History & Writing

Read:  Betsy Ross – written and illustrated by Alexandra Wallner

Make 5 pointed star from instructions in back of book and place in sewing notebook (this can be as simple as a composition book or a 3-ring binder that you add your own pages. we are using a composition book)

Next to your 5 pointed star (in notebook), have your child write a written narration of what she learned about Betsy Ross  (You might want your child to do a rough draft first so that you can check for spelling and grammar errors.  I have found this way of teaching grammar to be much more effective than grammar books, although those are important, too.  After their narration is checked, they can then complete the final draft and add it to their notebook.)

Arts & Crafts

Complete pegboard (optional) from Day 1 of our Sewing Unit Study.  Here is the link to the steps we took to complete our peg board.

We painted the pegboard, added ric-rac, screwed on wall and placed then placed our pegs (purchased at Home Depot) into our board.

Here are a few pictures of our completed peg boards.

Next, have your child prepare the fabric samples.  Have her take the material purchased at the fabric store and cut a 4×4″ square from each fabric.  She can then zig-zag around each sample to prevent fraying.

For each fabric sample, write have your child write on a piece of masking tape the type of material and what it’s used for (we only wrote what it’s used for if it was especially different or we were unfamiliar with it) and then place on back of fabric sample. When completed, she can place the fabric samples on ring or use large safety pin.

Here are some pictures of the steps we took for this project.

These are the fabrics we purchased.

This shows the zig-zagging around edges before strings were cut.

Writing the name of the fabric as well as what it’s used for.  Masking tape is the only thing we could think of that would stick well.

Our completed fabric sample collection.

You will, of course, need to have an independent math program to go along with this study

If I have written anything that needs clarifying, please ask, or if you have a suggestion on how to improve my unit study, I would be very happy to hear it.  Remember, I have a basic understanding of sewing.  I am no expert but I have a daughter that wants to learn so I’m trying to accomodate her interests.  This study can be challenging (think intimidating!) if you don’t have any sewing skills but we’re trying.  I hope, by posting of our steps here, it can be of help to someone else.

If you’re working on a project or have completed one, please link up below.  Young and old alike.  We’d love to see what you have done and to be inspired!

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…

History & Writing

Read:  Betsy Ross – written and illustrated by Alexandra Wallner

Make 5 pointed star from instructions in back of book and place in sewing notebook (this can be as simple as a composition book or a 3-ring binder that you add your own pages. we are using a composition book)

Next to your 5 pointed star (in notebook), have your child write a written narration of what she learned about Betsy Ross  (You might want your child to do a rough draft first so that you can check for spelling and grammar errors.  I have found this way of teaching grammar to be much more effective than grammar books, although those are important, too.  After their narration is checked, they can then complete the final draft and add it to their notebook.)

Arts & Crafts

Complete pegboard (optional) from Day 1 of our Sewing Unit Study.  Here is the link to the steps we took to complete our peg board.

We painted the pegboard, added ric-rac, screwed on wall and placed then placed our pegs (purchased at Home Depot) into our board.

Here are a few pictures of our completed peg boards.

Next, have your child prepare the fabric samples.  Have her take the material purchased at the fabric store and cut a 4×4″ square from each fabric.  She can then zig-zag around each sample to prevent fraying.

For each fabric sample, write have your child write on a piece of masking tape the type of material and what it’s used for (we only wrote what it’s used for if it was especially different or we were unfamiliar with it) and then place on back of fabric sample. When completed, she can place the fabric samples on ring or use large safety pin.

Here are some pictures of the steps we took for this project.

These are the fabrics we purchased.

This shows the zig-zagging around edges before strings were cut.

Writing the name of the fabric as well as what it’s used for.  Masking tape is the only thing we could think of that would stick well.

Our completed fabric sample collection.

You will, of course, need to have an independent math program to go along with this study

If I have written anything that needs clarifying, please ask, or if you have a suggestion on how to improve my unit study, I would be very happy to hear it.  Remember, I have a basic understanding of sewing.  I am no expert but I have a daughter that wants to learn so I’m trying to accomodate her interests.  This study can be challenging (think intimidating!) if you don’t have any sewing skills but we’re trying.  I hope, by posting of our steps here, it can be of help to someone else.

If you’re working on a project or have completed one, please link up below.  Young and old alike.  We’d love to see what you have done and to be inspired!

