Though the end of August will be bringing a little more routine and busyness to our days, it still has a way of inviting us to slow down. The days are still warm, the garden often feels full and generous, and many of us find ourselves longing for a bit of quiet refreshment before a new season begins.In our home, Morning Time becomes a gentle anchor during this stretch of the year — a simple gathering around beauty, truth, and meaningful conversation.

This month’s Morning Time themes center around refreshment: cool water, peaceful places, nourishing words, and the steady reminder that rest is often found in ordinary things. Through music, poetry, nature study, art, scripture, and shared family rhythms, we are turning our attention toward the things that restore both heart and home.

One of my favorite parts of creating these monthly Morning Time plans is discovering how seemingly simple themes weave naturally through every subject. The stillness of water appears in our poetry and scripture, shades of blue echo through our art and handwork, and even our nature study reminds us to observe the world with gentleness and wonder.

If you are new to our Morning Time studies, you may enjoy browsing the Morning Time Library for past themes, seasonal studies, and family learning ideas. You may also find the Gentle Weekly Rhythm Planner helpful as you create peaceful rhythms for your own home and homeschool days.

I hope this month’s collection brings a sense of calm and beauty to your table and reminds you that refreshment is often found in the quiet faithfulness of everyday life.

Morning Time Theme For August

Recently, I decided to journal an inventory of things that refresh me. When I was finished, my list looked something like this: relaxing on our porch swing, a warm shower, time spent with good friends, wading my feet in a creek, and getting a long, cool drink of water.  This list became the foundation for this months morning time bundle.

Do you remember the time Anne saw the Lake of Shining Waters for the first time? L.M. Montgomery wrote the encounter like this:

They had driven over the crest of a hill. Below them was a pond…”I shall call it – let me see – the Lake of Shining Water. Yes, that is the right name for it. I know because of the thrill. – Anne of Green Gables

Later, The Lake of Shining Waters was described in this way:

…the Lake of Shining Waters was blue – blue – blue; not the changeful blue of spring, nor the pale azure of summer, but a clear, steadfast, serene blue, as if the water were past all modes and tenses of emotion and had settled down to a tranquility unbroken by fickle dreams. – Anne of the Island

Water is definitely a source of refreshment for our bodies, but even still it leaves us with an insatiable appetite for more. There is only one true source of true refreshment that satisfies us like no other, and that is the Living Water that Christ offers. I hope that this month you find indescribable peace as you drink in the water that He has to offer. Happy August, Friends!

Click here to download the August 2020 Morning Time Bundle

AUGUST MORNING TIME MUSIC STUDY

• Classics for Kids – Franz Schubert
• Classics for Kids – Franz Schubert Audio Biography
• Biography.com – Franz Schubert
• MSU.edu – Franz Schubert

POETRY FOR AUGUST MORNING TIME

How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood,
When fond recollection presents them to view!
The orchard, the meadow, the deep-tangled wildwood,
And every loved spot which my infancy knew;
The wide-spreading pond, and the mill which stood by it,
The bridge, and the rock where the cataract fell;
The cot of my father, the dairy-house nigh it,
And e’en the rude bucket which hung in the well —
The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket,
The moss-covered bucket which hung in the well.

It’s no secret that I love to be taken back to another day in time when things appeared to be less complicated. This poem is one of those hidden treasures that does just that. I love the idea that to Samuel Woodworth the old oaken bucket was an object of respite for him.

• Old Oaken Bucket Homestead
• Bartleby – Samuel Woodworth
• Bing Crosby – The Old Oaken Bucket

ART STUDY: TO PASTURES NEW

The art piece we will be observing this month is a sweet print from Sir James Guthrie titled To Pastures New. Not only is this a beautiful piece of art, it also echoes the focus of our nature study of Geese.

