Periodic Table and the Freedom of Homeschooling

Today my little guy, who is not so little anymore, was introduced to the Periodic Table.
This little guy loves to write comics...er... graphic novels. So what does he do with the elements? He makes them into characters.

Right now he's wondering which element would be the bad guy. Any thoughts?

He's got molecule characters as well. When he found out what happens when you mix elemental Sodium (Na) and Water (H2O) he was thrilled (don't do this at home... Na and Water make fire). After all, a graphic novel needs some action, and mixing Sodium and Water ought to provide some heated action for the story.:)


Oughtn't I have this child fill out worksheets on the elements, or fill in a blank periodic table?

Nope. He'll learn much more by playing. Children learn by play. Yes, we'll do more from the book on Atoms and Molecules, but right now he's drawing and I bet learning far more about chemical properties than he would from any worksheet.

I love Homeschooling.

And this leads me to a book I found displayed at the Library this week: Lucy Frank's "The Homeschool Liberation League."

It's a novel for girls about 13 or 14, and it reads like one. It has angst, some parental conflict, boys, crushes, even a kiss. Typical Jr. High popcorn literature... except, this girl wants to be homeschooled. Even more than that, she wants to be unschooled.

The reactions of all involved, from the principal to the parents read very 'true' to me. Whoever Lucy Frank is (I've not googled her yet) she KNOWS this process. The kids are real kids, not stereotypical homeschoolers. She makes, just by telling a story, a powerful argument for the benefits of learning from life around you.

I'm not going to recommend the book yet-- I'm only halfway through. But so far I'm liking what I read.

Looking UP

I've not been in the Blog World for almost a year now. Hopefully I'll get back in the swing of things.

Today the family went to the movies, which is a fairly rare occurrence. This is the first summer in a long time in which there are a number of movies out I want to see.

Today we saw Pixar's new flick, "Up".

I'm not really sure what to say about it, except GO SEE IT. It's worth it.

It's not a children's movie, although children will enjoy it. It is an adult's film. Even an older adult's film. It's a film about hope and life and enduring love.

It's funny and sad and beautiful. And it has a way cool dog.

This might well be the best of Pixar so far.