What is Post from the Past?
Today we received our monthly letter from post from the past, and it inspired a day of art, history and learning about Picasso. If you are not aware of post from the past it is a monthly subscription service that offers the most beautiful letters written in the first person from a person of historical significance. This person could be a scientist, an author, an artist, or an inventor. If you would prefer not to subscribe you can purchase past one off letters or set bundles too.
This month our post from the past was about none other than Pablo Picasso
How we used post from the past.
After reading the letter we were inspired to learn more about Picasso, and also his art and cubism in general. We began by heading to YouTube and watching a couple of videos and then the Twinkl search began; as always they didn’t disappoint.
The “Roll a Picasso” game was a massive hit and so much fun. You basically get a print out – or you can play it looking at the sheet online, with various Picasso style facial features and roll the dice to see which you should add to your portrait. We ended up with loads of really fun creations and I know it’s going to become our families must play game on all rainy days. Not only was this a fun and creative activity, it sparked conversations about the importance of art as a process and not always focusing on the end result. The game also reinforced Picassos artistic style in the children’s head and will be something that goes into their long term memories.
What we love about post from the past!
My favourite thing about Post from the past is that a simple letter can inspire an entire mornings / day even weeks learning. Education really doesn’t just happen between Monday and Friday 9-3pm when you are home educating, It can happen all day every day and at any moment.
Post from the past is a great way to study something that you may not have thought of, something extra in your week to change things up a bit. The letters are packed with information, however written in an informal first person style they read like a friend has written them to you. They are double sided and quick enough to fill your children’s heads with knowledge, but not too long to lose their attention. With the added bonus of a newsletter, your child – and you, can learn a whole host of information about someone they may have known nothing about.
How or if you follow up the letters is of course completely up to you. I always like to do something hands on to really get a lesson to stick. We have followed some post from the past letters up with a trip to London’s RAF museum, and others by watching a documentary.
So there you have it – who knows how many art history lessons our post from the past will inspire, but today I am thankful for the creativity and learning that it brought into our home, and I can’t wait to see what’s in our next envelope!
English