We are enjoying a rabbit-trail unit study on Robin Hood and the medieval world at the moment. I have three budding merry men and an unsuspecting 2yo Maid Marion (who doesnt have much choice in the matter.). We headed down to the hardware store today and bought plastic piping etc. for their bows and quivers and they have made their own arrows using some of the bamboo we have growing down the back. We're reading Roger Lancelyn Green's version of Robin Hood (which is just fantastic, Id really recommend it) and the boys have allready asked my mother to help them sew some costumes. (I dont sew well at all! ) However I suspect the request for some chainmail might have her a bit stumped!

Before tea I found J (11) on the internet looking up medieval feasts,  F (6) was busy making a sword (hammering nails in the kitchen on our new floor! arrghhh) while L(8) was practising his bowmanship outside. They all asked for another chapter during dinner which I was happy to oblige. As I type this it is almost 8pm at night and they have all headed outside with their bows and a great big spotlight torch (we gave this to J for his birthday last year and boy does he love it! Not very medieval however). Their plan is to shoot the wild  rabbits, we get tons here at night. But I gotta say,  I think those little bunnies are pretty safe tonight! lol. Which is good because I suspect there was rabbit on that feast menu.........so if by some miracle they kill one I will have to do the rest.    .

Besides a budding chef in my family (my 8yo son) I also have a budding musician, so we have also discussed what type of music would they have listened to during these times. Ive got 'requiem' type chanting music in my head, so I will have to investigate that further. Its nice to be able to appeal to the individual child isnt it?

Ive really wrestled with the idea of following curriculum vs delight directed learning over the past few weeks.........the *scheduled* side of me wants to follow something, but the *relaxed* side of me wants to trust more and follow their own interests.  I was just starting to think yesterday that maybe I needed to follow a curriculum as they seem to require some kind of direction, when suddenly this has taken hold completely and we are all running with it. Ive just ordered a heap of bible-based resources and Im looking forward to them arriving so we can investigate what the church was up to during this period too.  Im considering purchasing a HoW study to peruse this topic a bit more, not neccessarily for us to follow but to glean from. Im going to be very conscious of over-doing the delight in our studies though..........Ive learnt from past experience there.

Maybe this is what I'm meant to be doing. Delight-directed unit studies with a biblical basis. Maybe! But I think its more likely that this is just another season as my family keeps learning and growing together.     Praise God  for homeschooling!

love Bec