Our unschooling day
gruvystarchild
We had an awesome unschooling day yesterday....another wonderful
example of natural learning and I just wanted to share it for any
newbies or "thinking about unschooling" folk that might need a touch
of encouragement that this really DOES work.
But it's a lot about how we as the parent's have to change in order
for this to work.
Anyway, in short form:
My 8y.o. ds and 4y.o. dd found a skeletonized squirrel in the yard
which really excited them. They came barreling in the house
exclaiming "this is really cool Mom you HAVE to come see this".
They weren't sure what it was but because some fur and skin were
still holding it together they soon figured it out.
I came out and helped them salvage some of the skeleton for
observation.
Now, I could have said "oooh, that thing is disgusting. Get it off
the driveway"
Or something to that effect.
But because I didn't here's what it led to.....
We picked out some bones and glued them to a piece of
cardboard...they made guesses at what bone it was.
Online they reconstructed an entire skeleton, the website led us to
owl pellets, then the Oakland zoo, green monkeys, Muntjacks (don't
even ask how long we spent on the various species of Muntjacks),
somehow in between all this we got hungry and made Potato Latkes
which we ate with chopsticks that the kids were fascinated with at
the grocery store.
Later, they read a book and watched a movie in which chopsticks were
used (no, this was not planned...just serendipity).
I can't tell you the things we learned or it would take up way too
much room here.
One thing just naturally led to another. One of my children popped in
occasionally to see what we were up to and absorbed only a few
tidbits while happily roller blading the rest of the time.
So the moral of the story is it's us, the parents that must change.
Unschooling works. It always works.
But only if we can be as excited and interested as our children.
Or at least offer an avenue for them. Not everyone would be able to
not get squeamish at a dead squirrel...but "hey, here are some gloves
and a jar" would at least not slam the door of opportunity in their
face.
I don't worry anymore that my children won't learn everything they
need to for this life.
I also see that joyful learning can only happen if we are open and
totally willing to see every moment, every interest, everything as
opportunity.
We never know what a tidbit of information, or an experience might
lead to...and not knowing can bring a sense of mystery to this whole
Unschooling life. If we keep that sense of mystery, that feeling that
this COULD lead to big things, (but if it doesn't that's ok too)
we will so much better be able to serve our children well when
supporting and encouraging their unique interests and pursuits.
That's what it's all about for me.
Being an avenue instead of a closed door.
Ren
example of natural learning and I just wanted to share it for any
newbies or "thinking about unschooling" folk that might need a touch
of encouragement that this really DOES work.
But it's a lot about how we as the parent's have to change in order
for this to work.
Anyway, in short form:
My 8y.o. ds and 4y.o. dd found a skeletonized squirrel in the yard
which really excited them. They came barreling in the house
exclaiming "this is really cool Mom you HAVE to come see this".
They weren't sure what it was but because some fur and skin were
still holding it together they soon figured it out.
I came out and helped them salvage some of the skeleton for
observation.
Now, I could have said "oooh, that thing is disgusting. Get it off
the driveway"
Or something to that effect.
But because I didn't here's what it led to.....
We picked out some bones and glued them to a piece of
cardboard...they made guesses at what bone it was.
Online they reconstructed an entire skeleton, the website led us to
owl pellets, then the Oakland zoo, green monkeys, Muntjacks (don't
even ask how long we spent on the various species of Muntjacks),
somehow in between all this we got hungry and made Potato Latkes
which we ate with chopsticks that the kids were fascinated with at
the grocery store.
Later, they read a book and watched a movie in which chopsticks were
used (no, this was not planned...just serendipity).
I can't tell you the things we learned or it would take up way too
much room here.
One thing just naturally led to another. One of my children popped in
occasionally to see what we were up to and absorbed only a few
tidbits while happily roller blading the rest of the time.
So the moral of the story is it's us, the parents that must change.
Unschooling works. It always works.
But only if we can be as excited and interested as our children.
