Gentle Shakespeare for Us

I used to pick up picture books of Shakespeare's stories from time to time at the library, put them in the library basket for perusing, offer to read them together, but they never really "took." Finally, Sela said to me, "I'm just not that interested in Shakespeare."

Oh, maybe I can help with that! Nope. These themes are generally not interesting to her -- "too much killing and dying." Well, I have just one word for myself on this: "Duh." Know your audience, right?

Now as it happens, her ballet company is performing A Midsummer Night's Dream. This is a Shakespeare story that works! No killing, no dying - silliness, fairies & cute bugs who dance. Just the right combination of elements.  And, again, know your audience!  There's more than one way to get to know Shakespeare.

In addition to the ballet, we love these versions:
:: Shakespeare for Children by Jim Weiss (audio)
:: A Midsummer Night's Dream for Kids (Shakespeare Can Be Fun) by Lois Burdett
:: A Midsummer Night's Dream by Bruce Coville

And now that I know what can be appealing, I'll be on the lookout for other good fits.  Some more of his comedies?  And maybe these?
:: Shakespeare for Kids: His Life and Times, 21 Activities (For Kids series) by
         Aagesen & Blumberg
:: William Shakespeare and the Globe by Aliki
:: Simply Shakespeare: Readers Theatre for Young People by Kroll

(Another mild introduction to Shakespeare is Osborne's Stage Fright on a Summer's Night from The Magic Tree House series.  Sela loved these.)

I'd love recommendations - leave a comment and share your gems!

To Mamas...

This is the sentiment expressed to me this morning - and I am extending this heartfelt message to each of you, my Mama friends. Thank you for the connection and joy you each give to me.  The experience of motherhood is rich and full (and sometimes difficult) -  made more rich and more full (and much, much less difficult) because I can share it with incredible mothers who inspire me every day.

My sincere wish for you today is connection and joy and at least a moment to "just be" with those who make you happiest in the world.

I was so lucky this morning to also get a tray of croissants (I shared), a cup of coffee, and the Sunset Western Garden Book.  Oh, when it's good, it's very, very good, isn't it??

Make Your Fun (& Dinner, Too)

While I had my afternoon cuppa, we watched a DVD about musical instruments.  Ready to wiggle (them) and make dinner (me) - we put the instruments front and center.  They had a blast while I attended to all-things-kitchen.

 Music-making led to ice skating and fancy shoes -- instruments in their own right.  A good reminder about what we each need in order to go into this part of our day fortified.  We do a lot in a day.  It feels so good when we can wrap it up with some ease.

Here Comes Science Sampler: Put It to the Test

Today's Song:  Put It to the Test
It's the Scientific Method!
It's Science Fair time.

  

are you sure that thing is true? or did someone just tell it to you?  
come up with a test

yeah, think of a test

 

Great books to make learning about & practicing the scientific method easy & fun:
Make it Work! Science Fair by World Book
Guide to More of the Best Science Fair Projects by VanCleave
Science Fair Success Secrets by Haduch
And these are just the ones I found at the most recent book sale for a dollar!  The library shelves are loaded.

 

if you want to know if it's the truth, then, my friend, you are going to need proof

come up with a test

yeah, you need a test

  

My advice: Don't wait for an Official science fair - just do it!  You can do them at breakfast, or set up experiments to explore more ideas.  They don't have to be hard.  Sela said to me, shocked and in disbelief, when I told her that some people think science fairs are a lot of work, "What?!  Science fairs are AWESOME!"  That's my girl.

More unsolicited advice: Organize a small science fair for a group of friends.

  

don't believe it 'cause they say it's so.  if it's not true, you have a right to know! 
put it to the test!

  

We all use the scientific method all the time & don't even realize it.

• What's my question?
• How can I test it?
• What do I think will happen?
• Test it out.
• What happened?
• What does it mean?

What will you test out next?

 

 

Here Comes Science Sampler: ROY G BIV

Today's Song:  ROY G BIV

First of all, Dress the Part (naturally).

Then... find something to do!

Read about it.

The Rainbow and You by E.C. Krupp
The Magic Schoolbus Makes a Rainbow by Cole
What Makes a Rainbow: A Magic Ribbon Book by Schwartz
A Rainbow of My Own by Freeman

Take your experiments outside. 
We used:
Exploratopia: More than 400 Kid-Friendly Experiments and Explorations for Curious Minds by Murphy

Barron's Science Wizardry for Kids
Experiments with Colors by Tocci

You can use whatever you have on your shelf, go to the library, or just use your favorite search engine for ideas.

Explore.

Discover.

Be amazed.

Play some games.

Start with Rainbow Sudoku

Make a rainbow maze.
(Try using drinking straws and 1-inch graph paper.)

Read some more.
A World of Colors: Seeing Colors in a New Way by National Geographic has us all WOW'd by its' simple and stunning exercises.

Be on the lookout for more related activites!

Have you ever noticed the rainbows on bubbles?

What else do you know about light and colors?

Ever been on a rainbow hunt?
How many creative ways can you play with color mixing?
Where would you hang a prism to make wondrous rainbows every day?

How about rainbow art?

How delicious can a rainbow be?

Just like the rainbow, there is *no end* to the possibilies.  There is, however,

...plenty of gold.

A Mama Moment

Washing, folding, (fingering, smelling, dreaming, lingering on), boxing & mailing tiny clothes to a tiny new love.

The ONLY thing cuter than these, are the tiny little people who fit into them.

Linus then, Linus now. 

(Keep in mind, he's not that big now.)

 

Remember this guy?

(And he was waaaay too big for those tiny pants at this time.)

Happy Earth Day 2012

We spent our day outside, connecting with Earth.

Okay, yardwork.

(I'm wondering... Does anyone else need a machete to prepare their gardens in the spring? I wish I had taken a 'before' picture.  That way, an 'after' would be impressive to more than just me!)

Pippi Pepper (from the UCD Student Farm) found a new home today.

So did some other lovely veggies & flowers.
Some old favorites, some new ones to try out.  How will you know if you don't give it a try, right?

I have two interested gardeners (heart, heart).  It's okay when a few things get pulled out a little too roughly, maybe stepped on, some seeds get spilled, and when my gardeners wander off to try something else.  There are so many treasures in our backyard - I want us all to be happy enough to want to explore them.

I have a garden of my own, shining with flowers of every hue, I loved it dearly while alone.  But shall love it more with you.  - Thomas Moore