tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23254310857023877102024-03-12T23:55:22.620+01:00tinyfeetandbluebirdshelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-11170549268988712782018-10-20T10:30:00.000+02:002018-10-20T10:30:26.061+02:00Easing back in <br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">So I haven't been in this space for a few months. So many visitors, swimming class and then <i>la rentrée! </i>September
is always a hectic month trying to get used to new activities and find
new ways of organising our time. I've come to the conclusion I'm a bit
slow as it does seem to take me a long time to get used to changes. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><i>Beach football with friends</i></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><i> </i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">She enjoyed it so much more than it looks in this photo!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And changes we've had with quite a few new activities thrown into the mix. Our youngest in particular has upped from two to four activities this year which makes for very interesting Wednesdays (no school in France) as I ferry kids around from one place to the other. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I also had a birthday which didn't seem such a big deal this year, why is it that birthday's finishing in 0 always seem so much more special? Here I am at the beach having a very nice time thanks to great weather, some cycling and a wonderful cake backed by Noah. We had a very hard time lighting the candles! And in case that kind of thing interests people, my hair was expertly plaited by Maya. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Not much more to say today, we've been at the beach a lot! But we have also done quite a few experiments that I'll be sharing too as well as some craft and arts projects. In the meantime, check out this amazing piece of beach art curtesy of Maya and I, having fun on a lovely day out to the wonderful Ile Kerner.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yIuRtnzD5nI/W8nuYym77jI/AAAAAAAATco/eZksuAaC05Iv2t_wfcsSYuRomhCFCdmNgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="311" height="479" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yIuRtnzD5nI/W8nuYym77jI/AAAAAAAATco/eZksuAaC05Iv2t_wfcsSYuRomhCFCdmNgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0609.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> </span>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-15282036552827129552018-08-13T10:30:00.000+02:002018-10-19T16:18:01.115+02:00Holidays, Field Trips and Home Education<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_be4-KXDnO4/W22UUzzIQiI/AAAAAAAAQVU/FTCovogD3Qs7rmGCxg2vOO45Q9F1IQjDACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="279" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_be4-KXDnO4/W22UUzzIQiI/AAAAAAAAQVU/FTCovogD3Qs7rmGCxg2vOO45Q9F1IQjDACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_6338.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Stonehenge</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">People often ask us if we take the school holidays off. The simple answer would be no. We don't stop learning for the holidays. Psst neither do school kids! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">In fact we don't really change our way of learning much at all although we may privilege certain experiences over others. School holidays are great times to work on socialisation skills, spending time with friends and family who are more available. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It's also the moment to learn new skills or activities that our normal schedule doesn't leave time for. Things like swimming lessons and sewing projects, gardening, cooking and kayaking.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--qsjlRBpDK8/W22UnhGkg6I/AAAAAAAAQVc/IPQj0z_Y3XQ4FqUS-lgr4lhceycHHxt-ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="305" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--qsjlRBpDK8/W22UnhGkg6I/AAAAAAAAQVc/IPQj0z_Y3XQ4FqUS-lgr4lhceycHHxt-ACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_6398.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Mont St Michel</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Another thing our holdiday's are full of are field trips. On our recent trip to the UK we took in Utah Beach, The Mary Rose, Stonehenge, Glastonbury Tor, the Roman Baths and Fashion Museum in Bath as well as Darwin's House and the Mont St Michel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Some of those visits responded to areas of interest and studying we've done over the last years, others will kick start new interests and some are just because they're interesting and on the way. Follow up work might include watching documentaries, writing a report or reading up about something we found out that intrigued us.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VegdVo0dlt4/W22U0Ko40PI/AAAAAAAAQVk/oIvY3KKD4WIE127vdipDUKdaoEaN8ZIdQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="499" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VegdVo0dlt4/W22U0Ko40PI/AAAAAAAAQVk/oIvY3KKD4WIE127vdipDUKdaoEaN8ZIdQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_6221.JPG" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Learning how to shoot arrows!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">So Maya (12) has read up on women's fashion and prepared a report after the Bath visit. Lotta (6) is learning about the iron age and how StoneHenge was built. Noah (8) continues to be fascinated by WWII and has just got a load more books out of the library on just that subject. Visiting Utah beach was a dream come true for him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Learning really is something that is happening all the time for all of us. But it's not just classroom style learning, reading or writing or solving a problem. It's also learning how to interact with other human beings. And it's learning how to take good care of yourself and others. It's discovering what you enjoy and what makes you excited and passionate and want to know more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">All these things don't stop for the holidays, so neither do we. For us there's no strict time on and time off if you like, but rather a continuum of projects and living and projects and sleeping and eating and living and projects. May it so continue! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_RHnrx6DCt8/W22VOTmQSZI/AAAAAAAAQV4/3YUjpnr2igwjpVWFnmPvV8K_K70wV_ulgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="905" height="510" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_RHnrx6DCt8/W22VOTmQSZI/AAAAAAAAQV4/3YUjpnr2igwjpVWFnmPvV8K_K70wV_ulgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_6162.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The Mary Rose in all her glory</span></td></tr>
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helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-28953785158137366872018-07-28T09:30:00.000+02:002018-07-28T09:30:12.437+02:00Trying Something New<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_IEVnKEwhUo/W1s4f1AhipI/AAAAAAAAPn4/K94TZWoY968DW3iH-g2pVMkLbLQzpIDRACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_IEVnKEwhUo/W1s4f1AhipI/AAAAAAAAPn4/K94TZWoY968DW3iH-g2pVMkLbLQzpIDRACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0522.JPG" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Utah Beach in Normandy</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Hello! We've been on the road again, computer-less and with minimal internet connection. It's been lovely to be so reconnected as to not even be checking my emails, but it's also nice to be back now and reconnecting with people, ideas and the stimulating world of the wide web!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Following on from my post about <a href="https://tinyfeetandbluebirds.blogspot.com/2018/05/learning-all-the-time.html" target="_blank">Learning all the Time</a>, today I'm going to share with you about trying something new. Trying something new can be life-changing, it can be energising and it can be great great fun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Part of our holiday was a birthday celebration at the amazing outdoor pursuits centre Yenworthy Lodge. We spent one of the best weekends of my life with a group of the most amazing people I've been lucky enough to meet. And I spent an afternoon surfing! (no that's not me in the picture above!