We started the day with some math. Luke is learning division and finding the area of triangles & parallelograms, while Grace is multi-tasking with addition, coin counting, clock reading and counting by 2's & 10's. We then set off to see the Symphony in downtown Wichita as a field trip with our homeschool co-op. On the way, we listened to a book on CD called "Tubby the Tuba", a cute story that helps with learning to identify musical instruments by ear, which we'd found at the library yesterday. The Wichita Symphony Orchestra was a wonderful, educational presentation for kids that joined a Mime company, which added fun to the listening experience. The favorite of the hour was the theme to "Harry Potter" by John Williams! Next, the kids and I took our packed lunches to the river and ate across from the "Keeper of the Plains" then took a walk across the bridge over the water just for fun. We've been studying some of the famous Indians and their culture, like Sequoyah, the Cherokee who invented a way of writing syllables to communicate. Luke recently read "Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims" and we're now reading together, "Pocahontas and the Strangers", which I highly recommend. We also read together at the beginning of the year, "The Sign of the Beaver", a sweet book about a boy who stays with his cabin while his family is away, and is rescued from death by an Indian chief, who asks him to teach his grandson to read. The relationship that grows is complex and precious. We loved it!So after we ate lunch we went to our next field trip. Downtown Wichita has tons of museums on the river, one of which is the Indian Center, where we got to see what real moccasins looked like, a papoose that would carry a baby, Indian children's toys and the skin of a buffalo and it's many uses. While we were there, a class was coming in and they said we could join their presentation of a real Native American, dressed in full regalia, that answered questions and danced for us. My friend, Kelsey happened to be there with her son, and it was great to see her. My kids are playing outside at the apartment playground with friends now in this beautiful 64 degree weather. What a beautimous Kansas day!
