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Saturday, January 4, 2014

Snow Play...well sorta!




 


So after my last post I tailored my monthly plans a bit. If you're new, I have written a few posts about how we 'do' our Waldorf homeschooling (I think at this point we end up being more like Waldorf unschoolers though). This year I wrote my own curriculum of sorts. You can find more about it here. While I am sure that we'll get snow at some point (we keep just missing it but not the frigid temps), I am going to stick with it this month and combine it with February's theme, winter animals. Not only does it make my life easier but there are so many rabbits holes to go down. Arctic animals, migration, hibernation vs. turgor, survival, winter fairy tales, weather, what makes it cold, ect.

Our larger science theme for Winter is birds. All Autumn we focused on trees and I am happy to say that we can walk anywhere in our neighborhood and tell you all about every tree. It's neat now that when we drive places, even though the foliage is gone- the kids can point out different trees just by their shape. By far though my kids love willow and beech trees the best. Anywho, I'll share more about birds later on but we got 2 new feeders, a guide, and window feeder, and a bird log- so we're ready! I LOVE our window feeder. Our local cardinal couple love it too, so it's nice to sit with them and eat breakfast together. They don't seem to mind us bouncing around inside either :)

So in keeping with snow, we are making our own snow today with the kits above. I also made a little sensory bin for the kids to play with and some 'snow' dough. It was a big hit today. So much so, they dragged their new fairytale cottage down to make the ice palace from "The Story of the Snow Children". Two years ago I made peg people to go along with the book, you can how to do it here. It amazes me how well they've held up and how much the kids both still love to play with them.

Our nature table and house are now fully in January mode. I continue to struggle to do chalkboard drawings though, ha! I was never good at drawing, but thankfully my audience it forgiving. Hopefully Deirdre will surpass me soon and can take over, ha!

I also on a whim got to take some really lovely photos of the kids during lunch today. Their eyes are starting to turn from blue to green (Deirdre's are already green like mine and my brother). It was a sweet surprise. On the downside, my paperwhites are beginning to die. Alas, Christmas really is over!








Until Next Time,

8 comments:

  1. Beautiful post. I love that story to. I have some table puppets I made for the neighbor children. It's a hit. Where did you find those cute bears?

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    1. Hi Mercy :) I got them on ebay used, they're Ostheimer. Pricey new but boy do they hold up to lots and lots of toddler love- and they still are so beautiful!!

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  2. Beautiful pictures and children. Your snow play is great! And your chalk drawing is, too. I need to get on that, as I got the supplies a couple years ago. I think we are Waldorf unschoolers, too, even more casual than you. There's always time, though. Trying to get back to my weekly rhythm and get ready for more official schooling in the fall. Stay well and warm! We're blowing some cold air your way. ;-)

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    1. Thank you Brandy. It was in the 60s again here today. So freaky! And yes there is always time. Staying in the moment and being connected to your kids I feel is most important vs focusing on all that you haven't yet done.

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  3. wow, you have so much going on. it is lovely. <3

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    1. Thank you so much. My life right now is busy, stressed, but yes TRULY blessed & lovely. I need to focus on that.

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  4. I love that peg doll with the winter coat on! Did you make up the pattern? Looks like a very calm, cozy place to spend the winter.

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    1. Thank you Brienne! Yes the little dolls I made I just whipped together. I based it loosely on a Wee Folk Art pattern. The link to how I did them is here: http://dotingondeirdre.blogspot.com/2012/01/snow-child-and-poppy.html Cheers!!!

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