Homeschooling

Squanto.
Native Americans by region.
Various crafts. I love the idea of making a bunch of small Pilgrim and Native American items and then using them as a centerpiece for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Here's the map Luke made for our first day of studying explorers. If you burn the edges make sure to do it outside. Just sayin'.

Good info on Leif Erikson. He is celebrated on October 9th and I think next year we'll focus more on him. He stepped foot on Canadian shores a full 500 years before Columbus and he was a Christian.

Columbus Day is on Monday. I'm not crazy about all of the Columbus hype so I decided to teach the boys about a couple of important explorers and sailing and maps and compasses...After all this we'll move on to the Pilgrims and hopefully well end up learning about Thanksgiving right around Thanksgiving!

Here are a few of the resources I've found so far:

Cute ships to make.
Neat map.
We'll definitely make up some binoculars and a spy-glass.
We have a large book of Atlases.

Found this neat poem:

The things that haven't been done before,
Those are the things to try;
Columbus dreamed of an unknown shore
At the rim of the far-flung sky,
And his heart was bold and his faith was strong
As he ventured in dangers new,
And he paid no heed to the jeering throng
Or the fears of the doubting crew.

The many will follow the beaten track
With guideposts on the way,
They live and have lived for ages back
With a chart for every day.
Someone has told them it's safe to go
On the road he has traveled o'er,
And all that they ever strive to know
Are the things that were known before.

A few strike out, without map or chart,
Where never a man has been,
From the beaten paths they draw apart
To see what no man has seen.
There are deeds they hunger alone to do;
Though battered and bruised and sore,
They blaze the path for the many, who
Do nothing not done before.

The things that haven't been done before
Are the tasks worth while to-day;
Are you one of the flock that follows, or
Are you one that shall lead the way?
Are you one of the timid souls that quail
At the jeers of a doubting crew,
Or dare you, whether you win or fail,
Strike out for a goal that's new?

A neat-looking site for learning some basic Spanish.