The Legend of the First Robin

This story is an opportunity to teach children about the lessons found in legends. First, study what a legend is an discuss why they are an effective means of learning. Then, enjoy the story below.

One day, long ago, a little bird in Galilee saw a large crowd gathered around a Man carrying a heavy wooden cross. On the Man's head was a crown made from a thorn branch. The thorns were long a sharp. The little bird saw that the thorns were hurting the Man. It wanted to help Him, so it flew down and took the longest, sharpest thorn in its tine beak. The bird tugged and pulled until the thorn snapped from the branch. Then a strange thing happened. A drop of blood fell onto the bird's breast, staining it bright red. The stain never went away. And so today the robin proudly wears a red breast, because it helped a Man named Jesus...

Author unknown

Tasha Tudor, Children's Author and Artist

Today we remember Tasha Tudor on her birthday. She was an extraordinary woman. A talented artist, she enjoyed nature themes and shunned modern conveniences. She is probably best known for her contribution to children's literature. She illustrated each of her books with her beautiful watercolor and drew people to her wherever she went.

Beloved Tasha Tudor, author and illustrator of many books and gardener extraordinaire, passed away at her home in Marlboro, Vermont on July 18, 2008. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 28, 1915 and was named after her father, Starling Burgess. But her father, who enjoyed Tolstoy's War and Peace preferred to call her Natasha after a character in the book. Her mother's friends would sometimes refer to her as Rosamund Tudor's daughter. Tasha liked the sound of the name Tasha Tudor, and eventually had her name legally changed to reflect this preference. 



Ms. Tudor received many awards and honors for her exceptional contribution to literature. A Caldecott Honor was given for her work for Mother Goose in 1945 and again in 1957 for the book 1 is One. She also received the Regina Medal in 1971 for her contributions to children's literature. Her prose was always simple and captivating, frequently including rhyming text. Enchanting illustrations were detailed and realistic in soft colors that seemed to fade away onto the page. She was known for her love of nature and flowers, birds, and other charming animals were frequently featured in her art. 

Some of the books she wrote and illustrated are:

Pumpkin Moonshine

A Tale for Easter

Snow before Christmas

Thistly B

The Dolls' Christmas

Edgar Allan Crow

Amanda and the Bear

A is for Annebelle

1 is One

A Time to Keep

Corgiville Fair

Tasha Tudor's Seasons of Delight

The Great Corgiville Kidnapping

Tasha Tudor was one of the great artists of the 20th century. Her love for illustrating New England nostalgia and sentimental illustrations that made one think of a bygone era. She lived her life as she dreamed, simply and sustainably, preferring the old-fashioned in both lifestyle and dress. For 92 years the world was blessed by her presence and contribution to American culture, literature, and art. Although she is gone from us now, her legacy and spirit will live on through the work she so fluently contributed to all. 

The photographs today are taken from one of my favorite books: Tasha Tudor's Garden by Tovah Martin and Richard W. Brown.

Lessons from Nature

Spring and summer is a wonderful time to study nature with children.   Picking spring flowers, taking hikes on the hillsides, throwing rocks in a creek, or enjoying newborn animals are opportunities that the season provides.  Each nature experience provides the teacher-parent with object lessons and opportunities to teach lessons in character development, science, applied arts, and more.  

Today's post shares a story about baby goslings.  Do your children like pets and cool dip in a pond on a warm summer day?  If they do, this story will be of interest to them.  It teaches about responsibility and love for God's little creatures.  It's about baby goslings and a young boy's responsibility to care for them.

When the story is over, your children might enjoy this blog post about Brianna, a homeschool girl who has been enjoying her goslings this spring.  She's been trying to think of just the right names for them.  Pictures of her goslings can be seen here and here.  They are really cute!

The Bird Who Went People Watching

This is another story that was written by my Aunt Evie.  She shares how birds can teach us valuable lessons.  In this story she shares how a bluebird can teach us to hold fast to what we believe with determination and strength.  


Please note that the linked words in the text below lead to photos of the birds, nests, and insects talked about in the story.  And here is a link to Busy Bee Kids Crafts where they share instructions for making this pretty little baby bluebirds craft.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.   
1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV


"What are you making, Dad?" our son Art asked as he came into the garage where his father was busy cutting some little boards.


"I'm making a bluebird nesting box," Dad replied.  "Help me hold the sides together so that I can nail them."  Art helped to finish the box and then he and his sister, Karen, watched as Dad nailed it high on the north end of the garage.


