Monday
Mar172008
the leprechaun trap
Monday, March 17, 2008 at 10:03AM
my grandboy is in kindergarten. they do so much more in kindergarten than i remember from his daddy's time in the same grade. they read, do math, practice presentations... they even have homework!
last week's homework was to make a leprechaun trap. the grandboy called us three nights in a row asking about what kind of trap he should make. it couldn't hurt the leprechaun, but it had to have something special to keep it in the trap (they're magic, you know). we talked about the things that leprechaun's like, and what they don't like. we talked about things that would tempt them, or trick them. we talked about things that might scare them. after we talked with him, we got out our copy of darby o'gill and the little people to watch and remember. parts of it are still too scary for our grandboy, but it was fun thinking about sharing it with him in a couple more years.
eventually, he made a shoebox trap. the lid was propped open with an irish flag. the walls were lined with chocolate coins. the outside was green, with a sign that said "annual leprechaun's meeting -- free gold inside". he called us after school friday to tell us his class voted his trap one of the best! this was very, very exciting!
better, yet! saturday, he went out to breakfast with his parents and grampy. when they got back, they found the trap had been tipped over. there was a trail of chocolate coins leading to the patio outside. in the flower pot, the grandboy found some "shamrock" glitter and a new toy car! the trap "almost" worked! he almost caught a leprechaun! and the leprechaun appreciated the effort so much, he left him a toy to say "well done".
i love the boy's imagination, and the way his parents encourage it. their enthusiasm for learning will go so far in this world of ours. this is just one example, but it's the most recent, and fitting for the day.
happy st. paddy's day
p.s. monday nite, he called me again. the leprechaun came back! this time he stole more of the coins. he left another car and a note:
"pretty good trap, kiddo, but i'm smarter than that! try again next year!
~~lenny, the leprechaun."
last week's homework was to make a leprechaun trap. the grandboy called us three nights in a row asking about what kind of trap he should make. it couldn't hurt the leprechaun, but it had to have something special to keep it in the trap (they're magic, you know). we talked about the things that leprechaun's like, and what they don't like. we talked about things that would tempt them, or trick them. we talked about things that might scare them. after we talked with him, we got out our copy of darby o'gill and the little people to watch and remember. parts of it are still too scary for our grandboy, but it was fun thinking about sharing it with him in a couple more years.
eventually, he made a shoebox trap. the lid was propped open with an irish flag. the walls were lined with chocolate coins. the outside was green, with a sign that said "annual leprechaun's meeting -- free gold inside". he called us after school friday to tell us his class voted his trap one of the best! this was very, very exciting!
better, yet! saturday, he went out to breakfast with his parents and grampy. when they got back, they found the trap had been tipped over. there was a trail of chocolate coins leading to the patio outside. in the flower pot, the grandboy found some "shamrock" glitter and a new toy car! the trap "almost" worked! he almost caught a leprechaun! and the leprechaun appreciated the effort so much, he left him a toy to say "well done".
i love the boy's imagination, and the way his parents encourage it. their enthusiasm for learning will go so far in this world of ours. this is just one example, but it's the most recent, and fitting for the day.
happy st. paddy's day
p.s. monday nite, he called me again. the leprechaun came back! this time he stole more of the coins. he left another car and a note:
"pretty good trap, kiddo, but i'm smarter than that! try again next year!
~~lenny, the leprechaun."
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