Summer UnSchool

We have been doing all sorts of fun stuff this summer.  It's been structured and free-form all at once, with lessons, reading, projects, adventures and activities scattered here and there throughout the long sunny days here in San Diego. Sort of the ultimate Summer Unschool.

I'm usually up at 6 am in order to have a brief moment to myself, then it's off to the races for the rest of the day. I'm letting the kids guide the direction of the day to some extent -- even though I've got organized activities in my back pocket -- but we get excited about something and then follow through with it to learn all about it. In that way we are discovering Greek mythology, learning Spanish, reading a ridiculous amount of books, playing games, going swimming, going to the museums, learning about food production (more on that later), going to the beach, watching movies, picnicking at the park, spending hours at the library, listening to audio books, etc. etc. etc.

In between all this there are errands and chores and meals and playing with friends.

All in all a kind of perfect summer. I hope the kids remember this summer well. Just today as we saw a "Back to School" sign in a store window we all had a sort of jolt.  Not ready for it to be over yet, please!!!!

Tonight after dinner, we sat out in the back patio to watch the sunset while Owen and Elliot made up some sort of trampoline game involving golf balls and jumping  -- it had bizarre and unteachable (to me) rules that the boys seemed totally cool with. You know that sort of childhood game-making where a new rule simply adds another deeper layer to the already multi-layered confection that is the game?