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7.20.2010

stick insect

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This is the nearly the only view I have of Smootch of late.

She is a bug hunter.  Extraordinaire. 

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If I was stranded on a deserted island can could have only one tool with by which to help education my children, it would be a magnifying glass.   Plus, we could use it start fires.

In our neck of the woods, the bugs are plentiful, but not particularly impressive, at least by the standards set by The Bug Zoo in Victoria.  Mostly ants and mosquitoes in our urban area.  I'm not sure if Smootch was trying to invigorate the local scenery or just make her contribution to the microcosms that is our backyard, but she came up with this creepy little number yesterday:

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To make a stick insect, Smootch found a regular, small stick.  With help from her father, she cut three pieces of wire, each about six inches long.  Wrapping the mid points of the wires around the stick gave her six legs.

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To continue on with our bug study, Smootch and I will be making journals this afternoon to record her discoveries.  One small field notebook for her pocket, and a larger one to illustrate and explain.  Then I hope there is enough time during Birdie's nap to read her a copy of Girls Who looked Under Rocks by Jeannine Atkins.  I love it when two of Smootch's passions collide, and I'm eager to read her of stories of scientists who worked during the nineteen and early twentieth century pioneer era. 

I am starting to feel a bit more comfortable about what our home school is going to look like.  Smootch, of course, makes it easy, being the type of person who doesn't wait for an invitation to learn about something.  Everyday Smootch discovers something new and I learn a bit more about learning. 

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I have a question for you all: hands up if you want me to share a bit more of our home school activities and explorations on this blog.  Not all of it falls under the 'creative' theme per se, and we are rather new at this and, frankly, really don't know what we are doing.  Still, would you like it if I further expand the subject matter here at Indietutes and to join us as we stumble along our unschooling journey?

21 comments:

  1. LiseJuly 20, 2010 at 11:31 AM

    I always love a good unschooling post! Go for it.

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  2. Sarah FaithJuly 20, 2010 at 11:33 AM

    We unschool too. You're doing a great job. Love to hear more.

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  3. Affi'eniaJuly 20, 2010 at 11:36 AM

    I'd love to hear more about unschooling. It's not something I've heard of here in the UK.

    Adore the stick insect btw

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  4. AnonymousJuly 20, 2010 at 12:39 PM

    Yes, please. :)

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  5. Melted CrayonsJuly 20, 2010 at 12:55 PM

    it is very creative to share about unschooling.
    i would never have thought of making stick insects like that.... it helps to get new ideas for our home schooling projects. :)
    it is inspiring to see what other at home learners are doing' it sparks interest in my big kid to see another child getting excited and doing hands on things :)
    so, um, yes *hands up waving in air* can you pls continue with the unschooling :)

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  6. LouizJuly 20, 2010 at 1:20 PM

    Hands up!

    My daughter goes to a regular school, but we have the long summer holidays looming (here in the UK the summer holidays start next week) and I'd love to get some ideas of entertaining in an educational way from you:)

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  7. hilltopmomJuly 20, 2010 at 1:40 PM

    Love the pen and paper in the pocket. She's already a student.:)

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  8. AnonymousJuly 20, 2010 at 2:32 PM

    HAND! I'd love to hear your ideas and experiments in the journey of unschooling. We're doing a more structured homeschool route, but I love, love, love the amazing ideas of the true unschoolers out there and hope to incorporate more and more of them as time passes.

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  9. AnonymousJuly 20, 2010 at 2:33 PM

    HAND! I'd love to hear your ideas and experiments in the journey of unschooling. We're doing a more structured homeschool route, but I love, love, love the amazing ideas of the true unschoolers out there and hope to incorporate more and more of them as time passes.

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  10. Megan SmithJuly 20, 2010 at 4:30 PM

    i'd love to know what some of the things are that you are doing.. we are thinking of homeschooling when our daughter is old enough (next year) for school :)

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  11. Chelsey - The Paper MamaJuly 20, 2010 at 5:32 PM

    The stick bug looks great! No homeschooling here. Just a little baby. :)

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  12. RachelleJuly 20, 2010 at 5:49 PM

    I definitely want to see more unschooling, it'll give me ideas on what to do with my boys even though they're in the school system.

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  13. KaylaJuly 20, 2010 at 6:08 PM

    Yes! That would rock. Let us learn with you.

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  14. Paula -- CutieFruityJuly 21, 2010 at 1:00 AM

    Huh? Do we want to learn about un...OF COURSE WE DO! Duh! All weekend I have been using a mantra from your last post about being a child focused family or something like that. I need to pay more attention to my KIDS for blame's sake. Getting down on the floor with them and seeing where motivated imagination will lead all of us.

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  15. KelJuly 21, 2010 at 3:46 AM

    Yay for more unschooling posts!
    We are a 'natural learning' family here too, though our journey has only just begun with a 5 year old and 18 month old :)

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  16. ClareJuly 22, 2010 at 2:14 PM

    Yes, I'd love to hear more about your unschooling adventures! Love the stick insect too! Maybe it will attract some other curious bugs for Smooch to investigate...

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  17. Messy FaceJuly 23, 2010 at 11:43 PM

    I do love and have purchased your patterns. I love how you recycle clothes. So, please don't stop those.

    But, I do truly enjoy your writings no matter what the subject. So, continue on.

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  18. Princess_SunshineJuly 24, 2010 at 8:24 AM

    yep, I love hearing about your HOME SCHOOLING - you are teaching Smootch "hands on-minds on", that's definately not 'unschooling'! Unschooling is what my brothers friends are doing - drilling the kids with memoriazable facts ensuring the kids don't need to use their brains. I look at Smooth and as we say around here "the wheels are always in motion", before she's done one thing she's already thinking up some other way to learn! congrats on having such a great student, and if ever you need something for teaching, just give a shout:)

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  19. Jeannine AtkinsAugust 1, 2010 at 10:45 AM

    Thank you for reading Girls Who Looked Under Rocks, which I wrote. You have some gorgeous pictures here. I was especially touched by the stick insect on Smootch's hand. Best wishes for your good work.

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  20. Charity IndietutesAugust 1, 2010 at 10:06 PM

    Jeannine,

    I love your book! I cried at some point during every darn story! Thank YOU for your wonderful book and the great resource section too. We shall be returning to it often.

    Oh, fun fact, Smootch is pretty convinced she'll be tying fireflies to her fancy dress she'll be wearing to a wedding later on this month :D

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  21. hersheys hugsAugust 26, 2010 at 2:26 AM

    YES! more please.

    Even though I'll be sending my kids to school when they're @ the schooling age, I do believe learning is a never ending process and we should make learning fun for them so that they'll continue to crave for knowledge and explore the world they live in...

    I'm constantly looking for things I can do with my children when I'm not working. They're 3 and 1 by the way.

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