So here is the answer to that: Learning does not mean sitting at a table in a chair doing workbooks, listen to a teacher lecture, being quiet not able to ask questions etc for 7 to 8 hours per day. Since WHEN has school been changed from fostering that love of learning to sit still and do your work and don't bother me type of learning??? I believe that if you engage your children in activities to stimulate their brains, their minds, and encourage lots of questions, then THAT is the way a child learns... but not only learns, but gets that yearning to WANT to learn and LOVES to learn!!! Yes, my kids don't learn at the same pace at every other child, but then again, who is really normal anyways?? Yes, two of my children are behind academically due to their chromosome deletion causing learning disabilities and trouble retaining information. HOWEVER, my kids LOVE to learn!!! They love books and recognize them as that they are a privelege not a necessity. That is something many in this country have forgotten. Something other countries who are less fortunate than the United States know very well, but a fact that MANY just do not fathom here in the United States anymore. Now that I am finished with my rant (and I promise there will be more on this later), I decided to "show" and tell you about what school is at times for my kids. Our definition of "school" does change daily and isn't the same everyday, but that is just fine. As long as they are having fun, learning and stimulating their brains, who cares anyways?!?!
Our church, FBC of Rogersville, took a trip on June the 30th (yes I am getting behind) to Bays Mountain Park. This of course was a fun trip, but also very educational and for our kids, it was SCHOOL! If anyone lives in the area or is VISITING the area, I highly recommend this park. Our family will definetly be going back sometime just on our own to spend the day. (hopefully SOON but definetly when the weather starts to cool just a bit) Their website is: http://www.baysmountain.com/ and here is a bit about our day! Thanks to all of the adults who got this trip together for the kids and who have worked hard to provide trips for the kids all summer long!!!
The kids learned that a baby deer is a fawn. They also learned that their mothers, does, have the fawns and leave them in an area where they will be camouflaged. The fawns are very still as to not draw attention to themselves and wait for their mother to come back. This fawn was in an area that the doe may have felt it was well camouflaged, but it was actually just right off of the walking trail. You frequently see deer all in the woods at Bays Mountain Park. Adorable!
The kids learned that a "daddy deer" is called a buck and that at certain times of the year, they have velvety horns. Aidan was not happy to learn that the bucks are what his Poppy are always after and try to kill for our family to eat! Hopefully he will forget the image of this soon! lol
These are slider turtles as Katherine told the kids. She taught them that when they feel threatened, they SLIDE off of the log into the water very quickly. The ones sitting on the log does not even look real in the picture. She also taught the kids that the ones at Bays Mt are so used to people that they do not feel threatened by people standing around staring at them!
This is not a very good picture, but this is a buzzard. The kids learned that buzzards are a type of predator that eat dead animals. Lillian looked at me in disbelief when she heard that!
This was by far by anonymous vote of me and the kids our FAVORITE animal during the trip to Bays Mountain Park. This beautiful creature is a screech owl. We all learned that this owl has never screeched, but loves to "sing." He is a very friendly owl that is 11 years old, just turned 12, and only weighs around I think the man said 11 ounces. The volunteer who we are VERY thankful to got this owl out to fix his cage, but let us see him, take pictures of him and made some children (and adults) very happy!!! This was the HIGHLIGHT of our trip to Bays Mtn! I do not know the volunteers name, but we thank him for doing this!!! If you go, stop by to see this owl!
This is near where they do the barge rides at. This water area is filled with lily pads, algae and some other plants. Lots of frogs thrive here!!! The kids got to see just a couple of frogs hopping around.
This was one my kids did not really have much to do with! Lillian touched the body one time. It moved, she jumped and did not like the feel of it and got FAR away from it with Sharon. (don't think Sharon cared much for the snake either) Aidan did not even touch the snake but loved looking at them through the glass. Thanks so much to Sharon for helping with lifting the kids up over and over to see all of the snakes.
Are they not CUTE? This is Aidan and Lillian looking at the deer. JohnAlex did not go as Trey was working and just could not keep up with all 3 that day.
Lillian had a wonderful time. She was the easiest one to get to cooperate and stand still for a picture.
This is Lillian with Nikki... I am not sure how she spells her name. My kids all just LOVE her and her Nana keeps them while I go and sing in the choir and keeps JohnAlex on Sunday mornings as well. I couldn't do without her.... and Nikki as well! Nikki is such big help!
I do not have pictures of the remaining things we did. The kids saw the exhibits on the inside. Then a Boy Scout troop had donated to us tickets to go and see the Planetarium Show "IBEX:Search for the Edge of the Solar System." This was a VERY interesting and informative show. Lillian was a bit scared of the fact that the entire ceiling was filled with stars, flying things that blast off, and huge planets. IBEX is a very interesting mission and that we will definetly be trying to find out more current information on as time goes on. They actually are doing a MAP of the edge of our solar system. The results were surprising so more information is currently being gathered to find answers.
Lillian slept on the way home. Both of the kids suckered me into buying them small stuffed raccoons that WERE adorable I have to admit! Lillian also attached herself to a container of lifelike bugs (weird since she HATES bugs!!!) and insisting on taking them with her so we also ended up with the container of bugs (which we can use in school so I agreed on that) and a stuffed deer for JohnAlex. So for anyone planning a trip: BEWARE OF THE GIFT SHOP!!!!
Thanks so much to FBC Rogersville for this wonderful trip, the Boy Scouts for the planetarium tickets, James Sells who drove the bus and wife Carla who planned our itinerary. Special thanks to Katherine and Sharon who helped me a great deal with Aidan and Lillian on this trip!!! I could not have done with the two of them!
And THAT is the conclusion of a GREAT school day!!!!!!
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