Friday 24th January

Today and throughout this week we have been finishing off loose ends to do with our Antarctica topic. 
James finished Fractions in maths and Gracie finished her pictographs in maths.  So lots of new things to start next week.

We then began a new side topic on Space.  This isn't going to be our main topic but it is what we are looking at for the next 3 Tuesday afternoons at Group.

Whilst they painted space shuttles and astronauts, I read aloud 'Space Explorers' which is a chapter book about a group of school children who go on a science field trip to space.

We then made our own solar system.

Followed by a spot of junk modelling -

James' design, not quite finished.

James then took it one step further by making himself a space suits (of sorts) (and don't panic grandparents, no that's not a plastic bag on his head).

A few other things they have done today.

 Basting Challah bread with egg wash. 

Gracie starting a scarf.

We finished off this action packed day by watching Mr Popper's Penguins the movie.  I was disappointed how much it strayed from the book and so had to keep pausing and explaining to the children. It took us all a while to adjust to a different story line.  But it was still good fun, especially with chocolate pop corn thrown in. 

Thursday 23rd Jan

Today at our Home Ed group we made bird feeders ready for the 'Big Bird Watch' this weekend.

James and Gracie both had to drill holes into their logs before stuffing with bird seed which had been mixed with oil and breadcrumbs.

Gracie is hammering her nails in to hold the wire handle to hang her feeder.

We were delighted to see two robins feeding happily from this feeder this afternoon.  Happy children too.

Evie made a feeder from a fir cone, which she stuffed with vegetable fat and then rolled in the bird seed.

Saturday 18th Jan

James had a woodwork session with daddy. Their mission was to build a shelf in the landing cupboard.

 Checking it is suitable.

 That'll do nicely. Let me drill it in place.

 Tricky business this drilling.

Now to sand and fit the cross pieces.  

 With a spot of hammering.

Ta da.......My new shelf.
Thanks Daddy and James. You are stars.  xx
In the words of Gordon Ramsay -- Shelf - Done.

Monday 20th Jan

This morning we focused on literacy and discussing the 'Read Aloud' which we have just completed. Mr Popper's Penguins.  James and Gracie wrote a story map reflecting on the characters, problems and major events of the story.
We then listened to the main pieces of classical music that were referenced in the story to which the penguins performed.  My three little penguins then tried to recreate the activities of the penguins to the music.

Shubert's Military March

Next was Merry Widow Waltz, which was played by Andre Rieu - lovely.
Finally, By the Brook - where the penguins slid down ladders in the show hence lots of sliding in the photos....

They finshed up designing their own poster to attract people to the penguin show.

Jan 13th-17th

Been a good, busy week.

This term I have introduced a character trait for the week.  Last week was 'Teachable'. I was so surprised and thrilled that after simply repeating a related verse once a day both James and Gracie had learnt the verse.   This week was 'Respectful' and they have learnt 1Pet2v17. Now they just need to put it into practise. Which seems to be a taller order than learning the verse!

Monday - we worked on Penguins, life cycle, different species and habitat.
Tues - as per post
Wednesday - James continuing work on Fractions in maths.  James went to Lockerley school for his staff promise trip to Army barracks at Tidfield.  He had an amazing time handling weapons and exploring inside tanks.  Photos to follow.

Grandma, the girls and I went swimming to the Rapids. 
4pm Gracie went to trampoling and James had a tennis lesson.

Thursday - After maths we went to Home Ed group where the session was on Printing.  The girls used proper ink paint and rollers to create their effects.  They drew a pattern/picture into polysterene type stuff.

Friday - We went to godshill with Forest Friday folks for a wet walk.  Thankfully we were prepared for the stream but not quite so prepared for Jame to go in up to his middle!  Lots of fun including trying to sail little cork boats in the puddles.

 In the afternoon we talked about birds feet and how they are adapted for different environments.  They made feet out of play dough, pipe cleaners and straws, culminating in a home made Captain Cook Penguin from our Read Aloud Mr Popper's Penguins.  We finished this book yesterday and have thoroughly enjoyed reading it. 
 

Here's to a quiet weekend!

Tuesday January 14th

This morning with Gracie we began a new topic in maths - mass.  I got mum's old fashioned scales out and she started measuring. Anything sweet that she could weigh made the maths lesson the best ever.  She did complete a dull worksheet too, just to be proper about things!

Today was our big day to present Polar Regions to our Home Ed group.  James was Captain Scott and Gracie was Amundsen. We told a piece of their story and then got everyone to work.  

In teams they had to rotate different activities.  

1. Build a tent as fast as possible.  Then build the same tent but dressed in many layers, wearing snow googles and scarves, gloves and try and do it faster.  

2. In pairs pass the baby penguin egg from mummy to daddy without dropping the egg.

3. Learn all about blubber. Coating a hand in lard (with gloves) put both hands in cold icy water and determine if the 'blubber' kept the hand insulated or not. 

4. Make a glacier and see how it moves, sheers off into icebergs etc. 

The under 5's had a sensory water tray with polar animals and map cookies to make, and the odd penguin craft. 

Phew - quite an afternoon.  Lots of happy inspired children though so worth the effort.  

After all this James managed to play tennis for an hour in the cold and Gracie went to Rainbows.  Evie went home and ate sausages!

Quote of the day has to be from Gracie. 

I say  - "Gracie, what shall us girls do tomorrow while James is out?"

Gracie replied " Go swimming and to Costa Coffee, ooh and make cakes, oh and we could go to the moon. We could make a rocket and fly to the moon, ooh and watch TV.  "

mmh quite a list!

Wednesday 8th Jan

Wednesday 8th January

Today for our topic we read all about explorers to the Antarctic in 1911 - Scott and Shakleton.
We compared Scott and Amundsen and made artifacts to show on Tuesday Home Ed Group. Such as flags, animals they took etc...

Tennis and trampoling in the afternoon. 

Thursday 9th Jan

Thursday 9th Jan

After completing the basics - maths, spellings etc we spent a few hours at the home ed group. It was a science experiment about 'rock'.  The children had to sharpen wax crayons into tiny pieces and then attempt three things.

1. Melt a some wax partially 
2. Melt the wax completely
3. squish the wax together between tin foil.  

The effects were meant to simulate different rock fomations.  



In the afternoon, the children were delighted that a little package of Borax arrived in the post which meant we could to the 'glacier experiment'.  

We mixed pva glue, warm water and borax together to make GAK.  The gak simulates a glacier and the way it moves, sheers off into icebergs and so on.  Needless to say it was a big hit.

The rest of the afternoon was spent playing chess with Grandpa, solitaire with Grandma and general playing, cooking dinner and reading.

Friday 10th Jan

Friday 10th Jan

Today was a great day. 
We did a science experiment to establish whether the sea ever freezes.  We filled four cups with water and added different amounts of salt to three of them.  Every fifteen minutes with took the temperature and recorded.  The conclusion was that the salt stops the sea from freezing.

In the afternoon we had a go at making our own icecream. Chocolate of course.  We were a little short on the cocoa and I wonder if this affect the freeze time as it took forever.  But tasted great.