With the school year in full swing again, you had to know a school project was coming, didn't you? This year Ian is learning World Geography and Culture in his Social Studies class. The first country in the curriculum was China, and I actually had a project ready to fit the bill - this wooden model of the Tiananmen Gate:
The model actually came from my brother-in-law, Shawn. I'm not certain how he came to be in possession of it, but he had heard of my past interest in architectural models, and he asked me if I would be interested in it. At the time I wasn't sure why or when I would construct a model of a famous Chinese gate, but I'm not one to turn down a project, so I said "of course!"
After we read the course material on China, finished the report sheets and did some map work, Ian and I got started on the model. (I would like to clarify - during class hours I maintain a strict shoes, shirt, and study policy, however this model was extra-curricular material, so the student was allowed to assume less formal attire.)
The instructions for assembly were.....not the best. As we punched out each piece we had to identify tabs and slots by number on the diagram and then find pieces with correspondingly numbered tabs or slots. Ian spent a lot of time waiting while I squinted at little tiny numbers and tried to sort out pieces.
Eventually, after several sessions, we finally got it all put together. I'm not sure if this project really increased Ian's knowledge of China very much, but it did give us a lesson in patience and persistence.
Happy model building, everyone!
4 comments:
Wonderful! I'm so glad that you guys were able to put it to use. I'm positive that he will remember China better just because he had to work so hard for that model. :) Good job at sticking to it, Ian!!!
Yup, your projects are definitely increasing in complication.
Hahaha, now that you've been on the Mayflower will building that Dover model be next on Ian's list? As I recall, that one nearly defeated you. (poorly-fitting pieces, instructions, etc.)
I think we'll hold off on that one for a while, Mom. When it comes to models, pictures are worth a thousand instructions, and the Mayflower had very few pictures.
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