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Sunday, November 17, 2013

Plymouth Plantation Day 2013 or How 50 Cans of Soup DO a Stew Make!!!


 We took a fieldtrip 4 miles south of our school to our farm, but we dropped back in history four HUNDRED years!  Yes, the pilgrim children DID play leap frog!
 They played "Flying Dutchmen" as well (although that is a little known fact based upon the assumption that while they were in the Netherlands for a brief period they picked up on the Dutch culture.  I can tell you're still not buying it.  OK, YOU find me some other Separatist children games then!!)

 We pulled molasses taffy as well.  My astute readers will respond with, "Oh, but excuse me, Madd.  Molasses taffy is an early 1800 activity!"  Once again, find me some Separatist candy recipes and I'll gladly whip them up!  Sheesh....
 They DID dip candles.  Perhaps not 3 at a time using birthday candles as a base and clothespins, but candles nevertheless.  Furthermore, you find me a jollier candle dipper, and I'll eat my Squanto!
 .
Meanwhile back at the apothecary, Mr. Hadd helps students conjure up herbal salves.  Kindly ignore that pile of unsightly debris.  On this particular day our attic dormer was under construction.

I have it on good authority that one student (who had his head repeatedly stepped on while on the trampoline) rubbed this calendula salve on his forehead on the resulting goose egg resulting in a miraculous healing!!
Of course, no good activity I plan outside can take place without high winds, blinding rain, and life-altering hail.  This one was no exception.  While some of the 50 crowded shivering and dripping on my grammy flower porch, the more sporting played football while we waited for the bus.  And as the sun slowly set on this fieldtrip, we all called it a smashing success--albeit only semi-historically factual.
A hearty Miles Standish shoutout to breadmakers and mother helpers!

Sunday, November 3, 2013

This 'n That about One Thing and the T'uther



In an age where it may appear even fashionable to give up blogging, I appear to have followed suit.  Au contraire!  I am pleading "the Fifth" or actually "the Fifth Grade"!  My world has resembled Upside Downton Abbey since the end of August, but I am coming up to speed.  Here's a quick recap:
  • first day Smithsonian Lifesaver racing cars 
  • class/family cook-out
  • chocolate fountain/Monster's Inc. Friday night incentive party
  • knitting instruction!  This warms my heart to see my boys particularly taken by it! Thanks to my knitting group, In Stitches, who furnished all the needles and yarn!
  • Tom Sawyer as our first readaloud
  • Class jobs and funny money monetary reward system
  • weekly spelling bees in which my students absolutely REVEL!  Go figure! 
  • Carry overs from middle school--"What's in the Hat?"; "BACON!!!--we are learning our states' capitals with this crazy game--ALWAYS a mega-hit"; "Tortuga" which is really a carry over from Mr. Munk back in the 60's; Tickets; Skippy and Prince Charming; Farkel; and Grammar Rock and of course--Happy Pants!!
  • fieldtrip to Grand Teton National Park
  • red and green ukuleles!  Stay tuned for our part in the Christmas program!
  • Go Math--common core--I'm wondering if anyone has drawn the same conclusion that I have:  We throw the apple core away, right?  Apples--oldest symbol we have for education...Quickest route I've seen to absolutely de-fun the system.
Other news on the homefront:
  • Paco Minnesota-ed for a few weeks.  Mugsy moped, and I limped by.
  • We're in an attic renovation.  I'm leaving that up to the reader's imagination, but remember that bats have inhabited that attic for a long long long time...
  • I'm getting fit!
I'll post some pictures soon.  Bring your hazmat suit and a mask and come on out to the renovation!  All the guano you can carry away!

Favorite books

  • Me 'n Steve
  • Thundering Sneakers
  • James Herriott's vet books
  • The Count of Monte Cristo
  • Travels with Charley
  • A Walk in the Woods
  • Peace Like a River
  • The Egg and I
  • Mary Poppins
  • Extremly Loud Incredibly Close
  • How Green Was my Valley