It is a historical farm dating back to 1769 when William Cobb arrived to settle his land grant. The home dates back to 1791 and is full of wonderful antiques and artifacts of the era, as well as, characters in role... George Washington was President and the kids witnessed in first person interpretation the daily lifestyles, domestic and work skills, food, clothing, furnishings and games enjoyed by people of that time...
All the kids took several classes: Stenciling, 18th Century games, candle dipping, paper marblizing, and pewter casting... It was a great learning adventure and we are looking forward to going back at Christmas time..
Monday, October 27, 2008 - Field Trip to Ripley's Aquarium...
Our co-op went on a field trip to Ripley's Aquarium recently. We had a great time... We had a class on the fish on display there, we saw their "Living Babies in Incubators" exhibit and made "potato fish" ...
Friday, October 24, 2008 - Our Friday Field Trip...
Today we went a field trip with some HS friends of ours...
We went to the Frank H. McClung Museum... A local group leader had arranged a class on "Geology and Fossil History of Tennessee" for kids ages 4-10... It was great... The class was taught by a geology student and even though he used some words that even the adults had touble with, the kids really enjoyed it...They got to see Dino skeletons and Dino eggs and all kinds of rehistoric animals that were actually in Tennessee... I was really amazed at how much DS actually got from it as he was telling DH tonight...
After the class we toured the museum exhibits which included a Egyptian exhibit complete with mummified cats and goats, as well as, a mummy coffin and a coffin for a hawk which was a sacred bird to the Egyptians..
Another exhibit the kids loved was on Ancient peoples and Indians... My kidlets really enjoyed it and the movie was really a great teaching tool... DD told DH all about how the US government made the Cherokee move and the "Trail of Tears"... which she paid attention too since we went to Cherokee, NC this summer for a weekend trip...The kids also learned about Sequoyah and his alphabet...
The kids are already talking about when we will get to go back...
Monday, September 29, 2008 - Our trip to Chattanooga...
We went to Chattanooga this weekend... The TN Aquarium was having a "homeschool" day on Monday and several of the tourist attractions in the area were also having specials...
Ruby Falls and Rock City were offering homeschoolers a real deal.. You could see each place for $5 a person... Normally that's a $29 for adults and $15 for kids for the 2 places... We saved a bundle... and really had a great weekend trip!!
We rode the Incline Railroad.."America's Most Amazing Mile"... Designated as both a National Historic Site and National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, the Incline Railway has been one of Chattanooga's most unique attractions since 1895. It is a one mile ride on a incline up the mountain at a 72.7% grade...It is the steepest passenger railway in the world...
Then we were off to Ruby Falls... DS and DD really loved this...DS learned all about the difference in stalagtites, stalagmites, and columns... He learned what forms the "wax-like" coating on some of the formations... DD got to see her favorite thing "a beautiful waterfall"....
From there we went to our last stop... Rock City... once a personal garden, it took 4 years to create and then the owner decided to share God's magnificent work with others... It is truly a wonder...
I have lived in this area most of my life...but I have never been to Parrot Mountain... DD's "Keepers of the Home" class at co-op have been doing a unit on birds and one of the activities was to take a field trip to Parrot Mountain... It is a beautiful place... This was a great field trip. We learned alot about birds. We heard some of them talk, some did tricks. We got to hold, pet and feed them. Definitely an overlooked gem...
DD had so much fun feeding the birds!!!
We had alot of fun!!! Only wish DH could have joined us for this one!!
This year at the fair there was a "SHARK EXHIBIT"... Really cool... The kids got to see all kinds of shark related things... The exhibit had a cage like the ones they use when they dive with the Great Whites...There was several items that had been actually removed from the stomachs of sharks...Everything from divers shoes to tires to tin cans... Then they got to watch a diver go into the tank with nurse sharks and some little sand sharks... He actually "danced" with the nurse shark and "kissed" it on the belly... Supposedly placing it in a trance by turning it upside down...
Monday, September 15, 2008 - Down on the Farm at the Fair...
The Tennessee Valley Fair has come to town!! Yes, we got the opportunity to go to the fair again this year for a field trip...
The theme is "Down on the Farm" ... The kids are taken from booth to booth and given lots of easy to understand information about crops, animals, bees, products from the farm, etc.
They really enjoy it and I am always impressed by what they learn and retain from it...
