"C" is for Calvin Coolidge Study

We took two and a half weeks to complete this study. The children had a great time learning about their 30th president, Calvin Coolidge. We took a field trip to Plymouth, Notch and visited Calvin Coolidge's Homestead. This was the highlight of our study and a very memorable one as well. The older children wrote a paper on their field trip and the younger ones had fun telling me what they enjoyed seeing and doing the most. The older children also wrote a book report on Calvin Coolidge, and wrote some facts about this president as well. After a trip to the library, we also enjoyed learning about Cats. We did a Cat study. We read a lot of books and watched some documentaries on "Wild Cats" and "African Cats." They each drew their favorite Cat and wrote a couple of sentences about their favorite Cat. The children also enjoyed making a Chocolate Cake for Gramma Sally's birthday. They made the Chocolate Cake with the Chocolate frosting themselves. :) For snack time we enjoyed Celery sticks, Cheese sticks, Cheese and Crackers, Cookies, Cakes, and Cocoa. For Craft time the children enjoyed making Cat puppets and sharing some puppet shows with each other. They also had fun working in their Craft books and Coloring. We also worked on our Log Cabin and talked about our Country and the presidential election. For story time we read some books including "Cinderella" and many Cat themed stories. We are reading our Alphabet Fun Stories Book each week in the mornings along with our Bible stories. This study we learned about Joseph in the "Coat of Many Colors." Bradford has won the Spelling Bee for the third time in a row with our "C" Spelling word list.
                       
                                                                               

                  Weston, standing in front of a painting of Calvin Coolidge's second son, also named Calvin.

Bradford, in front of a painting of James Coolidge, Calvin Coolidge's oldest son.

Bradford reading about one of the president's favorite pastimes, fishing.

Weston loved this display room!

Garret & Jackson enjoyed looking at the fly rods that were used back in Coolidge's day.

Kaylee, standing next to the crib that Calvin Coolidge once slept in.

Kyrah was very helpful keeping Sierra entertained :) Next to one of the displays.

Garret & Weston in front of a display of indian memorabilia.

Jackson enjoyed looking at this old jack-jump.

Kyrah in front of a piece of furniture that Calvin Coolidge made.

The children enjoyed looking at the Maple Syrup display. It was said that Calvin Coolidge could get the most Maple Syrup from a bucket full of sap. They were excited that Calvin Coolidge enjoyed Maple Sugaring just like they do :)

Garret was asking me about the wooden bucket, and was wondering why it was not metal like the ones that we hang. I told him that it was the kind of buckets that they used back in that time period. Calvin's favorite chore was making Maple Syrup.

"Cool" he replied.

Jackson next to the cane and hat that Coolidge used.

Calvin graduated from Amherst Collage, became a lawyer, held more than a dozen elected posts-including governor of Massachusettes-before rising from Vice President to President in 1923.

Jackson & Kaylee-listening to some speeches by Calvin Coolidge.

Taking turns.....

Makaylee enjoyed reading about Grace Coolidge.

The girls loved this beautiful tea set from that time period.

A very nice couple offered to take some pictures of the kids and I.

They had this computer set up that was hooked up to some voice that sounded like Calvin Coolidge's. The children had fun asking him all kinds of questions about his life and presidency.

Kyrah was acting like she was on the phone there for a little while and started talking back to it.

Garret next to Calvin's cane and hat.

Listening to some facts about his childhood. Coolidge was nicknamed "Red"(for his red hair), "Cal"(short for Calvin), and "Silent Cal"(because he spoke little).

Coolidge retired to Massachusettes in 1929. He wrote, surved as a trustee for the National Geographic Society, and worked in the insurance industry before his death in 1933. Frugal with words to the end, Silent Cal left behind a will to his estate that was only 23 words long.

Kaylee & Weston had too much fun with the question and answer machine. They started asking really silly questions that were not listed to ask. Then they would laugh when the president's voice would reply "Next question please" instead of answering their ridiculous question :)

Bradford in front of a painting of President Calvin Coolidge.

Calvin Coolidge loved fishing!

Jackson watching a documentary about the president.

Here are the children in the Visitor's Center, all lined up to listen to a presentation about Calvin Coolidge.

CHEESE!

Weston standing outside in front of one of the old barns there.

Taking a break!

My four boys :)

A sweet lady wanted to take our picture :) It was so pretty there.

Kaylee giving Sierra a ride!

This was an old barn that housed some really old classic cars and coaches from Calvin's day.

Weston liked this mail carrier.

The boys checking it out.

Another mail stage coach. 

Garret said that this one was his favorite.

Jackson liked this one!

Kyrah in front of a classic Ford car.

The boys enjoyed looking at this miniature replica.

Calvin Coolidge on his horse!

Kaylee liked this car.

Bradford reading up for his report :)

This barn had a lot of old farming equipment that was used in Calvin Coolidge's time period.

Taking another break and sitting in the hay! :)

Looking inside the little house behind the General Store that was Calvin Coolidge's birthplace.

I like this pantry!

Walking into the General Store. The kind man that worked in this store had each of the children pick out a candy stick free of charge. In which Weston informed me that he wished we could go to more "Old stores" because everything was free.....I wish haha :)

The boys. Trying to be cool I guess :)

Inside the church.

Outside the church building.... the kids all lined up and eating their candy.

This was our tour guide. He was very friendly and really took the time to explain things to the children.

A picture of the Shed Bedroom

The Woodshed

Sewing Room

Dining Room

The Guest Room/Living Room area.

Bedroom

Looking at the sheep.

The children were hoping that the sheep would come a little closer. Of course I do not blame them for not wanting too :)

Kyrah, Kaylee & Garret

The whole gang!

Smile!

Plymouth Cheese Factory

Climbing the stairs to the cheese factory.

Sierra enjoyed her blue candy stick!

Looking through the windows.

Inside the store at the cheese factory.

They were selling some great items!

Kaylee in front of the White House.

The Church

General Store and Birthplace

Resteraunt

Barns

Gift Shop

Kyrah wants to come back again and bring daddy next time.

Visitor Center

All tired out!

Side view of the Visiter Center

I was very thankful that we were able to go and visit Calvin Coolidge's Birthplace, as it had been closed for the season. But we were able to still go and visit, due to the fact that they had a bus tour come in. It was great to go back again. My very first visit was when I was 12 years old, and a lot had changed since then.

                                                                      Craft Time

Making Puppets!

Cat Puppets!

Very engrossed!

Jackson loves to use glue sticks. Sierra thinks they are chap stick :)

Look Mamma!

Jackson's Cat Puppet!

Garret making his.

Who let these kids make such a mess!

Garret trying out his scissor skills.

Kaylee is making hers.

Kyrah has completed her puppet.

Weston made a cute little pair of overalls for his cat.

Makaylee has finished her cat puppet. It is wearing a princess dress.

Garret cut out his cat puppet face all by himself!

Brad getting creative.

The children doing a puppet show!

Kaylee's cat is the Mama cat that baked a pie.

Kyrah's cat lost her mittens.

Weston's cat lost his mittens too!

Garret's cat was the third little kitten that lost his mittens :)

Jackson's cat!

Bradford's very unique cat :)

They all did a great job with their story telling skills.

Our Cat Books

The children had a great time learning about our 30th president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge.

Making Gramma Sally's birthday cake!

They each took turns mixing the batter.

Bradford did a super job frosting the cake :)

The kids surprising Gramma.

Happy Birthday Gramma Sally!

Kyrah shows Sammy Cat to Sierra.

Is there any doubt that Sierra loves him?

Kyrah & Sammy Cat