The King and I

For years I've heard terms like "Charlotte Mason style" and "living books" to describe teaching methods, but I never really understood it.  I'm finally getting it!  And it is awesome!  Teaching my kids this year has been the best education I've ever had - yes, for me!  It's not dry facts...  we use textbooks, but at the same time we are reading real books about real people and the places, cultures and people and history of what we are studying.  Not to mention some hands on experiments and activities.  It's like learning has come to LIFE!  It's not memorizing facts...  it's gaining understanding.  It's bringing the whole picture together - it's like seeing the whole puzzle and not just one piece.  Truly, fantastic!

So, while we are studying Asia, we decided to watch the Rodgers and Hammerstein version of "The King and I" because it takes place in Siam (which we learned is now called Thailand).  It's really amazing how much more interesting the movie is because we were able to see Asian architecture and style and customs in the movie like we've been studying.  Anyway, Josiah and John did get a little bored during the musical numbers.  (They just don't think real people actually break out into song like that in real life...  but, I know different!  Right, Willoughby's?? :))  But we all enjoyed the story.

After the movie, the boys were getting ready for bed (we thought).  Next thing you know, the oldest brother announces the coming show.  This ever-so-sweet oldest brother has convinced the next brother that he should play the part of the girl.  So he comes out decked in a pink apron (his skirt) and  long dress gloves (camo, of course!) and the littlest brother has the king robe and crown and those two begin to waltz together just like in the movie.  Seriously, one of the cutest things I think I've ever seen!

Next, the Blue Bucket Brigade (that's our little man cleaning crew) realizes that the buckets will make great thrones...

although not the most sturdy of thrones...

which stirs some mischief...

and that leads to the realization that these are "mobile" thrones and the games begin!

Yikes!  This does not look good...



Everyone had such a blast...  etcetera, etcetera, etcetera!!

p.s.  We only have one more chapter to read of the Gladys Aylward story (which takes place in China) before we watch "The Inn of the 6th Happiness".  (We're trying hard to finish the book before we see the movie.)  I wonder what adventures await us after that movie...