We have to take a pause on the supplement to virtual learning units because it’s May the 4th week. We love Star Wars at our house and we absolutely stop and recognize this day. Why? I’m glad you asked. First and foremost, it’s iconic. The storyline, special effects, characters, costumes, and music are just some of the bigger elements that caused this saga to make history. For its time, it was groundbreaking in just about every way. My 8-year-old and 5-year-old love it. They’ve seen newer, modern films with updated cinematography and special effects that are impressive. They can tell a difference in watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: A New Hope, and yet, I still came home several weeks ago and my oldest wanted to watch the trilogy. The original trilogy, starting with episode IV. Why? Because even though the first film that launched an empire (pun intended), was released in 1977, it is completely amazing; hence the icon it is today. We pulled up a preview of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (also released in 1977) the other day to give the boys an idea of the difference in the special effects between the two films. If you haven’t seen that preview lately, go ahead and pull it up. It will give you a new appreciation for the effects in George Lucas’s creation. Disney+ also has the documentary Empire of Dreams available, and I highly recommend it if you have an appreciation for these films. Special effects are just one of many reasons this series is an icon. Heroes trained in the ways of the force with legendary weapons; light sabers. The tall villain cloaked in black with the unmistakable voice who causes everyone to cower when he appears. A theme announces him (but we will get to John Williams in a minute) and he can choke an individual without laying a hand on them. Everyone knows Darth Vader. He is flanked with storm troopers who, again, wear the noticeable white armored suits. Jedi masters have become the model of expertise in using powers for good. Then there’s everyone’s favorite reluctant hero smuggler, Han Solo. He’s my favorite because he’s got some of the best lines. Insert adorable and quirky droids who are essentially sophisticated robots with personality. Ships racing across the galaxy that are immediately recognizable as well. X-wings, Tie-Fighters, the Millennium Falcon, and the weapon of choice for the galactic empire, the Death Star. Not sure whether Fat Boy Slim was thinking about that when they wrote the song, “Weapon of Choice,” but I like to think Christopher Walken was thinking about Star Wars while he danced his way through the video. Don’t forget the other iconic characters that are not of this world. The beloved Chewie and master Yoda. The lesser loved Jabba and Greedo. That brings me to the music. John Williams is one of the best composers ever and certainly of our time. The score for Star Wars is better than brilliant but I don’t know what that word would be. Who doesn’t get excited when you hear the main Star Wars theme? Also, the Imperial March is probably the most recognized theme of any villain. Graham used to just ask me to play that sometimes when we were in the car or at home. My response? “Yes, buddy, yes I will.” The saga is without question, iconic, from the opening credits to the familiar phrase, “may the force be with you.”
Given that the Star Wars films have created some legendary figures, it goes without saying that there are some memorable moments. Conversations and quotes that have been repeated for decades. How many of us have shirts or mugs with famous Star Wars quotes? I actually have a sign with a Yoda one it that reads, “Do or do not. There is no try.” I think I have mentioned before that I said that to a patient once after his wife assured him that I would try to get the IV in with one attempt. There are some great life lessons in these movies centered around the classic struggle between good and evil. So many lines you can use, too, in everyday life. It says a lot about a person when I drop a line from Star Wars, and they have no idea what I am talking about. How exactly have you missed out on this film series that has remained the icon that it is for the last 40 years? I don’t think I trust those people. I’m smiling on the outside, making some sort of joke, while completely judging on the inside. You gotta know your Star Wars just like you gotta know your Godfather. Come on people. Here are some important lessons we can learn from this ridiculously awesome film saga:
Star Wars Space Nuggets
- You may think you’ve got no hope of changing your situation, but hang in there, and you too, could leave your desert planet and end up flying X-wings on really important missions.
- Just because a girl’s a princess, does not mean she does not know how to use a blaster.
- Even though you share blood with your parents, it does not mean you have to share in their choices.
- Don’t give up hope. Even though things look bleak, and your last fighter decided to try flying blind, there’s still a chance for victory.
- Never give up on people. The love a parent has for their children is fierce. At the end of the day, we would totally stand up to Palpatine for our little jedis.
- Get some solid friends. You’ll need them in life. People you can depend on to get the shields down and help cover you.
- Speaking of friends, be kind to everyone. Your best friend may end up being an 8-foot tall Wookie.
There are many more life lessons in Star Wars, but these are a few good ones that come to mind.
