The Dermody Family: State Fair Project

Journals/Blogs

President Kimball said, "People often use the excuse that their lives are uneventful and nobody would be interested in what they have done. But I promise you that if you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to your families, to your children, your grandchildren, and others, on through the generations. Each of us is important to those who are near and dear to us—and as our posterity read of our life's experiences, they, too, will come to know and love us. And in that glorious day when our families are together in the eternities, we will already be acquainted."

Build Wisely

A HOME IS MUCH MORE THAN A HOUSE BUILT OF LUMBER, BRICK, OR STONE. A HOME IS MADE OF LOVE, SACRIFICE, AND RESPECT. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HOMES WE BUILD. WE MUST BUILD WISELY, FOR ETERNITY IS NOT A SHORT VOYAGE. THERE WILL BE CALM AND WIND, SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW, JOY AND SORROW. BUT IF WE REALLY TRY, OUR HOME CAN BE A BIT OF HEAVEN HERE ON EARTH. THE THOUGHTS WE THINK, THE DEEDS WE DO, THE LIVES WE LIVE NOT ONLY INFLUENCE THE SUCCESS OF OUR EARTHLY JOURNEY, THEY ALSO MARK THE WAY TO OUR ETERNAL GOALS.

--THOMAS S.MONSON

Monday, July 11, 2011

State Fair Project

Erin's 4th grade teachers decided to start an annual State Fair Project with the kids this year. Each student was given one of the 50 states to do a report, create a tri-fold poster, and a present a table display in the gym for the student body and parents. The whole process from start to finish took about 6 weeks, lots of research, way more time than anticipated, and we are all glad, kids and parents alike, that it is over.
Erin's state was Minnesota. She now knows all sorts of things about MN and has added it to her list of places she really, really wants to visit. I really think she just wants to go to the Mall of America because it has an indoor water park. Sure kid, we'll just squeeze in a trip to MN right between our vacations to Hawaii and Harry Potter World in FL. Hahahaha. Love how kids think.
Although it was a lot of work, she did learn more than just trivial facts about MN. She learned about organizing, indexing, meeting deadlines, footnotes, copyrights, following directions, and the list goes on. I loved it because she actually worked hard right up to the very last day of school while my 2nd grader enjoyed PJ day, movie day, board game day, field day, etc during the last week of school. Makes one wonder how much "make-up" work really happens to cover all of those snow days we missed. Sheesh.

One of the things Erin made for her table display was a diorama of a lake since MN is "The Land of 10,000 Lakes." This is one of those projects that fall into the "dad can help you with that" categories, but unfortunately Bill had to go out-of-town for 10 days, and guess who got to help with this little project? Yep, this gal. Although in all fairness, Bill did all the plaster work before he left for which I am very grateful. It turned out to be fun. Erin did most of the work herself and it took about 5 days to complete because of all the drying time for the plaster, paints, and glues.
It is now one of her treasures and she wanted to post some pics of it. The pictures include most of the steps, but not every little one. Enough to show the evolution though. Erin is very proud of her work. So beware, if you stop by for a visit at our home, you may just get to see the diorama up close and personal. She loves to show it to anyone who is willing to indulge her with a bit of time to discuss it.