No.50: Our Farmhouse Schoolhouse in Photos (Week 12)

TGIF!  Week 12 was rough.  I’ve been burning the candle at both ends, trying so hard to do it all, and I finally hit the wall.  As I look back at my neurotic lack of self-care, I can only shake my head and sigh.  Poor eating, poor sleeping due to a teething baby (but still staying up late for a little silent “me time”), intense training runs, full days of school and chores and project after project…what am I thinking?!  I’m also dealing with a few hormonal issues, which hasn’t helped either.  Ironically, I came across and listened to a talk about Mary and Martha and letting Jesus gaze upon us (linked below).  Oh man, a sucker punch to the gut.  I’ve been thinking about it all week.  33 seems like the right age to stop trying so hard and to start accepting my own imperfection.

Notes and highlights:

+ M (5th grade) has spent eleven weeks immersed in different aspects of the Civil War.  He has learned about everything from important battles to ironclad ships to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination to the Underground Railroad.  We wrapped up all of this learning with Project Week, a chance for him to show us everything he learned!  As an educator, I found the process really interesting, seeing what things stuck in his memory and what facts just didn’t click.  I think it will be helpful for both of us going forward. 

+ For memory’s sake, the seven tasks on his list were:
1. Write a report about an important Civil War battle.  Please write a rough draft and then see Mom for any corrections.  You may either write neatly or type your final copy.
2. Create a map that explains the battle you chose above.  Be creative!  A few ideas to get you started: paint a map on big paper, make one out of salt dough, or construct using Legos.
3. Eat like a Confederate and bake Johnny Cakes.  Look on page 61 of your Civil War Projects book for the recipe and instructions.
4. What are your Top 10 favorite facts about Abraham Lincoln?  Make a file folder presentation with your list.
5. Use your best voice and recite the Gettysburg Address.
6. Create a wanted poster for John Wilkes Booth.
7. Imagine that you were a part of the Underground Railroad and create a paper “quilt map” to lead the slaves to freedom.

+ We squeezed in one more movie about the Underground Railroad on Friday morning: Follow the Drinking Gourd.  

+ We finished Nim’s Island early this week.  The kids would excitedly ask for “Just one more chapter, please Mama?  We have to know what happens!” and how do you say no to that?  To celebrate, we watched the movie on Amazon Prime and it’s quickly become a new favorite.  The movie is quite different from the book, but still so good.

Current 1000 Books Project Total: 70/1000
Poetry Teatime Treat: Chocolate Chip Cookies