Everything Thanksgiving- Blessings, Recipes, Crafts and More

Each year we spend Thanksgiving at my grandmother's. After we pray we have a tradition of asking everyone what they are thankful for. I know already what I'm thankful for. I've began to ponder on my blessings in life. From our Heavenly Father's Creation of beautiful fall colors that we Minnesotans were able to enjoy this year, to the white crisp snow that sweeps and fills the trees. 

A few weeks ago....

A few weeks ago my family and I went back to Iowa ( Legend had business meetings) and we were able to visit my parents and grandmother, who in beginning stages of Alzheimer's. We all know its sad to see someone's mind slip slowly away from them. But I felt peace within my family that day, because it seemed as if each of us felt an appreciation for who she is and has been in our lives. Even my oldest son's spirit calmed as he spoke to her gently.  We all sat in the living room while she played on the piano.And boy did she play. She is a wonderful,  extraordinary pianist. It was amazing! 

So to complete the title I just wanted to add a few things that I'm loving right now. This month during homeschool we have been teaching the bull about Early Exploration and Settlement of Columbus, The Conquistadors, and English Settlers. I used the following lesson plan this month for school:

• Land Ho Early Exploration and Settlement of The Americas

Y'all I can't tell you enough how tickled pink I was when I  stumbled upon a great animated movie to incorporate with this lesson. Animated Hero Classics: William Bradford: The First Thanksgiving from Nest Entertainment .The Animated Hero Classic Series consists of 20 inspiring and educational stories of heroic men and women, with the emphasis placed on their accomplishments in world history and social sciences. The series focuses on the role in which they contributed to developing social, economic and political structures as well as in establishing and spreading ideas that helped to transform the world forever.

Teaching historical empathy for those who have made important choices, overcame obstacles, sacrificed for the betterment of others and embarked on journeys that resulted in new ideas, new inventions and new communities throughout the world and history.

Children will expand their knowledge of these extraordinary heroes and heroines while developing an understanding of the economic, cultural and scientific contributions described in these biographies.

With a wide range and continuity of human experiences this series introduces the concepts of courage, self-control, justice, heroism, leadership and patriotism in America. While it is also reinforces and develops core curriculum knowledge, skills and builds positive character values by promoting personal, social, and civic responsibilities. 


At the end of our lessons I like to incorporate a day filled with activities or a field trip.Last year  we had a pow wow with activities, food and music. I listed below a few recipes I used.

Buffalo Stew

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs buffalo, cut into small pieces ( like stew meat)
• 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
• 5  potatoes, with skin
• 2 cups baby carrots
• 2 medium onions
• 8 ounces mushrooms
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with juice
• 4 bay leaves
• oregano
• fresh ground pepper and salt
• 2 cups beef broth  

Directions

1. Dredge Buffalo in Flour, set aside.
2. Slice  Potatoes, place in bottom of the slow cooker.
3. Cut onions into large pieces and layer over potatoes.
4. Clean Mushrooms thoroughly, cut in half, and layer over onions.
5. Layer Baby Carrots over mushrooms.
6. Layer floured Buffalo over carrots.
7. Pour Diced Tomatoes and liquid evenly over Buffalo.
8. Season with Bay Leaf, Oregano, and Pepper.
9. Pour Vegetable Broth evenly over all.
10. Cook on low for 8-10 hours, stirring towards end.

Were lucky enough to have a buffalo farm close to us. Last year Legend drove there with the bull and they loved it! I served our stew with corn and Navajo Fry bread. And it me tell ya- it was delish! Below is a few books we use for school. My favorite ones for storybook reading and storytelling  is I know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Pie. And this year I even have a really cool activity to go along with it.  The Activity involves the children retelling the story using the cards and printout. Click here for the activity.

So this year I would love to change it up a bit and maybe have the boys invite 1-2 friends over. Which brings me to crafts and ideas. I'm lovin' (like always) Martha Stewart's  celebrational ideas for Thanksgiving. Here are a few pics I wouldn't mind incorporating.

Well y'all, there you have it. I pray each of you have a blessed Thanksgiving.

God Bless

 

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Lessons Learned From Home Schooling

Children definitely learn from parents but can we grab a lesson or two from them? Certainly! This year has been a great experience for me. At the beginning of the year I thought school was going to go and be "a certain way" only to realize later it wasn't. I thought school should be ran like a business with set working hours. Fine and dandy if your the type to do it but I'm not. I've realized I'm more of a eclectic teacher and learner(" flying by the seat of our pants"!).


 
I'm thankful for my oldest son (the bull) for telling me the things he liked and the things he didn't like. We even had the discussion on why he doesn't go to school with other boys and girls (haven't arrived there yet with your kids? You will). So what's the solution? Listen. Not to sound braggadocios here (that word sounds like Willy Wonka invented it) but my oldest is brilliant with a Gene Wilder type-spirit! So we've decided to join a co-op for this year.  As for my  youngest son (toothpick)? He did surprisingly well this year. For the first part of the year we felt he was a little behind as we compared him with our oldest. Lesson learned from that? Every child is different. It's easy to say everyone's different but I think parents can get in a funk of thinking opposite when it comes to there children.


So here's the big question "why not send them to school"? In a homeschool co-op setting, single families can share their academic goals, morals, religious beliefs and social behaviors. Children can learn similar beliefs and social structures from observation and interaction from different members of the co-op. Scheduling is a big part of any type of homeschool program and Both boys and I can learn time management as well as experience some classroom time with other children. 

So there you have it. Has anyone else learned any lesson from there children this past year? If so please share!

To all my readers, thanks so much for following here at The Way We Home School. My computer went in glitz in April so this is my first post in awhile. I look forward to hearing from you all soon.

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Terrific Tuesday At The Minnesota Zoo

Today we took a field trip to the Minnesota Zoo and had a blast(even though its been a cold, drizzly day)! This month during home school I'm doing a lesson plan with toothpick around the book Good Night Gorilla.  Here is a link to the lesson plan I'll be using.



 

Jane Goodall will be joining us here in the twin cities on Monday April 19,2010. What a Marvelous Monday it will be! The bull is really excited to go and see her (as am I).  A few months ago we did a study called Observation With Jane Goodall. 
The bull loved learning of the life of Goodall while experiencing authentic life skills such as observation of wildlife.




Here are some pics that I took today.

 There's even  places to hide! Have a Terrific Tuesday:)

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