A Simple Guide to Morning Time | November Printable

November…already? Isn’t it incredible how quickly the months seem to pass? We are already nearing the end of 2018 and in so many ways it seems like it just began. I believe that posting these Morning Time plans have awakened my awareness of how quickly the months seem to fly by. Just when we begin to become familiar with all of the things we are studying each month it is time to start new again.

It is my hope and prayer that these plans are bringing your family close together as you work through them. One thing I love is that the art, music, scripture, etc. that is chosen can mean different things to different people. It has been very interesting working through these with my children and realizing how unique each of their perspectives are toward their approach to our morning time.

Morning Time Prints can be found here.

Instead of focusing our attention toward the first Thanksgiving this month I decided to compile things that showcased Thanksgiving over the years. Nearly 400 years has passed since the very first Thanksgiving and over 150 since Abraham Lincoln first declared Thanksgiving a national holiday. Our country has seen incredible change in those years and I wanted to highlight some of those things for my children.

Our home is nestled in a small Arkansas town that lies on the border of Arkansas and Missouri. The greatest fame our city has is “The Battle of Pea Ridge“, the largest Civil War battle west of the Mississippi. Although this National Battlefield literally rests in our own backyard there are years when we don’t even visit the park and others, like this year, when we enjoy numerous visits. We have immersed ourselves deeply in the history that is around us this year and many of my selections come from the desire to keep that spark alive.

Musical Composition

The musical composition this month, Autumn (Thanksgiving Hymn) by Jay Ungar & Molly Mason is part of a compilation of songs for all seasons. Their music has been showcased in The National Parks: America’s Best Idea and The Civil War, both PBS documentaries by Ken Burns, and is always a beautiful representation of American Folk Music. This particular piece with its subtle hints of “We Gather Together” is incredibly beautiful and reminds me of the American folk music we recently heard while visiting the mountains in North Carolina.

Poetry

Poetry with a little bit of southern twang thrown in for good measure really drew me in this month. Thanksgiving by Edgar Guest seemed like a fun one for children to learn, especially if you engage in a friendly competition of “who can say it with the best accent?”.

Chattin’ an’ braggin’ a bit with the men,

Buildin’ the old family circle again;

Livin’ the wholesome an’ old-fashioned cheer

Just for a while at the end of the year.

Even with its playfulness, I love the richness of this poem. Edgar Guest did a wonderful job conveying the feelings and sentiments of family life. It is such a wonderful feeling to know that each of us has a place we belong: a place where we can be just what we are.

Art

Home to Thanksgiving by G.H. Durrie  was originally published as a print in 1867, two years after the end of the Civil War, a time in American history when security of home and family took precedence. It is reminiscent of a New England Thanksgiving on the farm. I imaging that Thanksgiving during that time period was incredibly emotional. It must have been incredibly difficult remembering those who were lost in the war yet still being grateful.

G.H. Durrie was a successful artist, though not well-known during his lifetime. He drew this painting in 1861, two years before his death, but it gained most of its popularity after his death when the well known printmaking firm Currier and Ives produced it by lithograph.

Bible

O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever. – Psalm 107:1

Science

The phases of the moon. We hope to take full advantage of the cool evenings and less leaf cover to explore the phases of the moon.

Craft

Needle felting is a craft we have never tried, but this month we plan to give it a try using this kit to handcraft small pumpkins. This craft kit comes with everything needed to make 3 pumpkins which will be just what is required for us. If you have felting supplies on hand and just need some instruction, this tutorial  looks very simple.

Happy November, friends! I hope it is a lovely one.

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