6 weeks out we’re starting to get organized around preparing the kids for the trip.
With the “Gothic Architecture” theme we want to make sure they’ve seen some of the stained glass of Sainte-Chapelle as well as the Notre Dame. Latest trip to the library helped show a bit of the schematics and added a fun puzzle to the mix as well.
We revisited not-quite flashcards as the kids still use the Spain ones all the time. Our 5 year old son is beginning to read and our 3 year old daughter, who is particularly excited about seeing Paris outside of mom’s belly this time, is studying letter sounds as well so Dan added captions this time. (Helps the grownups remember the names of some of the artworks as well!)
A well-timed school project for the kids (in same multi-age Montessori classroom) was on Impressionist art. The project included “painting a Monet” and Dan came to school as a parent helper. One by one kids came out and painted a bit of water or lilies or flowers. Very cute with smocks and frequent conversations about other bald people they knew (“…my grandpa doesn’t have any hair either…can I paint another lilypad?”). The kids were super proud to know who the artist was and that he painted outside sometimes and had a big garden. They were also excited to tell their class about seeing more paintings like the one they made in Paris next month.
This sweet little coincidence really illustrates how traveling, learning, and living are all connected. The kids came home each day last week and rushed to open the 2012 and 2014 photo books with us in Paris pregnant with each of them. Our daughter tells us she is ready to see “the biggest Eiffel Tower!” so that remains top on our list as soon as we land and get settled.
Last, Betsy had a great idea to deal with the fact that the kids are a bit too big to stay in baby wrap and backpack in museums. Plus they’re old enough to know who Monet is then the should be able to walk around and see works up close like the rest of us. Her idea was to leverage the seating found in the big museums like the Louvre and the d’Orsay by sewing a “portable art station.”
Just a sketchbook holder with a bunch of slots for colored pencils. The kids went to the fabric store to pick out their patterns; Dan explained how the best artists study the masters which means going to the museums and drawing and redrawing what they see and like. The kids, he tells them, are following in the footsteps of all the great artists. They seem excited. Let’s hope it works out!
talk soon,
Dan & Betsy
Family discussion topic: What topic from school would the kids like to learn more about if they could travel anywhere?
(e.g., history, art, literature, fashion, architecture, science and nature?)