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Okay, I don't know what my problem is but it seems that 8 out of 10 of our projects completely flop...I have no idea what I am doing wrong. We are towards the end of Bigger, and in the middle of Beyond (2nd time in beyond) and still our projects flop...and the kids are getting disappointed and frustrated they don't even want to do them and I keep telling them let's just try it out --- well I think I am at the end of that, any suggestions for someone who is obviously needs a picture drawn out for her???

I don't want it to be something they don't want to do so I need some solutions...Any at all I will gladly try!!!

Thank you!

I don't have much success with many of the projects or experiments in Beyond or Bigger working well either But we talk about it during the project, so it still does it's job of solidifying the history/Bible

You can try looking through the week in review posts to see how someone else did their project or post on here for suggestions. Another thought would be to look on youtube or google it ahead of time if your not for sure of the procedure. It's ok if the project isn't perfect. Some of the origami projects we've done, I've had to look up to get the final fold right. It was hard for me to visualize it without seeing it done. So I'll search to find a video or pictures of someone doing the folding. If it's a science experiment, failure can be a better teacher than a success. Sometimes in life it's in the failures we learn. I know we've had plenty of things not work out right for us but we try to use those as learning experiences. Sometimes we we do them over and try again and sometimes we just take what we've learned from it and leave it at that. I think it's important to keep trying, so try to encourage your dc to keep trying.

My success rate has been much higher, though I suppose that's all in how you term success! I am not an arts and craftsy person by any means, but I do try to read through the directions carefully and generally I am able to get things to turn out the right way. The science experiments, I think there have been maybe 1-2 in Bigger that didn't really work out. If I understand the concept they are trying to demonstrate I will either explain that or see if there's another way I can make that point. One example was the "how far does an Eagle see?" We were making a picture of a small mouse and seeing how far away could the child see it from. Well, she knew it was there, so she could "see" it from pretty far away (she'd have been in the neighbor's yard so I just told her to stop). But the point was that an eagle could see it from 8X as far, so we talked about that, how far that would be in comparison, etc.

So I guess that's why I don't think they have flopped. And as far as art, if they get something close and it looks good we get lots of praise, we show it off to Daddy. No need for perfectionism here! I just want them to do their best and make something they are happy with, and just the act of creating something with a purpose, that relates to a story we've read, helps them remember the story better. Also the joy of creating something. I think maybe when you set an expectation of how these things are supposed to turn out, or you're trying too hard to make it into something specific, maybe you're missing out on part of what makes it joyful.

Again, I'm not an artist, nor have I ever pretended to be any good at any kind of art.

Just a question: outside of school, do your children enjoy doing art projects? I ask only because I am not an art person I have absolutely no interest in art, fine art, or doing art projects. Every time we come to an art box I have to grit my teeth and just do it. I would never do it on my own. So I understand about just not liking art. However, ( ) my daughter loves art and gets so excited every time it's an 'art day' in school! So for her, every activity is a success before we start...regardless of how it turns out.

Also: what exactly 'flops' about your projects? Do they not understand how to carry out the instructions? Do they not understand how they are supposed to tie into the history? Are they too complicated? Too simple? Do they have all the supplies listed? Or, after completing the directions, does the activity simply not turn out the way it should?

Now, I am not in any way suggesting that you're doing them wrong But I think if we understand exactly where things are not working out for you guys we might be able to help more.

Mainly the projects do not turn out the way we expect them - and I in no way expect perfection but when my dc says this is not working out right - and I think some of it is because so many have not turned out that he feels defeated and just expects them not to work - I keep thinking we will get it right this time, but to no avail...

We do the lesson and he understands how it all ties in together, I think I am a picture person, I need to see it to figure it out is a big part of my problem - and at first my mistake was I thought it sounded simple enough that I did not need to do a trial run and now I know I need a trial run or two to get a better idea - I never thought about searching for an idea online. We are finishing up Bigger - and I want to be sure when we get into preparing that it is not like this for him, he get frustrated when it doesn't look 'right' and just wants to toss it. And I have another one in the middle of Beyond and will finish that up and move into Bigger - I love HOD and it is not a deal breaker for me I just wish I could figure out why we can't seem to get most of them to turn out okay.

I can't remember any in Preparing not turning out the way they were supposed to, assuming DD followed the instructions We had a couple that were wrong, but she just didn't listen very well and read thoroughly.

But like I said, in Beyond and Bigger, we had a lot of science and art that didn't end up the way it was supposed to with thorough following of directions and no substitutions A LOT of things I'd just have to say something like "well, that didn't work right, but do you see what was supposed to happen?" In fact, we just did an experiment in Bigger last week that didn't work.

Honestly, I think a lot of our issues stem from higher humidity. A LOT of things just don't do the same in higher humidity as in lower humidity.

Yeah the static electricity ones in Beyond didn't work at all when it was humid. I waited for one of those dry days where you shock yourself touching a doorknob and it worked great. But that's the only one I really remember being a total flop. Maybe youtube can be your friend in that case too, I bet there are videos out there of what happens.

