Framed

For January, our FIAR group read the book Framed. Plans for the book fell into place easily because there happened to be an exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts called Fakes, Forgeries, and Mysteries. A great go-along with the book plus, for the girls and me, a chance to go to a museum we'd never before visited.

Between the DIA's schedule, trips out of state, weather, illness, and other commitments, we had a terrible time finding a day we could all manage to go. Finally, last week, everything worked out and we were able to enjoy our day together.

The kids didn't have any homework assigned ahead of time but they went on an art scavenger hunt once we got there. Julianne mentioned to her friend, Molly, that she wanted to do a copy of a picture from the DIA and Molly chose Poppies by Henri Matisse:



Here is Julianne's version:

I still find it surprising when my girls decide to do something like this-an un-assigned homework project. I can't quite imagine my younger self getting excited about something like that. Yet, I love the fact that they are so engaged in what we study that this isn't "homework", it's just something to be done for fun. I think that's the best kind of learning of all.