Wednesdays are what I’ve come to coin Wonder Wednesday. We focus on science. I use The Good and the Beautiful “Science for Little Hearts and Hands” course books. I have all 4 course sets.
- Wind and Waves
- Sparks and Stars
- Field and Flowers
- Bones and Stones
So on Wonder Wednesdays we will choose one of the 4 sets to do. Last week we learned about paleontologists. This week one of my kids wanted to do Wind and Waves and we learned about meteorologists. It was a quick lesson, less than 10 minutes. Then once we were done with class we went outside.
While we were outside, one of my children came running up holding what looked like a strawberry. I had seen one of these “strawberries” before but never looked too closely. But that is where I differ from the children. They are budding with excitement and curiosity. Naturally they asked what it was, I naturally didn’t know.
I pulled out my handy dandy smartphone and used googles scanning search. There the internet did what it does best. Give you the answer…to the best of its ability.
My kiddos found a Potentilla indica.
What is that you wonder…
Well, that is what Wonder Wednesday is for!
Discovery!
A Potentilla indica is in fact a Mock (Indian) Strawberry. It is essentially a weed that grows just about anywhere. Together, we learned that they are edible, though they lack the juicy taste of a strawberry. They differ from a true strawberry in two ways. One, they are much smaller than a true strawberry. And two, the flower that accompanies the Indian Strawberry is yellow. While a traditional strawberry has white flowers.
That search started several others. For the next few minutes my oldest would bring me anything he found in the yard to be scanned. He discovered tall reed grass, a “pumice stone” though google was wrong on that one. It wasn’t a pumice (volcanic) rock just a normal run of the mill stone.
Nevertheless, the joy that those moments of discovery brought to my children was touching to my heart.
Being home with them and educating them on their terms and in their interests bring joy, and freedom to them and me on a daily basis.
Today in fact, they were treasure hunters under our deck. They found more rocks – smooth rocks – my oldest’s favorite. They found screws that they used to chisel and shape their chalk pieces. Using their chalk they discovered color blending.
Home educating beings together so many studies into each moment! Art, science, and physical education all within one afternoon. What a full childhood they have, and they do not even know how blessed they are.
Hopefilled Havice 
Leave a comment