Sir James Guthrie, who was a founder member of the “Glasgow Boys”.  This group of young artists formed in the 1880’s and were extremely popular between the 1890’s and 1910.  The Glasgow Boys consisted of several men, most of whom were trained in, or had strong ties to the city of Glasgow.  However, although enjoying being looked upon as being one of this rebellious group of artists, Guthrie exhibited his first major picture at the Royal Academy in London and within twenty years of painting, became the president of the Royal Academy which was the pinnacle of the “Establishment”.  In 1921 he was knighted.  Despite their anti-establishment stance in their early days, many of the Glasgow Boys became very rich painting.

• Aberdeen Art Gallery – Introduction to To Pastures New – this is a wonderful video introduction to this art piece. It also gives you a clear picture of the immense size of this piece of art. Be sure to include this video in your studies.
• Sir James Guthrie – Artworks

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT REFRESHMENT

This month, as we focus out attention on things that bring refreshment, our scripture is John 4:13-14. We are gently reminded by Christ’s words that nothing this world offers will satisfy us forever. They may bring temporary refreshment, pleasure, and satisfaction but will ultimately leave us feeling dry and empty. Only Christ can fully satisfy.

Jesus answered and said unto her, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Some other verses that echo this promise:

• Isaiah 58:11 – And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
• Proverbs 19:23 – The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.
• Psalm 90:14 – Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
• John 10:10 – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

AUGUST NATURE STUDY: GEESE

Geese are the focus of our nature study for August. Much of our discussion will be comparisons between them and the duck. So, I have included some books links below that include ducks as well.  As usual, we will use The Handbook of Nature Study to help direct our learning.

Here are some additional resources you may enjoy:

• Geese Fly Together – National Geographic
• 8 Things to Know Before Raising Geese – great blog post about the needs of Geese.

HANDCRAFTS & SHIBORI DYEING

We love any opportunity we have to dye things. My favorite adventure in dyeing was when we used nature to dye fabric in A Simple Guide to Morning Time | February 2019, but this months Shibori Tie Dye is definitely running a close second. This is a craft I have wanted to include in the morning time bundles for some time, yet hadn’t found the perfect time to include it. This month seemed perfect. All of the different shades of indigo remind me of reflections of water: a fantastic addition to this months study.

The supplies for this months craft are simple:

•  Rit Indigo Shibori Tie Dye Kit – includes dye, twine, rubber bands, squares, gloves, and instructions. If Amazon is sold out Walmart also has it: here.
• Cotton Fabric
• (2) 5 Gallon Buckets
• Hot Water

CHARACTER STUDY: ZACHARY TAYLOR

This months study brings us to our nations 12th president, Zachary Taylor.

A hero of the Mexican War, Taylor was the first professional military man elected president and the first not previously elected to any office.  A strong nationalist, in spite of being a slave holder himself, he opposed the extension of slavery into the territories newly acquired from Mexico and threatened to use military force against secessionists to preserve the Union.  He died suddenly in July 1850 cutting short his controversial term in office.

• Zachary Taylor | The White House
• The Big Book of Presidents: From George Washington to Barack Obama by Nancy Hajeski
• The Ultimate Guide to the Presidents video series. We will watch only the portion for James K. Polk this month.
• Zachary Taylor’s Home – nps.gov

A PEACH RECIPE FOR AUGUST

August is my daughter’s birthday month and she requested a recipe with peaches for our morning time study. Since these morning time bundles are meant to be for the entire family, I happily obliged. As you make them this month, I hope they remind you of  how special your presence here is to us. These were included by special request to be shared with you; our extended morning time family!

Some special tools I used for ours:

• Wilton 10″ X 15″ Baking Sheet
• Williams Sonoma Olivewood Fluted Pastry Cutter
• Williams Sonoma Olivewood Pastry Blender
• Wooden Rolling Pin

Whether your August days feel full and lively or slow and quiet, I hope these Morning Time studies help your family notice beauty, pursue peace, and gather together with intention.

A quick note: Some external links and resources shared in these older morning time studies may change over time. When possible, I update broken links, but if a resource is no longer available, I encourage you to simply use the topic, artist, poem, or composer as inspiration for your own exploration.