Around the World with Mr. Putty
Recently the kids and I hit upon a new idea that has brought an extra layer of interest and mirth to our morning read-aloud sessions. We decided to make a little marker that we could move around the globe to the location of each story we're reading. We started with a little blob of blue putty—you know, the kind that was supposed to hold our timeline to the wall without marking up the paint. It didn't. Instead, it seems to travel all around the house in the busy fingers of my children.
Well, now it travels around the globe. A little piece of it, at least. Such a simple idea, and such fun! Yesterday Mr. Putty began (as he always does) here in Virginia; hopped over to Palestine; sojourned down to Egypt; zipped to Italy to visit St. John Bosco; flew back across the Atlantic to New England, where Robert Frost was picking apples; escaped to Germany to avoid hearing my children mangle the language in our sitting room; reunited with us in Greenland, where a windswept traveler was regaling the household of Eric the Red with tales of a new land to the west; hurried to Scandinavia, arriving just in time to see some strange folks pop out of the armpit of Ymir the frost giant; and there he lingered for the rest of the day.
The girls take turns assisting Mr. Putty with his travels. (Beanie often has to be dissuaded from allowing him to visit her grandparents in Colorado instead of venturing to his next book-inspired rendesvous.) At some point, our intrepid explorer sprouted a tiny American flag (complete with gold-painted toothpick flagpole) from the top of his blobby self. While I'm a little uncomfortable with the imperial overtones of such an adornment—Mr. Putty is, in effect, planting the U.S. flag in the soil of countries all over the world—it does make it easier to see where he's stuck himself now. And it's such a sweet little flag.
Dear Mr. Putty! I wonder where in the world he'll go today?
Fantastic idea, Lissa! You certainly cover a lot of ground in one day. In our house, it would take Mr. Putty a month to reach all those destinations. You give new meaning to the phrase, "There is no frigate like a book."
Posted by: Alice Gunther | February 02, 2006 at 06:07 AM
That's a fun idea. We definitely need a globe here. Right now the decoration on top of the dictionary/globe/tchotchke stand is a birdhouse that says "See Rock City."
Posted by: Susan | February 02, 2006 at 06:22 AM
Excellent idea!
I've had a post brewing in my head concerning the "uses of a globe." This idea is perfect! I'll have to link it. : )
Posted by: Cay | February 02, 2006 at 06:34 AM
"You certainly cover a lot of ground in one day. In our house, it would take Mr. Putty a month to reach all those destinations."
Well, we've been binging on books lately, due to some pregnancy-related mobility problems I'm having. I park myself on the sofa and read all morning. This is one of our "high tide" times, for sure! Currently we've got an English history going, an American history, poetry (Frost and Longfellow), As You Like It, selections from 50 Famous Stories and Famous Men of Greece, and now the book of Norse myths. Plus there's a Rose-only read-aloud (Old Yeller) and a Rose-and-Bean ditto (A Lion to Guard Us), and assorted picture books. It's very Charlotte Mason-y around here these days.
We finally finished The Penderwicks (which they continued to howl about right up to the final page) and I'm now expected to produce another read-aloud equally enchanting. Still pondering that one.
Posted by: Melissa Wiley | February 02, 2006 at 10:13 AM
"I'm now expected to produce another read-aloud equally enchanting. Still pondering that one."
Lissa,
Give "The Attic Mice" by Ethel Pochocki a try...unless you've already read it. It's OOP but a total delight and worth finding! ; )
Ethel Pochocki is the author of "Once Upon a Time Saints".
Btw, I got to Ch. 14 of "The Penderwicks" before I maxed out my 6 week reserve at the library. I'm going to recheck it to finish it. I was getting attached to those girls. : ) Perhaps my girls will enjoy it quicker.
Posted by: Cay | February 02, 2006 at 01:00 PM
"I'm now expected to produce another read-aloud equally enchanting. Still pondering that one."
We had to reread Little Women. It's in progress ....
Posted by: Karen E. | February 04, 2006 at 10:14 PM
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Posted by: Goughe | March 02, 2006 at 09:24 PM
I'm totally doing it with the National Geographic map we have laying (lying?) around our house. Thanks for the great idea!
Posted by: Sarah S. Chicken | August 11, 2007 at 04:04 PM
Oh, I love the idea of Mr. Putty! I think my daughter would love this - and we'd both learn a lot of geography! Thanks for the great idea!
Posted by: Dana | February 06, 2009 at 07:54 PM