The Bergblog: Snapshot Summary, December 7-13, 2012

Snapshot Summary, December 7-13, 2012

December 7-13

Week 14

We took a trip through Christmas in American history...

I didn't take my camera with me, but I found this photo for you.
source

Our first stop was at Carter Mansion which was decorated for Christmas in the style of 1780's. They had costumed interpreters, candlelight and hot wassail. The best part of the evening for me, however, was the bonfire outside. The volunteers played period Christmas music and stoked the fire with straw to symbolize the straw that the Christ child laid in and the subsequent fire bursts symbolizes the rebirth of Christ.

Then we went on to Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park for a glimpse of Christmas past on the frontier.

The path to the cabin was lit by candlelight ...

and a nice warm fire outside the cabin kept us toasty warm.

They served hot wassail and edibles common to that period, and had a black powder demonstration.

Then we went on to an 1862 Christmas celebration at Tipton-Haynes Historic site. They had crafts for the kids which Alex really enjoyed. They also toured the house which was decorated beautifully for an Antebellum Christmas, (but I didn't get pictures.)

Advent Activities

Letters to Santa were sent.

Quentin made a Creche with Sculpy, which went nicely with our study of France this week.

Because our Christmas stockings are packed, Quentin came up with the idea of us each embroidering stockings this year.

We made Christmas balls with yarn...

James came up with the idea of making a mosaic-type ornament from bits torn from Christmas catalogs.

We celebrated Our Lady of Guadaloupe and St. Lucia day.

We have enjoyed lots of Christmas treats such as this peppermint hot chocolate.

lapbook piece from Homeschool in the Woods,
James' (age 11), "Russia sold Alaska to the US. Alaska is north of Canada."

We learned about "Seward's Folly," or the purchase of Alaska for about two cents an acre.

Quentin's (age 8) map colored like the flag of the country

We began our study of France.
We discovered the problems of unstandardized measurement.

The younger boys are back to attending their gym class...

but now it is at a brand new facility.

books:

Madeline, Ludwig Bemelmans (Pre-K and up)
The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot July 25, 1909, Alice Provensen, (Pre-K and up)
The Secret Cave, Discovering Lascaux, Emily Arnold McCully
The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault, Charles Perrault; French Fairy tales
Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales, the Grimm brothers; German Fairy tales
Miranda, The Explorer, James Mayhew
Peter Pan {on CD in the car}