Lava Tubes and Greek Mythology

For the record I would just like to say, “May [insert deity of choice] bless the US National Parks Service”.

The Parks Service here seems to be an incredibly enlightened mob who believe that kids should be informed and entertained whilst visiting national parks. The visitor’s centres have wonderful Junior Ranger packs that encourage kids to really observe their surroundings and answer questions and even produce inspired creative writing. If the kids complete a certain number of pages they receive a certificate and badge.

This is all good in itself, but was particularly beneficial today as Teya has been whining all week about ‘when is school going to start?’ Of course I’m pleased she wants to do school work (albeit concerned for her sanity) but the thing is I haven’t really got my head around home schooling yet. I’d intended to start her next Monday which meant that I had heaps of planning time left (like the five hours on the plane to LA). Today she was particularly antsy about doing some work and I was wishing I had prepared some worksheets on volcanoes, when, out of the vog, appeared a vision in green waving a Volcanoes Park Junior Ranger kit. I could have hugged the woman!

Apparently in one of my earlier posts I mentioned ‘homeschooling’ and ‘plan’ in close proximity, giving the impression that in those seven weeks of throwing this adventure together I also whipped up a detailed curriculum. In the interests of honesty in reporting, I should clear up any misconceptions. There is a rough plan… Teya’s wonderful teachers have given me a pile of maths, english and science texts which will form the initial part of each morning. I have a great touch typing tutor CD to install on her computer and figure she can do some of that every day, as well as keeping a journal. Teya has also drawn up a wish list of topics she wants to cover – Greek mythology, mythical creatures, folk tales and China (not sure why China is in there) – which gives us somewhere to start. I’ve done some preliminary trawling on the internet and downloaded some great lessons plans on Greek mythology she should enjoy.

Beyond that we’ll simply be learning as we go along.

Today really made me see the benefit of this whole experience. We spent the day looking at volcanoes, first via a fabulous exhibition at the Lyman Museum and then through going and standing near the edge of one. It’s not every day you get to overlook one of the world’s largest active volcanoes and read a sign saying “No one knows when Kilauea will next erupt” (thanks for that, I’ll be in the car). I remember studying how volcanoes are formed when I was at school and it was pretty dry stuff. To be able to stand on the side of the road and look at different types of rock and identify the types of lava flow, or to walk through the middle of a lava tube, makes it all so much more engrossing. Teya will retain some of this and will actually be able to relate to her science and geography lessons in years to come.

And with any luck, sometime between now and Monday morning, I’ll have come up with a nice lesson plan for the week that will make me look like I know what I’m doing. If not, we’ll be heading off in search of the nearest National Park.