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I have to admit I'd been rather dubious about this activity. Everytime I thought about trying it, I kept imagining all the ways I would make myself look ridiculous by having a go! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">First there was the wetsuit. Now I consider myself to be in not bad shape for a 40 year old mother of 3 but wetsuits are very unforgiving and images of beached whales and heffalumps came to mind.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r2vulStUsLw/W1s9NTi0BAI/AAAAAAAAPoQ/KQHVT5etpWM1nCcP-fxavG0p92FJasqXQCLcBGAs/s1600/28414678547_260f644b93_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r2vulStUsLw/W1s9NTi0BAI/AAAAAAAAPoQ/KQHVT5etpWM1nCcP-fxavG0p92FJasqXQCLcBGAs/s640/28414678547_260f644b93_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Me, ready to Kayak</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Then there was the looming disgrace of my lack of sporting abilities compared to the rest of my immediate family. Former 110m hurdling champion of Rhone Alps - check. Kids who are literally great at every sport they try - check. Severe awareness of being a little out of shape - check. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">All those things combined to have me pretty much ready to hang out my wetsuit to dry and take up a spectators position. And then I read these words from a friend and other participant, she said, <i> </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><i>"well I'll give it a try and if I'm no good or it's not that much fun, I'll just go chill on the beach". </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5tQDi_hu4fI/W1s9kWMXtwI/AAAAAAAAPoY/4jQH9zG7AJ4gj-98_HbnrUN87_-3Nbs5gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5tQDi_hu4fI/W1s9kWMXtwI/AAAAAAAAPoY/4jQH9zG7AJ4gj-98_HbnrUN87_-3Nbs5gCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0513.JPG" width="476" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">What wisdom! So often as adults we take ourselves a bit too seriously, we worry a bit too much about our dignity and in so doing cut ourselves off from trying to many fun things. What a shame for ourselves. And how far from the example we want to model for our children. How can we tell them to give things a go, have a try if we're not prepared to do it ourselves.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Noah preparing to belly slide off a kayak!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I've seen it over and over again with language learners, how they're too afraid to speak because they are so sure they're going to make mistakes or sound stupid. Put your pride away I'd say and give it a go. It's the only way to get better.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Me and my life long friend off to surf!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">So I decided to take my own advice, put my own pride away, stopped worrying about my dignity and decided to just have fun. It really helped that I teamed up with my best mate Cath, I couldn't have asked for a better partner.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Maya catches a wave</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Lotta surfs in</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Oh yeah, I know you're all dying to know how it went... was I as awful as I'd thought I might be? Did my kids and hubbie show me up? Well, yes my Maya and Lotta were natural surfers much to everyone's envy. And yes Frank did not too bad nor Noah before he took an early raincheck. But, yes there's a but, I was actually not bad! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I was stood up right after! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I managed to ride a wave which was one of the greatest highs I've experienced in a while and even stand up on my board if only for seconds! I cannot begin to describe how happy and content this made me feel. I was not only pleased I'd given it a go, I actually discovered something I really enjoy. What better encouragement for me to get out there and try more new things. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Today, surfing in Devon, tomorrow the world! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><i> </i></span>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-7061905534876090862018-06-21T10:30:00.000+02:002018-06-21T10:30:07.359+02:00How to be observant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WBS_CDvJYgI/WypwEJLLotI/AAAAAAAAO2w/9DVP43_22TYLoofKBOVzkbzrAbAEZ8YjQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1815_v1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1014" height="283" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WBS_CDvJYgI/WypwEJLLotI/AAAAAAAAO2w/9DVP43_22TYLoofKBOVzkbzrAbAEZ8YjQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1815_v1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Observation</span> <span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">is one of the cornerstones of any good scientific process. All good scientists know they <b>need to look closely at things</b> to work out how they work or notice minute changes if they're conducting an experiment. They have learnt how to be observant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i>"<b>Observation is essential in science</b>. Scientists use observation
to collect and record data, which enables them to construct and then
test hypotheses and theories." (<a href="https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/8-the-role-of-observation-in-science" target="_blank">Science Learning Hub</a>)</i><i><a href="https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/8-the-role-of-observation-in-science"><br /></a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Today I'd like to share with you one way we've been fostering observance in our home education through natural sciences. Many children have a natural interest in the outdoors, in nature and animals. Fostering this interest and using it to <b>encourage careful observation</b> is an excellent way to encourage your children's scientific tendencies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">What this means for us is many different things. It may be spending time by <a href="https://tinyfeetandbluebirds.blogspot.com/2017/06/riverside-finding-inspiration-in-nature.html" target="_blank">the riverside</a> or <a href="https://tinyfeetandbluebirds.blogspot.com/2017/06/five-little-things-building-at-beach.html" target="_blank">at the beach</a>. It might be <a href="https://tinyfeetandbluebirds.blogspot.com/2014/11/at-risk-of-repeating-myself-i-love.html" target="_blank">leaf collecting</a> or painting tulips, going bird watching or star gazing. All these activities <b>cultivate not only great observation skills but our children's sense of wonder</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The activity I'd like to share today is <b>botanical drawing</b>. That sounds fancy but round here it mostly means taking time to draw, colour and paint plants and flowers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Supplies</span></h3>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Nature journal or paper. We like water colour weight paper best either in notebooks or loose leafed. We also love water colour postcards. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Drawing pencils</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Coloured pencils or felt tip pens or watercolour paints. The latter are our favourites because we're big fans of botanical books and they're often illustrated with watercolours.*</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A frame or things to mark out a square (we used four barbecue skewers) </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Method 1 Nature Trail</span></h3>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Take turns to be the guide. The first guide leads everyone to a plant or flower of their choice. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Everyone draws the flower or plant. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Take time to observe the details, the shapes of the leaves or petals. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Add colour.