revivify me

Several weeks ago, Tristan had a lot of fun digging these little Terracotta Army figures out of blocks of chalk (a Christmas gift from his Auntie Sarah who lives in China. Don't you love the wording on the box?) After all that messy fun, we wanted to know more about the real thing so of course a Google search ensued. We then printed some photos and packed up his figures and tools and Tristan shared what he had done and learned for 'show and tell' in his Classical Conversations class. That day in class the kids did a science experiment demonstrating erosion and we were able to relate his geology lesson to what he had just learned about archaeology. Later at home, we read a few chapters of Susan Wise Bauer's The Story of the World and we learned about the Egyptians and Sumerians and 5,000 year old records of history that still exist because they were carved in stone as well as great blank spaces of time that are a mystery because the paper records could not last. Tristan decided to put a piece of paper in a bowl of water and see what would happen over the course of a few days. Later, we marveled at the smooth, weathered stones on the beach as we collected some to bring home and then the kids made plaster casts of sea shells in class as part of their ongoing geology lessons...
I could go on and on but I'm probably starting to annoy you.
I just love how all this happened over the course of a week or two when I was feeling scatterbrained and unmotivated and pretty much unfit to be mom and teacher. Despite all that, our schooling, playing, reading and relating still worked themselves together like puzzle pieces of learning. When it comes to school, I usually feel inadequate and unprepared in the moment but when I am able to look back and see the big picture taking form I am revivified and excited to keep on. Something to hold on to as I face this Monday morning. That and my third cup of coffee.