Monday, June 5, 2023

Knots 1 - 9

Rough draft of our knot tying curriculum! We are planning on teaching the children nine knots this summer. Children who master all nine knots can choose between moving on to cordage (foraging natural materials to make their own rope) or being an assistant at one of the knot-tying stations.

Here are some ideas of materials & activities we'd use to teach these knots. Each counselor will master one and run that particular station each week.

My vision is that we will hold a Knot Fair each Wednesday from 1:30 - 2 pm where children can have quiet time to work on the knot that is right for them, advancing through the levels according to their own individual pace.


Knot #1
Round Turn

    location - outside

    demonstrate with - jumprope

    practice with - sidewalk chalk by having the children draw a picture (draw a circle to be the pole, then show how the rope goes around it)

    extra exploration - bark rubbings, try experiments with texture and friction (does it stay when wrapped around a metal pole? a tree?)

    proof of mastery - counselor observation


Knot #2
Slip Knot

    location - outside

    demonstrate with - yarn

    practice with - yarn

    extra exploration - finger knitting

    proof of mastery - finger-knitted belt with nature treasures pouch


Knot #3
Overhand Knot

    location - inside

    demonstrate with - wire

    practice with - yarn

    proof of mastery - bead necklace


Knot #4
Bow Knot

    location - inside

    demonstrate with - egg carton and yarn

    practice with - ribbon

    extra exploration - practice on child's own shoes

    proof of mastery - tie a ribbon and bow on a gift-wrapped box
    (after they tie and untie the bow, we can open up the box and give them an IDNR Illinois Natural Resources Trading Card as a gift)


Knot #5
Square Knot

    location - outside

    demonstrate with - playdough "snakes" in two colors

    practice with - rope

    extra exploration - tie a piece of rope to a tree, then use a granny knot (two identical half knots) to attach your rope to the end of that rope, pull as hard as you can (the granny knot will slip or unravel)

    proof of mastery - tie your rope on to that rope with a square knot and pull as hard as you can (the square knot will be more secure)


Knot #6
Fish Net


Knot #7
Daisy Chain Knot


Knot #8
Square Lashing Knot

    location - outside

    demonstrate with - rope

    practice with - rope

    NOTE: this project contains two knots; begin by teaching the clove hitch and then introduce the square lashing knot

    exploration - build a towel rack (that is strong enough to support the weight of your wet towel) by lashing sticks together OR build a raft

    proof of mastery - counselor observation


Knot #9
Bowline

    location - inside

    demonstrate with - rope

    practice with - rope

    extra exploration - water games (have a friend grab onto the "rescue" loop and pull him/her through the water in the shallow Splash Zone)

    proof of mastery - teach a counselor (who doesn't know the knot)


Recordkeeping: We can make up a 3" x 5" index card for each child, with the child's name at the top and the numbers 1 - 9 down the side. As they master each knot, the counselor for that station can initial the card by that number.


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Saturday, June 3, 2023

Grade 7 Age of Exploration - The Aztec Empire

This is a companion post to Grade 7 Age of Exploration - The Inca Empire.

Today I took an IDNR workshop called "Coyote Track" and, as part of that workshop, learned that < coyote > comes from the Aztec word coyotl. Once again, I hopped onto etymonline... this time to see what other words in our language come from, or are connected to, Nahuatl (Aztecan):


If you gave a group of children these words to research, they would quickly see that the Spanish first encountered the Aztecs (and that they did not like the original < tl > ending spelling of words like coyotl, ocelotl, and tomatl).

For more words in Nahuatl, read the Aztec legend


The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes

retold by Duncan Tonatiuh


If you're teaching about the Aztec empire during the Age of Exploration, I also highly recommend:


The Sad Night: The Story of an Aztec Victory and a Spanish Loss

by Sally Schofer Mathews


This post contains affiliate links to materials I truly use for homeschooling. Qualifying purchases provide me with revenue. Thank you for your support!