A few days later someone shouted, "There's a bluebird in the box!"  We ran to the window to see not one, but two Mountain Bluebirds.  The male hovered over the next box while the female watched from a nearby perch.  It was easy to tell them apart.  The male wore a beautiful aqua blue suit, with a paler vest of the same color.  His mate wore a soft gray dress with only touches of blue.


The male hopped in and out of the box.  He sat on top of it and fluttered his wings eagerly and flew over to Mrs. Bluebird and tried to persuade her that they should move in right away.  "Phew, phew," he called in his gentle voice.  But she was not so sure.  After much persuasion she consented to have a look inside, but soon flew away again with Mr. Bluebird right behind her.  Time after time he brought her back to the box, but after a quick look she always seemed to loose interest.  We were almost as eager as he was to have her accept the box and decide to make our yard her home.  To us, bluebirds, with their iridescent colors and gentle refined ways, were just about the best summer guests we could imagine.


This went on for several days until one morning the tree swallows arrived.  They were not nearly as feisty as Mrs. Bluebird.  After a few quick looks inside the box they were ready to set up housekeeping.  It was just what they had been looking for and they claimed it as theirs.


Suddenly the bluebirds appeared on the scene and then the fuss began!  Each pair of birds tried to keep the other pair away from the box.  The scrapping went on for several days.  Finally the female tree swallow went inside the box and sat with her head peering out of the little round doorway.  She had claimed the box and she wasn't moving out!  The bluebirds twittered and fussed around the box.


We were sorry to see the swallows winning out, but we knew that they were really good tenants too.  They were also blue, though not as bright and pretty as the bluebirds.  We consoled ourselves with the thought that they were great mosquito catchers.


Mrs. Bluebird's apparent lack of interest in the box had disappeared with the appearance of the swallows.  So also had her gentle manners!  Now she showed an aggressiveness that I never expected to see in a bluebird.  She flew directly to the opening and grasped the swallows neck with her bill and dragged her out of the doorway.  Scrapping and squawking, they struggled together in the air.  Mrs. Bluebird dragged her victim right down to the ground.  Finally the swallow decided that she had met her match and flew away to look for a more peaceful neighborhood.


In later years we realized that this behavior was not as unusual as we had thought.  Whenever we have seen swallows and bluebirds contending for nesting boxes, it has always been the bluebirds who won.  If this were not the case, it is doubtful if the bluebirds could survive.  Swallows have found the increase of human building construction to their advantage.  They like to nest in and around buildings, and if they could, they would take over every available nesting box.  They like the same size of birdhouse that the bluebirds require.


Now Mrs. Bluebird was ready to settle down to the serious business of nesting.  Her gorgeous mate fluttered his wings in excitement.  At last his efforts were being rewarded.  Soon the children saw them carrying in grass and twigs for the nest and in a few more days they could peek in and see the little blue eggs.  Then all was quiet.  The female sat on the eggs hour after hour while the male sat nearby, watching to make sure no harm came to the nest.  But after a few days of this it seemed he became a little bored, or was he just curious about what people do inside of their nesting boxes?  At any rate, he decided to do a little early morning people watching.


About 5:00 AM one day he flew to our bedroom window and hovered in front of the glass.  I heard him twittering and opened one sleepy eye.  Suddenly I was wide awake!  I woke my husband and pointed to the window where the bluebird was fluttering in mid air.  His bright blue feathers were shimmering in the morning sunlight.  At first we thought that he was only trying to see his reflection, but then he hopped onto the windowsill and tried to look in through the sliding screen that held the window up.  He made twittering comments on everything he saw.


After some time he returned to his observation post near the nest, but early the next morning he was back, still curious.  Again he tried to peer in through the screen.  Just what was inside that window?  After watching him quietly for several mornings, I had an idea.  When the bluebird flew away for a few minutes, I slipped out of bed and removed the sliding screen and propped the window up with a stick.  Then quickly I slipped back to bed.


The bluebird was back in a few minutes, sitting on the windowsill, looking right in at us.  He stood quietly for a moment, noticing the missing screen.  Cautiously he hopped a little closer to the opening.  Two more hops and he was right inside.  He looked as us as if to say, "How can people sleep so long on such a bright, sunny morning?"  Then he flew to the top of a chest of drawers and surveyed the bedroom.  "So this is how people build their nests," he seemed to say. 

His people watching trips ended abruptly with the arrival of his newly hatched offspring.  Now there was no time for anything but the serious business of keeping them fed.  


