In 1948 Disney put out a cartoon biography about Johnny Appleseed. The cartoon has its usual sweet but unrealistic woodland animals getting along. BUT this particular cartoon has God woven throughout as well as Godly character traits, such as courage, kindness, and humility. The first song is Johnny singing a catchy tune giving praise to God and glory to Him! The last words of the animated feature also give glory to God. There is a lively imagined guardian angel who exhorts Johnny to not look at his slight build as a hindrance but to use his courage, good thinking, and of course the Good Book to be successful. There is also an imagined scene when the guardian angel comes to get Johnny to take him to heaven. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family and I---even the older children stayed to watch---
While Christopher Columbus glorified and praised God he, as many others before and after him, did succumb to the temptation of power and greed. May want older students to do a research paper on this subject. No man is infallible!
•
Math it! Have a chocolate chip taste test. Purchase several small bags of different brands chips (they will not go to waste!) and determine which one your family likes the best. Chart the results. Use chips in adding and subtracting lesson.
We make hot cocoa using chocolate chips: heat milk, add chips to taste (about ¼ cup per mug) and then whisk. Children enjoy making this: just pour the warm milk into a mug and add the chips…use a small whisk—place handle between palms of hands and slide hands back and forth causing the whisk to spin.
Here are some books with delicious themes!
August 5
National Waffle Day
History of the Waffle, including the famous Belgian Waffle, found fresh and hot throughout Belgium!
Here’s a picture of our very own Gayla enjoying her first true Belgian waffle while husband Steve looks on!
Here is a brief, interesting, and easy-to-follow You Tube documentary about the history of the dollar and its devaluation over the years. Do you agree with the writer? Are we breaking the law? Is this a solution to our economic problems? Good questions for your students.
Homeschool educators take every opportunity to teach their students—even on vacation! Here are a few ideas:
• Research! If you are going to several locations assign a place to each student prior to the trip. They are the tour guide for this particular destination. Have them research the geography, history, and places of interest. They may even find self-guided walking tours!
• Math! Assign a student to make a budget…how much will lodging, food, transportation, and admissions cost?
• On-site Reporting! Set up a blog or journal site (we use www.shutterfly.com) to share adventures with friends. Every few days send out pictures along with stories of your experience. We include mishaps (driving the wrong way on a narrow lane and having to back allll the way out!), people of interest (the woman playing a cello in the middle of a town square), special foods (our first waffles in Belgium) as well as the usual pictures of the sites themselves. Good way for you to remember your trip, too!
• Art and Composition! After the trip assign a student to create a photo album along with a journal. You can do this “by hand” or digitally. Our family organizes and stores our pictures at www.shutterfly.com. It is a very user friendly site and has an excellent photo album making program. There are a variety of sizes from which to choose. I get mine made and then wait for a sale or free shipping or sometimes even both!
• Bible! Assign each capable person a day where they will be in charge of the devotional. Encourage them to use the surroundings or some aspect of vacation—meeting people, being a light, fruits of the spirit, etc. Have an encouraging or exhorting verse of the day. If possible assign this prior to leaving…and check on their progress so that they will have a worthwhile devotional!
