starting again

For today, this just refers to blogging.  It has been a very long time since I last posted.  Life dealt us some blows which I might talk about another time, and I might not.  And of course we've still been doing things and learning lots and lots but often I didn't feel like sharing.

For now, things are looking much more positive, so it's time to start again.

We've settled back in to a (sort of!) routine much more quickly after the Christmas break and are carrying on  daily with Conquer Maths, reading and being read to, and lots of music practice (Grade 4 exams looming).

There is a beautiful winter sun this morning so we've decided to head out to Poolsbrook later to meet up with some friends and their friends that are hoping to set up a regular group meeting.

History Hunt

Quite by accident we found this little gem on the iPlayer, and quickly ploughed through all the available episodes: Jack Cornwell, Rosalind Frankline, John Cockcroft, Giles Gilbert Scott, George Cayley, Muriel Matters and Thomas Andrews.  In each episode, children are encouraged to use not only the internet, but a wide range of library and museum resources, records and archives (including to my delight microfiche, which I wondered if I'd ever see again!) as well as real life accounts to find out more about a local historical celebrity.  As well as a great insight in to history techniques, it provided an enjoyable insight in to topics as wide-ranging as the telephone boxes, suffragettes, DNA and the Titanic and has encouraged us to undertake our own local History Hunt soon- watch this space!

Bird Apple Feeder

I hope you read this title and wondered what on earth I was talking about, as I didn't know what one was either, but this was the project for the first of Madi's B&Q 'Kids Can Do It' DIY classes.

After lots of drilling and hammering we have a bird feeding station which is based on pushing a stick through an apple.  Hmmmm, that probably doesn't help!  It looks like this!  

And I'll try to add another picture when it is sanded, painted, the light is better and my camera is working again!


In the meantime, she enjoyed this so much that she is thinking of asking Grandma for a drill for her birthday!

Plagiarism!

When I say plagiarism, of course I don't mean that Madi has been learning to copy/cheat this week, but that this post has been stolen/borrowed and slightly adapted from BFF's mum's blog...

This afternoon we went to BFF's house - she lives 5 motorway junctions away, which is quite a distance really, but not in home ed terms where we seem to travel far and wide to forge and maintain links. These two appear to have the type of friendship that allows them to slip instantly back into the firm friendship role whenever and wherever they meet up. Yesterday they spent the time constructing a dolls house and then additionally making dolls to live-inside. 

BFF and Madi busily making

Dolls to 'live' in the house

Additionally BFF and Madi spent time going through homework sheet(s) and listening to CDs for their upcoming singing weekend.

As on previous visits, they also enjoyed bike rides round to the park (Madi loves this freedom and I wish we lived somewhere I felt safer for her to travel further afield without me) and probably lots of other things that us parents will never know about, and it was only very reluctantly Madi left in time to get to her Rookie Lifeguard class, which she usually looks forward to.  

The Big Bang Fair

Today started a little sadly as we'd booked to attend this event with Madi's BFF, who is now attending school. However, there was so much to do at the Big Bang Fair we didn't have time to think about that, and were quickly grabbed by the stalls, events and activities....

Madi particularly enjoyed the Harry Potter potions session we had booked, which covered some simple chemical reactions that I had covered with JK before but are so much more fun accompanied by Snape and Hermione!

From her own notes....
Volcano
White wine vinagar (sp!)
Wash up liquid
Food colouring
Baking soda
Beaker
Half fill beaker with vinager (sp!) . 1 squirt of wash up liquid. 2-3 drops of food colouring. 1 teaspoon of baking soda.

Clean coins
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons lemon juice
coin
Disolve (sp!) salt in lemon juice. clean the coin.

"No Title!"
pinch shredded red cabbage
add 1/4 cup water
mush it up
add lemon juice

Blobs in a Beaker (AKA Lava Lamp)
one cup
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup oil
few drops food colouring
1/2 alka seltzer tablet

mix it together and add half the alka seltzer tablet. you can do it again later with the other half.