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Once everyone has finished, the next guide leads them to a new flower or plant. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Observing and drawing flora and fauna has been part of education for centuries. Keep your eyes peeled for examples in old books, on postcards and tea towels. Or in Cecily Mary Barker's delightful and accurate <a href="https://flowerfairies.com/" target="_blank">Flower Fairies Books</a>. <br /> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This activity encourages children through art to explore flora and fauna. Drawing activates our observational skills in a different way to photography for example or using words. </span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua6avLHPXsA/Wypxb2VHP9I/AAAAAAAAO3s/suGIFGvnQmkzoQRQGowGIXuNadPIp6vbACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1012" height="285" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua6avLHPXsA/Wypxb2VHP9I/AAAAAAAAO3s/suGIFGvnQmkzoQRQGowGIXuNadPIp6vbACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_5850.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Method 2 Make a Scientific Record of a Designated Space </span></h3>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Someone picks a spot (on the grass, in the soil, on the forest floor...). Place your frame on the ground. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Record what you can see in the frame in a drawing. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Add colour if you wish.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This can be repeated in as many locations as you wish.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This activity is actually very similar to what botanists do out in the field. They make Plant Surveys. They do it to find out how many of a particular species is present in a particular
place or to discover the distribution and populations of many plants in a
particular place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">In our version the emphasis is on observing what's there and finding a way to record it. So far we haven't explored the idea of trying to tabulate this in a graph or table. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">To extend this activity, grid your frame so you can be even more precise about distribution and use graph paper to make an even more accurate representation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Be Observant Together </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Children of all ages can enjoy botanical drawing. </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The important thing is that whichever activity you pick to do, make sure you do it with your children. Seeing you observing and drawing is the best encouragement there is!</span><br /><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">*<a href="https://www.mattsewell.co.uk/" target="_blank">Matt Sewell</a> is one of our favourite illustrators. We love his gentle water colours which make the birds seem so vivid. </span>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-73297765123906654332018-06-15T10:30:00.000+02:002018-06-15T10:30:04.547+02:00Visiting Historical Sites - one great way to make sure History is fun!<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We study a lot of history. Noah (8) is history mad and I come from a family that's always liked this subject. I love watching history documentaries and reading history books. And when I wrote this piece about <a href="https://tinyfeetandbluebirds.blogspot.com/2018/03/fun-educational-history-activities.html" target="_blank">Fun Educational History Activities</a> I shared many of the other things we do to keep history interesting. Today however I'd like to tell you how field trips are one great way to make sure History is fun for your kids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Field trips for me are quite unlike the other tools in the educational arsenal. They have the power to be really memorable experiences that stay with us long after we've stopped studying whichever period of history prompted them. Memorable visits for me included Tintern Abbey, Falaise Castle in Normandy and a local WWI memorial. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">However, despite how fun and interesting history field trips can be it's important to follow a few principles if you want them to turn out that way. Here's my take on the best way to make sure your history inspired visits make sure history is fun!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">One - Don't do too much </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">As adults particularly if we've travelled far like for example when we're on holiday, we want to try and cram in as much as possible. But this is the opposite of best practice with kids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">When we ask our kids whether on family or school trips to visit too many museums, memorials or Cathedrals (mum?) in one go these visits can have the opposite effect to the one we're aiming for. Yes, for kids visiting more than one site in a day or all the Normandy beaches in a week is nearly always too much. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Instead take time to really discover and appreciate one place. And make sure you leave time in the day for fun stuff like playing at the beach, swimming in the pool or just running around at the campsite. Kids are way more likely to enjoy themselves if they know their favourite activities haven't been forgotten. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Two - Don't stay too long</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Just like golden rule number one, this one is really important. We all know what it's like you feel like you've barely got there and the kids are already asking if it's time to go home, to the beach, for an ice-cream etc etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This can be really frustrating for us adults who'd really like to see that fourteenth century tapestry on the top floor with its original stitching details! But remember, go past their enthusiasm point and they'll be left with a bad taste in their mouths. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We're not saying it's okay to leave after five minutes but be realistic about how long is long enough for you children given their age and level of interest in the site. And if you'd really like to stay longer than try some of the following tips to make them want to stay longer too!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Three - Plan the trip ahead</span></b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Okay, so this isn't always possible, sometimes you stumble on a hidden treasure, something unexpected. That's okay those can be discoveries. However, on the whole I've found a bit of planning can go a long way. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5qTTD6-tekk/WyLAJukqHUI/AAAAAAAAOs0/0h1TXJY90J814HHIaCDCZ0p0H3TByjWdACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="History Fun Louvre Museum Kids" border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="581" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5qTTD6-tekk/WyLAJukqHUI/AAAAAAAAOs0/0h1TXJY90J814HHIaCDCZ0p0H3TByjWdACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_0249.JPG" title="Historical Sites - make sure History is fun" width="321" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Mostly this means, talking to the kids enthusiastically about the places we're going to visit. Recently however we planned a Louvre visit by getting a book about the museum from the library and picking out ancient artifacts we wanted to see. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bUmqvbC3H9E/WyLSuRhC8EI/AAAAAAAAOuQ/zzD1ZVu37OoZCMrOZDv_JtgbyRpWp3tuwCLcBGAs/s1600/WP_20180608_011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="History Fun Roman Arch" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bUmqvbC3H9E/WyLSuRhC8EI/AAAAAAAAOuQ/zzD1ZVu37OoZCMrOZDv_JtgbyRpWp3tuwCLcBGAs/s640/WP_20180608_011.jpg" title="Historical Sites make sure history is fun" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Last year for our trip around the Loire valley, I went as far as making a personalised guide book for all the kids in the party. This included photos and brief descriptions of all the castles we intended to visit. Beforehand I'd spent time researching each monument to make sure I privileged the most interesting ones for kids. Which leads me to my next tip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Four - Pick sites which cater to kids</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Many historical monuments now offer activities for children. These range from workshops to discovery trails and worksheets. I can't emphasize how worthwhile it is to make the most of these resources. