In preparation for winter solstice tomorrow, we made a model of the earth. Moriah drew a 23.5 degree angle for us (angle of the earth’s tilt). I cut a potato roughly earth shaped, Samuel painted it blue and green, and I stuck a chopstick throught the axis. Toby acted out the sun by holding a flashlight, and we saw how the earth’s tilt make the amount of sunlight reaching us different during different times of the year.
We have had some lovely watercolors in tubes since before we moved, and Moriah has been eager to use them. I found a nicely laid out watercolor instruction book at the library (simple but thorough). Moriah and Samuel took the first lesson, on mixing colors. They used only red, blue and yellow; these are their creations.
Moriah’s is a lovely flower (she loves to draw and paint flowers). This one looks like a purple coneflower to me.
Samuel made this vibrant geometric drawing. It reminds me of an African (or maybe South American) tribal painting.
Seeing Elsie knit, Moriah has been eager to learn. But Aunt Raquel takes only one student at a time, and I knit left handed so I couldn’t teach her very well. Raquel got a Kids Knitting book at the library, and Moriah curled up with it Sunday afternoon. Moriah learned to ‘finger crochet’ from the book, and then taught Samuel how. She made a headband for herself and one to match Elsie’s dress.
And then yesterday- Raquel gave Moriah a knitting lesson! By the end of the row, she had it figured out and was doing it by herself. She is making a bookmark. Elsie is continuing to knit a blanket for her doll. They are thrilled with their new skill!