Beyond FIAR Co-op: Cricket in Times Square #4

So many things happening.  So little time to write.  I'm alright with that though.  I'll catch up as I can and just live life where I am.  I enjoy writing and sharing, but it can't compete with me time with my family.  The fall has just been so full.  Lots of sweet times and fun memories made with family and friends.  I have much to be thankful for in each day!  God is good.

This is our last co-op with Cricket.  What a delightful book!  If you have not yet read this book, please take some time to explore it.  We had so many fun lessons.  And I'll post more about this later, but it spurred on one of the best field trips ever.  :-)  If you have read here much at all, you know how I love a field trip!  Hands-on learning is my favorite way to do things.

Our last co-op focused on the last several chapters of the book.  We started with a devotion and then into a discussion about vaudeville.

We watched some clips online from old vaudeville shows.  It was fun to see them and to learn about the entertainment that was popular in another time period.  Things have changed so much even from when I was little.

We then had our own vaudeville show!  What a great variety in talent and entertainment too ... from the "Great Hamdini" (can you see the cute little hamster with his magician's cape on?) to ...

a piece on the piano.

Knock-knock jokes.  (Daniel enjoyed joining us for this fun co-op.)

Piano.

A puppet show.

Piano.

Comedy skit.

Piano.

It was fun to see all of the students sharing with us - from serious to beautiful to funny!  It was a delightful show!

Our next lesson was on money.

From learning about the history of money and how the uses and types of it have changed.

Examining different types of money is always interesting.  It is fascinating to see the variety in shapes, sizes, symbols and more.  

This was a game in which the students tried to match the name of the money to the country to which it belonged.

More challenging than you might think!

Then the students took some time to design their own currency.  I find it intriguing to see what is important to a country by noting what is on their currency.  Likewise, it was interesting to see what the children chose to put on their money.

We ended with make your own pizzas for a snack.

My boys are always eager for pizza and gluten which they miss having at home.

This was a fun ending ... almost ... to our study of The Cricket in Times Square.

Want to guess what we did to cap it off?  Can you guess where we went on our field trip?  More on that in a future post!

Blessings
Leslie

Elodie Farm - field trip!

This was our last field trip in September, so the clothing reflects the temperature then and not now.  I'm working steadily on catching up and am making a lot of progress!  :-)

Our FIAR group went on a field trip to Elodie Farm.  

This is a wonderful farm that makes homemade goat cheese and also serves as a restaurant.  We had a gorgeous day for our tour!  Dave, the owner, introduced himself and then started our tour.  He asked if we would like to go in the house - and of course we did.

We started out in the kitchen.  Dave is so relaxed and comfortable with our group!

He told us about the history of the farm and what is happening on the farm now.

We toured the downstairs with several rooms set up for dinner.

Next stop was the front porch.  Couldn't you just imagine spending quite a bit of time here?  I love porches with rocking chairs!

As we walked to the lower part of the farm to see some of the other animals, some of us were bringing up the rear.

As we were walking, we soon found that it was also the time that the goats walked down too.  They proceeded down the path and weren't bothered by us at all!

They were very gentle and allowed petting by any that wanted to.

We learned that the cheese made at this farm doesn't have the odor that is sometimes present with some goat cheeses due to the types of goats that are used.

I enjoyed the part of the trip and being with the whole group.  We are often split up and I miss seeing the folks in the other groups.  It is nice to have a change.

We saw some pigs.

And ducks.

And of course goats.

Eliana liked seeing the animals, but did not want them too close to her.  Or looking at her.

We walked back on a different path that took us by the pond.

More animals to see.

Eliana pointing out the goat that has gotten really close.

We split up to tour the cheese making facility due to the size of our group.  We first stopped in the area where the goats are milked.

The children were able to feel the suction on the hose used to get the milk from the goats.

In the kitchen, they learned more about how cheese is made and were able to see some of the equipment that is used.  

This is some goat cheese that has not yet been flavored.  He sells it plain and also rolled in herbs.

An aged cheese.  Not sure I could be convinced to try this one.  LOL

The older students on the tour.

When we finished, we all took time to picnic on the lawn.  What a pleasant place to hang out and to eat our lunch!

The children ran around and played and Eliana was fascinated with the chickens.

We did buy some cheese to take home and it was delicious!

Fun day.  Love hands-on learning.  I hope that my children will treasure and remember this delightful way of learning about the world around them.

Hoping you are having fun enjoying about your world with family and friends too!

Blessings
Leslie