Or at least offer an avenue for them. Not everyone would be able to
not get squeamish at a dead squirrel...but "hey, here are some gloves
and a jar" would at least not slam the door of opportunity in their
face.
I don't worry anymore that my children won't learn everything they
need to for this life.
I also see that joyful learning can only happen if we are open and
totally willing to see every moment, every interest, everything as
opportunity.
We never know what a tidbit of information, or an experience might
lead to...and not knowing can bring a sense of mystery to this whole
Unschooling life. If we keep that sense of mystery, that feeling that
this COULD lead to big things, (but if it doesn't that's ok too)
we will so much better be able to serve our children well when
supporting and encouraging their unique interests and pursuits.
That's what it's all about for me.
Being an avenue instead of a closed door.
Ren
[email protected]
In a message dated 3/29/02 10:10:50 PM, starsuncloud@... writes:
<< Not everyone would be able to
not get squeamish at a dead squirrel...but "hey, here are some gloves
and a jar" would at least not slam the door of opportunity in their
face. >>
Ren, I really enjoyed reading your squirrely day. <g>
My mom had grown up on a farm where they never bought meat, but ate what they
raised.
Once at my request she dissected a mouse she had caught in a trap. The other
kids looked too, but I was the most interested. I was grateful she did
that. She showed us main organs, and then threw it away. Most moms wouldn't
have done it. I was middlin' age--ten? twelve? I'm remembering the angle
from which I was standing looking at the mouse, and guessing from height.
Sandra
<< Not everyone would be able to
not get squeamish at a dead squirrel...but "hey, here are some gloves
and a jar" would at least not slam the door of opportunity in their
face. >>
Ren, I really enjoyed reading your squirrely day. <g>
My mom had grown up on a farm where they never bought meat, but ate what they
raised.
Once at my request she dissected a mouse she had caught in a trap. The other
kids looked too, but I was the most interested. I was grateful she did
that. She showed us main organs, and then threw it away. Most moms wouldn't
have done it. I was middlin' age--ten? twelve? I'm remembering the angle
from which I was standing looking at the mouse, and guessing from height.
Sandra
callymom2000
....My 8y.o. ds and 4y.o. dd found a skeletonized squirrel in the
yard
which really excited them.>>>>
Last spring we found a squirrel in the street that was not squished
but dead, I just happened to have a shovel and a bag in the car so
we brought it home and buried it. We talked about decay and finding
the bones later and maybe we could pretent to be archeologist and on
a dig. We wondered how long it would take to decay down to the bone,
would we have to clean it up, would there be bugs in it..ect.. My
youngest at the time, she was 5, said "lets name him Mr. Jones. Then
Mr. Jones we want to look at your bones.." We found out that decay
happens quick around here (Seattle) all that moisture and rich
ground, we figured. 3 months was all most to long to have the poor
thing in the ground. By the time we dug it up only the biggest bones
were left. No fur or skin, but a cool head. My children have talked
about looking for some bigger animal, maybe a goose or a
opossum...Maybe..I have a shovel, box, and gloves in the car at the
ready. Truthfully I am not sure I am to excited about it though. It
is kinda gross at the start, but then pretty exciting when you get to
the skeleton. Especially when you see your children excited to be
living and learning.
Cally
yard
which really excited them.>>>>
Last spring we found a squirrel in the street that was not squished
but dead, I just happened to have a shovel and a bag in the car so
we brought it home and buried it. We talked about decay and finding
the bones later and maybe we could pretent to be archeologist and on
a dig. We wondered how long it would take to decay down to the bone,
would we have to clean it up, would there be bugs in it..ect.. My
youngest at the time, she was 5, said "lets name him Mr. Jones. Then
Mr. Jones we want to look at your bones.." We found out that decay
happens quick around here (Seattle) all that moisture and rich
ground, we figured. 3 months was all most to long to have the poor
thing in the ground. By the time we dug it up only the biggest bones
were left. No fur or skin, but a cool head. My children have talked
about looking for some bigger animal, maybe a goose or a
opossum...Maybe..I have a shovel, box, and gloves in the car at the
ready. Truthfully I am not sure I am to excited about it though. It
is kinda gross at the start, but then pretty exciting when you get to
the skeleton. Especially when you see your children excited to be
living and learning.