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Planning on an abbey? Pick Fontevraud if it still has its amazing toy car racecourse! Visiting a castle? Pick one that has dress-up clothes to put on or sword fighting to watch. Going to a roman monument? Remember to do what I did last week in Saintes and ask if they have anything for kids. They did, a great little workbook about amphitheatres and gladiators. What about a guided tour just for kids? These can be really fun like the one we did in Langeais where an actress dressed up as Queen Anne of Brittany to guide them round her 'home'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Kids love getting stuck into these kinds of activities and they can really help you get that longer visit you were hoping for! To find out what a specific site has to offer, consult their web page or ring them up. Lots of sites really do offer fantastic activities. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Five - Let them loose with a camera</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Okay so maybe not your super expensive dslr! But kids love taking pictures and through the lens they'll often spend a lot more time looking at details than they otherwise would. Here our some of our kids photos!</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lsn1O-ffDHU/WyK_lMRri0I/AAAAAAAAOsY/EqVYztkap94GACnssq-eMerVi9tOU3Q9ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="History Fun Kids Knight in Amour" border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="928" height="311" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lsn1O-ffDHU/WyK_lMRri0I/AAAAAAAAOsY/EqVYztkap94GACnssq-eMerVi9tOU3Q9ACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3756.JPG" title="Historical Sites - make sure History is fun" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Y1Q2HPxa_Y/WyK_laKwEsI/AAAAAAAAOsQ/ZFb9ybFb-v82Ra0nlaOsTQC_hCIQvuRtwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3768.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="History Fun Kids Camera" border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="399" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Y1Q2HPxa_Y/WyK_laKwEsI/AAAAAAAAOsQ/ZFb9ybFb-v82Ra0nlaOsTQC_hCIQvuRtwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_3768.JPG" title="Historical Sites - make sure History is fun" width="352" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">So to sum it up, plan your visits, pick places that have thought about how to make their visit fun for kids, only do one site in a day and not too many visits in a small space of time and don't stay too long! Oh and if your kids are anything like mine it usually helps if the site has a shop and a small amount of spending money is made available to cover costs 😃 !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-42437646875386857182018-06-07T10:30:00.000+02:002018-06-07T10:30:14.090+02:00Moments of Magic - One way to make great family memories<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Last week Frank and I celebrated our ten year wedding anniversary. As we got married after ten years together it was also a twentieth anniversary celebration. We wanted to do something special so that we'd remember the day for a long time to come. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It got me thinking about how we make our special occasions stand out. How do we create moments of magic? How do we make great family memories? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Following on from my previous post <a href="https://tinyfeetandbluebirds.blogspot.com/2018/05/learning-all-the-time.html" target="_blank">Learning all the Time</a>, on Thursday we decided to go somewhere new, to visit a place we've never been. Like this we felt this time spent together would be different. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The place we chose very last minute, was the Ile de Berder, a tiny island in the Golf du Morbihan (the little sea) which is only accessible at low tide. We checked the tide info and lucky for us the times fit, we would have an hour and a half on the island if we set off quickly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We discovered a mysterious, quiet paradise full of amazing trees, beaches, shells and views. We were all quiet as we walked around the island marveling at the beauty we found and feeling privileged to be there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Afterwards we all talked excitedly about going back, exploring the wreck we saw, finding more oysters and having more time to spend on the beach. It felt as if we'd made an amazing discovery. Doing something new, something we'd wanted to do for a while but never seemed to find the time for really did make our day special. </span>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-76341529810933876822018-05-31T10:30:00.000+02:002018-05-31T10:30:00.928+02:00Learning All The Time<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Learning all the time is the title of one of my favourite John Holt <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/573005.Learning_All_The_Time" target="_blank">books on home education</a>. For me it sums up the basic tenet of our home schooling and the cornerstone of my philosophy of life. Learning is not something to be confined to one place or one time, but is as natural to us as breathing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Henry Ford said,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. He who continues to learn stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">And I'm reminded of one of my friend's from our local knitting club. She's in her seventies and still learning all the time. The look of enthusiasm on her face as she told me recently about a botanical outing by our local river said it all. Stay curious, take every opportunity to learn and you will find and enjoy the wonder in the world around you. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPBeCcYI2U8/Ww7D7wo0o1I/AAAAAAAAOjs/KgHsl1QsIBwIoa5kOJPdqvFXw8L0fb7ygCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Learning all the time, lys, observation" border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1084" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPBeCcYI2U8/Ww7D7wo0o1I/AAAAAAAAOjs/KgHsl1QsIBwIoa5kOJPdqvFXw8L0fb7ygCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_5334.JPG" title="Learning all the time" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Lys du jardin - spot the visitor! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Experience tells us that as we get older we sadly tend to lose the open eyed view of the world we cherish in our children. Our experiences constantly modify our interpretation of everything we do. The innocent curiosity of childhood is lost to our judgements, knowledge and the tired paths our neurons keep traveling. And time seems to pass faster.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ztoCuxvpn2o/Ww7EUMJageI/AAAAAAAAOj8/19tlDhNmukQhc0p8U2Ae56CXdK-njzMxgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Learning all the time, rambling rose and bee" border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1152" height="250" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ztoCuxvpn2o/Ww7EUMJageI/AAAAAAAAOj8/19tlDhNmukQhc0p8U2Ae56CXdK-njzMxgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_5329.JPG" title="Learning all the time" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Rambling Rose Albertine and Friend</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">According to Douwe Draaisma, dutch psychologist and author of <i><a href="http://admin.cambridge.org/academic/subjects/psychology/cognition/why-life-speeds-you-get-older-how-memory-shapes-our-past-1" target="_blank">Why life speeds up as you get older</a>, </i>that's because as we get older discoveries and novelties tend to become rarer. As a child we are adventurous, big exciting experiences and discoveries are common. First trip in an airplane, first time sleeping in a hotel, first day at school, first time buying the bread all by yourself. