Tag: History

Visiting Christiania

In Denmark we have a special part of Copenhagen called Christiania. It has a history of freedom and rebellion. It also has a history of violence and drug trade. It is also a huge piece of land, with a beautiful lake. It has ecclectic houses spread out in the green flowery landscape. Most of them build by the 700 people living there. The ground was a military area, where hippies and squatters went into the area in the 70-ties and settled down.

The area has been threatened with getting closed down many times since then, but have in a magical way managed to survive.

Today we went there with our kids and a good friend, Grev Lyhne who has lived there for many years. He showed us around and we had a nice pick nick there by the water. Grev Lyhne is a royal court fool, a drummer, a performance artist and a writer.

Grev Lyhne and the Schou family.

We like to show our kids different ways of life. Different people. Different surroundings. We hope that it will help them have more ways of life to choose from when they grow up, and that they will find relating to society and people around them easier. That it will help them become more empathetic towards other people.

Celebrating the 200th year for H. C. Ørsted’s discovery of Electromagnetism

Today it is 200 years ago, that H. C. Ørsted discovered electromagnetism. Without knowing it, he formed the basis for the widespread use of electricity in our daily life, that we live today.

Electromagnetism is used for motors, radio, radar, mobile phones, computers and speakers.

Hans Christian Ørsted 1777 – 1851, was a Danish physicist and chemist who discovered that electric currents create magnetic fields, which was the first connection found between electricity and magnetism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Christian_%C3%98rsted

The road to Palmyra

“Mum, there is an exhibition at the museum Glyptoteket I REALLY want to see, and it is ending in a few days. We have to go soon!” So of we went. The exhibition was an excellent introduction to the history of Syria and the Middle East in general.

It was also very well explained how archaeology has evolved over time and how different areas of the planet earth has had the most interest on and off in the history of mankind.

The growth of the population, culture and art in certain areas of the world and the rise of wealth from trade, was also the subject of the exhibition. The decline of a city and its decent into oblivion, gave food for thought.

You can never grow tired of Glyptoteket. There is just so much classical art and history packed into that place. And what a wrapping! The whole place is a beautiful piece of art, with Mosaic floors, huge plants, a fountain and statues.

A beautiful way to learn about history and art.

Glyptoteket 2020-02-27

The Karen Blixen Museum

To make history come alive, we enjoy visiting museums. At the moment we are really fond of visiting museums with focus on one particular memorable historical person. We try to relate to that time when that person lived and understand how their lives has been. We get inspired and find energy from the strength and quirkiness of that person.

I have never really liked Karen Blixen. But the more we came across her in our studies and just what we were talking about at home, I more and more felt we had to go see her museum. I had seen the movie “Out of Africa” and I hated it. But as she was on our list to read on the public recommended list for primary school, I thought it was a good idea to give her a chance and keep an open mind. The kids should make up their own mind.

It is a very beautiful museum and lies in a very beautiful part of Denmark. The museum is in her old childhood home and it is also the place she spent most of her life. The museum staff was friendly and we felt were welcome. The museum has a sponsorship for fresh flowers to use for flower decorations around the museum. So the whole museum is full of beautiful fresh flower decorations and that together with Karen Blixens old furniture and stylish decor gives an all together peaceful setting.

There was so much that we didn’t know about her. That she was a brilliant painter. That she was an excellent storyteller. That she had made a pact with the devil. That she suffered from syphilis and a stomach disorder. That she had to struggle really hard to get her books published and was rejected many times. That she was first published in the USA. That she had met Marilyn Monroe.

The museum also had worksheets for the children to complete, which helped us get around and see the whole museum and not miss anything. The staff was also very helpfull with information.

Karen Blixen had a great advice for the next generation – The most important in life is to have courage, humour and love.

The view from the Karen Blixen Museum
Completing the worksheets
The beautiful rooms
A young Karen Blixen
Wise words from Karen Blixen

The Storm P. Museum

Going to museums is one of our favorite things to do. We love them. Find them so inspiring. It doesn’t really matter what the subject is. Today we went to the Storm P. Museum. We had for a few years been using the ice skating ring next to the museum. Every time we had said:”We should visit that museum”. Well, today we got around to it.

Especially my oldest child was eager to go there. I knew Storm P. from my dad and remembered reading cartoons by Storm P. as a child, which we had lying around the house.

Storm P. lived from 1882-1949. He was an artist who took part in 20 movies, a comedian, a cartoonist, an author and poet. He is mainly known for his cartoons, which was used in newspapers and magazines.

The museum showed a very versatile Storm P. Many sides to Storm P. that I didn’t know. It was much more interesting that I had imagined.

There was also a temporary exhibition about the cartoon “Valhalla” which all my children knew, even though it was from the 1970-ties. We also took part in an assignment, where you should answer different questions around the museum.

The Christmas Story

We love learning by doing. This year we had the idea to put together a Christmas Play, together with some other Homeschoolers. It was a good way to learn about religion, history and to work together as a group. It was also a good way to get to know some other Homeschoolers better.

Visiting the United Nations building

The United Nations building in Copenhagen is open to visitors, if you book a tour with them. So we did just that. Gathered 16 homeschoolers and had a look around the building. Before the visit we talked to the children about the purpose of UN, and how, and on what basis it was founded in 1945.

Tour of the UN building 2019-11-08
Entering international territory.
The broken piano.
UNICEF.

Copenhagen Town Hall

Our oldest child was researching to find a map of Copenhagen from the 16th Century, and found that it was possible to look at one in real life, in the Copenhagen Town Hall public library. She asked for help to find out how to visit that library and it resulted in us all going there on a tour of the whole town hall and the tower. It was a good way to learn about the democratic process in Denmark, and to understand the way the councils work. The Copenhagen town hall is open to the public, which in itself is quite unique, and you can pay to get a tour of many of the areas not open to the public. You can also pay to get a tour of the tower, which has a unique view over the city. Copenhagen has many towers and we want to climb all of them. We have gone through quite a few of them by now, but this was our first time in the Town Hall Tower. The Town Hall is full of wall paintings, many by famous artists. It also has a room full with unique woven tapestry, with motives from Danish history. As our oldest daughter said:”We just didn’t have enough time there” 🙂

The Copenhagen Town Hall 2019-09-20
The Town Hall Garden in the centre of the building.
The speakers chair at the meeting room for the citizen representation
The Tapestry work
Painting by P. S. Krøyer at the entrance to the library
View from the tower.
The main hall.

Visiting Esrum kloster 2017-06-01

Esrum Monastery is a great place to visit and learn about the reformation in many different hands on ways. There is a game room, where you can play a game where you can choose to represent or support the church or the king. Then you play against each others teams and learn about the different influences and powers which ruled then.

The reformation game room.

It is also situated in very beautiful surroundings. There is a large playground and a medicinal garden.

Visiting the Barbie Museum 2017-09-12

As a child I really loved to play with Barbie dolls. It was an amazing universe for me. I build houses and made clothes for my dolls. Actually it was my start into learning to sew. I keept most of my dolls and their accessories until I got children of my own. When they were old enough, they were allowed to play with them.

My children has continued the fondness for Barbie and I get so happy when I see them play. When we found out that Lene Darlie Pedersen had collected more than 4000 dolls, we had to go see her amazing museum. http://barbiemuseum.dk/

The dolls shows fashion through the past 50 years and Barbies development. The owner took us through the exhibition on a personal tour, where we could ask questions and was also allowed to have a look around on our own at the end of our visit. It was truly amazing.

The owner had started out collecting porcelain dolls, but found they were too expensive. But Barbie was affordable, so she could add new dolls to her collection frequently.