But as you can see from the pictures, there really was SO much to do, and I'm glad we didn't book any more activity sessions as there was still plenty more to see in the main arena.  The only downside to an amazing 'free' day was the cost of parking, and the sheer number of people in a the venue (but particularly unaccompanied groups of secondary pupils and primary school teachers,  who appear to have very little respect for others, let alone manners!)

Easter Egg Trail

This year the Easter Bunny left a general knowledge quiz (based on the Telegraph's 2010 Ultimate Summer Holiday Quiz) to help find chocolate goodies. I was very pleasantly surprised at how many both could answer straightaway. Obviously JK found it easier than Madi, but I was really impressed to see her fire up the PC and use keywords to find out the answers she didn't know- obviously the work we have done on research skills to support lapbooking and Homework Club has obviously paid off :)

My special moment though, was her answering "Elphaba!" to the question, 'Who discovered gravity?" ! That girl really does love her musical theatre ;D

Unfortunately, much of the chocolate was eaten before I had any chance to take photos!

These clues will not lead you directly to your treats, only tell you where to look. Answer the questions, and then put the highlighted letters together to find out where to look…

Happy Hunting!

The first place to look is the _ _ _ _ / _ _ _

Who had an encounter with the three bears? _ _ □_ _ _ _ _ _ _

Who was caught red-handed trying to blow up parliament in 1605? _ _ _ / _ _ _ _□_

What colour are emeralds? □_ _ _ _

Sheriff Woody Pride and Buzz Lightyear are major characters in which series of films? _ _ _ / _ _ □_ _

What is the name of the football stadium where England play home matches and the FA and Carling Cup Finals are also played? _ _ _□_ _ _

What is the line of latitude that runs around the centre of the world called? _ _ _ _ _ □_

How many wives did Henry VIII have? _ _ □

This second clue leads you to a _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _

Who was created by Gepetto the woodcarver? _ _ _ _ _ □_ _ _

What did Spain send to attack Britain in 1588? _□_ _ _ _

From what tree do acorns come? _□_

What is the name of Shrek’s wife? □_ _ _ _

What kind of creature was defeated by the Three Billy Goats Gruff? □_ _ _ _

From what country does Lego come? □_ _ _ _ _ _

What title was given to the rulers of Ancient Egypt? _ _ _□_ □_

What are films about Cowboys and Indians called? □□_ _ _ _ _ _

What is the capital city of Spain? _ _ _□ _ _

Third clue now, and you’ll be looking _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ / _ _ _ _

What is the correct name for a ‘referee’ in cricket? □_ _ _ _ _

What is another name for the game ‘tic tac toe’? □_ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _□ /_ _ _ _ _ _ _

What is the largest planet in our solar system? _ _ _ _ _□□

What is the name of the vehicle that Scooby Doo and his friends drive around in? □□□ / _ _ □_ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _□□_

What is the name of the object struck in ice hockey? _ _ _□

This fourth clue leads you to where we keep the _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _

Which famous Spanish artist painted Three Musicians in 1905? _ _ _ _ _ / □□_ _ _ _ _

Who is the deputy Prime Minister? _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ □□

What is the name of the character played by Karen Gillan in Doctor Who? _ _□ / _ _ _ _

Who was the Lady with the Lamp during the Crimean War? □_ □_ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Which resident of Jellystone park is “smarter than the average bear”? _ □_ _

Which leaves can be used to relieve the pain from stinging nettles? □_ _ _

This fifth clue leads you to the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Which Scottish loch is reputed to contain a monster? □_ _ _

What is an eight sided shape called? □_□_ _ _ _

Which breakfast cereal is advertised with the slogan “snap, crackle and pop”? _□□□ / _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Who took elephants across the Alps? _ _ _ _ _□_ _

With which Queen is the phrase “We are not amused” associated? _ _ _ _□_ _ □

What colour are the benches in the House of Lords? □_□

On to the sixth clue- your _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

How do you write 100 in Roman numerals? □

Which stringed instrument is bigger than a violin but smaller than a cello? _ _ _□□

