Pilgrims and the Mayflower

Thanksgiving is over and now the mad rush to Christmas! November was a crazy month for us but we still had some fun in school. History wise it contains what I think is one of the more relateable and fun early elementary history lessons...namely, the Pilgrims!

Books we used this year for our Pilgrim unit:

This year N (2nd grade) and I read Pilgrim Boy by Matilda Nordtvedt. Pilgrim Boy is actually a 3rd grade reader in the Abeka reading program but the book is also available on Amazon. (You can find almost anything on Amazon it seems, except pre-lit multi color Christmas trees.) The reading level is a little above N, mainly because of the vocabulary, so we have been reading it aloud, alternating reading paragraphs. This book has produced some wonderful discussions and a sober glimpse into what the journey entailed. We followed Pilgrim Boy up with reading Finding Providence: The Story of Roger Williams  by Avi and James Watling. This book is a Stage 4 I Can Read book and provides a slightly less romanticized view of the Separatists. We both found it fascinating that after going to such lengths to have religious freedom, the Separatists fell back into the habit of a government with an enforced religion. (Okay, maybe it was just me...but it was interesting.)

Hands on Activities:

We did two hands on activities with our Pilgrim unit. One was a meal like the pilgrims had with stew on bread plates without utensils and drinking from a dipper (actually we used a dipper to fill our cups, the nurse in me couldn't do a universal dipper). I did make a hamburger or poor man's stew so the stew would be easier to eat without knives and forks. The boys thought it was great fun!

But probably the best thing we did was measure out the living quarters of the Mayflower in our backyard. I found a wonderful resource for the measurements at Caleb Johnson's Mayflower History.

I also discovered I own a ridiculous number of throws and play sheets. The boys loved doing this and it only affirmed in my mind that I am not cut out to be a Pilgrim. I felt claustrophobic just thinking about it!

Pumpkins!

We also did two pumpkin-y things in November. The first was  a pumpkin craft were the boys glued leaves to the carvable craft pumpkins and then we slathered them with Modge-podge. While not exactly Pinterest worthy, at least one of them turned out well enough not to mysteriously fall into the trashcan.

The other thing we have done for two years now is our Thankful Pumpkin! Each night in November we sit down as a family and name something we are thankful for and write it on the pumpkin. I think we will be able to get four years on one pumpkin. The boys LOVE doing Thankful Pumpkin and it is a tangible reminder of our many blessings!

Well, that is what November brought us for homeschool fun! Now on to December with paper airplanes and of course Christmas!

Who Uses 21 Elephants to Make a Point? P.T. Barnum does!

I love history! I love looking at the past to see the amazing stories of people who shaped our world today.Unfortunately, I could not find a history for N that I loved. (Why I want history for N is a bit of a story and really is too long for this post.) So... we have been using random picture books, current events, Bible stories, and even the stories from his reader to find our historical figures. To date we have covered ten people. This week we covered #11, P.T. Barnum and the year is 1883. (This was actually not who I set out to cover, I will explain why later!)

 For history this week we did the book, Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing Written by April Jones Prince and illustrated by Francois Roca. I saw the book on Pinterest in connection to a fun STEM project and fell in love with the story. The story is about the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge and the subsequent distrust of the immense wood and steel wire suspension bridge. (The distrust was valid for that day and age, suspension bridges were relatively new and the Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge of it's day.) PT Barnum heard about people's apprehension and saw the bridge as an opportunity for some publicity and to prove the bridges safety. As you may have guessed the elephants all make it across and the bridge deemed sound.

The book it self has amazing illustrations. The illustrator used beautiful watercolors to create a grand depiction of the era. The boys loved comparing clothing styles and I felt it

depicted the grandness of the bridge. What I was not ready for was the story. Don't get me wrong, I loved the story and the history. Additionally, I think poetry is a great way to tell a story. However, the vocabulary was WAY above an early elementary level (preschool-2nd grade). Examples of the "big" words would be: beguiled, gallant, dwarfed, savored, and infinite. I love vocabulary but when there is a 50cent word on every page, well it took us awhile to read the story. However, the language would have been awesome for 3-4 graders. Another book that is a little more age appropriate for younger listeners would be The Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge by Hildegarde H. Swift, which happens to be about a bridge not far from the Brooklyn Bridge. But sadly, no elephants...

J. Roebling

Speaking of age appropriateness  I originally planned on N adding the architect/civil engineer for the Brooklyn Bridge to his history book. Unfortunately, the original architect John Roebling died from tetanus from a construction site accident. His son Washington Roebling ended up overseeing and finishing his father's bridge. This was a fascinating fact (J. Roebling was actually a fascinating man) but not quite 1st grade material.