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…

Then I thought of Dr. Raymond Moore, a man of much common sense and understanding of children and how they learn.  What would he suggest?  From reading all of his books I knew what he would say.  “Find the child’s interests and let them study that.”  Some mothers might say their child is not interested in anything but as Dr. Moore would ask, “What do they spend their time doing?”  That is their interest.

When I started thinking about what my daughter’s interests are my thoughts immediately went to sewing.  She has asked to make skirts many times and she has – but she wants to make more.  She likes shopping, clothes and all that stuff which most definitely is not a love of mine.  That’s when I decided to create my own unit study on sewing.

I’d like to share, over several posts, what we are doing in our unit study.  This will help me stay accountable, I hope, and maybe inspire you in some small way.

I have sewed some in my lifetime and have a basic understanding of patterns and sewing and this has been helpful.  However, I am no expert in this field so be encouraged if you have limited experience, too.  I would recommend sewing books by Nancy Zieman for inexperienced sewers.  She has lots of pictures in her books that help you understand the different steps involved in beginning sewing.

Okay… now for our sewing unit study.  Note:  This unit study assumes your child has basic understanding of your sewing machine and knows how to thread your machine & bobbin.

Day 1

Watch the following You Tube videos to familiarize yourselves with sewing patterns before going to the fabric store.  If you have a pattern on hand to follow along, that would be more desirable.

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4438129_introduction-sewing-patterns.html – into to sewing patterns

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4438130_select-sewing-pattern.html – how to find & select sewing pattern

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4438132_read-sewing-pattern.html – how to read sewing pattern

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4438135_read-details-sewing-pattern.html – how to read details of a sewing pattern

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4438138_navigate-sewing-pattern.html – how to navigate sewing pattern

Activity:  For one of our activities we will make a fabric sample collection.  To make this we first must go to the fabric store & find as many types of fabric as possible.  Example:  Chartreuse, Georgette, Chiffon, Organza, Corduroy, Suede, Satin, etc.  (I had them cut 1/8 of a yard of each type since that was the smallest amount they could sell me.)

I told the lady we were making a fabric sample collection and she was most helpful and patient, telling me what types of garments you could make with each type and what materials made up that fabric (i.e. metallic, nylon, polyester, cotton).

Write a short description of the fabric (so that you are not confused once you get home) with the information the lady gives you.

Example:  Brown floral – Georgette

Purchase a simple pattern, like a 2 hour project or easy 1-2-3.  Start simple.  Buy the material and notions for that project.  Tip:  Buy a material that is easy to work with – no silky fabrics, no plaids or stripes that have to be matched at the seams.  I would recommend buying an inexpensive fabric.

We also wanted an organized sewing area so we decided to make a peg board.  To make one yourself you will need:

peg board (measure the area where your peg board will mount to the wall to determine how much to buy), spray paint (if desired), embellishments (we bought ric rac) to decorate edges of peg board, & peg board holders (available at Home Depot)

If you want to follow along or just want to show off something you’ve finished, I’ll post a Mr. Linky at the end of each unit study sewing post.  You can inspire us and others!  Also, if you have any suggestions on how I can improve our unit study or if you have some patterns you think are good for a beginner sewer, please leave a comment.

 

Then I thought of Dr. Raymond Moore, a man of much common sense and understanding of children and how they learn.  What would he suggest?  From reading all of his books I knew what he would say.  “Find the child’s interests and let them study that.”  Some mothers might say their child is not interested in anything but as Dr. Moore would ask, “What do they spend their time doing?”  That is their interest.

When I started thinking about what my daughter’s interests are my thoughts immediately went to sewing.  She has asked to make skirts many times and she has – but she wants to make more.  She likes shopping, clothes and all that stuff which most definitely is not a love of mine.  That’s when I decided to create my own unit study on sewing.

I’d like to share, over several posts, what we are doing in our unit study.  This will help me stay accountable, I hope, and maybe inspire you in some small way.

I have sewed some in my lifetime and have a basic understanding of patterns and sewing and this has been helpful.  However, I am no expert in this field so be encouraged if you have limited experience, too.  I would recommend sewing books by Nancy Zieman for inexperienced sewers.  She has lots of pictures in her books that help you understand the different steps involved in beginning sewing.

Okay… now for our sewing unit study.  Note:  This unit study assumes your child has basic understanding of your sewing machine and knows how to thread your machine & bobbin.

