7.06.2009

I'll Be Seeing You

art by avery

In some new unfamiliar places. I've been getting around lately, and haven't told you about my adventures.

Eren, our favorite Vintage Chica, interviewed me for her Summer Unschooling series.


Helen, purveyor of Homeschool Style Bytes, shared my recipe for homeschooling.



Kelly, of The Misadventures of Kelly and Kelly, interviewed me about sewing.


And finally, our local magazine for parents, Sacramento Parent, published my article about unschooling, in which I share my recent interview with Mary Griffith, author of The Unschooling Handbook.

Also in the Sacramento Parent magazine this month is an article on the class size increase here in California (have you heard we have no money?), written by Lisa of Paper Cup Poet. She asked me what we're doing in response to the school crisis:

Molly Dunham, a mother of two who lives in Auburn, joined her neighbor in creating a math and science club for their neighborhood kids (ages 4-11) when he saw less-than-challenging lessons coming home from his children’s school. Their first project involved hatching 1,000 turkey eggs. “We charted how many were hens and how many were toms. At the end we graphed the results on the computer and printed out a bell curve, then discussed probability.” At their second meeting, the group built a geodesic dome out of newspaper. “The kids worked together, rolling up newspaper into tubes, taping the tubes together… it was a blast!”

My neighbor and I hatched the math and science club idea a few months ago. He hosted the first meeting back in May, and yes, we hatched 1000 turkey eggs. By turkey eggs I mean flipped coins, heads = hens, tails = toms. We put ten coins in a clear plastic container with a lid (taped on), put the ten children in five pairs, and had each pair flip the container of coins 20 times and record the results. Five pairs x ten coins x 20 times = 1000 coin flips.

My neighbor set up a spread sheet and had the two oldest kids in our group enter the results. He then generated a bar graph, and sure enough, it was a bell curve. It was also a great way to introduce probability in a hands on, visual way.

Our next math and science club meeting was also quite visual and hands-on. We made a geodesic dome out of newspaper.

inside a newspaper dome

newspaper dome

This project involved problem solving and cooperation, as well as A LOT of newspaper. The kids and I will definitely do this project again.

building a newspaper dome

Our neighborhood group has met five times so far, and we've done some amazing projects. I've learned quite a bit myself. I planned on sharing the rest of our activities with you this week, but we received an unexpected invitation to go camping tomorrow. So instead, you'll be seeing me next week.

all gone

I've started my Summer Lovin' link list on the right hand side bar, and will continue to fill it with fun and frugal activities that we're enjoying this summer. Feel free to share any fun and frugal ideas so that we can try them too!

27 comments:

  1. How awesome to be doing that kind of learning at home - and making it fun too! I'm inspired :) Have a good camping trip!

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  2. The geodesic dome looks fantastic! That would be such a fun project.

    Ok, bookmarked some of your linked articles and interviews... as a new unschooling mom, I've got some reading to do today!!

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  3. AnonymousJuly 06, 2009

    you've been busy! have fun camping!

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  4. It is truly inspiring to see what children are capable of and interested in if 'allowed' to explore! I appreciate what you and your neighbor are doing, I always feel like I am learning right alongside my children! The joys of home/unschooling! I look forward to checking out the links when I have a bit more time... Enjoy your camping adventures!

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  5. wow! You have been busy...

    how wonderful that other blogs are noticing just how talented a lady you are and are sharing it around blogland...and other places-

    good for you :o)

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  6. I'm looking forward to reading more about your unschooling adventures. This is the path we plan to take with our son's learning. Thanks for sharing the great pictures of the kids creating, learning, and exploring with math and geometry.

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  7. Have a wonderful camping trip! While you're away, I plan on diving into all things Molly: articles, interviews and your new sidebar inspiration! Yay for all your wonderful exposure!Very well deserved!
    xox

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  8. AnonymousJuly 06, 2009

    you are so inspiring! and so very lucky.

    thank goodness you clarified. i wondered what you were going to do with all those turkeys!

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  9. I've been thinking of doing something similar with art in my neighborhood. We are in Oakland and Goose and I are thrilled to learn you live close by. Have a great time camping!

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  10. Thanks again Molly for sharing your recipe! Happy camping!

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  11. You are awesome - seriously! I can't wait to check some of these things out. Have a great camping trip. I can't wait to hear more.

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  12. I loved this post. I read it yesterday, and I've come back several times since! I love the dome! How inspiring! Thank you!
    ~Karen

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  13. You inspire me. Really.

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  14. This sounds wonderful. Good for you!

    I was just reading some of your previous posts and came across the one about not having a tapestry needle when you most needed it. I'm a long way from home right now and a long way from any place that would sell a tapestry needle and found myself in the same predicament: how am I going to finish this sock?! So, I went down the recycling bin and cut out a needle from an aluminum can. Check back on my blog for a picture I'll post of the "needle." :)

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  15. What a great list and idea. I will be reading. I hope the rest of your summer is filled to the brim with fun times.

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  16. AnonymousJuly 09, 2009

    Congrats to you! That is awesome!

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  17. Congratulations on getting the unschooling article published, Molly! You did a great job on it. I especially appreciated Mary Griffith's comment on how homeschoolers generally become more flexible as their kids get older--most people gravitate a bit more toward the middle regardless of where they started, especially if they're really following the kids' leads.

    Yep!

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  18. Way to pave the way Molly! Can I come do science with you?!?!?

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  19. Could you be any more fabulous! No, I don't think so! Wish I had these resources when my kids were younger!

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  20. Wonderful post. Your homeschooling interviews were so encouraging.

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  21. how fun for you to be recognised for your pqassion!!
    hope you had fun camping,
    sherry

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  23. My four year old and I recently went to the park with heaps of bubble blowing paraphernalia including fly swatters to dip into pie plates, string with the ends tied together, a recorder/flute and our home made bubble juice. It was great fun looking at the different shapes of the bubble makers and noting what didn't work and why as well as that the bubbles always came out circular! What was even more fun was inviting passers by to stop and play with us for a moment. A fantastic unschooling and community building adventure all in one.

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  24. I love this!!! very cool....I will tell teacher's about this at school

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  25. I am planning on hatching eggs with our science club (chock full of unschoolers and homeschoolers) next month. I was wondering if you had any good websites to share on the topic of more information on graphing it. The dome is next on the list. I had spotted it several months ago on another blog and wanted to include it. You post reminded me of the project. THANKS!

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