Cally
Lynda
Speaking of road kill, unschooling led us down an path that sure wouldn't
have happened if we weren't an unschooling family!
Eldest son read some books about tanning hides and how early civilizations
and First Nations didn't waste anything and would skin and tan the hides of
animals found dead. he then read about a man that collected roadkill and
tanned the hides.
YUCK!!! But, unless it is trully dangerous, in our family, there is no
"no." We (mom, dad and kidlet) talked to our family doctor and our vet
about potential problems. We went shopping and got him some masks which he
sprinkled with cologne, some surgical gloves, disinfectant and gave him a
corner of the shed farthest from the house.
He knew more about anatomy and dissecting by the time he was ten than most
college students that come out of a biology class with a lab! And he
learned all kinds of tanning methods. And he did skeleton cards of each
species he found.
All in all, it was kewl!
Lynda
have happened if we weren't an unschooling family!
Eldest son read some books about tanning hides and how early civilizations
and First Nations didn't waste anything and would skin and tan the hides of
animals found dead. he then read about a man that collected roadkill and
tanned the hides.
YUCK!!! But, unless it is trully dangerous, in our family, there is no
"no." We (mom, dad and kidlet) talked to our family doctor and our vet
about potential problems. We went shopping and got him some masks which he
sprinkled with cologne, some surgical gloves, disinfectant and gave him a
corner of the shed farthest from the house.
He knew more about anatomy and dissecting by the time he was ten than most
college students that come out of a biology class with a lab! And he
learned all kinds of tanning methods. And he did skeleton cards of each
species he found.
All in all, it was kewl!
Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: "callymom2000" <scenichillhomeschool@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2002 9:35 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Our unschooling day
> ....My 8y.o. ds and 4y.o. dd found a skeletonized squirrel in the
> yard
> which really excited them.>>>>
>
> Last spring we found a squirrel in the street that was not squished
> but dead, I just happened to have a shovel and a bag in the car so
> we brought it home and buried it. We talked about decay and finding
> the bones later and maybe we could pretent to be archeologist and on
> a dig. We wondered how long it would take to decay down to the bone,
> would we have to clean it up, would there be bugs in it..ect.. My
> youngest at the time, she was 5, said "lets name him Mr. Jones. Then
> Mr. Jones we want to look at your bones.." We found out that decay
> happens quick around here (Seattle) all that moisture and rich
> ground, we figured. 3 months was all most to long to have the poor
> thing in the ground. By the time we dug it up only the biggest bones
> were left. No fur or skin, but a cool head. My children have talked
> about looking for some bigger animal, maybe a goose or a
> opossum...Maybe..I have a shovel, box, and gloves in the car at the
> ready. Truthfully I am not sure I am to excited about it though. It
> is kinda gross at the start, but then pretty exciting when you get to
> the skeleton. Especially when you see your children excited to be
> living and learning.
>
>
> Cally
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
[email protected]
On Sat, 30 Mar 2002 09:42:11 EST SandraDodd@... writes:
stomach as he was cleaning them and we could actually see what the fish
had been eating. I thought that was really cool - it has practical
applications, because you might change your bait or fly depending on what
the fish were feeding on then, but it was also like a window into the
fish's life.
Sort of related but not really, I got a book a few months ago called
soemthing like "What is that Splat on Your Windshield?", all about
looking at the various bug splats and identifying the bugs that made
them. I got it to show my dad, the entomology buff, but Cacie picked it
up and read it and surprised me one day by identifying our various
splats, and the anatomical parts thereof.
