I have been doing "school" at home with Everett since September, and in that time, I can see why people want to homeschool their kids forever, while at the same time I can see why people want to send their kids to school to be taught by someone else.
The best part for me has been really getting to follow Everett's lead about what he is interested in and wants to learn more about, feeling like I am using my creative side in planning activities, seeing my children get to spend so much time together creating a bond, and giving Everett a lot of focused attention. However, I think as a mom I get the best of Everett, but also the worst. Because he is so comfortable and safe, I definitely get the tantrums and frustration that he wouldn't show to a teacher at school.
This "Penguin Week" of school was a good example of both. Everett chose the topic, which was inspired by a zoo trip to see the new penguin exhibit. He said, "Mom, let's learn all about penguins in school!" It was also partially inspired by an incomplete penguin costume that was in the running for Halloween, but then arrived without a head, so was never a real consideration.
It was such a fun week of school that included lots of reading, art, dressing up, being silly, eating Swedish fish off the living room floor, and Everett's first documentary. It also included an epic tantrum, because I wouldn't let Everett pour paint on the cement in our backyard, and the only thing that would calm him down was cuddling our dog. You win some, you lose some.
Penguin books we enjoyed reading each day:
- Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers
- Up and Down by Oliver Jeffers
- Lily the Unicorn by Dallas Clayton
- If I were a Penguin (for Cambria)
- Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
Art supplies:
Printable book:
Documentary: March of the Penguins
Activity One:
Read Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers and act the story out, having fun as a penguin in a boat.
Activity Two:
Read Tacky the Penguin and dress up and act like him, which included eating Swedish fish off the living room floor.
Activity Three:
Create a book called My Silly Penguin, color it, and practice reading.
Reading little sister a penguin book in his boat.
Activity five:
Read Lily the Unicorn, dressing up as the character Roger the Penguin from the book, and creating a unicorn Lily to accompany him (painting a unicorn using q-tips):
This was a very three year old moment. Everett became really frustrated that I wouldn't let him pour paint on the cement in our backyard, so he needed to take a break and have some dog cuddles to calm him down.
Activity six:
Reading Up and Down and attempting to become a flying penguin like the one in the book. This included swinging, jumping off furniture, and other random activities to try to fly.
Activity seven:
Everett and I watched March of the Penguins together, which means he asked questions through the entire thing, because that is the stage of life he is in. We both loved it, and I even cried watching the documentary.
No comments:
Post a Comment