Tuesday, 17 April 2012

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!)




Sunday, 8 April 2012

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? □ _ _ _ _□

Tuesday, 3 April 2012

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.




Monday, 2 April 2012

ASDAN Stepping Stones

Another great opportunity from a fellow Home Edding mum! ASDAN Stepping Stones is...

...a 20-30 hour PSHE/ Citizenship-based programme with an accredited outcome, aimed at 7-12 year olds.

To complete the programme, young people have to:
  • Complete their Skills Book and use a file or folder for their portfolio of evidence
  • Carry out challenges over 20-30 hours
  • Put evidence in their portfolio to show the activities they've done
  • Keep a list in the Skills Book of all the challenges they've done
  • Use Stepping Stones stickers to record the skills they have developed and used during the challenges
  • Hand in their books and portfolios to the teacher
  • Receive their certificates!

The Stepping Stones skills: Communicating; Investigating; Presenting; Using Multimedia; Researching; Independence; Working With Others; Solving Problems; Perseverance; Confidence; Respecting Others; Collecting Evidence; Planning and Reviewing; Looking After Yourself; Budgeting; Leadership.

    The topic areas for the challenges: Active Citizen; Community Spirit; Identity; Personal Wellbeing; Money Matters; Around the Globe; Environment; Valuing Each Other; Different Cultures; Health; Enterprise; Trips and Visits.


    Will update our progress as we go.

    Sunday, 1 April 2012

    I'm a Cub, Get Me Out of Here!

    Another weekend camping for Madi, with Cubs from across her District, with a theme that found her clutching stars with her teeth from all kinds of substances (but fortunately not the living ones from the Ant and Dec show!) 




    She also still made it to Rookies, as Sherbrooke is not far from there, and she came home a VERY tired little girl, too tired even to tell me very much about it!




    parents watching the closing ceremony at the camp fire circle



    Flight

    To make the most of the opportunities available to us, we actually started our March 'Flight' topic a little early with a great day at East Midlands Airport

    Then as part of National Science Week we attended an excellent 'How Aeroplanes Fly' workshop day at South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, led by Dr Mike Diprose.

    Our lapbooking this time was almost entirely led by a 'Hands of a Child' purpose-designed pack purchased from Currclick.

    Looking and talking about passports tied in nicely with the first of our ASDAN Stepping Stones activities. This is a PSHE/Citizenship programme aimed at KS2/3 children which a fellow HE mum is making available to HE families. More on this to follow...

    Friday, 30 March 2012

    Children's University

    Thanks to Julie, a fellow Home Edding mum, Madi is now signed up to the Children's University in Rotherham, and is very much looking forward to a school holiday session they have organised.