Friday, January 30, 2009

Spring Break Plans

I know, 2 posts in one day! Well, I was falling behind. You know how that goes.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you about the plans Violet and I have for Spring Break. It is always a big struggle, why do school when the public schools are out. But why not do school when the weather is icky and your public school friends are off on day trips with their families.

I pitched an idea to Violet today and she loved it. Each day that week will be declared some sort of fun day. And we'll plan fun activities around the theme. See, there will be learning but it will be a nice break from our regular school work. And it is flexible enough that if public school friends are free she can go off and play. Or if there are any good programs going on a the library or nature center she can enjoy those too.

So our initial ideas for possible days are these:

Game day: where we play board games and card games and Wii games all day

Japan day: where we do "Japan-y" things to be determined later (gee Sabrina, who put that idea in her head? Tee hee, it's a great idea!)

Noodle day: cook pasta and learn about pasta and make a past related craft

Popcorn day: see noodle day and substitute popcorn for noodle

Purple day: all things purple

Cat day, dog day, we haven't decided on any yet (although Japan Day is pretty much a done deal).

We will decide on our days by the end of February in order to have lots of time to plan our activities (because there's no way I'm doing all the work. She's in 4th grade, it is about time she started earning her keep.)

In the meantime we have Ireland Day to plan. World Thinking Day is February 22nd. It is the day that all Girl Scouts/Girl Guides think about other Girl Scouts/Girl Guides around the world. One of the "spotlight" countries this year is Ireland. So we are going to try out our plan for Spring break with Ireland Day, probably the Monday after Thinking Day because Maddie has a birthday party to attend on the 22nd.

You know what comes next, don't you? The plea to send us any fun ideas you may have or to tell us about similar things your family did. Thanks!

4 comments:

Ami said...

One of my troops did Ireland for our own troop's thinking day celebration.

One of the things we did, which I think would be a lot more fun for one or two is an Irish traditional 'Ladybird' Girl Guide activity.

Before the meeting (or I guess in your case before the day starts) the leader hides ladybugs around the meeting place.

I used stickers I purchased at the craft store, but with only one Ladybird... well, how about a little pin? Barrettes? Some sculpey clay to make ladybugs? A book about them? Some fuzzy material to make a stuffed one? Art supplies to draw/paint one? A puzzle featuring them to put together? Stop me. Obviously I can't stop myself.

We also made Irish Soda bread, had potatoes with different toppings (yeah, I know, not totally Irish, but still fun) talked about Leprechauns, looked at pictures of Irish countryside in a couple books, and did an Irish dance. Can't find the one we did, but I'd think an internet search would get you going.

Would a little Irish whiskey or Bailey's Irish Cream be out of line?

;)

MOM #1 said...

Well since I can't even begin to compete with Ami . . . I'll just say HAVE FUN! Those are great ideas!

Wendy said...

I think that is a really cool idea. On the icky days, we are happy to stay indoors and "do school", but on nice days, it is to sometimes take a random day off.

Our spring break is also coming; no big plans. But you've got me thinking...

Hmm, but for some other ideas, what about a baby animals day in honor of spring? It is so amazing to see how quickly foals, for example, walk after being born. And to know how much a baby whale weighs!

So it is fun (you get alot of "Aw, how cute") and surprising ("Human babies could NEVER do that!").

Anonymous said...

I think Sweetums will be coming to your house for spring break. :o)