First day of school!

  

Nathan, Melanie, Matthew and Daniel had their first day of school last week, and loved it!

We thought that an old fashioned one room school house would be a nice transition from home schooling into real school, and so, we gave it a shot.

 

As you can see, they haven't all learned to pay attention, and other classroom etiquette, but I'm sure they will catch on.

 Oh wait, actually, we just went along to the Dickson Hill School program at Black Creek Pioneer Village for two days, and we'll be doing regular homeschool again this week.  The kids would rather the other way, I am sure!

 Jennifer and Evelyn didn't pay attention to the lessons (they are the reason why we only went two days, and not all week) but did dress up too, and, mostly, stayed out of trouble.

 

We spent some time outside in the school yard, so as not to disturb the lessons.  There were two hours of school time, which included opening, singing, a bunch of 20 minute lessons, and recess.

 After school was out, we went two three different houses around the village and had a talk about various things.  In between we went back for lunch, and we were done at two.

 The weavers shop was fun, and the kids got to try out the loom!

 The print shop was even cooler, and, I think, Matthew's favourite!  I didn't go along with the older two, so I have no pics of their outings-but they went to the same places, only in a different order.

 And we got to take home a copy of the picture they made (only it was one they made the day before so the ink was dry).

 After it was done we checked out the mill (very cool!) and then I told my little pioneers Mommy and the little ones were ready to head home.

But I had to snap some shots of them looking so old fashioned. :)  We had made a rushed trip to Value Village and Sally Ams to get suspenders (had to make a pair out of some old pants for Nathan as we only found two) plus some long sleeve long dresses and an apron and a pinafore, a couple baskets, and Melanie's lace up boots.  And of course, we didn't do it 'til a couple days before, so we had to take what we could get.

The second day was Friday, a blasting hot day.  The younger three kids got more compromised outfits so that they would survive 'til 2 when we'd change.   Then, change we did!  As a pioneer, having cotton long sleeve and pants would be a lot more comfortable then my double layered non breathable dress.

 Play in the school yard.

 Scavenger hunt (school was real hard core ;)

 Recess time.

 Waiting for school to finish.

Making a friend while the boys were busy paying attention in the tin shop.

 Fooling around in the tin shop. :o

Tin shop.

 First house (meaning, the first house the original family lived in (three room house for 7 kids and two adults) where we learned about spinning and carding.

We also visited the doctor's house the day before, as well as the second house.  At each house we got to take something home (wool, tiny toy of tin) or helped make one big piece (weaver's and an embroidery thing at 2nd house) that the group as a whole got.

This is definitely something we'd do again if it happens again another year!