The Tillamook cheese factory was one destination that we’ve really been looking forward to. They make ice cream and fudge too! On the way to the factory, Andrew wanted to see the Spruce Goose at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. Surprisingly, we liked the museum much better than the cheese factory. The museum did a great job of giving you a sense of what things were like. There was much more to see than just the Spruce Goose, there were also several war helicopters and other planes. The space building was equally impressive. We learned about how space exploration began and how everybody felt about it and what the astronauts experienced. I loved seeing the actual newspaper headlines of the time, and the photos of course. I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t really know how a lot of that happened- what an amazing time in history. Now I want to know all about each space mission.
There’s so much to learn, and teach Ingrid, it’s overwhelming living on the road and homeschooling. We’re learning the basics (Reading & Writing, Math, Spanish) continuously, but I’m sprinkling in lessons on whatever we’re seeing on the road too. Last week we spent a few days working on a Crater Lake activity book. I’ve discovered you can find these little gems in the park visitor centers. They’re meant to be for fun so they’re creative but highly educational. We studied the various animals, how Crater Lake was made, a little geology; the things that make Crater Lake special; how various scientists study the lake, stuff like that. These books are the perfect size for learning just enough about a region. At the cheese factory, I felt like I had to show Ingrid how they make cheese, then package it, etc., but it was crowded and loud and she was tired from the other museums and the driving, and really she just wanted some ice cream! I had to let that one go for now. It did give me an idea though, that we could track down sources of the foods we eat and visit them and learn how they arrive at our dinner table.
Right now Ingrid is building her Lego camper for the 10th time since Andrew bought it for her. She likes to follow the directions for a while and then make her own modifications. Since we’ve started Math, this is a great toy for her, as it will teach her about spatial relationships and size and shapes. Tomorrow and the next couple of days we’ll explore Portland and then it’s on to Yellowstone!!!
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