Unschooling, Homeschooling =Learning...Science, Art, Play

Unschooling / Homeschooling / Learning

We figured we'd 'start' if you can even call it that after Fair mid September although that doesn't in the least mean we haven't learned this summer.  Call it what you will- unschooling, homeschooling- we are going to learn in the home and world environment this year.  Free for the children to explore their own interests.

This past week has been an awesome week on the learning front as we get more organized with our supplies.  My goal is to have all the materials easily accessible to the children. So, the kids have been helping in telling me what they want where and helping me in getting supplies into bins, extra tables around the home for space.  Learning can happen..anywhere..not just at a desk or at the kitchen table.

Science

Our son's big interest has been Science, so we set up a table for him under the front window, giving him plenty of light that his microscope needs to focus well.  He spent one day collecting items to view under the microscope- plum skin, string, lettuce, cilantro, sand and celery.  He then took his notebook and carefully wrote each word, drawing a picture of what he saw.  He is very meticulous and careful in his observations. He is 7yrs old. 

He also checked out two science books at the Library.  With my supervision, he read the directions, with my help on the big words, retrieved the needed supplies, measured out the ingredients and made 'Slime' as well as 'Goo'.  Sister wouldn't touch it but did sit and watch him mix it all up and said it was 'cool'.

 

I would highly recommend these two books- they were very easy and straight forward directions that my 7 yr old could understand.

He also spent one morning engrossed in a History Channel program on the history and making of Monster Trucks! I watched it with him as well.  He always gets up earlier than his sister so when she got up he was very proud to relay that he had learned that Big Foot 5's tires were off of a military truck from the 1950's! She wasn't as impressed, NOT being a truck fan, but it was awesome to see him excited.

Art

Our daughter has a love for reading, art, dance and her animals. There is not much outside of her world beyond that, and that's okay with us. She's branch out, change her mind and explore more as she feels.  She is really into reading her books and drawing then coloring pictures out of them of the characters.  She spends hours a day reading and drawing. I love to see her explore her creativity.
Just because she was interested- she checked out a ballet book and spent hours taking 'notes' and writing down ballet terms and studying them...all on her own, of her own accord- because SHE wanted to learn it...AMAZING stuff.

She also loves sewing...clothing, hair accessories, doll clothes, and outfits for her cavies. She designed and sewed this headband just for fun for 4H.

Painting...Both kids love painting, whether it be pictures, wooden figures, clay sculptures or fabric. She recently has found a love for bears and panda bears- she checked out Library books about them and is reading the 'Seeker' series which she is enjoying and decided she wants to learn to draw and paint them better- so she's been working on her skills.

This week they also had fun just playing together...some moon sand and some video game time. I'm not against computer and video games but I do extremely limit it.  They seem to be more attracted to playing games than watching TV so TV has not really ever been an issue, they watch a short program while they slowly wake and we watch a family movie in the evening several times a week. Video/Computer time- they are allowed 30 minutes in the morning and another 30-1hour in the afternoon- they usually choose to spend some if not all of their afternoon time together playing their current favorite, 'Little Big Planet'. And more times than not- our daughter's 'computer' time is spent on researching sewing patterns, baking recipes or animal research!

Every day is a new opportunity to learn even if you don't officially call it 'school'.  We learn best not following anyone elses schedule, plan or day or rules- we learn as a family based on each individual's needs, wants and learning styles so that everyone has fun, enjoys their experience and is curious to pursue further learning.