Day 1

Watch the following You Tube videos to familiarize yourselves with sewing patterns before going to the fabric store.  If you have a pattern on hand to follow along, that would be more desirable.

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4438129_introduction-sewing-patterns.html – into to sewing patterns

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4438130_select-sewing-pattern.html – how to find & select sewing pattern

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4438132_read-sewing-pattern.html – how to read sewing pattern

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4438135_read-details-sewing-pattern.html – how to read details of a sewing pattern

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4438138_navigate-sewing-pattern.html – how to navigate sewing pattern

Activity:  For one of our activities we will make a fabric sample collection.  To make this we first must go to the fabric store & find as many types of fabric as possible.  Example:  Chartreuse, Georgette, Chiffon, Organza, Corduroy, Suede, Satin, etc.  (I had them cut 1/8 of a yard of each type since that was the smallest amount they could sell me.)

I told the lady we were making a fabric sample collection and she was most helpful and patient, telling me what types of garments you could make with each type and what materials made up that fabric (i.e. metallic, nylon, polyester, cotton).

Write a short description of the fabric (so that you are not confused once you get home) with the information the lady gives you.

Example:  Brown floral – Georgette

Purchase a simple pattern, like a 2 hour project or easy 1-2-3.  Start simple.  Buy the material and notions for that project.  Tip:  Buy a material that is easy to work with – no silky fabrics, no plaids or stripes that have to be matched at the seams.  I would recommend buying an inexpensive fabric.

We also wanted an organized sewing area so we decided to make a peg board.  To make one yourself you will need:

peg board (measure the area where your peg board will mount to the wall to determine how much to buy), spray paint (if desired), embellishments (we bought ric rac) to decorate edges of peg board, & peg board holders (available at Home Depot)

If you want to follow along or just want to show off something you’ve finished, I’ll post a Mr. Linky at the end of each unit study sewing post.  You can inspire us and others!  Also, if you have any suggestions on how I can improve our unit study or if you have some patterns you think are good for a beginner sewer, please leave a comment.

 

This is the book I use when making soap.

I usually always make the Basic Soap recipe.

First I assembled all my supplies:  distilled water, lye, kitchen scale (a must), glass jar w/ long wooden spoon, olive oil, palm oil, coconut oil, grapefruit seed extract, essential oils for scent.

The next step, after assembling your supplies, is to measure your lye into the glass jar.

Add distilled water to the lye… and you get a very interesting reaction.  The mixture heats up to 200°.  It happens instantaneously.   It then takes about an hour and sometimes more  to cool down to the proper temperature for use.

While the lye is cooling, I then melted/heated the oils.  The oils are heated just until the bulk of it has melted.  I added calendula (I think it was) to the oils to try and get a yellow soap.

Once the oils had cooled to the proper temperature, I strained the blossoms out.

I then added the lye to the oils.

To this mixture was added the grapefruit seed extract and essential oils.  This was stirred until it reached a trace.  (A term used in soap making that stands for just the point when the soap is starting to thicken and you can take a spoon and drizzle some mixture across the top mixture and you are able to see it the trail you make.)

I poured the liquid soap into my molds which were boxes I had on hand.  I lined the boxes with freezer paper using masking tape to hold it in place.

I placed the soap under a few sleeping bags to keep it warm and left it overnight.

I made a second batch and used liquid chlorophyll for the colorant.  This is the soap after setting overnight.

I took the soap out of the mold and using a ruler measured the bars, then cut.

I don’t know why I get white spots on the top surface of the soap but it seems to always happen.  So, I scraped it off.

All the pieces that are scraped off can be gathered together into a ball and used.  It’s not pretty but no soap goes to waste either.

The soap is left to cure for 3-4 weeks.  The odd shaped bars were kept for our own use.

I wrapped the soap in saran wrap and printed labels to go on the wrapped bars of soap.  

Did you know there really was a group of knights called Knights of the Bath?  They received this name when going through the ceremony to become a knight.  Part of the ceremony involved taking a bath as a symbol of purification.  Maybe if you have boys that are allergic to baths you could entice them by explaining that even knights had to take baths.   Scrub away boys!

Just at the time our event began, the rain completely stopped (after raining for 4 hours) and it was quite beautiful outside.  It was too late to change anything so we continued with having the event in the racquetball court.

The marketplace was so much fun for everyone.

We told the kids to haggle and to be loud when offering what was at their table.  “Fresh bread and butter.  2 shillings!”

