Inauguration Study

As homeschoolers we need to take advantage of every opportunity to teach our children about the real world, the world outside their own little one they naturally live in the majority of the time. That's the great thing about homeschooling. Our children are not confined to learning only what's in a textbook, but we can give them real, hands-on, personally-involved learning.

In regards to politics, we have always taken our children with us when we vote, explaining to them before hand what we're doing, and then taking them behind the curtain with us when we vote and letting them see exactly how it all works. After all, they'll tend to do what they've always seen, right? For presidential elections we have election night parties and color in maps with blue and red, depending on who wins each state. This year we did our first Election Lapbook study and learned a lot about how the Electoral college works. We have even taken our oldest daughter to see President Bush when he was campaining close to us several years ago!

The history of our country and how it's laws and government works is very important and we feel it is vital to teach our children as much as we can about it. They are, after all, our future and watching our leaders and most adults we come in contact with today, it terrifies me to think what lies ahead for our country. We HAVE to teach our children what this great country was founded on, the morals and ideas and intentions of our founding fathers. We have to make sure we are raising our children to be leaders and not followers.

Now, what do we do when we do not agree with what's going on in Washington or who is in leadership? We do exactly what we've done all along and what we SHOULD be doing. We teach. We train.

Just because we don't like or agree with something does not mean we can ignore it and pretend it's not happening. Our children have to know both sides to things and have an understanding about what's going on in their world. That's how you raise level-headed, think-for-themselves children. That is what's going to help them grow into understanding, compassionate, problem-solving, intelligent leaders as adults.

So, having said all of that, we will be doing an Inauguration study on Monday and Tuesday as well as watching the Inauguration Tuesday. I'm ashamed to say that I hadn't even considered doing anything until I saw this Five in a Row study come out. It's not that I don't want to do anything, I just hadn't even given it any thought, and that's unusual for me. I've always tried to take advantage of every teaching opportunity that I could for our children, but with this I hadn't. I guess I've still got some learning to do as well. It's not just about what I enjoy and what I think can be fun learning. It's about teaching my children about the world around them, about THEIR country.

No, we are not an Obama-supporting family, but, he is now the leader of our country and as so commands our respect. We have tried to be fair and honest about Obama's views and beliefs while explaining to our children why we feel the way we do. We try to line everything up to God's word and show them that that's how we vote in our family. At the same time, it's just as important to teach them that we are to respect those in authority over us while continually praying for them to have wisdom in their decisions and leadership duties.

So, this week will find us learning about the Inauguration process, a bit of presidential history, and taking advantage of watching history in the making. Oh, and just for fun, we'll also be making President Obama's favorite dessert! Want to know what that is? Then you'll have to purchase the Five in a Row study! At only $7.00 it's a great way to introduce this important event to your children. I plan on adding to it just a bit for our 12 year old, but without it I wouldn't have even done anything. *blush*