Our kids seem to learn so much more when we branch out from a common source rather than jump abruptly from subject to subject. They are unit study kids. The kids are so much more engaged when they are working within a theme where they can see relationships between the subjects.
Not all of our unit studies are planned. Sometimes, they just happen. I love it when our homeschool days get hi-jacked by inspiration and we veer off and dive into a subject just because the kids want to learn more.
As I was looking through some old pictures on my computer, I realized they have been unit study kids for years. When my son was 4, he brought the book “The Little Red Hen” home from the library. He loved reading the story of the hen planting her wheat, harvesting her wheat, grinding her wheat and eventually, making bread from her wheat.
I remember how we talked about wheat stalks and looked at pictures of them. We got the flour out and looked and touched. We talked about how wheat started as a little grain and ended up this white powder.
At the back of the book, there was a recipe for bread. My son was sure this was the exact recipe The Little Red Hen herself had used and he wanted to try to make it. Why not?
I let him mix it up himself.
Then, I let him knead the dough.
We discovered The Little Red Hen likes her bread dough a little tough. Mama had to take over soon after this and I do believe it had to be the toughest bread dough ever.
I don’t have pictures of the finished product. I didn’t need to. The kids still talk about the dry, brick of a bread loaf we made that day. We still compare the feel and texture of dough we make now to that dough. It was quite the learning experience.
I love days like that. Reading a children’s storybook led to learning about wheat and bread and baking. It led to great memories, too.
Do you have unit study kids? Do you allow them time to follow their inspiration?
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