Time Lines

 
I have decided to use a timeline for Sir N.  Sonlight does sell a Book of Time, personally I find it a little small and wanted something a little larger to use.  This past week I have spent time making a time line for Sir N.  He is so proud of the finished creation and shows it to anyone who will take the time to look. 


I have chosen to use Amy Pack's time line figures from Homeschool in the Woods. I purchased this to use with the first two and will be using it again with Sir N. There is also a CD version available containing 1 260 + figures. I will also be using Amy's placement guide.

I really love colour printers and the advent of the internet. There is so much available now to use and make things look beautiful.  I think I need to update my original book of time after seeing how Sir N's book looks.  I enjoyed making Sir N's book so much I took out our original books of time and thought I would show you what we made a few years back -

How I made the Book of Time

I purchased an A3 visual arts diary from the Reject Shop they are well priced here at AU$6 a book.  I used some dry markers (any thick texta will do [texta, koki pen, felt tips]) 
The cover was made using two A4 sheets of paper, to protect it and for longevity I am going to cover it with clear plastic film (Duraseal self adhesive covering)

Next I divided the page horizontally in half  and drew lines to mark the line of time.  I have spaced the years in Sir N's book of time according to Amy's recommended break down.  It took around 45 minutes to complete all the lines needed for the book.

I used four different colours for four different periods in history.

• Red for ancient history Creation to Christ 5 000 BC to 1 BC
• Green for Resurrection toRevolution 1 AD to 1780 AD
• Blue for Napoleon to the New Millinium 1781 AD - 1999 AD
• Black New Millinium to now 2000 AD to 2030 AD

Amy has a wonderful page called Teaching with Timelines in which she gives you a multitude of ideas of what is possible using timeline figures. My book of time is just one of the options available.

Year spacing

Along each line I have put the individual years.  I have not marked the whole book yet.  I have decided to mark the pages as we need them.  I have made a paper ruler with the following marks to make it easier.

• 1000 year to a page = 4 cm to every 100 years.
• 500 years to a page = 8 cm to every 100 years.
• 100 years to a page = 4 cm to every 10 years.
• 50 years to a page = 4 cm to every 5 years.
• 5 years to a page = 8 cm to every year.

Adding Family makes it REAL

When I first starting using timelines with my first two roses I decided to add us to the timeline and am so glad that I did. One day we were reading a book about Eric Liddell and discovered my parents in law were born while he was alive. 
This was the ah ha moment for my children.  My son looked and me and said:"So these are real people mom not just pretend ?"
As a result of our new technological age I went through my photo's and cropped and added photo's of all the Grandparents, Aunts,  Uncles, cousins and siblings to a page. Each picture is about 2.5 cm X 4 cm in size.  We cut them out and glued them into the book of time.

 I am so pleased with the overall effect I have printed a set off for myself to add to my book of time.

Time line books available to purchase

Sonlight Book of Time

History Through the Ages from Homeschool in the Woods

If you have made any time lines I would love to see some photo's of what you have done and hear how you have used time lines with your family.

Transfer of a way of life

"The most important fact about the subject of education is that there is no such thing.
Education is not a subject and it does not deal in subjects.
 It is instead the transfer of a way of life."
 - G. K. Chesterton

I've been thinking about this quote of late and thinking about what the word has to say on this subject and realise that he is quite right.

And you shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you rise up. (Deut 11:19)

I have been evaluating our way of life, and deciding exactly what I want to transfer to my rose Sir N. It is amazing what happens when we sit back and take an inventory.

• I have allowed the Butler Television to supervise Sir N far too much during the week along with Sir DVD player. 
• I once again have lapsed into allowing him to think he is the center of the universe and needs his every care seen to immediately.... 
• Room time has disappeared somewhere over the horizon (need to retrieve it soon)
• Too much indoor time and not enough going for walks for the pleasure of being out together
• Allowing him to choose and dictate rather than me being director of operations
• Chores ( I think it's best we don't go there ....)

 Looking this list over I realise it's time I started addressing these issues and taking charge of the direction of the way of life I really want with him. It is so easy to let things slide and for bad habits to form.  I am pleased for this time which has allowed me to make an inventory, so that things become clearer and I am able to take charge and change direction.  I realise that having a little bit of down time this week has certainly helped by creating some time for me to sit and think things over. I think that I should schedule time to evaluate more frequently in future.  I am feeling quite satisfied as it has helped me to refocus and pray.

What way of life are you transferring to your family ?  What values are you subtly conveying to those in your charge ? 

PS: I have created a current reading list tab and Curriculum tab for you to see what I am planning to do over the next 18 months with Sir N and which books we are using from our home library, Sonlight, friends and the library.

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Sponge Painting

At art this week we had heaps of fun we did sponge painting. My husband came up with the idea of cutting out shapes for the children to use.

I purchased kitchen sponges from ALDI and Safeway and we used cookie cutters as templates for most of the shapes.  At first we tried drawing them onto the sponges but this did not work as the antibacterial liquid in the sponge clogged up the texta and stopped it from working.  In the end Paul held the cookie cutter in place on top of the sponge and cut around it.

We used poster paint from The Reject Shop and Crayola Washable poster paints to make our pictures.

I did not give much thought to protecting clothing.  My friend came up with the idea of using bin bags.  She cut the bottom open and we put them on the children.  Arms through the handles and I used a piece of tape to make it smaller by taking the handles and taping them together behind Sir N.
He really enjoyed making his picture.

Sir N sponge painting

Sir N completed picture.

Overall he really enjoyed the day.  One thing I did learn through this experience is that you need to wet the sponge shapes before you start painting.  If you don't they just 'suck up' the paint and you end up using a lot of paint and you don't see much texture on the page.

If you want to see how others have done this craft you can have a look at Confessions of a Homeschooler Australia Craft Sponge Art Activity and Make and Takes wet water sponge activity
Have fun sponge painting