We also told our guests beforehand to haggle because once the “coins” in their moneybags was gone, it was gone.  Everyone did great on the haggling.  It was a very lively marketplace.

Newspapers were sold.

A lord helping his lady down the hillside.

Since we are of Scottish descent my Zachary told some of William Wallace’s life story.  Someone at our church had a Scottish kilt, of what clan I do not know, and we were able to borrow a Wallace tam.  The afghan which is almost identical to a Wallace plaid we found at Goodw*ll.  Zachary’s form of speech was a dramatic interpretation and if you do not know what that is ( we learned about it during our speech class) you can look it up on YouT*be.  It’s a very fun and interesting way to give a speech.  Do you see the knife he is holding in his hand?  Zachary and Wesley both made one. (Wesley’s is still the size of a spear.)  They spent hours working on it.  They built a fire that burned all day so that the coals would be extremely hot.  They pounded and pounded their piece of rebar until they had the shape they wanted.  You know how much satisfaction one gets the more effort they put into it, well they are so happy with the end result.

Why don’t I just show you a close-up picture of it?

This was the first time for all these little ones to give a speech.  Not too many years from now, they’ll be so big.

We were taken on a tour of different rooms in the castle.  This was the dungeon.

Wesley was an old man telling his grandchildren the story of King Alfred, whom he had fought with in his younger years.  Wesley was breathing heavily the whole time he gave his speech.  At first I thought it was part of it but then I realized that he was having a hard time breathing with that big beard!

At intermission, the lads had a melee.  We had about 12 swords.  Eventually, they made up teams.  Sometimes one side would charge the other side and demolish their army.  At other times they would have several people in the “ring” at one time.

“Joan of Arc”

Our family, minus one.  Where are you, Seth?

This royal family’s servant (daughter)  prepared the food for everyone (about 80 people) as part of her high school requirements.  The meal was perfectly done and served right on time.  A++  Then the royal family served it. 

Speeches are all done.  Whew.  Time to eat, talk and relax/play (depending on your age )

And finally, a group picture of all who spoke.  (The spots are caused by dust in the air.)

Just at the time our event began, the rain completely stopped (after raining for 4 hours) and it was quite beautiful outside.  It was too late to change anything so we continued with having the event in the racquetball court.

The marketplace was so much fun for everyone.

We told the kids to haggle and to be loud when offering what was at their table.  “Fresh bread and butter.  2 shillings!”

We also told our guests beforehand to haggle because once the “coins” in their moneybags was gone, it was gone.  Everyone did great on the haggling.  It was a very lively marketplace.

Newspapers were sold.

A lord helping his lady down the hillside.

Since we are of Scottish descent my Zachary told some of William Wallace’s life story.  Someone at our church had a Scottish kilt, of what clan I do not know, and we were able to borrow a Wallace tam.  The afghan which is almost identical to a Wallace plaid we found at Goodw*ll.  Zachary’s form of speech was a dramatic interpretation and if you do not know what that is ( we learned about it during our speech class) you can look it up on YouT*be.  It’s a very fun and interesting way to give a speech.  Do you see the knife he is holding in his hand?  Zachary and Wesley both made one. (Wesley’s is still the size of a spear.)  They spent hours working on it.  They built a fire that burned all day so that the coals would be extremely hot.  They pounded and pounded their piece of rebar until they had the shape they wanted.  You know how much satisfaction one gets the more effort they put into it, well they are so happy with the end result.

Why don’t I just show you a close-up picture of it?

This was the first time for all these little ones to give a speech.  Not too many years from now, they’ll be so big.

We were taken on a tour of different rooms in the castle.  This was the dungeon.

Wesley was an old man telling his grandchildren the story of King Alfred, whom he had fought with in his younger years.  Wesley was breathing heavily the whole time he gave his speech.  At first I thought it was part of it but then I realized that he was having a hard time breathing with that big beard!

At intermission, the lads had a melee.  We had about 12 swords.  Eventually, they made up teams.  Sometimes one side would charge the other side and demolish their army.  At other times they would have several people in the “ring” at one time.

“Joan of Arc”

Our family, minus one.  Where are you, Seth?

This royal family’s servant (daughter)  prepared the food for everyone (about 80 people) as part of her high school requirements.  The meal was perfectly done and served right on time.  A++  Then the royal family served it. 