Anyway, on to the fun stuff!

1)Well, first we had to make Brooklyn and Manhattan! I had some old Amazon boxes lying around (they are a perfect size for crafting) and tempra paint. The rest was left to the three fellas imaginations. We cut some construction paper and folded little tabs to create the cities. They drew streets and used paper to create the East River. The boys loved making the cities, I think E even put a sea monster in the river. 

 






2)We were then joined by the boys' cousin,T, and after the story, he and N were given an engineering challenge: Create a bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan that would hold all 21 elephant manipulatives. It was a great STEM exercise. Also, it presented a chance for N to learn to collaborate and problem solve with another student.

We (my sister and I) were amused and impressed by their results. N and T's first bridge made it across the river but did not fulfill the second condition of holding all 21 elephants. They made it the second time.   I also had 21 marbles if they needed more of a challenge but the math manipulatives were perfect.

3)I found this super fun paper craft on YouTube and it is really as easy as it looks! I would recommend using a lighter weight paper than construction paper. Here is the link for the how-to video!
Paper Elephant Craft

4) Lastly, N added his picture to his history notebook.

Supplies:
The Book (Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing can be found in large libraries or you can buy a copy online.)
Construction Paper
Cardboard Boxes (2)
Tempra Paint
Colored Copy Paper
Manipulatives (21)
Blocks (I have Kapla blocks, Keva would work
or you could use thick craft sticks.)
Scissors
Gluesticks
Drinking Straws

Concepts Covered: Besides the previously stated history, watercolor artwork, poetry, vocabulary, life and customs of 1880's, civil engineering, bridge types, fine motor skills, and following directions.

What I Would Change/Add: In the future make a list of the vocabulary words and practice dictionary skills with N. I also wish I could have found a good movie or an actual circus to show the boys as it is a foreign concept to them.  Also, Dinotrux Season 4 Episode 7 show the characters building a suspension bridge. Silly as it may seem, the episode helped reinforced the bridge types and reasons you would want a suspension bridge. It was a great add-on after the fact.

Whatever you do, do it with all your might. Work at it, early and late, in and out of season, not leaving a stone unturned, and never deferring for even a single hour that which can be done just as well now.

 Phineas T. Barnum 

 

Whatever you do, do it with all your might. Work at it, early and late, in season and out of season, not leaving a stone unturned, and never deferring for a single hour that which can be done just as well now
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/p/ptbarnum163291.html

Whatever you do, do it with all your might. Work at it, early and late, in season and out of season, not leaving a stone unturned, and never deferring for a single hour that which can be done just as well now.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/p/ptbarnum163291.html

Whatever you do, do it with all your might. Work at it, early and late, in season and out of season, not leaving a stone unturned, and never deferring for a single hour that which can be done just as well now.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/p/ptbarnum163291.html

But why...

The other day N asked me the question every parent dreads. No not the "where do babies come from" question, but "Why does God let bad things happen?" I think I would have rather he asked the baby question!

N had just finished reading a Bible story. It mentioned that John the Baptist was in prison, whom N had learned about last week. He came to me asked if Jesus rushed to rescue him, especially because

John was Jesus' earthly cousin. (Cousins are serious business around here.) I explained that no, unfortunately John the Baptist ends up dying in prison. After a moments silence, N asked tears in his eyes, "But why..."

More silence as I metally panicked...

Then, after taking a deep breath and a quick prayer for wisdom  I answered my tenderhearted little fella the best I could.

I started with, "I don't know why". I read somewhere it was okay to admit that we don't know to our kids, instead of making up a pat answer. It seemed at the very least honest! But I immediately followed it with what I do know.

1) That God was able to rescue John. The fact that John the Baptist was in prison did not surprise God. God was able to rescue him, but John had a mission to tell others about the coming Messiah. And sin has broken the world. It is a theme we talk about a lot, especially when questions on why God made fleas and mosquitoes. God gave man the ability to choose, and sometimes people make bad, even evil choices that effect other people.

2) God loved John. Oh, how He loved him. How much? Jesus ultimately died to cover John's sins. But also in Matthew 14, when Jesus hears about John's death, Jesus immediately goes off by Himself to, I believe, mourn the death of a relative and a dear saint.  Psalms tells us that "precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints." (Ps.116:15). There is no doubt, God loved John.

