A Reason to Love Homeschool

We've been doing school outside for over a month now. Southern Arizona in April and May is beautiful!  And with a little shade, the mornings have been perfect for working outside.  Not to mention that the trees and plants are all blooming and we've taken special note of the birds and butterflies that are visiting our yard. 

We moved the table into the grass and it gets wonderful dappled shade all morning. 
 

And a quilt usually hangs out in the grass too.  

We all seem to be better workers outside.  It's like we crossed a threshold and suddenly concepts are making sense, handwriting has improved, we are a lot more productive, and we have a lot of "recess"!

Science and mess-making are easier!



Reading, math, coloring, cutting...taking shelter from the seeds falling from the trees. 

 Bikes and markers everywhere!  Sometimes life is messy. 

I hadn't planned to have a garden this year, but as usual, I couldn't resist getting a few tomatoes, bell peppers, squash and basil!

We also revived the mint, parsley and jalapeno.

What's that saying about not letting schooling get in the way of education!?

When the 3 year old gets the camera, I occasionally appear in a picture too!

First Grade Math

Practicing with the Dictionary



Did I mention that life is a bit messy...so is our table!





 Earthworms rock!

Ed Emberley's drawing books are cool!

Bell peppers are hiding in there somewhere.

Truman likes dirt...and he's getting teeth...so we have a lot of mud. 

Did I mention that life is a little messy right now?



So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 
(2 Corinthinas 4:16-18, ESV)


Comments

Stephanie said…
How nice to spend your schooling time outdoors - especially before the hot weather kicks in!

Thanks for the inspiration.

stephanie@metropolitanmama.net
May 26, 2012 at 9:27 AM
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