We had a few we had to wait for the right time- like the static electricity one. Otherwise, the only one that has been a complete flop was the red paint with laundry soap, glue, etc one in Bigger. However, it turned out so bad that we just laughed and moved on. Others haven't been perfect, but I'm a firm believer in the process not the product theory. Hang in there!

Elisa,

Oh my! I must admit that this isn't typically what we hear from families using HOD, so it really took me by surprise! I can't imagine our curriculum even being recommended anywhere if our customers could expect 8 out of 10 projects in Beyond and Bigger (or any of our guides for that matter) to flop!

The ladies have shared some wonderful thoughts for you to ponder as to what you actually consider a "flop". Usually when we have something that doesn't turn out, it was because the directions weren't followed carefully enough or in the right sequence. Sometimes, humidity or temperature plays a part. Other times it might be that a child overdid a certain part of the directions and the project took an unexpected turn. I think that it's true that it can take time for kiddos to let go of the feeling that a project "should" turn out a certain way. It's also true that as parents we often "want" a project to have a certain outcome, and when the child's work doesn't look like the picture in our head, we convey the let-down to our child.

Projects at the Beyond and Bigger stage are early in a child's learning, when students are still developing their artistic and fine motor abilities. This will definitely affect the outcome of a project and how it looks in the end. Consequently, if the child is really allowed to do the project according to his/her abilities, most projects will not end up being beautiful works of art at this level.

I will encourage you that through the mishaps, a child learns much. Through the mistakes, a child learns how to do it better next time. Through the years, if you persevere, you will be amazed at how much your child will grow in this area! It is truly shocking to me to see how far my older kiddos have come simply by working the projects guide by guide. They have learned to paint, to sketch, to write poetry, to visualize a project from beginning to end, to bake, to experiment, to learn from their mistakes, to reread directions, to try to correct a project gone wrong, and to decide when to begin again. The life skills in this area are ones that you cannot gain without trying and falling first many times along the way.

So, I would encourage you to see the projects for the process that they are! Enjoy the journey, even when things don't turn out as expected. Find the silver lining in the experience. Train your children in the little steps along the way that will make things turn out better. Give guidance as you see fit, as a guiding hand is so important, but try not to see everything as a "flop" or they will too!

In closing, I'll share that I have a 20 year old sitter who is coming on the weekdays 9-5 to watch my boys while I write in the next room. She is truly a wonderful person, and a blessing from the Lord, yet I can tell that she has not had the benefit of the project experience up until now! What I mean is that she has much to gain in the area of following directions and learning basic household skills (both of which come with doing projects). To give just a few minor examples to illustrate what I mean, I'll share that she has forgotten to use Dreft when doing my third little guy's laundry (even though she knows he suffers from skin rashes then). She's definitely learning this is important though, as she can see the result of forgetting. Today she forgot the butter in a basic pastry recipe, and definitely realized the outcome of that. The back burner of my oven gets very hot when baking, and after several reminders to take the burner cover off when baking, she's still not doing it without being told yet. I know I didn't remember to take the burner cover off until I'd burned myself more than once! Two days ago, she picked up the house before leaving, but the last two days she forgot to do it in the busy moment of checking the pastries that weren't turning out quite right. I share this as a reminderl that training our kiddos in following directions (no matter what their age) takes time and perseverance. It takes encouragement and kindess. It takes a cheerful countenance and a firm hand. There is much to be gained in the process of "doing." I know things will get better with my 20 year old sitter, the same way I know that things will get better for your kiddos. The secret lies within you.

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie,

I have a lot of good suggestions, I think, looking at the projects that some others have done will be very helpful - I think that I have to see it; and the written directions with no pictures are a challenge for me I have already started looking at some and see that we were not as far off on most of them as I had thought.

I know when we were going through Beyond we had some science mishaps but our seasons were not really lining up with the guide because of when we started the guide, but we just went through it; and I said 'it wasn't supposed to do that' or 'it was supposed to' a lot but he just trucked right on through it and didn't have any problems. But this year with Bigger the science has worked the majority of the time so we were good in that area but the art just doesn't seem to be flowing like it should. It probably doesn't help our case that he is a nine year old boy who wants to get done to go out and work on the farm with dad but I love our life on the farm and being able to be together so much.

We love HOD so in no way was I trying to say anything negative about it (you and yours)! I hope that my post was not taken negatively for HOD. Looking at the subject it may have not been a good choice of words I apologize if I cause any issues I sincerely did not/ do not believe that the issue was within the guides, I was trying to find where I was missing it at not HOD. Again, we LOVE HOD, and meant no disrespect.

We will be ordering preparing soon and we are excited to get it and get started on it! Almost so much that we are having a hard time focusing on finishing up Bigger

And from reading you reply, Carrie, it sounds like I need to work on following the written word directions better myself and that is okay, I will always need to continue to grow and now I see an area that needs work

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions and ideas! Lots of things to look at and consider and make new adjustments for!!!

Again Thank YOU!,
Elisa