One of the key efforts of an unschooling parent is something usually referred to as “strewing”: keeping interesting things “strewn” throughout your home that may be of interest to your child. It’s one of the ways often described to create a rich environment and it’s one of the habits I thought we might miss on the road.
Strewing generally leads to lots of cool stuff rotating around the house…cool stuff we have neither the storage to carry, nor the actual counter/table/floor space to place. “Stuff” simply has no spot to occupy in a 22 foot RV. So strewing has taken on a different look for us now. Instead of things, we strew opportunities: people, places and experiences. The world is truly our classroom…or at least the contingent 48. 
Zeb has had a serious interest in mythology ever since being introduced to a video game just a few months ago by some new friends we made on the road. Through means I simply don’t know he can now recite both major and minor gods, what they rule, who they married and their children, as well as many of their stories.
When the Percy Jackson movie came out I knew we had to get it for him. (We keep all our DVD’s in a large CD folder and throw away the cases; we love movies and this ensures we always have space for our regular movie nights.) If you’ve seen it you know that one scene is portrayed right here in Nashville: the Nashville Parthenon! Duh! Of course we had to go!
Zeb really loved it, although he was disappointed there wasn’t more there. Not much of what we saw was new to him, but it was fun anyway. And he hasn’t stopped talking mythology all day. 
Some cool information Zeb wants to share (and me, too!) with his fellow mythology lovers:
- Nashville built the Parthenon as part of their Centennial celebration to highlight their being referred to as The Athens of the South, due to their high number of universities.
- It was originally built from plaster in 1897 and meant to be a temporary structure. Other monuments were also built and later deconstructed but the Parthenon was left. When the plaster began to deteriorate the decision was made to reconstruct it out of cement, a 10 year project that began in 1921.
- As soon as we finish the Harry Potter series, we’ll be starting the Percy Jackson books*!
- The Lightning Thief* was not actually filmed on location, nor was the Athena in the movie anything like the Athena in Nashville. And the lady at the front desk was obviously pretty miffed about this.
- Zeb *loves* the computer game Age of Mythology*. It’s fun, captivating and full of cool information.
- Youtube has some cool videos for you visual learners who want to know more.
- Despite lots of Greek Mythology love, his favorite god is Thor, the Norse God of Thunder.
- And right now we’re getting ready to read the stories in this kid’s book* my aunt loaned us!
What are your kids loving right now? Any other mythology lovers out there?
I'm Tara Wagner, life coach and creator of the Digging Deep process, where I coach women out of survival mode to recreate their lives and families.
We *just* found this online game and he couldn’t wait until morning to check it out!! http://www.grepolis.com/
My kids were excited to see your photos after just watching the Percy Jackson movie. Thanks for the link to the game, we will check it out!
Zeb and I are kindred spirits! I have been reading up on some mythology… one story in particular, I am entranced by Pandora, I have been daydreaming about trying to write for the first time just to try and capture what I imagine she was like
I just started reading the Percy Jackson books! I’m on book two. I like them, but I haven’t seen the movie yet.
I am a practicing Heathen who honors the Norse gods of Thor, Odin, etc. and Zeb ever has any questions about that Pantheon, please feel to ask away.
In Frith,
(In Peace)
Devin
I love your picture of the Parthenon. It looks like the building fell from the sky and landed in front of Zeb. That’s some heavy strewing!
I reblogged and tweeted a link to this post on my blog: http://fyeahunschooling.blogspot.com. ~Cheryl
I have a child deep into mythology right now, as well, and who has been through most of those resources (except for youtube & grepolis–thanks so much for sharing those–and the Lightning Thief movie, which he feel wary of). What I like seeing, too, is where this interest leads. He has also ended up exploring, like Zeb, Norse mythology (D’Aulaire’s has a Norse Gods book, as well) and recently started looking into Arthurian legend. I bet the big, empty blocks of time you have will allow for much deep delving and a full incorporation.
oh i love this!!! i am totally a “strewer”!!!
nature guides…cool thrifty finds…art materials. i *love* to place them in our children’s paths and then get out of the way and let them discover and explore!
we actually have fairies that visit our house at night from time to time. they often strew little goodies on the kitchen table for the kids to discover in the morning. so much fun!
xo
~erin
Jonah is totally into rocks at present. He has a book on them, a rock collection, and a magnifying glass. He recently drew faces on all of them and called him his pet rocks. He’s currently building a tower of rocks with glue and masking tape. We’re finally coming down from our trip to Denver and getting back to “normal”. Maeryn watching Elmo and building with Legos and Jonah working on his “projects”. We had fun in Denver, but it’s good to be home.
