If you are familiar with a Charlotte Mason philosophy of education then you have probably heard or read about nature diaries, if not you can get started with a Charlotte Mason style nature diary here. Nature diaries are a beautiful and artistic way to observe nature and document that observation using watercolors in a nature journal. A Calendar of Firsts is similar to the physical makeup of a watercolor nature diary, yet its difference is in the entries themselves. A handicraft is a creative yet practical craft that Miss Mason urged mothers to instruct their children in. For a detailed description and example of a handicraft you can read more here. In this article I will be demonstrating a calendar of firsts bookbinding handicraft.
I hope to offer a monthly handicraft on my holistic homeschooler face book page, follow the link below if you would like to see more.
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A CALENDAR OF FIRSTS
A calendar of firsts artistically documents when the first tadpole emerges from the egg or when the first caterpillar spins a cocoon. Which naturally teaches the child the progression of seasons and the state of the environment at the time of the first occurrence. I created a Calendar of Firsts PDF printable which you can download and print free for a limited amount of time only. Click grey link below.
BOOK BINDING HANDICRAFT
There is so much about the Charlotte Mason education that I just adore. It is a method that focuses on progress rather then a education set upon predetermined standards. The confluent nature makes it most efficient. Which is why turning this Calendar of Firsts into a book binding handicraft makes this project even better.
Book binding is a old world method that binds the book together by hand. This is a beautiful and durable handicraft that appeals to the book lover in me. I started to get into it when I began making homemade books for my children. Initially I stapled my books together but it turned out unsightly, the stapled portion of the page easily tore, and thick pages where difficult to keep open. For my young children this is a handicraft that they “help” me with or my oldest can do with lots of guidance, direction, and support. This is a perfect handicraft for an older child or can be done as a family. In this tutorial we will be doing a simple single sheet book binding.
Book Binding Supply List
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Scotch Sure Start Shipping Tape with Dispenser, 1.88 in. x 38.2 yd., Clear, 1 Dispenser/Pack
Book binding is easier to demonstrate in a video, so I put one together and you can view that below.
A Calendar OF firsts Book Binding Handicraft video
What do you think of book binding, do you think it is something you would use or teach to your children?
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