America’s National Parks

Inspiration Point

We are mid-way through a unit on National Parks of the United States and while each park’s history/wildlife/vegetation/altitude is interesting, we do love to see what qualifies as a National Park Service “Inspiration Point”.  According to an internet search, over 50 designated scenic spots – selected by the NPS, to highlight natural and cultural resources – are worthy of the appellation, “Inspiration Point”.  We especially love the sites that make us wonder if we exist on the same planet.

Bryce Canyon National Park’s Hoodoos!

Our journey to investigate so-labeled inspiration points is fueled by the pretty funny, yet reverently observant “Subpar Parks”, written and illustrated by Amber Share.  Ms. Share begins each park’s page with a petulant complaint somebody posted on the internet, along the line of:  “just something to look at and leave” – “a bunch of rocks:  big deal” – “somewhat bland” and maybe the very best:  “looks nothing like the license plate”.  (I am wondering if most of the reviews might be attributed to pre-teens?)

We have learned the difference between a National Park and a National Monument.  We were sort of jarred to find out that “monument” is not necessarily a statue or structure.  Hmmm.

  • National Monuments such as Craters of the Moon (Idaho), Muir Woods (California), Devils Tower (Wyoming), are designated by presidential executive order under the Antiquities Act.
  • National Parks are established by acts of Congress and have stricter guidelines, regulations, and standards.

We are inspired (new topic) –

I took a deep breath each night before opening Nancy I. Sanders’ book, “Frederick Douglass – for Kids”.  Important, non-frivolous reading awaited.  We encountered a person that faced cruel laws and cruel people and (we held our breath) triumphed (we released our breath).  We encountered a treasure trove of vocabulary and concepts to define and grasp:  fortitude – strategic thinking – command of language.  

We followed Frederick Douglass’ life from slavery – escape attempt – successful escape – dodging slave hunters – speaking persuasively on the cause of abolition (one sobering speech was entitled “What, to the slave, is the 4th of July?”) – outspoken newspaper publisher – consultant to 4 presidents – statesman – family man raising 4 responsible children.  Douglass knew his cause was just and he persevered.  We are inspired.  

Final note:  this well written, well researched book could easily serve as text book for a semester study at any level:  it is NOT JUST FOR KIDS. 

Current fiction reading:  two books that got better and better with each chapter – 

  • Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo’s classic.  This book was probably a bit young for my son, but in its sweet way it reminded us of the positives to be found in inclusiveness, and in a likewise tender manner, provided an inspiring example of acceptance of loss. We really liked Ms. DiCamillo’s final notes to reader in our updated edition’s “Afterword”.
  • Mouse and His Dog, second in the series by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko.  As much fun as the first book, Dogtown, with a twist in the conclusion that absolutely cheered us.

Story problem:  Farmer Brown, inspired by soup bowls!

Farmer Brown always shops the winter craft fair at the local high school.  This year he purchased so many sturdy soup bowls (made by ceramics class students) that he was inspired to host a hot soup night for his 8 farmhands (each worker invited to bring a friend).  Farmer Brown prepared three soups to showcase farm produce:  

French Onion Soup – Baked Potato Soup – Pozole Soup

  • If each farmhand slurps down all three soups (in 3 different bowls) because quite an appetite has been worked up from farm chores, and each additional guest (including Farmer Brown) seems satisfied with a single bowl of soup, how many bowls does Farmer Brown need?

a)  8 bowls     b)  24 bowls     c)  33 bowls     d)  51 bowls

  • If Farmer Brown purchased 3 dozen bowls at the craft fair, will he have enough for hot soup night?  (answers at bottom of post)

Classical Music Inspirations – 

Youth orchestras – Obviously, the very future of orchestral music lies in the hands of young musicians.  But maybe the real future of orchestral music lies in the hands of conductors with vision and enthusiasm who inspire commitment and focus.  Conductors who select compositions that young musicians can’t wait to play.  My son and I paid attention to the conductors working magic in the following three selections.  We saw youth orchestras taking serious ownership of their respective compositions.  Bravo conductors!

