Day 7: The Field Trip

Last updated on: January 10, 2014 at 9:40 pm by Tara Edelschick

Day 7: The Field Trip 2014-01-10T21:40:54-07:00 Tara Edelschick

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The secret to a good day of homeschool is the Field Trip. (cue angels and harps)

The field trip is to a tough week of homeschool what sex often is after a big fight: it reminds you that you like each other and that things are probably going to be okY.

(These lines are from a post during our first week of homeschool, but they hold equally true in year four.)

This was our sixth field trip with our Ancient African Kingdoms class. When we were studying the Berber kingdom, we went to Baraka Cafe, where Anya, brought out plate after plate of Tunisian food and loved on the kids and invited us back to cook with her. When we were studying the Ethiopian kingdom, we went to Asmara, an Eritrean restaurant where we ate with our fingers. When we were studying several west African kingdoms, we had two sessions with a Senegalese teacher to learn some drumming and dancing.

We’ve also been to the Museum of Fine Arts three times to work with our favorite museum educator, Jake. For forty-five minutes each time, he helped us explore different works of African art and asked the kids about what they could learn about the different cultures from the art. For the next forty-five minutes, he helped the kids paint Tinga Tinga style covers for their folktales.

Today, we went to the Gallery of African Art in Clinton, and it was great. In the middle of an old mill town, there is an amazing little museum full of beautiful African art. Kids are invited to play with instruments, Mancala boards, and a throne. They can touch much of the art, and there is a great audio guide. And it’s all FREE! We had a guide today, who also led a drumming class for us.

It was a great way to wrap up our class. And it was a great way to end what was a hard week. Doing a puzzle with Zach on the floor of the museum, watching the kids talk a bit about the art and play the instruments, watching them enjoy the Middle Eastern food we ate afterward for lunch, and generally enjoying their company for the day, reminded me why we homeschool, and reminded me that my sons – even with the horrible evaluation we received this week – are going to be fine young men, men who love this great big world God made.

When we got home, I resisted the urge to make them come home and write about it, you know, to get in some “real school”, and no one cried all day.

I imagine I’ll fall asleep easily tonight. At least that’s what I assume happens right after make-up homeschool.

(Which is how I ended the post three plus years ago. Because field trips are just that good.)

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