It’s in the Box

A few weeks ago I mentioned inspiration resources. Today, I created a learning box. Mary Ann Johnson was right- part of the magic of the box is the anticipation and the limited availability. She talks about locking it but that even if it isn’t locked, kids know how important that “lock” is to preserving the magic. My box is a large clear tub with a lid that snaps on. Butterfly commented that the box had “magical properties that would zap anyone other than mommy who opened it.” She asked me to open it when it was time to use the contents so she wouldn’t get zapped.

Today’s magic? Soap. I put my melt and pour soap supplies, a list of websites and experiments, frontier girls badge requirements and books into the box. I also told the children that the box would only be available until lunch time and then it would be closed up. They were so excited, they flew through cleaning up the rest of their room and eagerly gathered to learn.

First, we talked about safety, types of soap, read some books about soap, and then we watched a video of a science experiment on eScience (review of eScience coming soon). The girls were so excited. We learned about different types of colorants and ways to scent soap as well. Then, after watching a few short tutorials, we took some of the ideas we learned in the books and made some small bars of soap. After that, it was time to clean up and put the box away. The girls couldn’t wait to do more learning box the next day.

Strawberry was quite anxious to embed a toy in soap after seeing a picture in a book. She watched the video of how to do it and brought be a large Duplo to embed. When I told her that wasn’t going to work, she was not too thrilled. I promised to take her to the store to buy a rubber eraser toy to put in soap. The girls each picked a small eraser and we came home to embed toys. We then spent the next morning using our learning box and experimenting with colors, layering, embedding, and toys. True to personality, Butterfly created a soap sculpture. She chose an egg with a hatching chick and then created the next out of melt and pour soap. She carefully held her egg as still as possible as it set in the soap and then she twisted it ever so gently to form wrinkles across the top of the soap to resemble sticks. Strawberry made her soap with a toy in it, and Pumpkin Pie wanted to hide her toy completely in several layers of green. I wanted to play with a soap in a soap.

Then it was time to clean up and put the box away.

I wonder what the box will bring next week.

Learning to Sew

Butterfly wants to learn to sew. This week she had a goal of making something for Saige. She has done a lot of hand sewing, so today I decided to start teaching her to sew on the sewing machine. She will be 10 in December and has been telling me every single day that she hopes Santa will bring her a sewing machine for Christmas.

Step 1: Learn to sew a straight line, wavy line, and zig zag!

Step 2: Learn to sew 1/4” away from a given line in straight, wavy and zig zag.

Step 3: Learn to lay out a pants pattern.

Step 4: Sew pants.

Step 5: Finish and celebrate!them.

Learning about the Flag

Butterfly and Pumpkin Pie are Pioneer Frontier Girls. We have several Pioneers in the area who sometimes get together for group activities. One mom did an Our Flag activity with the girls. All the girls learned about the history and respect of the flag as well as how to present the colors.

Presentation Day

Several times a year our co-op has presentation day. It is a day where the kids can show what they have been working on. Since several girls are doing Frontier Girls, we decided to present their awards on Presentation Day.

Tiger presented one of the computer programs he created. He was quite excited to show it off and the other kids seemed to enjoy it.

Butterfly presented her notebook from Dayspring.

Pumpkin Pie presented some of her Apologia notebook as well as recited a poem from her reading lessons.

Both Butterfly and Pumpkin Pie earned their karate pins for Frontier Girls.

Butterfly’s Essay on Karate

One of the requirements for the Karate badge for Frontier Girls was to write a short essay answering the question “How can martial arts make you a better person?”  The essay was supposed to mention some of the things that martial arts had taught her. Here is her essay (spelling and punctuation original except her name has been changed):

Karate has taught me self-control, to listen, and not to “count butterflys.” (thats what I call it…) When I was little, my Sensei was alwas telling me: “switch hands, Butterfly! switch feet, Butterfly!” but it has paid off. I am now a blue belt.

Frontier Girls Initiation

Butterfly has felt left out as Tiger has advanced through the ranks of Cub Scouts. While she loves Activity Days at church, she doesn’t like that it only meets twice a month and there are no awards, requirements at home, or goals to work towards. The Faith in God Award is not too difficult to achieve as long as she shows up to activities and puts in minimal effort at home. I didn’t want to do Girl Scouts as I think it has fallen too far away from life skills and I don’t like all that they stand for. A friend found a newer organization called Frontier Girls. Most things can be done at home and it emphasizes the values that are important in our home- faith, liberty, service and goal setting to learn new skills and become a better person. The motto is, “If you see a need, take the lead!” Given this motto, girls must participate in several service projects each year.

Several of the families in our co-op have decided to join Frontier Girls. We decided to only have Pumpkin Pie and Butterfly join since I don’t see much point in having Strawberry working towards goals she doesn’t really understand. We will get together periodically for service projects and to work on occasional badges, but the badges will mostly be done at home. I am thrilled. The Life Skills Achievement encouraged Pumpkin Pie to learn to tie her shoe- something she has REFUSED to do since others would do it for her! 

During the initiation, the girls each recited one of the lines of the Frontier Girls creed and lit a candle.

Frontier Girl Creed

As a Frontier Girl

I will be Loving, treating others as I would like to be treated.

I will be Joyful, finding the blessings in every situation.

I will be Peaceful, respecting others opinions and beliefs.

I will be Patient, persevering toward my goals despite obstacles.

I will be Kind, respectful to all and willing to help others at all times.

I will be Good, pure in all I do, think, and say.

I will be Faithful to my God and loyal to family, friends, and country.

I will be Gentle, taking special care of those weaker or less fortunate than I.

I will have Self Control, using my time, materials and talents wisely, and being accountable for my own actions.

One of the little brothers of one of the girls came to inspect the uniforms after they were presented. :)