It is even more fun because we were there with their friends and Daddy...
Today we had a field trip to WonderWorks in Pigeon Forge with some friends of ours... They had a special free visits for homeschoolers this week...
We had a great time... They have so much to do and see there... The kids call it "the Upside Down building" and couldn't wait for the chance to get to go...
It had been about 2 yrs since our last visit and I though what better way to spend a rainy Friday afternoon...
The kids had a fantastic time... They loved the exhibits and loved playing and learning hands on without even realizing it...(that's the great part)...
On exhibit they have:
1. a "WORLD" exhibit where they have a life-size Polar Bear and several Inuit items... DD loved this as we had just read "Momma do you love me?"
Lots of Japenese, Chinese, Dutch, and African items on display...
2. an Appalachian exhibit
3. a fairy tale exhibit (a castle and space shuttle to roam and have adventures in)
4. lots of native animal exhibits and ocean life
5. an exhibit called "Granny's attic" filled with toys and items from the pas for kids to play with
6. TRAINS (DS love it)
7. a life-size dollhouse to play in (DD never wanted to leave)
8. a water cycle exhibit
9. a artficial "RAINFOREST" which each kidlet gave me a tour of, pointing out the animals like th 3-toed sloth and the tapir... and DS reminded me that the Yamamami tribe in South America eat tarantulas roasted in banana leaves...*L*
10.. lots of other exhibits, especially the "Manhattan Project" exhibit...
The kids had such a great time, they are already wanting to go back...
Thursday, November 15, 2007 - Our evening with the horses...
After co-op classes were over today, the kids and I took a field trip with the "Animal Science" class from our co-op... We went to a fellow homeschoolers home to see "horses"... It was a wonderful trip even though the temoerature had dropped dramatically throughout the day and there were actually snow flurries falling around us ... The kids learned about Quarter Horses, the care/grooming, saddling, placement of the bit, and feeding... They also learned about different turns and ways to make the horse do.. we also learned how sensitive a horses mouth / teeth are (which I never knew) and where the power in a horse comes from and how dangerous they can be if improperly managed... The highlight of the evening for the kids was getting the opportunity to ride... It was a joy to see such happiness (mixed with a lil' fear)...
DS said it was "exciting" and DD called herself a "Cowgirl"... Could not have asked for a better way to spend a blustery late fall afternoon...
We went to see the Nutcracker Ballet with some friends... DD had a wonderful time... She has been watching the Barbie Nutcracker for some time and absolutely loves taking ballet... After we came home she danced all evening and told her daddy all about getting to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy...
Here is a picture of her with her friends and the Sugar Plum Fairy...
Monday, November 5, 2007 - Field trip to Mayfield Factory and Mason Dairy
Had a great time touring the Mayfield Milk Factory last week... After the tour, the kids got to eat, of course, "DELICIOUS MAYFIELD ICE CREAM"!!! Then we were off to the Mason Dairy for a corn maze, hayride and a tour of how their dairy operates daily.. We then finished off the day with a tour of the Sweetwater Valley Cheese Factory and farm... (and yes, we had to buy some cheese to take home!!)
Sunday, October 21, 2007 - Our trip to the Apple Orchard...
Today we started out on a family trip to the mountains... we decided to take an alternate route to see more of the beautiful fall colors... and in doing so, passed Carver's Orchard in Cosby, TN....
We decided to take this opportunity as a field trip, since we were starting "How to Bake and Apple Pie and See the World" this week... So here's some pictures from our trip..
Saturday, October 13, 2007 - Fishy, Fishy, in a brook
Fishy, Fishy in a brook, DS caught you with a hook...
Yes, my son is a fisherman!!! Tonight was his fishing trip with his "Contenders For the Faith" class... there were 5 boys and 4 dads... and they had a great time...
DS was so excited... he caught 7 fish and couldn't wait to get home to call his grandmother and tell her!!!
Deifnitely an activity he and his dad can do again and again!!!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - Heritage Days at the Museum of Appalachia
Heritage Days...
Well, a first hand look at what life was really like in rural Appalachia in the late 1800's -mid 1900's...It is a fantastic museum and gives kids a "hands-on" view to the unique world that is written about in so many stories about Appalachia..
My kids were fascinated by the homes and the meager furnishings.. They loved the "outhouse" and I told them my grandparents had an outhouse and I had actually used it...
