Being agnostic, my kids don't know much about organized religion. I home school, and fully plan to teach them units on world religions when they're old enough to understand it, but as far as knowledge of any religious figures or practices, they're lacking.
So today as we went past Notre Dame, I explained what I knew about the historical development of churches, architecturally. I took their photo at Point Zero--the bronze plaque on the ground from which all traffic distances in France are measured. They were duly impressed.
Inside, I told Olivia, who always has further questions, about how the stained glass windows were ways to tell biblical stories to the illiterate masses. I explained how the cathedral was built on the remains of the former Roman Temple at the site. Lastly, I told her that Napoleon was crowned emperor here.
Zing! That's what stuck. She'd seen the David painting on our Louvre DVD. Then at Versailles, she saw the room-sized version. Last week, we saw the one in the Louvre. She also latched onto the gold dome of Les Invalides--so every time she sees it, she announces, "That's where that Napoleon Emperor guy is buried."
My budding historian!
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