Into the Woods

MORNING DISCOVERY: Though snow is in the forecast for tonight and the next couple of days, this morning was brisk, but sunny, so we struck out for Discovery Park looking to get some soccer and tennis practice in.

We started with soccer, me and CeeJ v. Bee and her dad. Kirby mostly tries to stay out of the way of the ball. I'm not sure what the final score was after about 20 minutes, but I'd guess it was pretty close to a tie.

Next up was some tennis. CJ did pretty well, making contact about every other swing.
Annabelle, unfortunately, didn't have her A game today. Click on the photo for a closer up look at her - the poor girl seems to have her eyes crossed on this swing. No wonder she's not hitting it!
Though we'd been sporty for nearly an hour, the kids weren't done yet. Afterward, they wanted to head over to the playground, and especially the zipline!

SHOPPING LISTS: For writing practice today, I asked the kids to reflect for a few moments on the reading and activities we've done and the movie we saw about Lewis and Clark. Then I asked then to get a pencil and paper and sit down and make a "shopping list" for supplies for their trip. I told CJ he was Clark and Annabelle that she was Meriwether. I got to be Thomas Jefferson. :) I gave them about 5 minutes to brainstorm their lists and then we reconvened in the kitchen. They took turns reading items from their list. Clark's list included "oxin(s), wheeles, ropes, cotes, food." I told him it was an OK start but that he needed a LOT more things, and that I was afraid he'd gotten the Oregon Trail confused with the Corps of Discovery's journey (mostly on water rather than over land).

Lewis' list had "food, clothes, spare parts, oxen/horses, wagons, boats, guns and bullets to hunt." Not bad, but still lacking. Together, we reviewed the list of what Lewis and Clark actually did take with them. We talked about their transportation needs (boats and horses, not wagons, wheels and "oxin). We went over the equipment they'd need, including tents, lots of tools (a needle and thread, axes, pliers, chisels, whetstone, saws, steels for making fire). While they'd definitely want bullets and guns, I pointed out that since they were in or on the water so much,

it's no wonder they took lots of fishing line and hooks. Paper and writing utensils were important, so they could make maps and log plants, animals and people encountered. And they also brought a few books (about navigating, botany, and a dictionary, for instance). Tools to help them navigate (telescope, sextants, and a chronometer) were also important, and they also brought along thousands of trinkets to give to Native Americans along the way.

Total cost of the provisions: $2,324, in 1804 dollars.

MORE READING: I found a 14-page mini book on EdHelper.com all about Lewis and Clark. It has mini chapters, each with comprehensive questions. I asked the kids to read the first chapter, "Lewis and Clark - Who Were They?"

I wish I'd read it more closely before printing it out and giving it to the kids. Why, you ask? Check out this first paragraph:

"Lewis and Clark were sent on a great adventure. They had to explore a land that not many people had seen before."

Ugh.

Christian pointed out to the kids that thousands and thousands of people had seen the land before, as they'd lived there for generations. Annabelle immediately piped in, "Native Americans!"

Near the passage's end there is also a paragraph about Lewis either killing himself or being murdered in 1807, just a couple of years after their expedition. In part, it reads, "He was buried in Tennessee. There is a Latin phrase on Lewis's grave that people think came from Thomas Jefferson."

But do you think they tell you what the phrase is? Noooooo. Pretty lame. And then later, in the comprehensive questions, one of them is "Who came up with the Latin phrase on the grave of Lewis?" The choices are a) Meriwether Lewis, b) William Clark or C) Thomas Jefferson. The kids both "correctly" chose C, but I pointed out to them the question is flawed because the story says people *think* Jefferson is responsible for the (mysterious) phrase, but the question states it as fact.

Clearly, the passage and questions need some careful editing.

CRABBYPANTS: For whatever reason, both of the kids were uncharacteristically crabby this afternoon. I finally told them both to just sit on the couch and zip their lips until I told them otherwise. Naturally, they turned it into a game of sorts. ...