Often I feel like I’m running in circles, chasing myself trying to get everything done. Today on the way home from grocery shopping I noticed a billboard for a new school in our area. It advertised PE, music, and art every day along with the regular 3 Rs. What? How could they possibly fit that much into one school day every day? But then I thought of how I cover so much in one half-day session with 4K.

Life is not pigeonholed. When we fix breakfast, do we not read labels, estimate or measure ingredients, sort and organize the table setting, and maybe read a recipe while humming a little tune? Just in making breakfast, we’ve covered skills from every subject area except history. In asking grace we even encourage public speaking. Maybe breakfast was muffins or pancakes from an old family recipe. History. All of these areas can be incorporated into the discussion with family as we prepare the meal together and fellowship around the table without saying now we’ll do a little reading or we’ll use our math to measure. No, it all flows naturally, each one participating at their ability level. With a little planning on the teacher’s part school or homeschooling can be accomplished in a similar manner with less stress for all.

The key to planning often starts with literature. I used Annette Whipple’s new book The Laura Ingall Wilder Campanion as my demo book because of all the wonderful ideas Mrs. Whipple has for Laura’s books. This companion book takes a look at the chapters one by one giving ideas and information about the time and customs (history). She includes projects and games. There is a glossary and references for further reading. I particularly like the Family Talk section. Families are able to take the issues in the book and discuss how they might handle the situation.

So how do we include so much in one lesson? Let’s talk about Dance At Grandpa’s. We can help beginning readers with the story or just read it. Then we can discuss transportation, clothing, housing, and meals. Play fiddle music. Oh, and what about planning a party of our own with family and/or friends? Now let the best part begin. What kind of decorations will we need? Can we make them like Laura would by cutting out chains of things like hearts or people or animals? What kind of party foods will we make? How much and which recipes? What type of music will we have? Can someone play an instrument? Will we dance like Laura or clog or just have fun swaying to the beat? Who will we invite? Will we write invitations? Will we start a journal or diary of our plans? This type of learning can happen as weekly or monthly units. It can include a class or group or just a family. Annette Whipple’s companion book will be an invaluable resource.

But I have older children who have already read and outgrown Laura. Last Christmas my daughter and I visited the DaVinci exhibit at the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC. His quotes and artwork were displayed in a revolving cinema. Replicas of his inventions were on display. Explanations of his life and how we now use his findings to help us with technology were all around. My daughter sent me a book of his quotes as a present. Today I saw an online drawing course about hands that used his book as an example of learning to draw. How much could an older child learn from a study of DaVinci and the times in which he lived including the music and the religious thought? How much math and physics could they learn with a few popsicle sticks and toothpicks?

We often waste a lot of time with worksheets and testing when our children could be learning and enjoying by participating in whole-life experiences and projects. By the way, I understand an exhibit for Mattisse is coming to the Biltmore this spring. May I suggest leaving the pigeonholes for the pigeons?

Gail Cartee is out “playing” to educate.

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