Earth Chart for Brent Annable’s Sphere


Western Hemisphere

This is a modest addition to the geometrifantastic “Stockinette Short-Row Sphere” by Brent Annable, found for free on his web site.  I’ve simply made an intarsia chart to help you turn one of his spheres into a model of Planet Earth.  I mean, every kid needs a stuffy planet, right?  Begin at the International Date Line and work westward (as the sun does).  You’ll find good success with slightly sticky yarns; smooth yarn such as bamboo would be very tricky.  100 yards each of green and blue will be more than sufficient; duplicate stitching Antarctica in white is a nice touch.

Earth Chart for Brent Annable’s Sphere

Primary Readers!

Ready for reading beyond “Pony and Little Girl”? Here are some primary reader stories which my kids loved – our heroes use cooperation and their wits to engage in adventures laced with welcoming values and fun.

The Great Laundry Mystery Karen’s Mom is marrying Gwen’s Mama, and the girls find adventure in the middle of all the preparations! Â Karen is an extra-energetic gal and her almost-sister Gwen is a very deliberate, careful girl. Â How will they work together?

Nthabi’s Star What could the Sea Faeries be searching for outside Nthabi’s window? She’d better get her favorite adult and go help them!

Katherine’s Gift How can a kid solve the problem of getting a gift for her baby sister?  It can be tough when you have no money, no transportation, and you’re not allowed to leave the yard without a grown-up. Thank goodness for Cat Magic!

Junior Brigadoons Sometimes adventures are closer than you know! A sister and brother learn things they never knew about fire safety and help out a friend in need.

Abigail and the Sea Abigail makes a magical friend!  The two girls from different worlds combine their wits to diffuse the danger of the Great Grump.

Sweetheart Mitten

 

It’s the Cold Latitudes Dilemma – how to hold hands with your sweetie on a romantic walk through the snow without getting frostbite?  A stockinette hand pouch with cuffs!  Add your own beautiful cables or color work, of course.  It goes particularly well with a matching pair of mittens, shared by your non-holding hands. Makes a great Valentine’s or engagement gift. Price is $2.00 through PayPal.  




Celebrate Samhainn

The days grow shorter, the harvest comes in, we settle our debts, and we forgive one another.  When the veil parts between this world and the After World, may your tears be of joy and sorrow, loneliness, and acknowledgement that those we love will always love us.

The Wild Ride Written from the perspective of a young ghost, this story tells of her love for her family mingled with her willingness to move on from this world.

The Next Great Adventure This service occurred at the UU Congregation of the Upper Valley, Norwich, Vermont, on October 30, 2011

Celebrate Yule

The winter solstice is a time for family, memories, generosity, and the re-birth of hope throughout the world.  May it be joyful for you.

Tante Claus  A wider look at life at the North Pole.  Discover holidays – and Elves! – from all over the world, and just exactly what Mrs. Claus does.

Prime Numbers

What’s the deal with prime numbers?  Grab your crayons and discover some great patterns while searching for primes!   Prime Number Grid

Every number can be written as a multiplication sentence – which can be very useful when the numbers get too big or too many.  Here’s practice re-writing each number from 2 to 100 as the multiplication of Prime Factors.  Prime Factors

Damask Blue Shaped Scarf

 

This very wide, very warm scarf is knit as two long stockinette tubes which loop around and under and over one another.  Short rows and wrap-and-turn accomplish the various corners.  This particular cable is copied from the beautiful collarbone tattoos of the talented web spinner at Damask Blue Designs.  The pattern is very much in “beta test” mode, and I’m pleased to offer it for free until it has been thoroughly test-knitted.

Damask Blue Shaped Scarf

 

The Friendly Creatures Game

An Interdependence Game: The Friendly Creatures Game invites twelve participants to take on the roles of twelve of Earth’s creatures in a cooperative problem-solving game. Each player is assigned a resource to Have and a resource to Need. Each player speaks two animal languages, and may only communicate with others who share a language in common.

How will the creatures find what they need to survive?

The Friendly Creatures Game was originally designed for children. With random assignment of Have and Need cards, it has been used successfully by a law professor as an exercise in negotiation, contract, leadership styles, basic economic theory, and interdependence.

The central message of The Friendly Creatures Game is that we cannot win until everyone shares their resources.
Friendly Creatures