The Knowledge of the Universe, 5 Common Topics & Handicrafts

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 This week's episode is full of friendly faces! In our first segment on the TRUE, I share some thoughts about what Charlotte Mason means when she refers to the "Knowledge of the Universe." In the GOOD portion of the show, I have the privilege of chatting with Liz Hudson from my old Classical Conversations community and she explains and demonstrates to us how to use the Classical tool -- the 5 Common Topics. In our final portion of the podcast, I am treated once again with a conversation on the BEAUTIFUL, with both Sarah Collins and Stephanie Newcomb, two friends who I homeschool with and with whom we do Handicrafts. We share our Service experience as we all learned how to sew a quilt together.

What are the 5 Common Topics you ask? Well, they are leading categories that you can use to begin learning and conversing about any topic:

1. Definition
2. Comparison 
3. Circumstances 
4. Relationships
5. Testimony/Authority

We also discuss how Charlotte Mason gave us 4 Requirements for Handicrafts (Volume 1: Home Education, p. 315):

1. It needs to be useful
2. The works needs to be done "slowly and carefully"
3.  Students need to practice the habit of their best effort
4. The work should be challenging enough but not too challenging as to cause frustration

Some of our favorite resources:

• Watercolor With Me: In the Forest
• Watercolor With Me: In the Jungle
• Watercolor With Me: In the Ocean
• Klutz Sew Mini Treats: Book & Activity Kit
• Klutz Sew Mini Animals: Book & Activity Kit
• Sewing School: 21 Sewing Projects Kids Will Love to Make
• Sewing School 2: Lessons in Machine Sewing
• Embroidery Stitches Pocket Guide
• Beginners Embroidery Practice Kit
• How To Draw All the Animals by Alli Koch
• How to Draw Modern Florals by Alli Koch
• Crochet Cute Critters Book
• Needle Felting Kit
• Natural White Wool Roving
• Wood Whittling Kit
• Swiss Army Knife Whittling Book by Chris Lubkemann
• The Common Arts by Chris Hall

Besides the gain of an hour or two in the open air, there is this to be considered:  meals taken al fresco are usually joyous, and there is nothing like gladness for converting meat and drink into healthy blood and tissue.  All the time, too, the children are storing up memories of a happy childhood.  Fifty years hence they will see the shadows of the boughs making patterns on the white tablecloth; and sunshine, children's laughter, hum of bees, and scent of flowers are being bottled up for after refreshment. - Charlotte Mason, Volume 1: Home Education, p. 43 (disclaimer: this is the official quote; the one used in the podcast is a modern 'translation" provided by Amblesideonline.org; sorry for the confusion!)

. . . there is no part of a child's education more important than that he should lay, by his own observation, a wide basis of facts towards scientific knowledge in the future. He must live hours daily in the open air, and, as far as possible, in the country; must look and touch and listen; must be quick to note, consciously, every peculiarity of habit or structure, in beast, bird, or insect; the manner of growth and fructification of every plant. He must be accustomed to ask why -- Why does the wind blow? Why does the river flow? Why is a leaf-bud sticky? And do not hurry to answer his questions for him; let him think his difficulties out so far as his small experience will carry him. Above all, when you come to the rescue, let it not be in the 'cut and dried' formula of some miserable little text-book; let him have all the insight available, and you will find that on many scientific questions the child may be brought at once to the level of modern thought. - Charlotte Mason, Volume 1: Home Education, pp. 264-265 (disclaimer: again, this is the official quote; the one used in the podcast is a modern "translation" provided by Amblesideonline.org; sorry for the confusion!)

Out in this, God's beautiful world there is everything waiting to heal lacerated nerves, to strengthen tired muscles, to please and content the soul that is torn to shreds with duty and care. The teacher who turns to nature's healing finds, not trouble but a sweet, fresh breath of air. . . . She who opens her eyes and her heart nature-ward even once a week finds it a delight and an abiding joy. She finds that without planning or going on a far voyage, she has found health and strength. - I can't remember where I found this quote! Sorry! Can you tell I work on this late at night?! :)

He practises various handicraft that he may know the feel of wood, clay, leather, and the joy of handling tools, that is, that he may establish a due relation with materials. - Charlotte Mason, Volume 6: A Philosophy of Education, p. 31

The ability to submit nature to one's will is not in itself science. This could be done through the power of a machine or a technology developed by another. . . .  Technology alone does not equal science. Nonetheless, Christians have always had a high view of the common arts. The Christian high value for the body and for ordinary work has sharply distinguished Christian culture from Greek cluture. And inasmuch as they pursue technologies in a manner that complements nature and does not fight against her, Christians will promote the Elvish arts and not the Orchish ones." - Clark & Jain, The Liberal Arts Tradition, p. 115

. . . give a child a single valuable idea, and you have done more for his education than if you had laid upon his mind the burden of bushels of information . . . - Charlotte Mason, Volume 1: Home Education, p. 174

1. Pick a subject and practice using the 5 Common Topics with your student  (ie. video games, Monet, knitting, volleyball).
2. How physically active are you being this summer? Think of a fun way to get moving -- swimming, hiking, barre work, pilates, calisthenics (am I dating myself?!), backyard soccer or badminton. 
3. Think of a Handicraft that your class or family can try out for a month. Some simple ideas that don't require much supplies: hand sewing stuffed animals (like a sock monkey), calligraphy, friendship/paracord bracelets, watercoloring using Watercolor With Me, or pinch pots with air-dried clay.