Starting "School" with a Project Based Learning Focus

Since I saved this post first as a draft, it's going to be out of sequence.  This should have been posted mid-August.  Anyway...

I decided to get back to "school" by focusing solely on something I want to be a major part of our homeschooling:  Self-directed Project Based Learning.  The "how" comes from Lori Pickert's awesome blog.  I signed up for one of her classes and concentrated for three weeks on the girls and I adjusting/learning how this was going to work for us without worrying about anything else.  This allowed me extra time to read her blog, take notes and troubleshoot. 

The kids took to it immediately, getting SO excited when I told them they were in COMPLETELY in charge. 
The first couple weeks, we had the birth of "chicken notes" (I follow Jenna around the yard and record her observations and ideas about all things chicken). 



Watching the chickens lay their eggs.  She did this for long periods of time and learned all about their habits.

Caroline wanted to do something new everyday, but she thrived on the total attention to her ideas. 

One day, she made a cornhusk doll for Jenna. We watched a video and she made it herself.  She squealed with delight when she finished and decided to give it to Jenna immediately rather than wait for Christmas.  she also made one for herself.  Here's the scene:  

 

Her sister was touched and loved it.

She wanted to make one too.

 We also had a dollhouse building day (actually think this was our first project day.  Jenna was unsure of what she wanted to do and she ended up liking Caroline's idea).  They worked on these all morning and then dropped them  We are building confidence in trying things, in establishing the new routine, and following through with ideas.

 This is the new desk area I set up for them.  They went nuts for it.  Everything in one place and within easy reach.  They are using it all the time, even at night.  :)

This has nothing to do with PBL, but we were reading about Columbus and the girls wanted to know why you can't drink seawater.  We found out the ratio of salt in a cup of water, added a bit of food coloring, and I let them try it.  :)