This week we made a trip to the Louisiana Orphan Train Museum in Opelousas. The museum is only one of two in the country and carries a lot of history of an incredible movement which came to be the beginning of our country’s foster care system. It is completely run by volunteers who are very knowledgeable and engaging. The orphan train movement was responsible for getting thousands of homeless and abandoned children off the streets and into new homes. Several of the volunteers are descendants from some of these orphans themselves and take great pride in researching and tracking the history of as many orphans as they can. From a ceiling to floor mural to displays of the original clothes the orphans were wearing upon arrival, the museum is a wonderfully educational experience for kids and adults alike. Appointments to tour the museum can be made by contacting Martha at 337-948-9922.
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I mentioned in a previous article that we’ve been reading City by David Macaulay. It’s a very in depth and well illustrated book of the construction of an Ancient Roman city. We learned a lot about the materials used, how they made aqueducts, the layout of the markets and their plans for adjusting construction as the city grew. We found a 3D puzzle of the Roman Colosseum and put it together so we could get a hands on experience of the construct. David Macaulay’s books are some of my favorite works of literature to add to history lessons because they bring an architectural understanding of the time. Other books we enjoy of his include Castle, Cathedral, and Pyramid but he has many more we intend to read.
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We’ve recently begun reading African folk tales and the kids are really enjoying them. The stories are lyrical and fun with a moral at the end and the kids always seem absorbed when I read them aloud. Our favorite so far is A Story, A Story by Gail Haley but we are also enjoying Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum by Ashley Bryan. When we’ve finished these stories, we plan to begin reading Native American stories and poems. We tend to get very drawn into exploring different cultures and I love to immerse the kids with information about each one we study but especially the literature and art.
About Annette:
I’m a homeschool mom of two, ages 11 and 5. We’ve been homeschooling from the beginning for 6 years and our preferred method is unschooling with a Charlotte Mason twist. I love homeschooling for the freedom it gives us and because I enjoy learning alongside my kids. Our favorite ways to indulge our interests are by exploring the world around us, doing experiments and activities, talking to people who are passionate about their fields, and reading well written books. I believe so much in what we do, I’ve kept it through divorce and now working full time from home. It’s my hope to continue our journey until college or whatever next step my kids choose to take.
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