it was freezing that day, so sensible people must have stayed home. we, however, marked Dec 15 with a visit to the Newseum where we listened to (historical actors) Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton discuss the importance of the Bill of Rights. After several other engaging activities, we ended a perfect visit with a reading of the first 10 amendments…and birthday cupcakes.
this fall mercyGirl and signGirl delved into portraiture at ArtReach.
mercyGirl’s statement: I like to design things and draw. I would like to be an architect when I grow up. In the future I would like to design my own house and have an architectural design business.
signGirl’s statement: I love cooking, mixing things together, reading chapter books, and doing gymnastics. In the future I am hoping to own my own underwater restaurant. The door to the restaurant can be found on the beach.
thanks to the teaching artists, their personal pieces and collective work always seem come together so well.
The Art of the Qur’an: Treasures from the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts is one of the Smithsonian Freer-Sackler Galleries‘ most recent exhibitions and it features many, many magnificent Qurans. Qurans with gold, jewels & precious metals; ancient Qurans; colorful Qurans; and even one with pages about the size of a twin bed.
We attended an opening event with calligrapher talks (including one of the US’ most esteemed masters, Mohamed Zakariya) and other demonstrations.
We also attended a family workshop with local artist, Lubna Zahid. She gave us an introduction to the art of illumination then led us through the exhibition highlighting different motifs found in various Qurans. We then used our sketches and her techiques to illuminate a custom bookmark.
Catch a tour, family workshop or open studio before it The Art of the Qur’an ends February 20, 2017.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)/Doctors With Borders built a realistic refugee camp in the shadow of the Washington Monument to raise public awareness about the experience of the world’s more than 65 million refugees and internally displaced people. More than an exhibition, this was an immersive, outdoor experience that included a 360-degree video that framed the context and issues refugees face, then — in the company of an experienced MSF aid worker — we are asked to walk in the footsteps of those forced to leave their home, making increasingly challenging decisions and being faced with greater hardships.
This is social studies at its best. No article or texbook can hold a candle to this 45 minutes experience.
If Forced From Home comes to your city on its tour throughout the US, Do. Not. Miss. It. It will definitely open our eyes, minds and hearts.
#ForcedFromHome
This past fall at the US Botanic Garden
the Seedlings class discussed the exploration that helped to populate the Botanic Garden,
native birds of the National Garden,
carnivorous plants, and
the edible parts of plants.
USBG trivia: the Botanic Garden was located where the Capitol Reflecting Pool currently is now. The Garden was moved to its current location so there could be a clear line of sight to the Washington Monument. Ms. Lee introduced us to a tree next to the pool that was a part of the original garden.
You don’t have to leave the city to bird watch when you’re at the National Garden.
In addition to learning about different types of carnivorous plants, the girls got to take one home in seed form.
The most delicious part of learning about the edible parts of plants is putting them in a stir fry.
Even more fun after class in the Children’s Garden:
good tree montessori homeschool 