Another reason we acknowledge this day is because it is just a whole lot of fun. Who doesn’t like pretending to be a jedi slicing away at the enemy using a super cool lightsaber? Speaking of lightsabers, we got ours from the Disney store and we have been battling for a good two years now. Some us, who will remain nameless, tend to really get into it so we may or may not have damaged a few that are not as sturdy. The Disney ones, for the most part, have held up really well. They are heavier though so just know that if your Jedi is just starting out, they may need a lighter-weight weapon. By just starting out, I mean they are still in the crib because it’s never really too early to start training. There are great movies to watch, fun treats to make and plenty of other galactic games to play.
Galaxy Donuts
We started off by getting dressed in our new Star Wars shirts which has become a bit of a tradition at our house. I mean, you can never really have too many Star Star Wars shirts. Our May the 4th breakfast included donuts of the galaxy. I do have a homemade donut recipe but for these, I just grabbed our local favorites and made some icing. For the icing, I used a cup of powdered sugar, 2 Tablespoons of heavy cream, 1/4 tsp vanilla and 1/4 tsp of salt. Then just play with the food coloring until you get the color you want. Mine is a mixture of blue and purple. Then I dusted them with edible glitter spray and added star sprinkles!
Jedi Training
All good Jedi need to train. Don’t let your little ones skip training and try to get a seat on the Jedi council too early. That doesn’t always go well, especially if your initials are D.V. formerly known as A.S. My oldest actually practices the moves he notices individual characters use and then wants to battle me. He will say, “Ok mom, now I’m going to be Obi-Wan.” My little one is pretty specific too. He prefers double-bladed light sabers or a crossguard. I confess I am delighted that they have taken to Star Wars and really become fans. I love the fact that we actually get into debates about characters and scenes. It is a lot of fun and an effective stress reliever. If you’ve had a particularly rough day, just grab a lightsaber, another little Jedi and practice your skills.
Darth Vader Lightsaber – Star Wars | shopDisney
A Galactic Gallery
We all love to draw around here, well most of us, so we had to incorporate some Star Wars art. The boys had a request to draw Darth Vader and a storm trooper. Sometimes they get me to sketch it out and sometimes they like to watch a video and do it themselves. These days, they do it all themselves but last year I still got called on to provide a little help. I also wanted to try the droid water color picture I saw on Pinterest and I’ve included the link below.
This Colorful Star Wars Paper Craft Will Banish Boredom
Free Solo
Another cute idea for a hands-on bit of science is to re-enact the freezing of Han Solo in carbonite and then, of course, free him! For this you just need some Lego people, ice trays, baking soda, water and vinegar. If you don’t have Star Wars Lego people, you can use any that you have. Just mix 3 parts water to 1 part baking soda and pour some of the mixture into the ice trays. Fill them only about half full. Then, add Han and some friends. Freeze as many rebels as you want! Pour some more of your mixture over the little people until the tray sections are full. Place in the freezer until completely solid. When you ready to release them from carbonite, just add vinegar. A very easy and very cool activity for your little ones. Hopefully, you won’t run into Jabba or a rancor.
We played in our Star Wars playroom too. I finally picked out some frames for our original 1977 movie trilogy posters and got those hung up. There we were, in our new shirts, lounging on our wampa rug while playing Star Wars: Battlefront II on the PS4. Not a bad way to spend our May the 4th. We rounded it out by reading from our Star Wars: 5 Minute Star Wars Stories book just before bedtime.
It would be impossible to cover all the cool things about Star Wars in one single post. There are so many ways to just have fun with this day. So many films just in the original saga. Not to mention the other films such as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story or Solo: A Star Wars Story. In fact, I think we will just make a week of it. After all, I can’t get the entire trilogy in before my little bounty hunters’ bedtime. I hope you have enjoyed this post, learned a little something and gotten some ideas for some things you can do to make your little one’s day extra special. You could always check in to booking the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel early. It is supposed to open in 2022 and be a fully immersive experience. I would settle for Disney: Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at this point. Another reason I think Star Wars is worth recognizing is the obvious genius of George Lucas. The creativity of one mind at work combined with the determination to tell his story. How many of us have enjoyed the fruits of his labor. How many others have been and will be inspired to not give up on making their dreams a reality. I think it is worth pointing out all of the elements that make this film series one of a kind. It definitely has some important themes and lessons worth teaching and it is just way too much fun for you and your family to miss.
Below are some movie quotes that are completely applicable to parenting.
“I find your lack of faith disturbing.”
“Who’s the more foolish? The fool or the one that follows him?”
“Do or do not. There is no try.”
“Never tell me the odds.”
“I am altering the deal. Pray I don’t alter it any further.”
“But beware. Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side are they.”
What do you love about Star Wars?
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