They played games from the time period... (sack races with feed sacks, walking blocks, paddle ball, simply made items into childhood fun)... My DS used a 2-person saw and sawed a cedar log and was so excited to get to bring home his piece of cedar... DC learned to play the "Spoons" and were able to take a "brief" guitar lesson.. They watched how "lye" soap is made and of course we bought a bar to come home and try...
We toured every home on exhibit and watched as people made molasses... DC got to get hands on with a "pottery" class where they each made a bowl and learning how to do laundry with a washboard... We enjoyed "Blue Grass" music and watched a "Bird of Prey" show...the kids joined in with the "Hominy Mamas" for a singing in the one-room schoolhouse...
We met "Abraham Lincoln" who happily told the kids he was "homeschooled too"... We watched sheep herding (just like on "Babe" as DS said)... We tasted sassafrass tea (not too tasty) and then had a muscadine juice (YUM!!)...and finished off the day with a Funnel Cake..
Monday, September 10, 2007 - Down on the Farm at the Fair
Today we had a field trip to the TVA&I fair... They host a special couple of days every year where students can take field trips and learn about agriculture, animals, and farm products... So this year my family and some other HS families took the trip...The tour was great... There were several different animals and we learned about each and their role in our environment including what each contributes to our lives... The had some sheep and showed the shearings and had a girl using a spinning wheel..and we learned that the lanolin found in most lotions is from them also... (which I was completely unaware of)...
There were chickens that the children got to touch and a young heifer that the kids learned about and a pretend cow that they got to "milk"... There was a station with corn, soybeans and wheat... The gentleman at this station discussed the effects of the drought that we have had this year on the production...There was a lady with some bees (perfect for a leap into the "Bee Tree") and she showed the kids the queen and talked about how they produce their honey and that they remove larvae that is sicl or dying... and their was also bunnies (ny DD's favorite) and the final exhibit of our tour was a bull (which no one touched) and the kids were told all about beef and the leather products that came from this animal.
From here we ventured to the East TN Children's Discovery Center...(which was free admission with the fair entrance) .
Here the kids had a blast pretending to be astronauts on the space shuttle and playing with the Lego table and doing all the "kid friendly" science activities they had and the highlight was seeing a show in the planetarium... My DS was fascinated by learning about what other countries and cultures call the "Big Dipper"...
Then we hung out for awile just taking in the sights and scenes, as the rest of our party had left... We waited on DH to get there to spend the evening with us.. The kids go to ride a couple of rides... We tasted different flavors of honey... (everything from peppermint to blackberry)... and then watched the Anastatini Circus... (which to be small and part of the fair was excellent)...
and the highlight of my evening (not including the wonderful corn dogs or the funnel cake I ate) was the concert with "Night Ranger".. a flashback to my teenage years and the hairbands of the 80's...
My DD played air guitar (where she learned to do it at 4yo, I will never know) while my DS just wanted to play video games... It was great!! DH and I were pleased we had stayed the day and took advantage of all the fair had to offer in way of fun and the kids are already planning our trip there next year!!!
Friday, September 7, 2007 - Contender's For the Faith Field Trip
My DS co-op class had a field trip today to Ijam's... it was a great time...Several of his friends came and they explored the museum and the ground together.. We had a picnic lunch and then went for another hike around the property and down around the river... DS was happy to be with his friends and exploring and taking in more than I ever thought... (maybe there is something to the whole "unschooling" concept for us)... He walked the whole way carrying a "walking stick" with the other boys... I walked behind with some of the moms and the little girls... The only drawback to the day other than the heat was that DD hates hiking... I guess most 4yos. hate the heat and walking long distances... Half way through it, she asked why we couldn't just "cancel it "...
Well, I think as she gets older, she will *hopefully* like it more... I'll keep my fingers crossed...
Hi!! I'm Lisa... Homeschooling mom to 2 wonderful kidlets and this is a journal to share our family life and learning adventures with you...We use an eclectic mix of "child directed" Charlotte Mason studies... So sit down, set a spell and enjoy our homeschool journey...Have a great day and thanks for sharing it with us!!!
Here the kids had a blast pretending to be astronauts on the space shuttle and playing with the Lego table and doing all the "kid friendly" science activities they had and the highlight was seeing a show in the planetarium... My DS was fascinated by learning about what other countries and cultures call the "Big Dipper"... 
