Weekly Rhythm and Calendar Files

I've been working on our rhythm and calendar for quite some time now and I'm almost completely happy with it. It will take some tweaking over the coming weeks, but the direction is where I'd like to be for now. The schedule will not be rigid and will change on days that we decided to go to playgroups, meetups, hikes, the library, etc. These files are living documents and are still being worked on for the perfect print job to stick in our binder, which will become the tangible heart of our school year together.

Feel free to copy the Rhythm and Calendar files via Google Docs and make them your own for what works best for you! The other tabs will be updated soon as well.

Harris Shoals Park at Calls Creek

Today we checked out a new to us park for its magnificent sliding rocks and old school playground. We were greeted by friendly folks and made friends all over the park. It was a good time and should be more of an Athens area staple (in my little corners of Athens at least) in the child friendly circles. Not far from our home, but in Oconee County, it's worth the short drive out of Athens-Clarke County.

There were clean up efforts for Calls Creek which runs through Harris Shoals Park just last year. It is my impression that Oconee County residents have pulled together and rallied around the creek creating Friends of Calls Creek and frequent monitoring. Activism on the local level is incredibly important to large and small communities, it is something we will be covering frequently during our Field Trip Fridays. Sticking with our theme of water cycles and stream preservation this was the perfect spot for a visit this week of soft homeschooling.

As a child I have fond memories of spending days sliding down Flint Rock in Columbus, Georgia. When visiting Watson Mill David and I have often commented that rock sliding seems much more dangerous than it ever did as youngsters. Now it's our children's turn and they seem about as phased by the slipperiness of wet rocks as we once were, not to mention just as fluid and limber. Note to parents of the smallest children: I left my carriers in the car and that was a no go. Meriwether (1yr) wanted to slide just as much as Singer (5) and Silas (3) did, so a carrier is a must for the younger crowd.

Rain set in and we took cover for a bit at the van, due to my camera. The precipitation barely lasted 5 minutes, so the inseparable twosome ran straight to the park and blew down the old school slide. Another note of caution, when the slide or your person is wet you certainly gain some speed, this first slide was no problem other than A LOT of dirt, But the plastic slide was, Singer busted her fanny and fingers. There's a lot more playground, mostly wooden planks and these awesome tires to crawl through. You also have the option of a modern playground with the plastic slides to the left of the older structure, but our crew preferred the green wooden maze. A major bonus of this area is the shade, you also have the option of hiking trails. We will hit those up with a group or Papa.

What to bring: water, towels, bathing suit, change of clothes, baby carrier if applicable. Caution: the rocks are slippery.

 

Day 1

I am speaking of the life of a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children; who has undertaken to cherish it and do it no damage, not because he is duty-bound, but because he loves the world and loves his children… -Wendell Berry “The Unforeseen Wilderness: An Essay on Kentucky’s Red River Gorge”

To start off on the best foot for our Kindergarten and PreK Homeschool Year I thought we should do something we love, that foot off of this proverbial cliff should be one of our family favorites, a hike. With an educational theme for science and nature, no doubt.

The State of Georgia's gemstone: Quartz { SiO2 - Silicon Dioxide}- and it's H U G E

We went hiking with friends two weeks ago through the most magical forest nearby, but I wanted to do our search for water a little differently this time, the wet stuff found even closer. A major component to a few of the curricula I am using urges us to start incorporating our neighborhood and general areas of woods and fresh water into our days with nature. Allowing time with nature to become more approachable, other than simply being in that backyard we have worked so hard to give them. Our yard is about as fun as it can get, but they know every nook and cranny by heart, now is the time for more adventure. With my new adventurous, even within the neighborhood, spirit I contacted our neighbor to let him know that we would finally be making the trek that he had offered to us for years. The descent into a large gully of one huge neighborhood block to the little known spring that happens to be right across the street. I've even been told that there was a tiny mill along the rivulet.

When I saw this slice of heaven today I could not believe that we often travel two hours to be in nature, when something so similar is directly across the street. I am finding this to be true over and over again in Athens. I searched by word of mouth and Google for ten years to find magical forests, without luck, and within the last two weeks I have found three places of wonder within 20 minutes. The exact thing I was looking for presented itself just in time for our homeschool journey, that happens to have a heavy focus on nature. Isn't it funny how the universe works out for many of us like that? Ask and you shall receive, when the time is right. The right time is now.

 

Our group hiked for about an hour, Meriwether, ever the champ, on my back. I was also impressed with the gusto of both Singer and Silas. They are typically hiking champions, but without a clear path there was a lot of climbing to do and brush to maneuver. We found so many treasures for our nature table, a 2 pound quartz (pictured above), an owl feather, some leaves, a few pine cones and acorns. We saw many animals in the stream including a few salamanders and a crawfish. There were deer tracks and scat a plenty.

 

When we arrived home I showered, the children all bathed in the pool and lunch was welcomed. Then we had quiet time, followed by working on a few water cycle worksheets. The children also drew their depictions of the spring that is almost right outside our front door. I still can't believe it! A snack, more outdoor time now, then supper will come quickly. I think we shall call it a day.

We hope you'll join us on an outing fellow Athenian Homeschoolers, we are so thankful to know many of you and have all of you here within this strong community to learn the ropes from as we grow.  For more pictures of this precious place visit our flickr album or scroll through below.

Homeschool Summer 2016