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Boys and girls in this day and age are a lot more involved in updating their face book page than in actually putting their faces into a book.    Sometimes it seems like young people are just not involved in anything that doesn’t have computer graphics connected to it.  This is after all the cyber age and if a kid isn’t reading three things at once he feels like he is slacking.  But, as you know, the past is really a helpful thing for them be familiar with.  It just helps beinga acquainted with the stories of how things came to be.  If we’re going to remain a successful democracy we really need to instill some of our beautiful history to them.  So how do we get them to crack the book on the traditions of this country without feeling like we’re pulling teeth? There are lots of ways, but one particularly good way is through model trains.  Yes.  Yeah, historic model trains carry a vibrant history with them but don’t burden us with feeling that we are being educated.  Here’s how to pass on history with model trains:

Use trains as a secret vehicle for the past:

Try to make your lay out period and location specific. Imagine a track design that is set during Reconstruction in the American Southwest.  You can feign ignorance and get your boys and girls to “help” you figure out what would make for appropriate scenic details to your setup.  They might research the telegraph and add telegraph lines next to the tracks.  Or they might create a living town near the tracks to represent the boom cities that were the winners in the railroad speculation game.  Maybe even have a few washed out prospectors still panning for gold in the nearby stream.

Historic toy locomotives are also a good alternative to the usual diorama or scale model:  

You might also manage to talk your kid’s history teacher into allowing him to bring in a historic model train set-up in place of the usual boring diorama.  A static diorama really can’t compete with the dynamic movement of a historic model locomotive layout. A picture of Jesse James is fine, but what if you incorporated toy trains to bring the train robber’s life details and cultural context to life.  You could show the robber awaiting the period specific train with his whole gang and also show other aspects of this vibrant period of American the past.  It’s sure to be a hit!

Visit Historic train Locales:  

If you’re anywhere in the American West you are never far from historical train sites and museums where toy locomotives are often featured.  This can be great fun and be very educational as well.  In some places, model locomotive clubs often put on model train events.. Just google it and you are sure to come into contact with your local model train community.

Whatever you choose to do, you will discover that toy trains are a door to our traditions even if you don’t explicitly use them as such.  Even if you just do model training without even considering the educational possibilities you will inevitably foster a greater sense of historical knowledge simply by handling these little mechanical doorways to the past.  

Here is more information on Model Steam Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.

Can you design candles as a family? The answer is absolutely yes!   Crafting candles using bee’s wax sheets is one of the best ways to improve connection between the members of a family.  Bee’s wax candles are customarily found in churches or on dining tables.  This type of candle usually comes in candle containers, but the really stylish ones are molded.  Bee’s wax can be bought from art stores or beekeepers in blocks or fine sheets.

The distinction between these two forms of bee’s wax has something to do with the procedure involved in crafting candles from the raw materials.  Bee’s wax blocks are generally melted in a double boiler and then poured into molds and candle containers.  This is the usual method of creating any type of candle.  If you are working by yourself, you can go for the conventional method of candle making, but you cannot let your children get too near the heat source because of the risks involved.  If you are going to let your children lend a hand in the making of bee’s wax candles, you should go for the alternative method.

The unconventional method will entail the usage of bee’s wax sheets.  If you’re going to roll bee’s wax candles, you don’t have to use your double boiler.  This means you don’t have to dissolve the wax.  The only part of the procedure that isn’t child-friendly is the slicing of the bee’s wax sheets.

In some cases, you don’t even have to cut the bee’s wax sheets because some stores offer pre-cut ones.  Just keep in mind, the form and style of your candles will depend on how the sheets were cut prior to rolling.  Utilize a really sharp pair of shears to slice the wax.

You can also use a craft knife or an ordinary paring knife.  Your finished product’s height will depend on the length of your wax sheet.  You can effortlessly generate tapering candles by changing the way you slice your bee’s wax.  You will need to prime the wicks and position them on the sheets of bee’s wax before letting the younger family members handle the sheets.

Priming your wick means covering it in melted bee’s wax prior to placement on one side of your sheet.  Fold the edge of your sheet securely until the primed wick is completely covered.

Now, we get to the enjoyable part.

Give one sheet of bee’s wax to your family members and let them roll the bee’s wax sheet into a taut tube.  The whole procedure is similar to rolling dough prior to baking.  Little kids may call for some help rolling the wax.  Instruct your kids how to use a steady but moderate force to roll the bee’s wax.  The bee’s wax sheets are lightweight enough to be molded into a cylinder by hand.  Don’t worry about adding dye to your rolled bee’s wax candles as some shops dye the bee’s wax sheets.  Pick pastel colors to entice your younger members to participate in your new family tradition.

Here is more information on How to Make Beeswax Candles. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Candle Making.