Bluebirds seem to model what true Christianity should be --- gentle, refined, and well mannered, yet not afraid to do battle when the situation demands it.  There is a tendency to think of Christians in terms of the passive virtues only.  Love, gentleness, and kindness are always held up as the virtues that should be cultivated and rightly so.  But true Christians are not wimps or cowards.  The manly virtues of strength and courage are equally as important, yet they are less often spoken of.  When Jesus cleansed the temple He manifested a different aspect of His character than we usually think of.  He is represented as the Lamb of God, but He is also called the Lion of the tribe of Judah.  Each of these animals illustrate different aspects of Christ's character.


"The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are bold as a Lion."  Proverbs 28:1


"Fight the good fight of faith."  1 Timothy 6:12  

Copyright EvelynS@2011

Easter Story Cookies

The story of the resurrection of Jesus Christ represents hope for the world.  His life, death, and resurrection provide a means of salvation and eternal life for all who embrace Him.  When on earth, Jesus used object lessons to teach truths.  Object lessons are a teaching technique that teacher-parents can find helpful as they strive to inculcate the truth about Christ's sacrifice to their children and what it means to them personally.  This cooking activity is designed to teach the resurrection story by object lesson.  These cookies are meant to be prepared the night before Easter.  Scripture references that assist in providing spiritual preparation goes along with the physical preparation of the cookies. 


Easter Story Cookies


1 cup pecan halves
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
3 egg whites
1 pinch salt
1 cup white sugar
Preheat oven to 300° F (150° C).


Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.  Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.


Read John 19:1-3


Let each child smell the vinegar.  Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.  Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.


Read John 19:28-30


Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.


Read John 10:10-11


Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand.  Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.  Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.


Read Luke 23:27


So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing.  Add 1 cup sugar.  Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.  He wants us to know and belong to Him.


Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16


Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.  Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.


Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3


Fold in broken nuts.  Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.  Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.


Read Matthew 27:57-60


Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.  Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.


Read Matthew 27:65-66


Go to bed.  Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.  Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.


Read John 16:20 and 22


On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  The cookies are hollow!  Explain that on the first Easter,  Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.


Read Matthew 28:1-9


The complete story from Scripture:  Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-20; Luke 24:1-49; John 20:1-21:25


*Although this recipe and story is popular during the Easter season, it can be used to illustrate the story of Jesus life, death, and resurrection at any time of the year.

An Old-Fashioned Story

Presently they came to the quiet little place on the beach to which they both always loved to come. They had been here many times with their mammas, but this time it was all quite different. They both felt so important.

Somehow they managed to get their tent put up. It was quite a big job for such little people, but they felt they must do it all properly.

The tent fixed, they both thought it must be time to have something to eat. So they opened the all-important lunch basket and began to take out all the little packages they had put in it so carefully just an hour or so before.

How good everything tasted! so much better than a dinner at home! Really they had never had such a lovely meal before. If their mothers could have seen them eating the plain bread and butter as if it were sugar cookies, they would have been quite surprised. Perhaps they would have decided to have that for dinner every day!

How quickly the lunch basket was emptied! There didn't seem to be half enough in it. Doris and Kathleen were so hungry that they ate up everything they had brought; there wasn't even a crumb left.

Then they played games and told stories to each other. Soon the afternoon passed and the time came to pack up. Down came the tent, the blanket was folded up, and the empty lunch basket slung over Doris' shoulder. Then they started for home.

"Haven't we had a lovely time?" said Kathleen.

"Haven't we!" said Doris. "And only yesterday we said we wouldn't speak to each other any more."

"I'm so glad we made up," said Kathleen.

"So am I," said Doris.

Just then they turned the corner of the road, and there, right in front of them, were two mammas standing at the gate of Kathleen's house.

"We're so glad you've come back safely," they said. "We were just coming to look for you.


Then there were hugs and kisses, a welcome supper, a bedtime story, and a trip upstairs to dreamland.

*This was one of my favorite childhood stories.  It came from an original "Bedtime Stories" book by Arthur Maxwell.  I had a modern set of the "Bedtime Stories" of my own, but I enjoyed my mother's childhood set because of the old-fashioned pictures and un-edited stories.  

A Character Development Story: I'll Do it Later

 Lesson 3B
Aunt Carol reads a chapter from a good book.  The chapter is called "I'll Do it Later".  If you'd like to hear it, click here.  After listening to the story, discuss how Becky did or did not use her "will" in her decision making progress.