What I didn't anticipate was how much Jack and Kathryn would enjoy their study! I checked out all the books the library had to offer for kids, which - combined with my own collection - amounted to plenty of information for us to learn in three weeks. We watched parts of a BBC documentary on YouTube, learned a little Italian, and talked a lot about the importance of the Renaissance.
My favorite comment during our studies came from Jack while I was explaining da Vinci's sketch of the Vitruvian Man. "Leonardo was creating the perfectly proportioned man." Jack's response was so characteristic: "Well, I don't think that man looks perfect - he has four legs and four arms, but only one head and one bottom!"
Finally, the big day arrived... The exhibit began with a time line of da Vinci's life, with his major paintings and works of his contemporaries. It was fun to see them squeal when they recognized their favorites, and Kathryn's contempt that Michelangelo's David was included in an exhibit about da Vinci.
There were lots of hands-on reproductions of da Vinci's inventions for the kids to try out, which especially thrilled Jack. Kathryn was more interested in the art, which Jack had enough of after locating his favorite painting and testing the theory that wherever you are in the room, Mona Lisa is looking at you.
We ended the day with a picnic and play in the Science Playground - the Waterworks, to be specific, which is all Max really cared about. We always do this last, because he ends up soaking wet in no time.
Over dinner that night, Nick asked the kids for a report of their trip to OMSI. Jack concluded his adventures by stating, "I think Leonardo is the best painter ever." To which Kathryn piped up (characteristically opposing her brother), " I don't - I think Botticelli is." The debate still continues, but we all agreed that we had a wonderful time!
5 comments:
Marmee, I love this. Will you homeschool my kids too and turn them into art history nerds? And the pictures are so cute. Can't wait to play in the mud with Max. DF.
OK, will you call ME when I could be being a good mom and teaching my daughter a little culture? We went to OMSI last week but I opted to skip the Da Vinci exhibit because I didn't want to pay for it and risk Emma being bored. What kind of mom am I?? Granted it was a last minute trip, but that's not a good excuse! I DID get a picture of EMma as the Mona Lisa, so maybe ther was some culture in there...=-)
So fun, Miriam. I love hearing about what other moms are doing with their kids . . . and this one is great! Isn't it great how any children can learn whatever interests them?
And tell Kate I like Botticelli, too. ;o)
I just have to say, "YOU'RE AWESOME MIRM!" That is all.
I think Jack looks especially good with cleavage! I'm sitting here with Will looking at pictures, trying to determine which animals are real...can a cow really drive a tractor? So far he's gotten 6 out of 10 wrong, "Of course a cow can drive a tractor! Anybody can." Will you teach my children?
Post a Comment