Homeschool Cabinet of Curiosities
Part of my homeschool vision is to have my children experience a sense of wonder - and to enjoy exploring new and interesting things.
So I thought it would be fun to create a Cabinet of Curiosities.
What is a Cabinet of Curiosities?
Beginning in the 16th Century, a Cabinet of Wonders was a cabinet (or more often a room) containing a collection of strange and curious items.
Wikipedia says that :
"Modern science would categorize the objects included as belonging to natural history (sometimes faked), geology, ethnography, archaeology, religious or historical relics, works of art (including cabinet paintings) and antiquities."
The idea behind the cabinets were to:
- Experience a sense of wonder about the world.
- Make connections across the field of human knowledge.
- Rearrange and classify objects in different ways.
Doesn't that sound inspiring?
I think it will be wonderful for the children to collect strange, and varied wonders for their cabinet. Things that would make you want to examine them further. Things to think about and investigate and have conversations about. You could to use it to introduce them to lots of new art and mathematical ideas.
But most importantly, use it as a way to encourage their curiosity.
And if that doesn't convince you, take a look at the educational benefits of the cabinets on this page.
How to get started.
Cabinet of Curiosities for Teens
This is a project that could work well with your high-school homeschoolers.
Get your teens to plan their own collection of curiosities. They could research unusual and interesting ideas, quotes and facts.
This doesn't have to be a 'physical' collection. You could collect images for a scrapbook. Or why not make virtual collections using a blog, Pinterest, or Tumblr.
They could chose a theme and collect virtual artifacts around that - weird fashion items? Microscopic photography? A virtual periodic table collection? Or just a collection of all things wonderful.
A Museum of Uninteresting Objects
A twist on the Cabinet of Curiosities that works well with Teens, is a Museum of Uninteresting Objects!
This idea comes from a book called 'The Idiot Teacher' by Gerald Holmes. In one section of the book a museum is organized, where each exhibit must be approved by a committee of children. When he later announces that the exhibits MUST be uninteresting or they would not be accepted, it causes a storm!
As for those who had exhibits to offer, consternation overtook many. The party who had a dead cat moored in the canal, ready for the opening day, saw at once that it was alive with interest. It could not be offered. Some wits in the next class offered the broken-off neck of a bottle. The chemistry of glass proved to be entrancing: the manufacture of glass bottles enthralling: their history from Greek and Roman times through the Middle Ages till today made a grand research for one committee: there had been glass bottles in Ancient Egypt five thousand years ago.
Committee boys vied with each other in disclosing interest in broken tiles, old slates, stones, bits of firewood, rusted tins. . . . It seemed there was interest in everything.
Could you offer exhibit ideas to you teens and get them to compete with you on why they SHOULD NOT be accepted into the museum? Or just make a collection of the most boring items you can find (this one is fun).
I am sure your teen will find their own twist on this!
For more teen ideas why not sign up for my
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Ruralmama (USA)
This is simply fabulous!! I just now found this site and I'm so excited!! The opportunities and suggestions as well as the need to inspire are exactly what I have been searching to fulfill!! I'm so thrilled to get started and even more excited to continue to explore all of the fabulous suggestions and creative ideas you have offered here!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Jennifer (USA)
