There’s a new weekly homeschool/education meme hosted by Fivejs. She wants to know how you fill up your kids’ thirst for knowledge.
In our house, we love doing hands-on projects. OK, let me rephrase that. The kids love doing hands-on projects. I am not so fond of the mess. But, I have found that nothing gets my kids more excited about what they’re learning in their studies than making something tangible.
One of the reasons that I chose Tapestry of Grace as our main curriculum is because it includes so many great ideas for hands-on projects. Some of the projects that we completed this year are:
- 10 Plagues books
- Sugar cube pyramids, salt dough maps, and cookie dough maps
- A model of the tabernacle
- Weaving
But here’s my problem. For all the great projects that we completed, we started 2 others that we didn’t finish. I don’t know how to fix this problem. Actually, I’m not even sure if it is a problem.
An unpainted salt dough map of Europe, next to a volcano that IS actually finished.
An unfinished Roman villa adding to the general clutter of the basement.
Part of the reason this bothers me so much is that I see this pattern in my own personal life, as well as in my mother’s. I have been working hard at finishing what I start, and I do think that I’ve improved over the years. Unfortunately, even though the unfinished projects are hidden away, they aren’t completely gone. They make me feel guilty whenever I stumble across them.
What’s the solution? Don’t start so many projects? Maybe. I think one thing I definitely need to do is evaluate the purpose of each project before we start.
- What is my ultimate goal in doing this project?
- Can the project be done in a simpler way so that we will be more likely to complete it?
- Do we have time to complete this project?
Hopefully, by thinking about projects beforehand, you and I won’t have to look at a basement full of unfinished projects next summer.
I’m also going to throw away unfinished projects that make me feel guilty!
I really appreciate this post!
Right now, we have a model of a castle NOT finished upstairs in our school area!
For me, I think I sometimes jump into a project b/c I get a last minute idea and I'm not fully prepared.
Maybe this summer we'll get it finished!
I am not a kinesthetic learning, which is probably why I stay away from curricula with lots of projects. I've found I'm much like you in that I often start projects and don't finish them. I'm one of those people who has to jump in with both feet in a project and finish it all at once or it never gets done.
I love the questions you came up with to evaluate projects. Very well-said.
Thanks for telling me about this new meme. Our problem is getting the kids to let me throw away the project once it is complete and has sat around awhile. I think if the have a clear understanding of the concept it is fine to drop a project that is not complete. If not, going back to it can be a great review.
Blessings,
Dawn
I think my kids complete a project for about every 10 they've started. However, I there is learning value in every project, whether or not completed. This is coming from the beginning knitter that has only one sock of a pair completed, though I started a year and a half ago! Perhaps I can't wear the socks, but I learned quite a bit making the one.
http://www.chatterandclatter.blogspot.com/
My dh just threw out 4…that's right…FOUR unfinished models of castles that had been sitting in our garage for over a year. I pleaded with him, as did the kids, but to be honest, over the past 2 weeks I really haven't missed them, and I don't think I will. My house tends to be a conglomeration of unfinished projects too…and some of them are mine. It makes me feel better that others have the same things going on..and they're frustrated with it too. đŸ™‚ Coming to your blog always motivates me to purge a little. Thanks. đŸ™‚