Our Desert Fort

As we are entering week 3 of the "stay at home" order as well as week 3 being out of school, lessons and routines have changed drastically and the chaos is most likely wearing on us all. With the times being crazy and the predicament out of our hands, this entire situation is leaving not only parents but kids as well in need of someplace to get away. When we were kids and we wanted to hide away from the grown up and make our own little world, what did we do? Build a fort

One of the benefits of having to homeschool recently has been the incorporation of fun little projects into our learning experience. This week our reading assignment was to read "A Walk in the Desert" by Caroline Arnold, a expository story about the desert and the animals that live in it. As part of the project, the class was challenged to build a reading fort inspired by the story. Fortunately, I always keep craft supplies stashed away and being a camping family we had lots of other stuff on hand to make it extra special.

We learned all about different types of cacti, the hot, arid desert climate, and some wonderful animals that live in the habitat.

Eamon's favorite parts of the story were learning about all of the different cactus species, the owls, and especially the coyotes.

A few years back we purchased the IKEA bunk beds for Eamon's room. Honestly, it was one of the greatest purchases we made for that room.  We made the bottom part into a little reading nook with and arm pillow, cork board for photos, and a box for his dress up clothes, so it was easily converted for the project.

With an old grey sheet, I covered the inside of the nook, and took some old glow in the dark stars and added dozens more yellow construction paper ones we cut out. We also have a moon that actually changes phases with a remote that we moved into the fort.

Some construction paper cacti, lanterns, a wind up radio, and sleeping bag from the camping bin make the atmosphere more dynamic.

A construction paper fire (with fresh cut firewood) with a flashlight taped behind and some desert critter stuffed animals complete the set up.

The kids all conducted part of their online class in their forts, which was adorable. They all had so much fun constructing them and sharing them with their friends. Eamon loves being in his so much more now that it is decorated. He even laid down in it last night watching a show on his tablet and playing with his toys. To make it more "permanent" we even got him his very own snake plant to take care of and stuck it in the fort. 🍃

I can't wait to see what kind of challenge we get to do next week. In the mean time, I challenge you to set aside a place in your home, maybe even a little nook in their room if need be, and turn help your kids turn it into their own fort. Set aside a few minutes of the day where they can get a break from their school work and be alone to think and to imagine play. Even in a world full of gadgets and tech you'd be surprised what they can come up with. :)