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8QqlIcNxAgA/Ww7ExjoETaI/AAAAAAAAOkE/Rjor1zmg5V4aBMCsGYVp8t_jmljNbIzcQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="learning all the time petunia stamen" border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1085" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8QqlIcNxAgA/Ww7ExjoETaI/AAAAAAAAOkE/Rjor1zmg5V4aBMCsGYVp8t_jmljNbIzcQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_5337.JPG" title="learning all the time" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">First time I saw the stamen</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">But if we're learning all the time, if we make a conscious choice to look at the world with what the Buddhist's call <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoshin" target="_blank"><i>the beginner's mind</i></a>, then we can stay young of heart and mind. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F8nNitd2IOM/Ww7FBbhgmnI/AAAAAAAAOkM/g3MmF2q53VYwGS4_WcbTK-GHv9WWFKc3wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="learning all the time pivoines" border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1085" height="425" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F8nNitd2IOM/Ww7FBbhgmnI/AAAAAAAAOkM/g3MmF2q53VYwGS4_WcbTK-GHv9WWFKc3wCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_5319.JPG" title="learning all the time" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Pivoine - my wedding flowers - gift for our 10th anniversary</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Practically speaking this might mean starting something new, trying a food you've never tried before or taking a walk in silence listening to the noises around you as if you've never heard them before. Or why not reading a new book? I could probably have called this reading all the time and the point would have been the same! Try a new author or a completely new subject. Check out the wonderful <a href="http://brainpickings.org/">brainpickings.org</a> for new ideas. You could even join their weekly newsletter? </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NSU7R9-0fQg/Ww7FC4CyhSI/AAAAAAAAOkc/9q7f80OS6AMzvFpg0av3wlZ9UEGYwwTWQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_5324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="learning all the time spotting the tiny things" border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1213" height="237" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NSU7R9-0fQg/Ww7FC4CyhSI/AAAAAAAAOkc/9q7f80OS6AMzvFpg0av3wlZ9UEGYwwTWQCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_5324.JPG" title="learning all the time" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Fly on the Hortensia - spotting the tiny things!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I suppose above all what I'm getting at is a quality of attention. The same quality I try to bring to listening to my children. The same quality I bring to my photography (alongside practice - see <a href="https://tinyfeetandbluebirds.blogspot.com/2018/03/observation-with-all-that-talk-about.html" target="_blank">Observe, practice, be grateful</a>). The same quality I seek when I'm writing poetry. And the same quality I hope my children will foster throughout their lives, not just to stay young but to stay filled with wonder at this wonderful world we are so lucky to live in!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">P.S. If you do try something or read something new, please share with me, I'd love to hear about it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Coming Soon... How botanical drawing fosters mindfulness and scientific observation! </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-okxP2mi6fJY/Ww7FEqFy4JI/AAAAAAAAOkk/2lwJaiFYJQ0ws0cHVBaLz9v8uVi0I29LgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_5330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="learning all the time raindrops on maple leaves" border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="482" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-okxP2mi6fJY/Ww7FEqFy4JI/AAAAAAAAOkk/2lwJaiFYJQ0ws0cHVBaLz9v8uVi0I29LgCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_5330.JPG" title="learning all the time" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Raindrops on Maple Leaves</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-34469169344884268462018-05-25T10:00:00.000+02:002018-05-25T10:00:15.355+02:00On the Road<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Yes we've been on the road recently, hence the online silence. Somehow I never seem to be able to travel, take photos and get round to uploading them and writing blog posts all at once. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">In fact generally I'm not that great a multi-tasker. I put it down to my mindfulness practice, all that when knitting just knit, when washing up just wash up has kind of cured me from doing lots of things at once. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">So we've been out and about on the road in Great Britain, France and Holland! Well that last one was only me, but hey solo trips are fantastic right? They really recharge the parenting, home educating batteries like nothing else. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">So here's some eye candy for you from our fun times. As usual we combined family, friends and some educational visits along the way. Home schooling never stops not even for holidays! We really believe in learning all the time just like our man John Holt said.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hCmwHVA1OFQ/WwbaxbahMqI/AAAAAAAAOgs/9t2CLsk58fku6C1QAkihit8vPHgY8DkhwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="964" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hCmwHVA1OFQ/WwbaxbahMqI/AAAAAAAAOgs/9t2CLsk58fku6C1QAkihit8vPHgY8DkhwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_0067.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Celebrating 12 with her grandparents!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0HNyiacshcQ/WwbXEpBCdrI/AAAAAAAAOek/5dCIWFNrusAkHiC5UxQuSS5EHzXrQzY8wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="964" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0HNyiacshcQ/WwbXEpBCdrI/AAAAAAAAOek/5dCIWFNrusAkHiC5UxQuSS5EHzXrQzY8wCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_0138.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Bird watching at the amazing Rutland Waters</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-52rUb02Zwm8/WwbX5XpL70I/AAAAAAAAOe0/Neu6b7Mf4EcLeziz4GuXm9VZasJW-3eNgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0159.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1197" height="241" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-52rUb02Zwm8/WwbX5XpL70I/AAAAAAAAOe0/Neu6b7Mf4EcLeziz4GuXm9VZasJW-3eNgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_0159.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Catching up with British cousins</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yLtSPtcUARU/WwbYghpu9-I/AAAAAAAAOfE/GSapjg2LM8sB5CEt0Z7mgDWu1EzP2PZ1wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="1322" height="185" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yLtSPtcUARU/WwbYghpu9-I/AAAAAAAAOfE/GSapjg2LM8sB5CEt0Z7mgDWu1EzP2PZ1wCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_0191.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And French cousins</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dAgo_VL5U9Q/WwbYhdy65dI/AAAAAAAAOfI/5Af-YJTjeRMjR1bIqTisbKnOZnQDES7YgCLcBGAs/s1600/20180508_230121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="542" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dAgo_VL5U9Q/WwbYhdy65dI/AAAAAAAAOfI/5Af-YJTjeRMjR1bIqTisbKnOZnQDES7YgCLcBGAs/s400/20180508_230121.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Eiffel Tower</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-occAp_SqYYs/WwbZr9tIByI/AAAAAAAAOf0/zCA0HFG87K4VA4Xr0rL83_HTezJFZIw2ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="580" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-occAp_SqYYs/WwbZr9tIByI/AAAAAAAAOf0/zCA0HFG87K4VA4Xr0rL83_HTezJFZIw2ACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0249.