Lately she's gotten very good at identifying reduviids, after being
bitten by them twice. I've learned about Chagas Disease and am hoping the
reduviids that bit her were not infected by the parasite that causes
it...
Dar
Dar
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>The other
> Once at my request she dissected a mouse she had caught in a trap.
> kids looked too, but I was the most interested. I was grateful shedid
> that. She showed us main organs, and then threw it away. Most momsWhen I was a kid and we went fishing, my dad would always open up the
> wouldn't have done it.
stomach as he was cleaning them and we could actually see what the fish
had been eating. I thought that was really cool - it has practical
applications, because you might change your bait or fly depending on what
the fish were feeding on then, but it was also like a window into the
fish's life.
Sort of related but not really, I got a book a few months ago called
soemthing like "What is that Splat on Your Windshield?", all about
looking at the various bug splats and identifying the bugs that made
them. I got it to show my dad, the entomology buff, but Cacie picked it
up and read it and surprised me one day by identifying our various
splats, and the anatomical parts thereof.
Lately she's gotten very good at identifying reduviids, after being
bitten by them twice. I've learned about Chagas Disease and am hoping the
reduviids that bit her were not infected by the parasite that causes
it...
Dar
Dar
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
zenmomma *
>>My 8y.o. ds and 4y.o. dd found a skeletonized squirrel in the yardwhich really excited them.>>
This whole skeleton story was just awesome! A little creepy, but awesome.
:o)
>>That's what it's all about for me.Being an avenue instead of a closed door.>>
This statement is pretty cool too. I may have to "borrow" this one. ;-)
Life is good.
~Mary
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gruvystarchild
--Wow! That was really cool of her. Not sure I could do that...but I
would be willing to buy a prepared specimen and the tools to do a
dissection!!
So far when I show my kids the specimen catalogs they don't show
much interest. "ooh, gross Mom" is the typical answer. And then they
go bringing home squirrel cadavers...sheesh.
Ren
- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., SandraDodd@a... wrote:
would be willing to buy a prepared specimen and the tools to do a
dissection!!
So far when I show my kids the specimen catalogs they don't show
much interest. "ooh, gross Mom" is the typical answer. And then they
go bringing home squirrel cadavers...sheesh.
Ren
- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., SandraDodd@a... wrote:
>gloves
> In a message dated 3/29/02 10:10:50 PM, starsuncloud@c... writes:
>
> << Not everyone would be able to
> not get squeamish at a dead squirrel...but "hey, here are some
> and a jar" would at least not slam the door of opportunity in theirwhat they
> face. >>
>
> Ren, I really enjoyed reading your squirrely day. <g>
>
> My mom had grown up on a farm where they never bought meat, but ate
> raised.The other
>
> Once at my request she dissected a mouse she had caught in a trap.
> kids looked too, but I was the most interested. I was gratefulshe did
> that. She showed us main organs, and then threw it away. Mostmoms wouldn't
> have done it. I was middlin' age--ten? twelve? I'm rememberingthe angle
> from which I was standing looking at the mouse, and guessing fromheight.
>
> Sandra
gruvystarchild
-"Truthfully I am not sure I am to excited about it though. It
is kinda gross at the start, but then pretty exciting when you get to
the skeleton. Especially when you see your children excited to be
living and learning. "
That was really cool Cally!!! It's so neat what happens when a
parent acts interested, curious and puts aside their own prejudices
to enjoy the moment for what it is.
I'm really bummed I didn't get to meet you when we went through
Seattle....maybe next time.
Ren
-- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "callymom2000"
<scenichillhomeschool@h...> wrote:
is kinda gross at the start, but then pretty exciting when you get to
the skeleton. Especially when you see your children excited to be
living and learning. "
That was really cool Cally!!! It's so neat what happens when a
parent acts interested, curious and puts aside their own prejudices
to enjoy the moment for what it is.
I'm really bummed I didn't get to meet you when we went through
Seattle....maybe next time.
