Today’s writing prompt for my daughter’s journal was thanks to SchoolhouseTeachers.com, a membership part of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. They provide daily writing prompts on their website. Though we do not use them daily, we use them weekly for our journal ideas sometimes.
Today we used a prompt from last week — what would you do if you had no electricity for the day.
My daughter wrote a wonderful description of her day which, she thought, would be very fun including a lovely picture of her enjoying her technology, electricity.-free day. She is very curious about the Colonial Timesg as well as our Amish friends and incessantly asks questions about their life-style. Though I appreciate her curiosity, and certainty that she would be fine without TV and in-door plumbing, I do question how long she would last.
As we read about Josafina, an American Girl, washing her clothes in the stream with her sisters last night, and discussed our writing prompt today, Avarie began to ask questions about what she could play with and what kids did to play without electricity. After reminding her that she doesn’t generally use electricity to play outside on her swing-set or dig for treasures or search for rocks or build castles in the sand, she realized that she does do a lot without electricity.
We looked at a post about making a rag doll family over at Practical Pages, which she has decided is a must-do this summer, and talked about other types of toys like those that were given as gifts in the Little House on the Prairie books. She remembered the homemade dolls and doll clothes and wooden toys that Pa made. This made her happier because she was thinking that the kids didn’t have toys.
So, what started as a writing prompt for a quick 10 minute journal exercise became the focus of many conversations today. I look forward to using this prompt again and see where it leads us.
What would your child do without electricity for the day? How about you?
We are on Easter break this week, but I like this idea and will use this with my kids next week. We like to do many things the “old fashion way” but I would have trouble giving up plumbing.
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Yes, I agree. I spent a week (in Michigan in march–brrr- in college without heat or indoor plumbing. We had electricity which we used for a space heater in the outhouse and a radio. I cooked on the wood stove and heated the house with the fireplace. I agree, that was enough without indoor plumbing! Hope you enjoy the writing. Thanks for stopping,by.
Everyone should try and go without electricity for a day and see if its possible. Its amazing how important it is in our lives.