Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Myanmar
Film-to-school connection
We journeyed in to the Film Forum on Sunday to see it. It was fascinating. B.Major seemed to "get" it. Of course the shots of the St.Louis Arch and the occasional freight trains whistling through town kept him interested. I did have quibbles with some of the legal (real property) claims as well as some historical events which did not make it into the film (remember "Black Migrations", if you took sociology or American history in the late '70s?) but it was a very sobering and thought-provoking documentary over all.
It is always fun to go to the city. We are planning another trip on Veteran's Day to see a film about the making of a Steinway piano. B.Minor may have to be dropped off at dad's office though.
The run-up to Confirmation
Today was the feast of the Guardian Angels. I spent some time talking to the boys about their angels. We had a nice dinner, the good china and a layer cake. Any excuse for a party.
Shipwrecked
I hope to get him on to the Scarlet Pimpernel soon.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
A-viking we shall go
On my husband's advice we started with Laxdaela. We got about 25 pages into it. He seemed to grasp the idea that it was almost like the old west. "They went west in search of land".
This may lend itself to an interesting unit study. Viking ships. Maps. Pagan/prechristian winter traditions. Long-hall building. Barn burning (whoops scratch that).
A trip to the library is indicated.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Math,science and letter writing
There isn't much time for pleasure reading. I wish he would read on the bus, but he doesn't. Too fascinated by the variety of vehicles on our traffic-clogged roads.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Autumn holiday
This is the Boulder Field in Hickory Run State Park (PA). We spent some time climbing on the boulders and observing what there was to be seen. Mostly just lichens, but the boys noticed that along the sides there were some scrubby "islands" with a struggling blueberry bush, some moss and even a little hole where perhaps a small animal lived. The boulders were pushed here by glacier action millions of years ago. It is a fascinating site.
We also rode mules, picked apples and observed the star-spangled sky. Some constellations were identified: Big Dipper, Little Dipper, Cassiopeia. A waterfall was climbed and a zoo (actually a "wild animal park") visited. B.Major was enrapt by the great horned owls. B.Minor enjoyed the sight of two lions playing with an empty beer keg. They reminded him of his kittens at home. I felt slightly guilty at seeing the animals in old-fashioned cages rather than the modern, educational, environmentally-correct habitats we've seen at other zoos (Bronx, Memphis). On the other hand I have to admit that you see the animals much more closely than when they can hide in the grass.
Not much schoolwork was done; science homework was finished up hastily on Sunday evening. It was a good break for all of us to be out in the fresh air, sunshine, starlight and water.