Re: the problem with...
Ellen
Betsy Hill > <ecsamhill@e...> wrote:
Here were some things that we did back a few years.
Listened to Gary Paulsen's book "Hatchet" on tape while traveling to a living history museum; after that, the kids were interested in getting other books by him for them to read.
We use LOTS of books on tape --- they are great starting points for discussion.
Living history museums are great --- Saint Marie Among the Iroquois is up in Syracuse. Across from that is an old Salt Mine (that takes only about 10-15 minutes to go through).
One of the kids loves creating games with playing pieces (made of Sculpey); both the kids went through a stage (after playing with the different board/playing piece settings on Chessmaster 5000) where they were working on their own chessboard/playing pieces tailored to their own interests/personalities.
We use movies, live theater shows, different productions of the same show sometimes to enjoy and then make comparisons among the different performances. (We've also done this same thing with books when they were younger. There are so many versions of "The Three Little Pigs" and "Little Red Riding Hood" --- one of the "Pigs" ones is even told from the wolf's point of view. This is a fun thing to do as a family.)
At one point, one of the kids was very into building machines --- a catapult, a trebochet, candy dispenser for m&ms, small race car; also designing/bulding forts and boats.
Both kids have made artwork (using computer) for t-shirts.
Astronomy (borrowing a telescope), rocketry, geology (exploration of creek bed), etc.
Chemistry sets are fun.
Theater makeup is great for exploration.
Friendship bracelets, tie-dying, crochet, etc.
HTH.
-Ellen
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>>==I think this is one of the hardest things to "get" aboutI had a couple of people ask about middle school age activities. Follow the kids is the best idea I can give you.
> unschooling. Would you all be willing to toss out some examples of
> interesting things that you've done recently, or are getting ready to
> do?
Here were some things that we did back a few years.
Listened to Gary Paulsen's book "Hatchet" on tape while traveling to a living history museum; after that, the kids were interested in getting other books by him for them to read.
We use LOTS of books on tape --- they are great starting points for discussion.
Living history museums are great --- Saint Marie Among the Iroquois is up in Syracuse. Across from that is an old Salt Mine (that takes only about 10-15 minutes to go through).
One of the kids loves creating games with playing pieces (made of Sculpey); both the kids went through a stage (after playing with the different board/playing piece settings on Chessmaster 5000) where they were working on their own chessboard/playing pieces tailored to their own interests/personalities.
We use movies, live theater shows, different productions of the same show sometimes to enjoy and then make comparisons among the different performances. (We've also done this same thing with books when they were younger. There are so many versions of "The Three Little Pigs" and "Little Red Riding Hood" --- one of the "Pigs" ones is even told from the wolf's point of view. This is a fun thing to do as a family.)
At one point, one of the kids was very into building machines --- a catapult, a trebochet, candy dispenser for m&ms, small race car; also designing/bulding forts and boats.
Both kids have made artwork (using computer) for t-shirts.
Astronomy (borrowing a telescope), rocketry, geology (exploration of creek bed), etc.
Chemistry sets are fun.
Theater makeup is great for exploration.
Friendship bracelets, tie-dying, crochet, etc.
HTH.
-Ellen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]