That is what we do … but I never knew it had the name “strewing.” Cool. We have fairies at our house as well.
I have that book your aunt lent you. I kind of can’t wait until my daughter is interested in it. I was really interested in Greek myth when I was a teen. I still like it. My daughter has been into Disney’s Hercules (the movie and we also have a book version of it — it’s a long book compared to what we usually read together, but she’ll happily listen to the whole thing). It’s as good a place as any to start with her because that’s where her interest lies.
This looks like it was a pretty cool trip!
One of my favorite stories is Orpheus and Eurydice. It’s beautifully illustrated in this picture book: http://www.amazon.com/Orpheus-Eurydice-Sybil-Grafin-Schonfeldt/dp/0892366249/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278535019&sr=1-2
Cement is only one of the ingredients in concrete.
Adrian has been into “Civilization” Building empires & going to war with the Greeks, native Americans, Persian, French etc.. I got it 4 him on a whim @ Xmas & in the true unschooling strewing way he picked it 6 months later & is still playing.
I just finished “Pope Joan” The Novel, with Norseman gods & wars. Loved it.
We have also become mythology lovers over the past 6 months to a year. Love the Percy Jackson Series, we are half way through the third book in the series. Daughter loves the movie and hope to purchase it this weekend. A book your son might enjoy is D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths. Although he might already know alot of the information that is provided through the game he has been playing. But I find the book fascinating.
Blessings
Diane
If Z likes webcomics at all he might dig this one: http://brat-halla.com/comic/1-balder-dash/
The characters are all the Norse gods. It’s not 100% based in the actual mythology that you read about, they kind of take the characters and run with them a bit, but it’s kinda fun.
Hello!
I hope Zeb can enjoy his awesome knowledge and interest for a long time to come!
Thanks so very much for posting a link to my body painting work- the support means lots and lots!!
….i remember when i was obsessed with mythology when i was a youngling. Unfortunately my memory has dulled since then and i don’t remember half of it
Love your blogs!
-Chelsea Rose
http://www.chelsearosearts.com
Hehe … Luna … only 10 months old … loves my hair (tugging on it), her daddy’s beard (tugging on it), our pets (a dog and cat she loves to tug on), and anything animated
. Oh, and toys that aren’t toys but household items and such. Love the post and the way you’re so dedicated to your son and his interests.
I’ve always loved mythology and I’m guessing it will rub off on the kids. I love discussing it when we go to the musem of natural history, getting books from the library, etc. I also played Age of Mythology a few years back as well
Hi Tara,
Well, T is about to turn four, and is into monster trucks, construction and farm equipment, that song called Cotton Eyed Joe, and the Scoby Doo show. I am so interested in Strewing, how funny I was just on anoth site and it mentioned strewing, but didnt explain it at all. I would love to hear more about strewing and exactly how one strews in their home. I get that you are putting stuff around your house (or rv) but can you explain a little more about it, or have you blogged on that topic before? Ok, I am probably an idiot since I need directions on strewing, LOL!!!
The lightning Thief WAS filmed on location in Nashville (watch the credits), but the Athena is not the same.
@Erin, according to the Parthenon peeps, only outdoor footage was filmed (driving through Centennial Park). They came inside…for research or something?…but chose to build a separate off-location set for the actual Parthenon scenes. Both the Athena and much of the rest of the Parthenon’s indoor architecture and exhibits were changed to fit the needed scenes.
man oh man did i ever enjoy watching Percy Jackson last night – we’ve put all the books on hold at the library – all cause of this post of yours – thanks for sharing Sweetie!
I just sent a link to this page to a friend to explain strewing and had TOTALLY missed the link Grepolis. How did you guys find the game? I’m going to try it in my spare time & show it to the kids.
I’m also in the midst of reading Percy Jackson (#4 atm). I have to say watching the movie after reading the book was interesting. I had seen the movie first and forgotten enough to not affect the reading. It’s good to have movies be distinct from books, it doesn’t dilute the magic then