Arizona History has Ended. Period.
This week brought the close of my Arizona History class …. I’m happy and sad. Teaching this class was the most fun of all the classes I’ve ever taught. Let’s face it, Arizona History is a small blip on any timeline of history… we’re not even 100 years old until next Valentine’s Day! So I was forced into my creative mode to keep these high schoolers learning! We only had 18 classes and four of those were field trip days! That is my kind of learning!
On Monday I finished writing the final exam and on Tuesday I packed all of my resources into a box… headed for the garage. Yesterday was the last class and today I sat down and made a note to myself of all the things I need to fix and change when I teach it again in four years. Wondering all the while, why am I such a history-loving nerd???
This is a huge relief to not have any student papers sitting on my desk, staring at me, whilst awaiting grades. I know how important it is for students to learn how to research and write a report, but by golly, I hate marking them! It doesn’t even take that long, but I have a pre-report-grading phobia that causes me to procrastinate like my own high school days of old.
History is always more interesting when you can dig up the funny pictures and weird facts. Here are just a few for your own Arizona-History-loving-heart: We studied two very influential men to Arizona… each one only had one arm. Seriously, what other state can boast about that?? And where else can you find small towns with names like Bisbee, Bumble Bee, Globe, Tombstone, and Strawberry? I know I’m probably underwhelming you, so I’ll end with my favorite picture… of my favorite General from the Civil War…. Gen. George Crook. Imagine how seriously you would be taken sporting a beard like this?!?
Most Talented Mother of the Year!
The City of Phoenix gives out cultural passes at the libraries so uncultured people can go to museums and attractions for free. They are trying to upgrade the average Phoenician’s cultural experience. And it’s working. At least in this house. “If it’s free, it’s for me!” is a famous quote from my sister…. and I borrow it on occasion. When the homeschooling bus hits a bump in the road, we go on field trips. It’s a no-brainer…. get out of the house… pronto! The get out of jail free passes are so handy!
Last Spring, when Spring fever was burning our house down, I gathered passes to the Natural History Museum and the Children’s Museum in Mesa, Arizona. My then-16 year old daughter was NOT interested, so we kidnapped a fellow 12-year-old friend and ventured off for a day of cultural learning. I was quite astounded when my then 13 and 11-year-old sons believed me when I told them that they were to assemble ALL of the mammoth sized wooden floor puzzles of dinosaurs in the museum. They did it. And I didn’t laugh out loud once. Then they panned for fake gold for 45 minutes in the hot sun. If wonders never cease. They were probably thinking that if they didn’t use up their time, I would drive them back home to their math books.
We exited the Natural History Museum and discovered a gigantic music shop across the parking lot. It was enormous and contained every musical instrument known to me… and a few more! Hundreds of horns, drums and guitars in all shapes and colors. The boys wandered in awe claiming which ones they would buy! At one point I heard a banjo call my name. It was just sitting there tempting me like a piece of white chocolate with almonds… I had to touch it and taste its goodness. The store was pretty noisy, so I figured I could get away with a bit of pickin’ and grinnin’. I know just enough about stringed instruments to stay in one key…. and then it happened…. my unknown inner-banjo talent played like hot grease on a skillet. I laugh just thinking about it. I picked as fast as I could and all three boys turned to face me in absolute amazement… jaws all hanging slack. “I didn’t know your mom could play the banjo!” our guest spit out. Without taking their eyes off of me and my banjo, both my boys responded, “I didn’t either!” It was priceless. I didn’t know I could play the banjo either. Well, I really can’t. But I am a supreme faker.
The boys made their own lunches today for field trip day #3 this week. I’ve never seen a quadruple turkey sandwich before. Austin could open his mouth wide enough too. I also didn’t realize that his hair is very Star Trekish. Every blinkin’ person in this house needs a haircut. Larisa and I go tomorrow…. the next time I catch the boys it will be their turn…. and Rick is bordering on a mullet. SCARY!
We went to the AZ Natural History Museum today and can I just say that I was totally taken by surprise that my 13 and 11 year old boys panned for fake gold for an hour. If wonders never cease. And they knew it was fake! Amazing. I just never know what to expect. On the way home we stopped at Toys R Us and the very same 13 year old bought a Lego toy….. see why I’m confused here? THIRTEEN!
in the fiber weaving store on a field trip. Yes, we are still studying sheep and today’s journey led us to a spinning lady way across town. I figured the boys would be bored stiff, but I was looking forward to learning how this ancient craft is done. I’m prone to try any new fangled craft set before me, so now I’m itching to get my eBay fleece in the mail. The window to the wool spinning world was opened to me this afternoon…. and never shall I be the same again.
3. You do not eat with a Navajo fork. It is strictly used to bat down the hills of wool in the loom.
4. A Hip Spindle is not a dance, however my husband has a few un-named moves that this could apply to. Here is a hip spindle.
There were several other techniques and truths learned, but I’ll spare you just now. I will for surely blog about my fleece’s bath, dye, carding and spinning as the action unfolds.
That was Baaa-aaa-aaad in the cool sense of the word. We are studying sheep with the boys right now and ventured to a sheep farm 45 minutes from our home. There were about 100 sheep on the farm and they are hair sheep, not wool sheep. They shed and don’t need to be sheered. A few of them were cross-bred with wool sheep, so they look fluffy. But the wool falls out like the hair. They looked like goats to me, but I’m a citified girl for sure. These sheep are raised for their meat and the ones at this farm are for training sheep dogs.
When we arrived there were several large fields with sheep dogs being trained and little groups of sheep running in circles. Reminded me of the boys’ first years of hockey. We got to hold sheep and feel the difference between hair and wool. We learned all about the four stomachs and how the sheep are called different names after surgery. (eeeweee) The grand finale of the day was when the 12 kids were put in the huge field to do the job of a sheep dog and herd the sheep into a small pen in the center.
It was highly entertaining. It was obvious which kids have played defence in some sport. The kids lined up and got the sheep moving in the right directions, but at the last moment the sheep passed the pen and went back to a safe corner of the field. Back to the drawing board. Much discussion was had and lines were formed again. They did get the sheep in on the second attempt… after only 10 minutes. The lady at the farm told us that a group of adults from American Express were doing the same thing for a team building experience. It took them 45 minutes to get the sheep in the pen. Figures. Adults all have their own hair-brained ideas of how everything should go. They probably needed to shed a bit of the wool over their eyes. Puns fully intended.
We were invited back in the spring when the lambs are born! Yippy Skippy.