The Golden Mean

Come take a peek at Rick's blog post about divine proportion, da vinci, algebra, geometry, and business math...and about our son's 13th birthday rite of passage ceremony: www.thewaldorfway.blogspot.com.

Fibonacci, Knitting, Watercolor, Catapults....

Homelearning snippets from this week at Syrendell...

Phyllotaxis: Fibonacci numbers, Golden ratio, measuring/counting petals leaves seeds, spirals

Finding a Molted Praying Mantis Skin


The Letter "B": Watercoloring a Butterfly with Daddy

Making a Catapult

Making a Fairy & Gnome Home


Spinning Yarn & Knitting

Our Spiral Path

There's just something about spirals...beautiful, geometric, artistic, mathematical, magical, mesmerizing....

This past year, we studied "phi", the Golden ratio, phyllotaxis, and spirals. Now, we see spirals everywhere...flowers, leaf patterns, shells....

We built a labyrinth at our old house (great homeschooling project!), but we don't quite have enough space at our new house for a labyrinth.

Labyrinth at our old house

So, instead, we have built a spiral! Daddy and the kids carved out a path in the vines, spiraling towards the fountain near Rabbie and Navy's cage. We collected rocks from the river and the yard to line the spiral. Mommy planted some wildflower seeds in the dirt areas and they are starting to sprout!

The spiral may be seen from the deck and from Joey's room. It's a meditative reminder to us whenever we see it.


Where do you see spirals?

Magical Math

We are constantly seeking wonderful ways to experience the world of numbers. Here are some of our recent adventures...

Golden Ratio - (phi, spirals, botany, phyllotaxis)

Number Stories (inspired by A Little Garden Flower's Book - wonderful!)

Times Tables (Faerie Rebecca on Etsy makes these)

Gnomes & Jewels (weekly jewel-hunting)

Wilson and Mommy's Math Gnome Song

Once upon a time
There were four little gnomes
They were happy
In their little homes

Under the mushrooms
Near the lumber
They loved to count
Every number

Today they are hunting
Jewels that are shiny
Pretty and round
Sparkly and tiny

Add and Subtract
Times and Divide
Jewels placed in groups

They joyfully guide