 |
| First day of school photo :) |
Last year we started out our school
year studying our local history and
geography. This year I decided to
start by broadening that to our region.
We began the year with stories.
Two stories.
One story was to understand the
history of our area by our
ancestors as they traveled to
and about this land.
The other story was to understand
the native peoples that lived here at
that time. We read The Birchbark House.
to gain the perspective of the Ojibwa.
How these two stories melded and
intertwined with one another.
I feel strongly about bringing the
children to the places we read about.
It gives them a deeper knowledge.
It gives them this essence of these
places, people, and times that I cannot.
We began with Minn of the Mississippi
This is the story of a snapping turtle
named Minn born in Lake Itasca
She eventually travels the length of
the Mississippi river.
All the while an in depth discussion of
geography, history and nature.
We followed in Minn's footsteps.
Having our first day of school in
It was a great field trip
even better because we brought
grandma with us.
We swam and canoed in Lake Itasca.
 | |
| Saw the largest White Pine! |
We walked across the Mississippi.
 |
| creatures abound...like this pileated woodpecker |
We biked, hiked and drove all the trails
through the park.
All the while we learned about
people and geography from the past
that shaped this area.
Burial mounds of sacred ground
the site of an ancient buffalo kill.
Explorers like Cass, Schoolcraft and Boutwell
Activists such as Mary Gibbs
We even ate at the old logging camp to
know what it might be like...a lumberjack
We are continuing down river
following the flow of the old Miss
I will keep you posted as to how
far we may travel :)
until next time
~blessings
~blessings