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Louvre</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_8OGFJXvyU/WwbZurN-2II/AAAAAAAAOf8/3s6QkQaQzMcjI3duA6iP2nqK-9xSyA4fACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="250" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_8OGFJXvyU/WwbZurN-2II/AAAAAAAAOf8/3s6QkQaQzMcjI3duA6iP2nqK-9xSyA4fACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0295.JPG" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Louvre encore</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPTkCGR0qAE/WwbZyy9np2I/AAAAAAAAOgA/C7BjvMzENhADkXqjfkM26oP_k7niv3URwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="552" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPTkCGR0qAE/WwbZyy9np2I/AAAAAAAAOgA/C7BjvMzENhADkXqjfkM26oP_k7niv3URwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0269.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copying hieroglyphs</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q_MeQT6qjwU/WwbZzZxq3NI/AAAAAAAAOgE/o-0dLpOmqbsJ9NrvzsmhpVxQVAGHHKrggCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="552" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q_MeQT6qjwU/WwbZzZxq3NI/AAAAAAAAOgE/o-0dLpOmqbsJ9NrvzsmhpVxQVAGHHKrggCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0278.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousins drawing together</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfYNdFhB-GA/WwbZ2quB2lI/AAAAAAAAOgM/JM7HUHecCkEHTmlHqS_a2OxqhIni0OJwwCLcBGAs/s1600/20180512_125410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="867" height="531" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfYNdFhB-GA/WwbZ2quB2lI/AAAAAAAAOgM/JM7HUHecCkEHTmlHqS_a2OxqhIni0OJwwCLcBGAs/s640/20180512_125410.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amsterdam crochet and bikes of course!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0vrVKNoni24/WwbZ2XQdJII/AAAAAAAAOgI/7egTaKOo7bcu6FmRtiAVgkCbrgnHTjFzgCLcBGAs/s1600/20180512_131209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1084" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0vrVKNoni24/WwbZ2XQdJII/AAAAAAAAOgI/7egTaKOo7bcu6FmRtiAVgkCbrgnHTjFzgCLcBGAs/s640/20180512_131209.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amsterdam, city of bicycles</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> </span>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-13624588764892791702018-04-19T10:30:00.000+02:002018-04-19T10:30:30.144+02:00Making Science Fun : Exploring the Solar System with Kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nflR4OyzXkw/Wte5JzvkFGI/AAAAAAAAN3E/ztGwr0JU1tAp99mWLGBqimgSY2-Rd4DzACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_5193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Science Fun Solar System Kids Rocky Planets size and distance" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="492" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nflR4OyzXkw/Wte5JzvkFGI/AAAAAAAAN3E/ztGwr0JU1tAp99mWLGBqimgSY2-Rd4DzACEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_5193.JPG" title="Making Science Fun Exploring the Solar System with Kids" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Noah looks out on the solar system</span></td></tr>
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Space has often
featured quite highly in our homeschooling as at one time or another
it’s interested different members of the family. Perhaps you
remember <a href="https://tinyfeetandbluebirds.blogspot.fr/2016/02/the-homeschool-files-how-to-make.html" target="_blank">the space station</a> we made when Noah was obsessed with Tim
Peake? So it’s no surprise that we had a blast exploring the solar
system together recently.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Making Science Fun
is easy when you have great hands-on activities to do as well as
entertaining videos to watch and good textbooks. For the Solar System
we were inspired by the amazing book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Astronomy-Lab-Kids-Family-Friendly-Activities/dp/1631591347" target="_blank">Astronomy Lab for Kids </a>by
Michelle Nichols. The 52 activities inside our inspiring and
challenging. Even better they use household supplies so you don’t
have to run out and spend a lot of money on extra equipment – yay! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Introducing the
Solar System</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">To begin our study
of the solar system. I first asked the kids questions like what do
you know about our solar system? And, can you name any of the
planets? We then watched some <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVYaz-D2MYE&list=PLQlnTldJs0ZRYAf049X5KDkXEsD480m6J" target="_blank">videos</a> suggested by national
geographic.
They were a fun mix with some songs and funny stuff mixed in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Getting an idea
of scale</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Once we’d
familiarised ourselves with our solar system we got ready to do a
demonstration from the Astronomy Lab for Kids book called, <i>Take a
walk on the rocky planets. </i><span style="font-style: normal;">The
rocky planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars – the four closest
to the sun. The other planets are gassy planets.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-style: normal;">To
do this demo we first had to make a giant circle to represent the
sun. We followed the instructions in the book and taped together
pieces of A4 until we had a big enough square to trace a circle with
a 92cm diameter. We also followed the instructions to trace our
circle. What we did was tie a 46cm piece of string to a pen and then
held the string down in the centre of the paper while we used the pen
to trace the circle. This was a great skill for the kids to learn.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--RZFpSBKDMA/Wte4e2nBwVI/AAAAAAAAN2o/kszllu-rvacprY7H8FMymY5HFV2y0H_4ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Solar System Sun Model Rocky Planets" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="492" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--RZFpSBKDMA/Wte4e2nBwVI/AAAAAAAAN2o/kszllu-rvacprY7H8FMymY5HFV2y0H_4ACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_5196.JPG" title="Making Science Fun Exploring the Solar System with Kids" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Next
we made the 4 rocky planets our of play-doh. This was actually quite
hard as they had to be really tiny, we’re talking mm. The kids
really enjoyed trying and measuring them to see if they were the
right size. We then taped our play-doh planets to pieces of paper with
the names of the planets on them. Be careful if you do this to make
sure the little play-doh planets are well attached or you might lose
them like we did! </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MlWS-2mEIxs/Wte4yh1dXdI/AAAAAAAAN2s/OJiL5yAnbncHmi_Xksg7uPKvosROBStsQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Science Fun Solar System Kids Rocky Planets" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="1104" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MlWS-2mEIxs/Wte4yh1dXdI/AAAAAAAAN2s/OJiL5yAnbncHmi_Xksg7uPKvosROBStsQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_5198.JPG" title="Making Science Fun Exploring the Solar System with Kids" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-style: normal;">It
was now time to head outside. First we placed the sun right at the
far end of the (very quiet, read virtually unused and private) road
outside our house. Noah (8) sat down on the sun. Yes, he is wearing a
helmet as he decided he needed to dress appropriately if he was going
into space! </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M0heTg2kJpI/Wte5O0Kwk9I/AAAAAAAAN24/T_0rzApGlWwJTjxJiK3jqvr0czm4dOLqgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5195.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Science Fun Solar System Kids Distance between Planets" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="492" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M0heTg2kJpI/Wte5O0Kwk9I/AAAAAAAAN24/T_0rzApGlWwJTjxJiK3jqvr0czm4dOLqgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_5195.JPG" title="Making Science Fun Exploring the Solar System with Kids" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Lotta
(5) and I then paced out the 62 steps to get to Mercury. The steps
had to be approximately 60cm long. We used a tape measure to check.
