Like most public and private schools, we are wrapping up the school year… and it’s about time. As soon as the temperature begins to rise, Zac’s and Brook’s brains begin to melt. Cabin fever sets in so badly that we often take “unscheduled” days off from book and structured work in favor of outdoor activities and other outings.

We spent the first part of last week camping. The camp ground we stayed at boasted an “Educational Nature Center”. Therefore, I justified our little getaway with the whole “they’ll still be learning” thing. While there were some interesting things on display and some interesting facts to read, it was definitely lacking. Plus, Zac couldn’t have shown any less interest in the whole thing and Brook was a little freaked out by the once-alive-but-now-dead-and-stuffed animals that were on display. We took hikes on two of the days and called them “p.e”. On these hikes we were able to see and identify numerous animal tracks, which enabled us to also refer to it as “animal science”. And of course, all the plants and flowers… botany. What a well rounded educational experience.

But now that our latest outing has come to pass, we must return to our “real” education. I started tonight with Brook when I sliced our pizza (fresh from the oven) and began to ask her, “What fraction is this?”. Her response, “Please Mom, not tonight. It’s bad enough that I’ll be forced to study this stuff tomorrow.” Wow, she loves to learn… just can’t get enough of it.

While Zac’s and Brook’s brains are shutting down for summer vacation, my mind is gearing up for next school year. I’ve got a tentative schedule planned out and have been curriculum shopping. (I don’t buy box curriculum, instead opting for more eclectic, pieced together materials.) My head is full of ideas and possibilities. I plan to blog about my homeschool planning, hopefully including some helpful tips, links, etc. in the weeks to come.