Speeches are all done.  Whew.  Time to eat, talk and relax/play (depending on your age )

And finally, a group picture of all who spoke.  (The spots are caused by dust in the air.)

The day started out beautifully and the framework for our marketplace was started.

But then it started to rain and it rained off and on for several hours.

We couldn’t put the sheets on the “roof” of the marketplace because of the rain.  What to do?  Our whole event was planned for the outdoors.  A last minute decision was made to move into the racquetball court.  Off to the store some of the men went to buy some plywood and such for a platform and straw for the floor.  A racquetball court is very echoey so you have to do something to absorb sound.

Meanwhile, much preparation was also being done inside the house.  Zachary made iced mint tea from his garden to sell at the marketplace.

“Money” was being put into coin bags to give to our guests.  They then used the “money” to buy goods at the marketplace.

Beautiful long hair was being braided in medieval hair styles.

At last it was time to begin.  To start, we had all our guests go to our front yard.  We then would take 13 at a time and have them enter the time machine.  The time machine that a few of the mom’s worked on turned out to be just great.

All the windows in the dining room were covered with black plastic .  Around the door you can see where the sign reads “Time Portal – Destination”.  Around the edges of the door which you cannot see, it read “Middle Ages”.

The light bulbs in the dining room were changed to colored ones.  These were blinked on and off during our journey back in time.  To complete the effect and make it totally dark a black piece of plastic was pulled across the opening once everyone entered the time machine.  Noises were made resembling space ship sounds using a karaoke machine,

All the participants went through first.

A poem from the middle ages was read while “time” rolled backwards on this big time wheel.

Then a soft voice spoke saying “You have now reached the middle ages.  You may exit to the right.”  They were now back in time.

Ready for adventure!

Off the participants went to the marketplace to await our guests.

Lots more pictures to follow but that’s all for today!

Updated to add:  Part II is up.  Click here.

The day started out beautifully and the framework for our marketplace was started.

But then it started to rain and it rained off and on for several hours.

We couldn’t put the sheets on the “roof” of the marketplace because of the rain.  What to do?  Our whole event was planned for the outdoors.  A last minute decision was made to move into the racquetball court.  Off to the store some of the men went to buy some plywood and such for a platform and straw for the floor.  A racquetball court is very echoey so you have to do something to absorb sound. 

Meanwhile, much preparation was also being done inside the house.  Zachary made iced mint tea from his garden to sell at the marketplace. 

“Money” was being put into coin bags to give to our guests.  They then used the “money” to buy goods at the marketplace.

Beautiful long hair was being braided in medieval hair styles.

At last it was time to begin.  To start, we had all our guests go to our front yard.  We then would take 13 at a time and have them enter the time machine.  The time machine that a few of the mom’s worked on turned out to be just great.

All the windows in the dining room were covered with black plastic .  Around the door you can see where the sign reads “Time Portal – Destination”.  Around the edges of the door which you cannot see, it read “Middle Ages”.

The light bulbs in the dining room were changed to colored ones.  These were blinked on and off during our journey back in time.  To complete the effect and make it totally dark a black piece of plastic was pulled across the opening once everyone entered the time machine.  Noises were made resembling space ship sounds using a karaoke machine,

All the participants went through first. 

A poem from the middle ages was read while “time” rolled backwards on this big time wheel.

Then a soft voice spoke saying “You have now reached the middle ages.  You may exit to the right.”  They were now back in time. 

Ready for adventure!

Off the participants went to the marketplace to await our guests.

Lots more pictures to follow but that’s all for today!

Updated to add:  Part II is up.  Click here.

One of the items we’re offering is bread.

Just look at these beauties.

It would have been nice to have the dark rye bread but since we hadn’t experimented with any recipes we used our tried and true 12-Grain Whole Wheat Bread recipe.

The tired bakers that worked at this for several hours.

Wesley had been in on the action the day before…

making these beauties… but sometimes things don’t go as planned.  Little brother (we won’t mention any names here ) cranked the oven up to 500° and the bread burnt some on the outside and was doughy on the inside.    We get to eat this bread but we had to make some more for our guests.  This was before the bread went into the oven.

Thus, Wesley retired from the kitchen and Zachary became Serenity’s assistant baker.

Not to leave Wesley out, we let him come back in and do some clean-up!

Even though he’s wearing the same shirt this really was the day before.  I think he looks like he was having more fun making bread than… 

washing dishes.  What do you think?