miss last year.  As I reflected on it, I think my biggest issue was that I over-anticipated my free time.  In reality, with the small pockets of “me” time I currently have, there was just no way I could read an entire book, see a new handicraft through from start to finish, research and enjoy new music and start a new skill all in thirty days.  (DUH.)

So for this year, I’m back to the drawing board.  I tried to pick topics that fit with my children’s school subjects, both for my own knowledge and so I can sprinkle in a few extra facts along the way.  I used Ambleside Online as a jumping off point for the artist and composer studies.  Handicrafts will also be included, but I have a separate idea for that.  (Details coming next week!)  My plan is to work steadily through the list, focusing on quality versus quantity.  We’ll see how it goes.

American History

My elementary school children are learning about Early American history this year, so I chose two books that fit:

• Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacson
• Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story by Wilfred M. McClay

Artist Study // John Singleton Copley

We will also be studying this colonial-era artist as a family.  I’m really interested to read more about him!

• A Book to Buy //A Revolution in Color: The World of John Singleton Copley by Jane Kamensky
• Noteworthy Pieces of Art (and many more are also found here) //
  1. Paul Revere, 1768-70, Museum of Fine Arts Boston
  2. The Nativity, 1777, Museum of Fine Arts Boston
  3. Watson and the Shark, 1778, National Gallery of Art Washington D.C.
  4. The Death of the Earl of Chatham, 1779-81, National Portrait Gallery London
  5. The Defeat of the Floating Batteries at Gibraltar, September 1782, 1783-91, Guildhall Art Gallery London
  6. The Red Cross Knight, 1793, National Gallery of Art Washington D.C.
  7. Saul Reproved by Samuel for Not Obeying the Commandments of the Lord, 1798, Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Biology and Nature Study 

My natural history choices are all over the place.  I am eager to start reading from this list and I could probably write five more posts with interesting books I’m dying to get my hands on!  For now, I chose one new-to-me title and one that I’ve had on my shelf for awhile.  I also stumbled upon an herbal studies course that sounds fascinating.

• The Monk in the Garden: The Lost and Found Genius of Gregor Mendel, the Father of Genetics by Robin Marantz Henig
• Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv
• Herbal Materia Medica Course from Herbal Academy

Composer Study // Antonin Dvorák 

After reading this short description of Antonin Dvorak, I knew he was a composer I wanted to learn more about!

• Books to Read // Antonin Dvorak, My Father by Otaker Dvorak and Dvorak: His Life and Music by Gervaise Hughes
• Noteworthy Pieces of Music (links for all can be found here) //
  • Symphony 9 in E minor Op. 95 B.178 “From the New World”
  • Slavonic Dances Op. 46 and Op. 72
  • Carnival Overture Op. 92 B.169
  • Humoresques for piano Op. 101 no. 1-8 (especially no 7 in G flat)
  • String Quartet No. 12 in F maj Op. 96 (“American”)
  • Trio no. 4 in E minor Op. 90 “Dumky”

Classic Literature // Don Quixote

This darn book.  I start and stop and start and stop.  I’m not making any promises, but hoping for at least a little forward progress!