Exploring Indiana

Adventure: an undertaking or experience that involves hazard and requires boldness.


The kids and I are finishing up school for the year...well textbooks anyway. We have begun on unit on Indiana history. Joel and I have decided to take the children exploring Indiana by camping and checking out places of historical significance. I have been putting together my own curriculum to do this. The trick is, I'm trying to convince my children that we aren't "doing school", we are exploring. So far so good!

Each child has a notebook entitled "My State Notebook." I purchased these through Abeka. They have to put down various information like the state song, bird, tree, etc. There is also places to draw pictures, place photographs, and also brochures.

I purchased two curriculum from the Indiana Historical Society. I got them on sale for $10 each. One is "Pioneer Indiana" the other is "Frontier Indiana." They include a video, a game for the computer, a poster of Indiana from that particular time period, and some activities and various other worksheet type pages.

We are spending the summer reading books by Indiana authors or books about Indiana or the people who have lived here. For instance Olivia started the biography of Abraham Lincoln. I can't wait to dive into "Bears of Blue River" or " The Limberlost!"

We are taking our first camping adventure this weekend. We will be visiting Lincoln's boyhood home and the home of William Henry Harrison (our 9th president). Then Joel and I have decided to just take the kids and investigate and probe around the area.

The kiddo's are so excited that they thought they would try out their new tent tonight. I was sure they would go out for a couple of hours and then come back in and sleep. Nope, their fast asleep.

I am so thankful that the Lord is allowing Joel and I to do this with our children. I am sure this is an adventure that we will never forget!