Inspiring Conductor:  Gustavo Dudamel – conducting Sinfónica Simón Bolívar Orchestra with infectious enthusiasm and energy.  Do the musicians look like they are fully engaged?  Uh, YES.  Here they present an exuberant Mambo from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story (1957) –

Inspiring Conductor:  Malgorzata Kobierska – conducting the Kamerton Orchestra during the Polish Nationwide Music Schools’ Symphonic Orchestras Competition of 2014 (so she might not look like she is having the time of her life).  The ensemble is performing Camille Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre (1874) to the highest standards and this might be our favorite filmed performance ever –

Inspiring Conductor:  Benjamin Zander – leading the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra in a zesty Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila (Mikhail Glinka, 1840).  Zander exudes joy conducting  this speedy piece.  If Ruslan and Lyudmila is on our nightly music suggestion list, my son will scrawl a giant “YES” next to it – 

Welcome to the best part of my day!
 – Jane BH
(story problem answers:  c)  33 bowls, and yes, 3 dozen bowls is enough for hot soup night)

Not on my watch

Last Tuesday, I was lunching at a neighborhood cafe and felt a magnetic pull to eavesdrop on the two teenagers a few tables down who had obviously cut class.  The theme of their distressing conversation was “I hate school”.  Oh my.  Who or what stomped the life out of their learning adventure?  

grandma watch

Not on my watch.  Every single night it is my pleasure to make sure that the learning adventure for my son (AND myself) is set on FULL BLAST.  One goal is to read something so startling that we stop, reread, and marvel.  A few items that had us marveling this past week:

national parks better

  • From “The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth”, by Rachel Ignotofsky:
    • the one place on earth, that by 1959 international treaty, can only be used for peace and science (with all discoveries shared freely).  Nice.  (Antarctica)
    • while many ecosystems are under threat from unsustainable farming techniques, deforestation, and global warming, the Mongolian Steppe has quite another problem:  GOATS.  One of Mongolia’s successful exports is the fiber from cashmere goats,  so there are a LOT of goats grazing with a vengeance, munching roots as well as the grass,  destroying entire landscapes.
    • the Gouldian finch of the Australian savanna.  Crazy GORGEOUS (see photo below in the music listening section).
  • From the Lonely Planet Kids book, “America’s National Parks”:
    • which state, after California and Alaska, boasts the greatest number of national parks?  (Utah).  We never would have guessed that.
    • there are national parks that exist primarily underwater:  American Samoa National Park, Biscayne National Park, Channel Islands National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Everglades National Park.

tide pool 3 tries

More interesting information on the horizon –  We have just started the terribly elegant little “Pacific Coast Tide Pools” by Marni Fylling.  So far we have become knowledgeable about low tides, high tides, the splash zone, the challenges of being permanently attached to a rock, and the toxic beauty of sea anemones.  Sponges are on deck.

trivia sign

Story problem:  Trivia Night at Le Fictitious Local Diner – Tuesday nights are slow at the diner, so the new manager, Miss Jeanette, is hosting “Tuesday Twilight Trivia” to bring in more customers.  Admission is the purchase of the “Tuesday Twilight Trivia Dinner Special” for $7.50.  If the first Tuesday there were 20 players and the second Tuesday there were 40 players, by what percentage did the the attendance rise?  
A)   20%      B)  40%       C)    50%     D)  100%

If the diner awards a cash prize of $25 to each evening’s winner, how much did the diner gross on night number two?
A)  $150     B)  $275     C)  $400     D)  $1,000
(answers at bottom of post)

finches

Music to celebrate that ridiculous-yet-gorgeous Gouldian finch –

  • Vivaldi’s “Flute Concerto in D major” (known as “The Goldfinch”), movement 3, published in 1728.  Yay, James Galway –

  • “Dawn” from Ravel’s ballet, “Daphnis and Chloe”, which premiered in 1912.  A superb, compact performance by the Berlin Phil, complete with chorus.  We put our full attention to listening for the subtle birdsong theme that runs in the background throughout the piece –

and finally:

tie dyed hippie    finch singular

  • “Green Tambourine” by the Lemon Pipers.  The psychedelic colorwork that is the Gouldian finch simply begged for a vintage song from the psychedelic 1960’s.  How can we not smile when we listen to this?  GREAT rhythm.  Peace out –

(for more ’60’s vibe:  the April 29, 2015 post, “Peace, Love, and Tambourines”)

Welcome to the best part of my day!
– Jane BH
(story problem answers:  D)  100%  and  B)  $275)