What’s Happening in Our Homeschool?
Last week, we talked about fractal broccoli and Kampung Boy. What caught our eye this week? And what in the world — or who — are peredvizhniki?
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What I’m Reading This Week
A Window to the Russian Soul, by Nicholas Kotar
Released just a few days ago by the author of the Raven Son series (which is based on old Russian fairy tales), A Window to the Russian Soul is billed as “ancient folk wisdom for modern life.” It’s an utterly intriguing look at the cultural, superstitious, and religious origin of many elements of “Russianness”, with a particular focus on the beliefs of medieval Russia.
Quoted in the book is the 19th century the poet Vyazemsky:
“Give our Russia the name ‘holy’
But to caution us, to remind us, as a testament.
We must preserve from our earliest years
The fear of God, and love, and the pure fire of faith.
So that our good deeds and good examples,
Bequeathed to us in ancient simplicity,
We may pass on to our sons in full.”
A fascinating book. I finished it in one day.
What Aveline is Reading This Week
The Way We Do it in Japan, by Geneva Cobb Iijima
Like last week’s Kampung Boy, The Way We Do it in Japan is also recommended in the Visits to…Asia curriculum by Simply Charlotte Mason. In this picture book, young Gregory moves to Japan with his American mother and Japanese father. As he experiences new ways to eat, sleep, and learn, the phrase “the way we do it in Japan” repeats like a comforting refrain.
I Before E (Except After C): Old-School Ways to Remember Stuff, by Judy Parkinson
Aveline says — “I thought that this would be a good book to recommend because, although you might not normally pick a book of this sort up, it is actually very captivating once you start reading it. When you open it up, you will find that it contains mnemonics on a range of different topics. For example, in the spelling chapter (called ‘To spell or not to spell’) it starts off containing some spelling rules, and then proceeds to tell you a lot of spelling mnemonics. If you prefer science, there are various chapters with hints, mnemonics, and short rhymes about various branches of science, such as anatomy, astronomy, biology, chemistry, and more! Math person? Check out the chapter titled ‘Think of a Number.’ This book is handy for everyone, as business people, medical interns, foreign language learners, and lots others will find once they read this book.” -Aveline, age 9
3 Resources for Lent
1. FREE Lent Reading Plan for the Jesus Storybook Bible
Available for free, this digital PDF offers printable calendars and a paper-chain template, so you can count down to Easter while reading daily from the Jesus Storybook Bible.
2. An Illustrated Lent
Illustrated Ministry produces downloadable PDF packets for families and churches, full of themed weekly readings, activities, and intricately detailed coloring pages. These are products for purchase, not free, but each packet is extensive. Lent options are as follows:
3. FREE Live Lent app
Produced by the Church of England, the FREE Live Lent app (Android and iOS) automatically updates daily throughout the 2020 Lenten season. Rooted in Creation care and featuring verses, a devotional, prayers, and a challenge, Live Lent is suitable for both kids and adults. Includes spoken audio (British accents!) and song. Thanks to Marie for finding this resource!
2 Things We’ve Studied This Week
1. Peredvizhniki
Russian culture and history encompasses so much more than the Soviet era. As I was reading Russia Beyond / Russia Kitchen’s 4 Strange and Bizarre Foods Popular in Pre-Communist Russia, I encountered — for the first time —
Marvelous! Captivating! This led me to Google, where I landed upon Peredvizhniki, the Russian realist painters of the mid- to late- 1800s. I was especially enraptured by
This wasn’t a homeschool lesson, by the way. This was my own personal rabbit trail.
2. A Greek Agora
In Ancient Greece, the agora is where it all happened. This was the central place of gathering and commerce, a constant bustle of activity. Using an Amazon Prime Box, markers, and printable templates from (the fantastic and jam-packed) Project Passport: Ancient Greece, Aveline is building an agora.
6 Things We’ve Enjoyed This Week
1. This gouache painting kit from Timberdoodle (review soon!)
2. Coffee.
4. Visits with family.
5. Toasted Coconut Almond Milk from Califia Farms
And that’s the week, wrapped! (See last week: Kampung Boy and Fractal Broccoli.) What do you think? Did I leave out tidbits you were expecting to see? The format for this kind of post is very fluid, so feedback is welcome.
See you next time!
The Oaxacaborn Blog 
Love Aveline’s agora!
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It’s so much more colorful than I ever imagined ancient Greece ;)
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