Making a paper gun was one of the highlights when I worked as a Governess on an Australian Outback Station. Children of Stations don't go to traditional school but either do School Of The Air, or they are taught by mum or their Governess (Govie).
The joys of achievement!
Children on Stations grow up with horses, cattle, wild pig hunting, killing a beast for the freezer, camp fires, fencing and bore-runners and ringers (jackeroos and jillaroos). Children living on a cattle station have a lifestyle that their counterpart city children often have no clue about. These Station kids ride ponies, poddy calves, shoot guns at an early age and watch a kill to fill their freezer for the next 3 months which by the way is generally powered by diesel generators.
See:
HOMESCHOOLING IN THE OUTBACK @ingridontheroad/50000-acre-playground in case you missed it.
These kids have a small building or donga they call school, sit there alone or with their siblings and watch a laptop hoping it's going to work today. Internet problems are common and being cut off from online class mates is regular. Once every 3 months if they're lucky enough they travel hundreds of kilometres to attend a few days of socialisation in their nearest outback town.
Schooling upside down on the lounge with the dog is normal.
As a Govie you try decorate the classroom to the standard of their counterparts. Limited resources and limited students obviously allows for plenty of room on the walls to display the children's achievements.
How do you keep these children engaged? With great difficulty some days while other days are a breeze. Enticements such as a home kill happening, or a pony ride to their private lake for a swim is sometimes all that's needed to get work done.
Pony is keen for a walk to the lake.
Another interesting concept my little station-man learned about was making crystals using, food coloring, paper glue, and salt. Simply draw or print a picture on paper and trace it with paper glue. Sprinkle coarse kitchen salt over the glue and gently shake off excess salt. Using a dropper, slowly drop different food coloring drops on the glue sections of the drawing and watch the little crystals transform their colors. Watching the child's face is actually better!
Basic household items for your project; water, paper glue, food coloring, kitchen salt.
As you can see there is no need for expensive materials to get creativity happening once the creative mind kicks in. Keep collecting bits and pieces that would normally end up in landfill and some basic household items will do the trick.
Keep enjoying your homeschool journey regardless which way it's delivered, you’re doing an awesome job!
P.S. I've been changing my website to provide easier and free access to hundreds of printable resources for those who wish to check it out...
https://www.teachingtreasures.com.au
Photos and written work is my own.
©️ingridontheroad