Ren
-- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "callymom2000"
<scenichillhomeschool@h...> wrote:
> ....My 8y.o. ds and 4y.o. dd found a skeletonized squirrel in thesquished
> yard
> which really excited them.>>>>
>
> Last spring we found a squirrel in the street that was not
> but dead, I just happened to have a shovel and a bag in the car sofinding
> we brought it home and buried it. We talked about decay and
> the bones later and maybe we could pretent to be archeologist andon
> a dig. We wondered how long it would take to decay down to thebone,
> would we have to clean it up, would there be bugs in it..ect.. MyThen
> youngest at the time, she was 5, said "lets name him Mr. Jones.
> Mr. Jones we want to look at your bones.." We found out thatdecay
> happens quick around here (Seattle) all that moisture and richbones
> ground, we figured. 3 months was all most to long to have the poor
> thing in the ground. By the time we dug it up only the biggest
> were left. No fur or skin, but a cool head. My children havetalked
> about looking for some bigger animal, maybe a goose or aIt
> opossum...Maybe..I have a shovel, box, and gloves in the car at the
> ready. Truthfully I am not sure I am to excited about it though.
> is kinda gross at the start, but then pretty exciting when you getto
> the skeleton. Especially when you see your children excited to be
> living and learning.
>
>
> Cally
gruvystarchild
---When I was a kid and we went fishing, my dad would always open up
the
stomach as he was cleaning them and we could actually see what the
fish
had been eating. "
Oh Dar!! I laughed out loud on this one...you could have described my
fishing experiences with my Dad!!
He opened up a Halibut with my boys a few years ago that contained a
rock and he told them about a time when he found a squid beak in one.
We used to stand on the salmon bellies and squish the eggs out...we
could hardly believe that people ATE that stuff!!
Ren
In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., freeform@j... wrote:
the
stomach as he was cleaning them and we could actually see what the
fish
had been eating. "
Oh Dar!! I laughed out loud on this one...you could have described my
fishing experiences with my Dad!!
He opened up a Halibut with my boys a few years ago that contained a
rock and he told them about a time when he found a squid beak in one.
We used to stand on the salmon bellies and squish the eggs out...we
could hardly believe that people ATE that stuff!!
Ren
In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., freeform@j... wrote:
>trap.
> On Sat, 30 Mar 2002 09:42:11 EST SandraDodd@a... writes:
> >
>
> > Once at my request she dissected a mouse she had caught in a
> The othershe
> > kids looked too, but I was the most interested. I was grateful
> didmoms
> > that. She showed us main organs, and then threw it away. Most
> > wouldn't have done it.the
>
> When I was a kid and we went fishing, my dad would always open up
> stomach as he was cleaning them and we could actually see what thefish
> had been eating. I thought that was really cool - it has practicalon what
> applications, because you might change your bait or fly depending
> the fish were feeding on then, but it was also like a window intothe
> fish's life.picked it
>
> Sort of related but not really, I got a book a few months ago called
> soemthing like "What is that Splat on Your Windshield?", all about
> looking at the various bug splats and identifying the bugs that made
> them. I got it to show my dad, the entomology buff, but Cacie
> up and read it and surprised me one day by identifying our varioushoping the
> splats, and the anatomical parts thereof.
>
> Lately she's gotten very good at identifying reduviids, after being
> bitten by them twice. I've learned about Chagas Disease and am
> reduviids that bit her were not infected by the parasite that causes
> it...
>
> Dar
>
> Dar
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
Today's One Big Happy cartoon
http://www.toonville.com/main.asp?brand=toonville.com&fnum=102
reminded me of your day. :)
Deborah in IL
http://www.toonville.com/main.asp?brand=toonville.com&fnum=102
reminded me of your day. :)
Deborah in IL
zenmomma *
>>Speaking of road kill...>>Ya just gotta love a post that can start out like this. <g> I'm amazed at
the things some unschoolers get into. Thanks for the tanning story.
Life is good.
~Mary
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