Lotta sat down holding Mercury.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pzev7cRlieo/Wte5gHZgNfI/AAAAAAAAN3A/W6rvhmIXxnQ1_BEDrqriS9A2dbijrkeZgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Science Fun Solar Sytem Kids Mercury" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="492" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pzev7cRlieo/Wte5gHZgNfI/AAAAAAAAN3A/W6rvhmIXxnQ1_BEDrqriS9A2dbijrkeZgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_5185.JPG" title="Making Science Fun Exploring the Solar System with Kids" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Maya
(12) then paced out the 54 steps to Venus. Then I took 45 steps and
placed the earth and finally my husband Frank paced a whopping 84
steps to be Mars. </span></span>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CYyD1VkrVdM/Wte5sicD0qI/AAAAAAAAN3I/Qh5_MrFahMcxUBIBJ1pdyz5C4cQdxPGPQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Science Fun Solar System Kids Venus" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="492" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CYyD1VkrVdM/Wte5sicD0qI/AAAAAAAAN3I/Qh5_MrFahMcxUBIBJ1pdyz5C4cQdxPGPQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_5184.JPG" title="Making Science Fun Exploring the Solar System with Kids" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-style: normal;">This
experiment was easy to set up because we had all the supplies on
hand. It was fun to execute. I told the kids we were going on a space
journey to see how far the rocky planets were from the sun. It was
brilliant for getting an idea of the scale of things in space, not
only the distances between the sun and the planets but also how giant
the sun is compared to the rocky planets.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The
kids really enjoyed not only the making part of this but also the
demo. </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Making
a Model of the Solar System</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Later
on that day we worked on three different models of the solar system
to help fix what they’d been learning in the kids minds.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-style: normal;">This
was really easy to adapt to different ages. For Lotta, I printed a
picture of the solar system to colour in then traced it onto water
colour paper because she decided she’d like to paint the solar
system. She really enjoyed painting although it was a bit fiddly with
some of the smaller planets. If I were to do this again with a five
year old I’d probably scale it up so it would be better adapted to
their fine motor skills. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hCL3046yDHY/Wte54zDBFBI/AAAAAAAAN3Q/y2DE3dHdX8ADbxtOE9i1LeD0vYJMiQqIACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Science Fun Solar System Kids Make Model" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="1104" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hCL3046yDHY/Wte54zDBFBI/AAAAAAAAN3Q/y2DE3dHdX8ADbxtOE9i1LeD0vYJMiQqIACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_5202.JPG" title="Making Science Fun Exploring the Solar System with Kids" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Noah
was lucky to have one of <a href="https://www.english-heritageshop.org.uk/toys-games/solar-system-planetarium-model-kit" target="_blank">these</a>. His sister has one too but she
painted hers ages ago. It had been sat in his drawer for a bit and
our morning’s activities really fired up his enthusiasm. He really
enjoyed using our DK encyclopedia to make sure he painted all the
planets accurately.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3TsZTJzJAhw/Wte6P_JD6MI/AAAAAAAAN3c/T8EzYrc2nDQIlYfK2a2uamey3HcsrnRCQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Science Fun Solar System Kids Make Model" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="492" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3TsZTJzJAhw/Wte6P_JD6MI/AAAAAAAAN3c/T8EzYrc2nDQIlYfK2a2uamey3HcsrnRCQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_5201.JPG" title="Making Science Fun Exploring the Solar System with Kids" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Finally,
Maya drew the solar system in a circular fashion to show the planets
in orbit round the sun. She added a scale across the bottom which
shows distances between the planets. And also a section on the right
of her paper to write a little bit about each of the planets. Again
she used the DK Encyclopedia for information. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Classifying
the Solar System</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Our
final activity was a sorting game. This activity also came from
Astronomy Laboratory. I printed off about thirty pictures of our
solar system and the children took it in turns to put them in groups
based on their own organsiational systems. The other kids then had to
try and guess what their categories were. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I was pleasantly surprised
at how much the kids loved this simple game to the point that they got
up and started playing it again the very next day!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Conclusion</span>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Making science fun is easy if you use good books, hands on demos or experiments and let them express themselves when recording what they've learnt. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Exploring the Solar System has been a really memorable and rewarding experience so far. Yes, so far because we still have a whole host of other projects from Astronomy Labo we'd like to try out as well as some more fun looking documentaries to watch! </span></span><br />
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<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }</style>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-86110571772602514112018-04-12T10:30:00.000+02:002018-04-12T10:30:04.890+02:00Making Science Fun : Our Top Three Science Shows for Kids<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We watched quite a few tv shows last week when we all came down with a horrible flu-like virus. It was one way to feel we were still doing some learning. It inspired me to finally get round to writing this blog post and sharing with you another way of making science fun with our top three science shows for kids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Screen time can be a complicated thing when you're homeschooling. On the one hand, we've all read the literature about how too much screen time is bad for our kids. On the other, there are just so many great documentaries out there and it would be a crying shame not to exploit them! Because I have to admit I get tired of the sound of my own voice. I don't want my children only to hear and learn things from me. It's important to shake things up, find other teachers. And a really good documentary or TV show can be just that. </span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Science Max</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbprhISv-0ReKPPyhf7-Dtw">Science Max </a>is currently one of the children's favourite things to watch period. It's up there with Star Wars and Coco and many other of their favourite films. Quite a feat. Made by the Canadian company TVOkids, it's secret formula is a young, appealing presenter and a fun concept - let's do everything bigger!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Yes, Science Max takes your average experiment even we can do at home and does it again and again bigger and bigger. The kids absolutely love this especially when it involves Phil the presenter getting wet or dirty. I like it because it repeats the science several times in slightly different ways. This means the kids see the science repeatedly but without it being boring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Repetition is really important in any learning situation and a show that manages to do this while having my kids and I in fits of laughter is a definite winner. </span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i2Hjtc0mM4g/Ws44XKms7CI/AAAAAAAAN0I/VeUkc7AN5c0zPMRBRhEXKPxCOVGFt-CqgCLcBGAs/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i2Hjtc0mM4g/Ws44XKms7CI/AAAAAAAAN0I/VeUkc7AN5c0zPMRBRhEXKPxCOVGFt-CqgCLcBGAs/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Absolute Genius with Dick and Dom </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">A BBC show, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_Genius_with_Dick_and_Dom">Absolute Genius</a> is a fun, exciting watch. The first two series celebrate famous scientists. They explore the concepts they were working on in fun and entertaining ways. In series three and four they explore technological inventions and then 'monster builds'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">As with Science Max there's a high entertainment element to be had from watching the two presenters do stuff. It might be getting inside a Faraday cage or fully clothed in a bath or jumping into canoes to study the principles of Archimedes screw. Whichever, it's always funny to watch as well as informative. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Ok so this one's in French I'm afraid for all you English only speakers out there. But I couldn't make a list of our top three favourite science shows for kids without mentioning it! We love <a href="https://www.france.tv/france-3/c-est-pas-sorcier/">C'est Pas Sorcier</a> because it covers so many different and fascinating topics. It also combines demonstrations with visits to relevant real life sites that illustrate the science. Hey tv show makers out there, why not copy this fabulous french formula for your next science show! