Learning by asking

It's 8:35. School's been in session for 35 minutes. Here are the questions that come:

During math (calendar): Why does Easter fall on a different day each year?
Because it comes on the Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.

Why do people in Africa go naked? (Last night we watched the West African folk tale Kirikou and the Sorceress.)
 Because people decide what is acceptable in their own countries. The women in the story go topless, but their legs were always covered, did you notice? Whereas here, we show our legs but not our breasts. In other countries, women cover their faces when they go out. It all depends on what people decide is normal. Africa is not a country, you know. It's a continent full of countries.

Which is the largest continent?
Asia, then Africa, then North America, South America...

What is this lump in the dog's throat?
Probably his hyoid bone, like you have, that goes up and down when he swallows.

(Prompted by his math), How big is an ounce?
It's two tablespoons--thank you red-checkered cookbook--and also exactly one shot-glass full.

I segued into a discussion of why someone needs to know serving sizes--diabetics, for example. We talked about how foods raise your blood sugar and eating too-large servings of starches and sugars can overload the system. We talked about how some people get diabetes because of genetics and some get diabetes because of eating insulin-triggering foods for years on end and the body gets "worn out" and doesn't know how to handle the sugars. I told them how to eat (fiber, protein) and that their staying active helps the body work through whatever they eat. Now they're out on the swings. It's 9:04. 

People think children might "get behind" by being homeschooled. Bah. I defy the public school kids to learn so much in an hour.