We’re busy getting ready for the first day of school. Sort of. We have a slightly strange set-up here in Prescott. (Maybe other school districts do this, too?) The middle school officially starts classes tomorrow, so we’ll see Andrew off bright and early. But the grade school has an orientation day with scheduled time slots so the other three won’t go to “school” until 5 p.m.
Oh, well. One more day to be together and get stuff done. I’m still trying to get my head around the fact that as of tomorrow I will be the mother of an eighth grader. The days are long but the years are short.
Since my brain is whirling with school supply lists and schedules, I thought this would be a good day to let someone else do the thinking. Every now and then I go and visit Made by Joel, the website of Portland artist and designer and all-around cool dad Joel Henriques. I’m never disappointed. (The man built a coffee roaster so he could roast his own beans for lattes. Enough said.) Joel has loads of fun and do-able projects for kids, but the one that I had to tell you about is his Paper City Paris.
You can go here to print out everything you need to create Parisian adventures with your kids (students? yourself?). Joel has drawn charmingly dressed characters, a Citroën car for them to zoom around in, and lots of places for them to visit: the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, and the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Joel includes a description of each of the landmarks so you can teach your kids a little something while you’re playing. You can also print out a bakery and candy shop for your characters to visit when they need a cappuccino and macaron break. If you can do all this in French, ooh-la-la!
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