As I've gotten older, I've become more patient with the semi-annual need for teachers to have their students do some kind of project. The latest incarnation was not quite as bad as the model of the pancreas, but it was the same short notice. (Don't children know that we Moms need more time to make a great model?)
"Mom, I need a pioneer house for school tomorrow morning!"
I used to insist that my children do these projects by themselves, stand on their own merits, be able to stand back and be proud of their accomplishments.
Well, over the years, I've seen that there are too many Moms who don't share my idealism when it comes to child-rearing. The competition is fierce! The kids know it, too. My daughter insisted that it be "perfect".
So, I helped.
After some cutting and taping of cardboard, paper, and aluminum foil, we broke out the paints and produced:
Notice the toothpick windows, the blue curtains, the opening door, and, you can't see it from this view, but, the chimney is fully functional, i.e., there is a hole in the roof. The entire roof is detachable so that you can see inside, where we have a tiny flashlight "fire", and some "buffalo skin" blankets for our cardboard people:
Bring it, Fourth Graders!