Which tv presenter hosts Wipe Out and Blast Lab? □□_ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ □_

Which film and musical are about a miner’s son who wishes to become a ballet dancer? _ _ _ _ _ / □_ _ _ _ _ □

This seventh clue leads you to a _ _ _ _ _ _/ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

What sort of animal is Basil Brush? □_ _

What material was used to make a famous bridge in Shropshire in 1779, a town now being named after it? □_ _ _

What are the young of frogs and toads called? _ _ _ _ _□_ _

What is the sixth colour of the rainbow? □□_ _ _ _

What is the name of the Australian throwing stick that can return to its thrower? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _□

In which U.S. State would you find Hollywood and Los Angeles? □□_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

What is a shortened form of William or what you have to pay after a meal? □□_ _

Who discovered gravity? _ _ _ _ _ / □□_ □ _ _

Eighth clue already? You’re doing really well, and this one should be easy to find in the _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _

Who has a dog called Snowy and is friends with Captain Haddock? _ _ _ □_ _

Sculptures of which animal lie at the base of Nelson’s Column? _ _□_ _

What has the scientific formula H2O? □_ _ _ _

What notable event affected London in 1666? _ _ _ □

Who painted the Mona Lisa? □_ _ _ _ _ _ _ / □_ / _ _ _ _ _

Which desert covers much of Northern Africa? _ _ _ _□□

Who wrote Little Darlings? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ / □_ _ _ _ _

Which is the largest of the Channel Islands? _ □□_ _ _

Nearly finished, time to peep behind the _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

What colour is naranja? □_ _ _ _ _

What is the name of Manchester United’s home ground? _ _ _ / _ _ _□□_ _ _

Which chess piece can only move diagonally? _ □ _ _ _ _

In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, what is Charlie’s surname? _ _□ _ □_

“Feline” means relating to which animal? □_ _

Which children’s tv programme shares its name with a Naval flag? _ _ □ _ / _ _ _ _□

What is Bayeux famous for? □□ _ _ _ _ _ _

Which people travelled in longships and raided Britain in early medieval times? _□ _ _ □ _□

Final clue- look _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ / _ _ _ _

What does ‘ursa’ mean in the constellation names Ursa Major and Ursa Minor? □□ _ _

What came over the hill and blew ‘Whoo Whoo’? _ □ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _□□

How do you write SOS in Morse Code? □_ _/_ _□/_ _ _/_ _ _ _ /_ _ _ _ /_ _ _ □ /_ _ _ /_ _ _/_ _ _

What children’s TV series is set in Pontypandy? _ _ _□ _ _ _ / □_ _

Which tree has a variety called ‘weeping’? _ _ _ _□_

What is the latin name for the smaller lower leg bone? □ _ _ _ _□

Skellig

Whilst out on our travels over the past couple of weeks we have been listening to David Almond's fantasy/mystery Skellig, which is often recommended in home educating circles because the character Mina provides an alternative viewpoint to the stereotypical understanding of 'homeschooling'.

"My mother educates me," she said. "We believe that schools inhibit the natural curiosity, creativity and intelligence of children. The mind needs to be opened out into the world, not shuttered down inside a gloomy classroom." [Mina's explanation as to why she is educated at home]

Indeed a quick google search indicates that the novel is often used as a starting point for students to debate the pros and cons of 'homeschooling' (I bet some of those would be 'interesting' to read too!)

The story is beautifully written, and the storyline quite complex for a children's book; it is never really quite clear what Skellig actually is. It is also very thought-provoking, and has been the starting point for many discussions, which is probably why we have spent longer on this story than we normally would.

"Sometimes we just have to accept there are things we can't know." [another great quote from Mina!]

This story has moved me enough to prompt a blog post in its honour, and it is definitely one I will read again. I will also be looking out for the more recent prequel My Name is Mina when funds allow.

BUT, and this is a really big BUT, I really wish somebody had warned me about the !@$* language in the book, which almost spoilt it for me, but in the end resulted in another really good discussion.