Fill-in-the-blank review: Preamble to the Constitution

Preamble to the Constitution

Homeschool Convention in Searcy, AR

Just the messenger here.  I have not been to this convention, nor do I know anything about it other than what it says on the website.

Well, I take that back.  I know some about the convention.

I know that :
1. My friend, Lisa Lipe, will be speaking on Nutrition and Optimal Learning.
2. I will be representing the Weston A. Price Foundation and Real Food in Little Rock at a vendor's table.
3. I think a lot of people go to this homeschool convention.  A lot being more than 10 people.
4. It is in Searcy (about an hour northeast for the non-native Arkansans out there.)

Anyone else going?  Have more details that I should share?
-Julie

Napoleon Site

I googled "Napoleon for Kids" and found this site, Napoleon.org. I haven't had much time to really explore but it seems engaging and full of great info. Have fun!
Amy

Historic Arkansas Museum

Originally posted on my personal blog - but wanted to encourage other families to go, if you've not been already. - Julie

+++++++

My mom is here for a few more days. Today we took her on a Friday Field Trip with us to the Historic Arkansas Museum.  I'm embarrassed to admit I've lived in Little Rock for so long and this was our first visit. This museum was chosen because I thought Mom would enjoy the Gone With the Wind exhibit, which is only there until April 30, and is worth the time to see.

A few things stand out about this museum:

1. The admission fee was reasonable ($6 total for 2 adults and 2 children.  A part of today's math lesson was for JI to figure out how much money I need to take to pay for admission.)

2. Yesterday I called and said, "I homeschool and have never been to your museum, when should I come?"  I found out the museum is trying something new: docents in costume on Fridays in January (the days will change in March - so call to ask.)  Having people in costume to give tours was a huge benefit to keep our attention!

3. We were there about 2 hours; if we'd been able to get out of the house before 10:30 I think we could have stayed longer.  I packed snacks but little children get hungry and cranky past noon regardless.

Our tour started with the blacksmith shop.

These guys LOVED their jobs.

For at least 30 minutes we stood and talked with these guys; not many tourists were on the grounds.  At the end of our chat, the guy in the hat made a nail for John Isaac.

And then he got to pump the billows!  The guy in the orange shirt loved history and had just returned from Colonial Williamsburg.  He told me that the architect, mason and builder of this blacksmith shop (all the same guy) also built the same blacksmith shop at Mt. Vernon, President Washington's home.

The shop is built accurately, using tools and techniques of the time...just like Noah Blake's family built in Diary of an Early American Boy. (A must read boy book, by the way.)  The orange shirted man also told me of author Brinton Turkle and said I should check out some of his Obadiah books for John Isaac. Anyone read them?

Next we visited other houses on the grounds of the museum.

The lady below was washing her clothes, and working wool.

She showed us where the phrase, "sleep tight; don't let the bed bugs bite" originated.  The beds of that time often used rope to hold the mattress.  Over time the rope would loosen and you would need to tighten the rope...and you probably know about bed bugs.  Ick.

We learned about the value of a bit ($0.125); two bits was a quarter and eight bits a dollar.

Finally we made it back inside the modern part of the museum.  This is where the Gone with the Wind paraphernalia is located.  Lots of costumes and even the typewriter that was used by the screenwriter.

Also a part of the museum is a collection of Bowie knives (this kind of knife originated in Arkansas.)  Wikipedia says, "it's not a single design but a series of knives improved several times by Jim Bowie."  And wow - what a character that man was.

The bowie knife collection was viewed about 12:15 and it was really time for us to leave the museum.  I think we will return again another day.

French Revolution

This page had some cute Marie Antoinette crafts (mostly for girls):

The Story of the World Activity Book has a great idea for making a red prisoner's cap, which was one of the French Revolution's most powerful symbols for freedom. Go here to see the pages with easy to follow instructions.

Here are some simple coloring page of France if you'd like to focus on France as a country instead of all the bloodiness of the guillotine and the storming of the French Bastille.

For the Littles

We keep Connect 4 near our homeschooling area for little sister to play by herself. It helps to strengthen fine motor skills, no?  Bonus: everyone wins!

double bonus: we scored this game at a garage sale!

Government for Kids

Just found this site. It's not flashy but the slides are very informative and hey, it's Benjamin Franklin as the "host". Gotta love it.
Ben's Guide to Government