3) God had a plan for John. From before he was conceived, John had a mission. He had a purpose, he was the one to point peoples need for a Savior. Prior to this, the people of Israel thought they need someone to rescue them from Roman oppression. John brought the message that the people needed rescuing from a captor greater than the mighty Romans, they needed their soul released from the shackles of sin. Even from prison, John continued to point people to the Savior.

4) John trusted God and it was enough. I think this point was the one that really hit home with me! When I think of Bible heroes who trusted God, John the Baptist is  not one of the first to come to mind. I think of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, or Daniel. Yet, John knew who Jesus was, what Jesus could do, and yet he still sat in prison pointing people to Christ. He was still on mission. I want to have that kind of faith and trust in my Lord when I grow up!

After, what must of seemed like a long answer to a six year old, N skipped off to play. The answer was sufficient and while he was still sad for John the Baptist, he was content with God's handling of the situation. I wish my faith and trust in my Savior and the Creator of the world was that pure. I wish peace was the pervading emotion I felt when I look at the world around me. I guess that is what "child like faith is".

Do You Know Who is Cheering for You?

Today, if someone asked you the following question "If you could spend an afternoon over coffee with one person from the past, who would it be?", what would be your answer. Seeing as I am writing the question, I will place the following stipulations:

1) We would all love to spend the afternoon with the Lord (at least I hope so), so pick someone else
2) Someone you are not directly related to
3) Someone born after 1600AD.

Okay, do you have your person? Now, here is another question, what mighty deed did this individual do for the Lord? If your answer is founded our country or helped end World War II, I challenge you to maybe take another look back in history. Not American or even world history, but the history of our faith.  These individuals are great choices, but do you know the
heroes of the Christian faith, because they are amazing choices. Do you know the name and stories behind the individuals who are at this moment cheering you on in your journey here on earth?

There is something about knowing where you came from. We get an sense of identity from those who have gone before us. We also reap the benefits from the bold deeds they did. While none of us tossed tea into Boston Harbor, we are glad that someone in the past did. We look back at the hard times of the Great Depression and gather a sense of  "If they could do that, well so can I" or at least of  "Things could be much worse." History teaches us about who we are as a nation.

Christian history also gives us an identity only a much greater scale. By seeing what ordinary people did through the boldness of God, we can see what can be accomplished. Not to mention, some parts in history were affected by people who will never be mentioned in a secular textbook. But many modern Christians have no idea who these heroes of the past were, unless a movie was made about them. Okay to make my point try matching the following person with the fact about them:

George Washington  Winston Churchill  Susan B Anthony

 Abraham Lincoln     Martin Luther King Jr   

    

1. British Prime Minster during WW2

2. Civil Rights Leader who was assassinated

3. Major Voice for "Women's" Rights

4. President during the Civil War

5. Father of Our Country

Okay, pretty easy, right? Now try these:

Gladys Aylward       George Muller     Hudson Taylor      

Amy Carmichael     Jim Elliot    William Carey

1. A doctor, he is known as the  Father of the China Inland Mission. He responsible for 125 schools and the gospel reaching China.

 2.A waitress who paid her own way to China (the mission board did not think her educated enough to be a missionary), walked cross country with 94 orphans to save them during the Japanese invasion of China in 1938.

3. She rescued and ministered to orphaned Indian girls before Mother Teresa. As a little girl,she always wanted blue eyes, but God gave her brown eyes for a reason.

4. He was killed trying to bring the Gospel to the Acua Indians of Ecudor. The quote "He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot loose" is from his journals.

5. He cared for over 10,000 orphans during his lifetime with never asking for a penny, trusting the Lord to provide.
                                                                            
6. Called the father of modern day missions, he served in India for seven years before he had his first convert.

Now was that a little harder?  And these heroes are just the tip of a veritable iceberg. There are so many great people of faith, who overcame and endured amazing, terrifying things as they faithfully served the Lord. It is sad that so many people do not know the people who are cheering for them from the heavenly stands. People whose lives would be such an encouragement. People who are our heritage! What better way to teach our children about perseverance, faithfulness, and who God is!

So, maybe there is someone else you would rather spend an afternoon with? Wondering where a good place to start looking is? Try http://www.ywampublishing.com/. 

Oh, and in case you were wondering who I would pick... it would be Darlene Deibler Rose.

 “Who understands the thrill of seeing the first bright flowers of spring so clearly as one who has just lived through the long, hard winter?”
― Darlene Deibler Rose 

  Evidence Not Seen: A Woman's Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II