it's that time of year

it's that time of year

a middle tennessee garden blog


finding beauty in the natural things around us makes for one happy self and a lovely life. ~marmee

dash home farm, leiper's fork, tennessee

Saturday, August 29, 2009

homeschool...dash home farm

one of the many benefits to schooling at home...



...is the whole wide world is your classroom.

all of nature is at your disposal...

we had beautiful weather for our first couple of days...

so nature came to us...we are studying in science about
being observers of nature...we are science detectives...always on the
lookout for what is happening in the world around us.

...this is so right up my alley...and abbey loves it too.

we set out on a journey to see why insects do what they do...
we are learning about pollination...bees...flies...

our views are green....blue....

we are armed with science detective tools....field guides...magnifying glass
.....range maps...paper for writing observations and sketching....




oh yes and a quilt for a place to study our books.

the dogs joined us for our class today.

the view from the quilt is illuminated by the sun...

and glows all around us as we...observe....read.....learn.

one of our assignments is to make a living flower exhibit...so
we collect our specimens.




and have a little fun doing it.



"the wise Author of Nature has not made even a single hair without a definite design."
christian konrad sprengel...a teacher that studied nature in his spare time until he finally devoted his life to being a naturalist. (early 1800's)
there will be lots of nature walks...
of course there are all the other subjects too...math...language...
history...
when we do have to be inside....we are fine with that.
after all some days it rains.
our first day was monday.
an assignment for indoors...creating a science museum...another thing
i love...museums.
this is a place we will bring things from our walks...
we have also created a terrarium...we are growing cat grass (oats)/ averna sativa in it...to give our cats to satisfy their craving for fresh greens.
we have crickets...a couple of walking sticks...some moths...
we are observing them for a few days and then we will release them in the wildflower meadow.
it has been a good first week and we are grateful.

23 comments:

Meems said...

Good morning, Marmee...
We are sharing a cup of coffee miles apart this early morning. *hugs*

I want to come to your school! When can I sign up for this wonderful school? The world is our classroom indeed... so many beautiful photos and thoughts. Abbey is going to learn so much and along the way you will be loving what you learn as well. Brings back some wonderful memories of days (seemingly so long ago) of home-schooling outdoors. Fun times! It's a good way to enjoy your last little charge!
Meems
Oh, I LOVE the header photo!

Darla said...

I miss homeschooling!! We had so much fun when we did it. Looks like you guys are off to a great start to the school year!

Robin's Nesting Place said...

We use the same curriculum and the 4th grade science is wonderful! I think that is one of the main contributors to my love of nature and especially bird watching!

Gail said...

Hello~~This is a school I would have loved to attend...In many ways I had idyllic wildlife experiences as a child. Summers were often unsupervised and we traveled many miles in parks and woodlands exploring everything. We just didn't have any structure or a wise teacher to guide us. Abbey looks so happy and joyful~~isn't that what we want for our children; to love learning.

Gail

marmee said...

meems...i love the idea of us having coffee together...sitting somewhere on a porch...chatting it up...virtual will have to do for now.
you should come to my school and give me some pointers. with all your experience i know i would learn so very organized ways of doing things. i am loving my subjects so far...science/health, penmanship, reading, bible...we have had some great conversations.
i love the way you said."It's a good way to enjoy your last little charge!" i agree, now that i have gotten started(the hardest part for me...just starting.)
thanks on the header...i love that one too...it feels like a painting.
happy last days of august.

marmee said...

darla...and why aren't you h/s anymore? you would be a great/fun teacher with lots of energy.
we had a wonderful first week.
happy august days.

marmee said...

robin,

i think our parents have a lot to do with what we can love...my father is an avid outdoorsman...and i always enjoyed being with him when i was a young girl...hunting, fishing, bird watching.
this is abbey's 5th grade year and we are enjoying science for sure...next series of study is the mammal. abbey will love that one.

marmee said...

gail...you are so right...we want our children to love learning. sometimes as parents it takes years to learn that ourselves. i really hope to provide a loving/easy to learn in atmosphere for abbey. i am just glad i don't have to teach her math...lol. dh is doing it...he is so left brained unlike me.
it sounds like you had a wonderful childhood in parks and woodlands. i feel so blessed to be able to raise abbey around all the naturally beautiful things and she seems to appreciate them too.
happy last days of august.

Lola said...

What a rewarding job, Marmee. I know Abbey will enjoy school as will her Mommy. And Dad too of course. At least she will be in an environment that will be much healthier for her.
There is just too much "OTHER" stuff out there to mess up our children.
God Bless you & your husband for taking one this majestic job.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Marmee: Your area is certainly filled with nature. That goldfinch feeder is very special.
Thanks so much for your comment on Jake.

Racquel said...

Your garden is a fun & educational experience. :) I have that same finch feeder, isn't it amazing how many more birds it attracts?

marmee said...

lola,

you know that ole' saying "there is no place like home"...well we feel that way. it is our priviledge to be able to help abbey learn about the world around her while at the same time giving her a loving place to study. i am learning new stuff too everyday...i love that.

marmee said...

fishing guy...that feeder has really attracted so many finches and you don't have to fill it as often because of the dome on top.
i have a fifteen year old dog that has been my best bud...i am sure jake was a wonderful companion and you miss him very much...my heart goes out to you.

marmee said...

racquel...the land around us affords so many opportunities to learn...it is wonderful.
we just got that feeder this year and are so happy we did...normally i don't like plastic but this is so easy because it lasts for so long and it has brought so many finches...i love watching them all.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Marmee, I am so proud of you teaching your own children. I could never have done that---but these days, many people are home-schooling and doing it WELL.

You do have the whole world as your classroom. AND--you are just so creative. I'm so impressed. Your kids are VERY lucky to have a teacher like you.

Hugs,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

simply beautifully captured shots...lovely post!

marmee said...

betsy,

i appreciate your confidence in me. there are just too many things out there influencing our children to leave it to someone else to have that much input. we did a lot of praying to make the decision...now we need His help to make it happen. the first week went well and for that i am grateful.
hugs and happy august days to you.

marmee said...

flyingstars,

love that name you chose...thank you.

Cheryl said...

Dear Marmee....may I join your class please....I will be ever so quiet, I promise....

A lovely post.....one that is easy to get lost in.....I love Abbey strolling through the grasses, I would join her without hesitation. Your lovely dogs add to the scene.......beautiful......

So nice to see you still have the beautiful header.....I could look at the photograph all day, it really is magical.......

marmee said...

dear cheryl...i always anticipate you coming...what sweet words you will have for me. i love that header...it makes me feel like painting again...which i haven't done in over a year.
sometimes i wish i could just spend everyday being creative...there are so many things i want to do.
our classroom is open anytime you want to join us but you must not be quiet...we want to hear your insights into nature and the world around us. always good to get a different perspective.
abbey is an amiable student and loves animals and nature like me and her father. science has been a pure pleasure with her. our next series of study is mammals...so that should be just as great.
give me your email and i will send you that header photo so you can print it off.
have a wonderful august sunday!

tina said...

My hat is off to you for homeschooling! What a wonderful classroom too.

marmee said...

tina...thank you...having the world as your classroom sure opens up the possiblities.

Anonymous said...

What a great way to learn...love your pics, especially the dragon fly and the grass "view from the quilt."