Japan, Part II

Today we completed our study of the Land of the Rising Sun. I was tempted to skip our final project, because by the time I was ready to start it was late in the afternoon. I'm glad we made time for it though because it was the highlight of our day. "Moribana" is a style of Japanese flower arrangement that is supposed to depict a miniature woodland scene with a stream or small pond. Doesn't our little park look like a place you would like to visit?? The best part of the project was taking a nature walk to collect all the goodies. Then, we came home and assembled our tiny wonderland in an aluminum roasting pan.

Our final project was not quite as spectacular. I bought paper dolls. Now, I ask you, what planet was I on when I ordered those last year?? Proof positive that bad ideas happen to good people. The boys were a good sport about them though. I cut out a few of the outfits and they glued them to construction paper to add to their notebook. Thank goodness I let them collect "daisies" (dandelions) and dig in the dirt for the Moribana before I broke out the dolls. I suppose, by the end of a long day, it was easier for them to humor me than rock the boat. div>>