Monday, February 22, 2010

revivify me


Several weeks ago, Tristan had a lot of fun digging these little Terracotta Army figures out of blocks of chalk (a Christmas gift from his Auntie Sarah who lives in China. Don't you love the wording on the box?) After all that messy fun, we wanted to know more about the real thing so of course a Google search ensued. We then printed some photos and packed up his figures and tools and Tristan shared what he had done and learned for 'show and tell' in his Classical Conversations class. That day in class the kids did a science experiment demonstrating erosion and we were able to relate his geology lesson to what he had just learned about archaeology. Later at home, we read a few chapters of Susan Wise Bauer's The Story of the World and we learned about the Egyptians and Sumerians and 5,000 year old records of history that still exist because they were carved in stone as well as great blank spaces of time that are a mystery because the paper records could not last. Tristan decided to put a piece of paper in a bowl of water and see what would happen over the course of a few days. Later, we marveled at the smooth, weathered stones on the beach as we collected some to bring home and then the kids made plaster casts of sea shells in class as part of their ongoing geology lessons...
I could go on and on but I'm probably starting to annoy you.
I just love how all this happened over the course of a week or two when I was feeling scatterbrained and unmotivated and pretty much unfit to be mom and teacher. Despite all that, our schooling, playing, reading and relating still worked themselves together like puzzle pieces of learning. When it comes to school, I usually feel inadequate and unprepared in the moment but when I am able to look back and see the big picture taking form I am revivified and excited to keep on. Something to hold on to as I face this Monday morning. That and my third cup of coffee.

10 comments:

  1. That fourth cup of coffee's on me. I am so with you girl!!!! You're an amazing mother, teacher and friend. The wonderful thing I'm learning about all the hats that we as moms wear... is that "God doesn't call the qualified he qualifies the called." He connects the dots and "gently leads those who have young." Have a great Monday!

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  2. oh so true, Christy. thank you!!

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  3. You are something else, Kelli! I swear I don't know how you do it all and look so good doing it! Can I send James to your class??

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  4. just found out I will be homeschooling in the middle east. phew. we need to talk. I NEVER saw myself as a homeschooler- but with private school being $15,000 per year per a kid (yes for elementary school...more as they get older!) and the other option being Islamic school- it's becoming clear that at least some homeschooling is in my future. ALL that to say- you make me feel like its doable and not going to be terrible. Have a fabulous Monday!

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  5. What a fun project! Even though I don't homeschool and my kids aren't even old enough for school, sometimes I feel like everything we do is so boring and every day is the same. Most times I try a project it falls flat (Grant's just not into that stuff quite yet), but every once in a while we'll have success and it makes me proud! If your 6-year-old is taking a "Classical Conversations" class, it sounds like he's getting a lot of great experiences and learning a lot!

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  6. To continue this lesson, y'all can make another trip out here to see me, and I'll take you to Forbidden Gardens. It's a complete re-make of the terracotta army. Try googling it... it's pretty crazy that something like it is in Katy!
    Way to go Kelli (and Tristan)!

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  7. Sara, how come I've never heard of that place?? I did google it -way cool! Tristan would love it!
    It is a random thing to find in Katy of all places though :)

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  8. They also have a Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit at the National Geographic Museum in DC.

    That's cool that you get to dig the figures out of clay.

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  9. That's so funny! I got one of those for Trevor when we went to see the Terracotta Warriors at the NatGeo in December! Trev loved seeing all the life-size warriors, so it was be fun to remember them when he "unearths" the little one. We haven't done anything with it yet...I'm saving it! :)

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