Today is a New Day

Watercolor Rainbow

by California
10/12/09

Herbology & Herbal Medicine

Tennessee and California will be learning Herbology and Herbal Medicine this year. The following resources will be used to teach this subject:

Compassion for All Living Things

Short Essay by Tennessee (age 10)

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” -Mahatma Gandhi


If you could ask any animal in captivity how they were feeling, the answer would always be a negative one. Sadly this has not changed for over 10 centuries. Many people realize the effect of captivity and alienation on a wild animal, and the effect of abuse on domesticated ones, but no one has tried to do anything drastic. Laws have been made, cages have been outlawed, and animals are no longer being hunted for sport. This does not affect the millions of zoos with depressed or half-dead animals around the country.

It takes a nation of great morale to recognize these crimes, and an even greater nation to admit to them. Many countries do not even care about what happens to their animals, and many slaughter and eat them. A great nation shares compassion for all living things, human or not. Humans don't deserve respect for their crimes. They don't deserve to be rewarded for mistreating equal beings. They don't even deserve to reward themselves.

All animals are equal to humans in all ways, and deserve as much respect as we give our own species (except for the wars, jails, and all other evil things humans do to each other). I may not be able to convince the authorities and zookeepers, but I can convince you. Please be as nice to all animals as you are to your own family.

The Universe in a Seashell

The above photo shows California's latest cosmic creation. He used sea shells, sea glass, river stones and glass beads to create his version of the Universe. Although it may appear to be scattered about haphazardly, each stone, shell, pile of sea glass and glass bead were carefully placed to create his Universe. According to California, the stones that are placed in a line represent our solar system. The pile of sea glass is a nebula. The glass beads represent moons of the planets within our solar system and stars. The various sea shells on the outer edges represent black holes and distant glaxies.

To see more of California's cosmic creations, click on this link -> Planetary Exploration Across Various Artforms and Media.

Autumn, Apples, Fair Trade Chocolate & Yom Kippur

1. Math - Practice 25 Math problems from Oak Meadow 6th grade Math as a review before beginning Laurel Springs 7th grade Math

2. Practic Handwriting: Italic Handwriting Series Book E

3. Learn about Fair Trade Chocolate

A copy of the letter written to Hershey's Chocolate Company by Tennessee:

I am writing to tell everyone at the Hershey company about Fair Trade chocolate. Fair Trade is a special policy that produces child labor-free, slavery-free chocolate, meaning children were not forced to pick the cocoa pods and beans, and that all induviduals that pick the beans were paid fully and fairly.
It makes me sad when I read about how kids in South America and Africa aren't able to play or learn because they are picking cocoa beans all day. It makes me sad that they do that all their life and not get anything for it. It makes me think about how easy my life is compared to theirs.

I am not accusing you of doing this, but if you are, please sell Fair Trade chocolate to stop it!
Thank you,

4. Learn about Yom Kippur

5. Nature Study: Apple



6. Autumn Art & Poetry (soon to be posted)