Description
This month my heart was hungry for refreshment. The current state of our world has been so heavy lately and, while I’ve tried to carry that weight as lightly as possible, sometimes it’s been too much. When I stopped to consider you, I thought perhaps you have felt it too. So…this month we are setting our focus on things that offer refreshment.
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, in the midst of the storm around us, you find indescribable peace as you drink in the water that He has to offer. Happy August, Friends!
MUSIC
This month we are going to enjoy a beautiful piece of music from Franz Schubert . The piece we will be listening to is titled The Miller and the Brook and is inspired by the poetry of Wilhelm Muller. This piece is one of a 20 song cycle that Schubert composed to encompass the complete poetic story of Muller’s.
In his short life of 31 years Schubert wrote over 600 songs, 7 complete symphonies, and a large body of piano and chamber music. Appreciation of Schubert’s music while he was alive was limited to a relatively small circle of admirers in Vienna, but interest in his work increased significantly in the decades following his death. Today, Schubert is ranked among the greatest composers of Western classical music and his music continues to be popular.
- Classics for Kids – Franz Schubert
- Classics for Kids – Franz Schubert Audio Biography
- Biography.com – Franz Schubert
- MSU.edu – Franz Schubert
POETRY
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.
ART
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 STUDY
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.
SCIENCE
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.
CRAFT
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
- Cotton Fabric
- (2) 5 Gallon Buckets
- Hot Water
CHARACTER STUDY
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
If you are new here and would like to catch up with printables from past presidents we have studied I am slowly working to make small packets available of the ones we have already studied. The first mini packet is available and is called The Founding Presidents Resource Pack. It includes:
- The President cards of our founding fathers: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. These cards were originally offered in the following Morning time Bundles: A Simple Guide to Morning Time | September 2019, A Simple Guide to Morning Time | October 2019, A Simple Guide to Morning Time | November 2019, A Simple Guide to Morning Time | December 2019, and A Simple Guide to Morning Time | January 2020.
- Two pages of resources including picture books, chapter books, reference books, DVD’s, links, etc.
I will slowly be releasing more president packages as we work our way through them in the Morning Time Bundles. The next bundle will be titled Presidents of an Expanding Nation and will be released this month.
RECIPE
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
SOME BOOKS AND GOODIES FOR YOUR MORNING BASKET
Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life by Julia Rothman
Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World by Julia Rothman
Make Way for Ducklings – Robert McCloskey
Ducks Don’t Get Wet – Augusta Goldin This book has been on my husbands bookshelf since her was young and we inherited it before we had children. It’s an oldie, but a goodie.
The Little Duck – Judy Dunn Another oldie, this one sat on my bookshelf as a little girl.
The Trumpet of the Swan – E.B. White
Shibori: The Art of Indigo Dyeing with Step-by-Step Techniques by Nicola Gouldsmith We used a Rit Tie Dye Kit for our project this month, but if you would like to try true Indigo Dyeing as well as dip your toes in more patterns and projects this is a lovely book.
SPECIAL NOTES AND RESOURCES
Poetry: Samuel Woodworth – Old Oaken Bucket – Public Domain
Art: James Guthrie – To Pastures New
If you are beginning your new homeschool year this month I am cheering for you. We are slowly easing our way back into our regular homeschool rhythm. I hope to share our curriculum plan with you soon!
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