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Although some people might disagree I don't believe watching shows, even as good as these, is enough by itself. We use them wisely in conjunction with books and home experiments to help us understand more fully the concepts we're studying. We usually do anything hands on before we watch the TV shows too. This way the kids go into their experiments in the real position of a scientists who doesn't know what the outcomes might be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">What TV shows are great for is consolidation through playful repetition and colourful exposition of the ideas and theories we're exploring. And these shows do this so well that the kids often ask to watch them again and again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">These shows are also good at inspiring kids to see science as being something that's fun. With their goofy presenters, the infallible humour of seeing someone get covered in foam and the excitement of seeing a really big or dangerous experiment they inspire my kids to feel passionately that science is worth being interested in. Without them our educational environment would be infinitely poorer. Well done to all those television makers for making such great shows! </span>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-40723952688696286392018-03-29T10:30:00.000+02:002018-06-14T20:36:05.661+02:00Fun Educational History Activities<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I loved History at school. Unlike science, history was always one of my favourite subjects. It's still an area I'm fascinated by. So it ought to be easy for me to plan fun educational history activities for the kids right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">As you know from posts like this <a href="http://tinyfeetandbluebirds.blogspot.fr/2017/02/homeschooling-how-to-make-roman.html">one</a> on roman helmets and this <a href="http://tinyfeetandbluebirds.blogspot.fr/2017/02/homeschooling-history.html">one</a> on building roman forts, we like to keep things fun and hands on here. But as Maya gets older our emphasis has also shifted to report writing and written records of the subjects she studies. Sometimes it can actually be a challenge to make history fun for her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The factual books that fascinate her brother don't always keep her interest. And she pulls that face, you know the one I mean,
when we talk about visiting ruins, castles or any other 'historical'
sites. And yet when she gets there she loves it!</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2325431085702387710" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">So
you can imagine I've been tearing my hair out a bit trying to keep our
study unit on ancient cultures (Egyptians, Greeks and Romans)
interesting and fun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">My own struggles made me think I might not be the only one wanting a little inspiration. There are a lot of wonderful resources out there and we've been exploiting them. Today I'd like to share with you some of the fun educational history activities I've found to keep kids of different ages passionate about history. Bring on Board Games, TV and a bit of Art. I like to think of them as my three secret weapons! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Have you heard of 7 Wonders? The amazing board game that's won every award out there? Well we have and we've been playing it sometimes on a daily basis since October. What can a board game teach us about history? Well for starters it introduced the kids to the 7 wonders of the Ancient World. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Playing the game also introduced the notion of what it takes to build a great civilisation. Is it knowledge, is it military power, great monuments or trade? Or perhaps a combination of all of the above. Now I'm not saying this game will teach your kids all they need to know about building civilisations but what it did for my kids is spark their curiosity and get them thinking. And in my opinion that's gold! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The other great history inspiring board game we play is called <a href="http://www.onthegoeditions.fr/">Chronicards</a>. It's a French version of <a href="https://www.asmodee.us/en/games/timeline/">TimeLine</a>*. We're planning to invest in some more though.Check out lists <a href="http://engagedfamilygaming.com/parent-resources/11-board-games-help-teach-history/">here</a> and <a href="https://homeschoolhideout.com/20-history-board-games/">here</a> for more ideas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It would be remiss not to mention here too online games. Many museums now have games aimed at children on their websites. Spending a bit of time browsing the internet can throw up some really fun games for your kids to play. National Museums of Scotland is one place we've found with <a href="https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/games/discover-the-romans/">excellent and fun activities</a>. This <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/launch_gms_gladiator.shtml">BBC game</a> was also great fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Television</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">As I've said before great documentaries are one of the cornerstones of our home educating life. I like to think of them as the brain food kind of screen time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">When I look for documentaries I try to identify what aspects of the period or history in general the kids are interested in. For example, on the Romans Noah is fascinated by their military power and strategies so documentaries on the life of a roman soldier were a must. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Sometimes I think more about what kind of historical inquiry might interest them. So <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXk-NbSWDs8">this documentary</a> about Tutankhamen kept both older children interested because it was organised like a crime investigation. And of course it featured Dallas Campbell who's fast becoming one of our favourite documentary presenters. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Being British I tend to use BBC documentaries. They're always great visually, feature eminent scientists and other experts and have very high production values. I do my research online and we often use YouTube to watch shows. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br />Another route to go down is exploring historical themes through film and story. Asking the question how have people interpreted Cleopatra (or other historical figures or peoples) over time is an interesting and valid one. We've looked at texts and films to do this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Art</b></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This category covers a lot. From model making through dress up and accessory making it also includes producing beautiful visual art to accompany written reports and making things out of Lego.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Yes Lego. Noah (8) is currently what I like to call Lego obsessed. He lives, breathes and sleeps Lego. If I could see into his dreams I'm sure they'd be in Lego. So what's a home educating mum to do but use Lego to learn of course!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Let's take the example of the 7 Wonders and see how Lego got involved. As the kids were already interested in the 7 Wonders and we're studying Antiquity I decided to study them in more detail. I hoped they would help us learn a bit about the great civilisations that built them and inspire the kid's interest. I wasn't disappointed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">First we watched this documentary. Although quite long all the children (including Lotta 5) found it fascinating. I asked the children how they'd like to record what they'd been learning. Noah and Lotta were both stumped (more about Maya further down). They had no desire to write or draw anything. <i>What about Lego? </i>I asked. They were enchanted. Both went on to construct pyramids.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">These were quickly followed up by Zeus' Temple at Olympia and the Temple at Ephesus. Not only did these projects get them thinking about the monuments architecture, how do you build a pyramid? How do you get columns to hold up a roof? They also kept the conversation going about the wonders and what building them meant for their civilisations. We discussed questions such as why did they build them? What did they symbolise? What did building them do for their society? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Maya didn't choose Lego to express herself, though she wasn't above helping out or making suggestions. Instead she chose to draw each of the 7 Wonders and write something brief about each one. This provided a great opportunity to discuss perspective and architectural drawing. To explore how to represent buildings and space on paper. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Final Thoughts</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Finding fun educational history activities is really about what's at the centre of all our homeschooling. Discovering what our children are interested in and facilitating their learning about it in every way possible. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">As I learnt earlier in the week there's no point trying to teach how Rome was founded to an 8 year old who wants to reenact the D-day Landings! It's more productive to harness his current interest and see where it takes us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Maya who's older is much more able to apply herself to learning about whatever I've decided is on the agenda. It remains essential however to bring things to life and make them fun and rewarding for her to study. That might be as simple as getting her books about mummification for her Egyptian studies and letting that be the central part of her report writing. Or it might be as complicated as sewing her her very own medieval dress (coming soon...). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">*</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We actually prefer the French version as it has more information.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-41838815224106042692018-03-24T12:00:00.000+01:002018-03-24T12:00:07.968+01:00Observe, Practice, Be Grateful!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rqMm0VJ1Hb0/WrLRSHLvr8I/AAAAAAAANp4/AQsn088-eoo1O6-sdNvXhfcdPmbOAhP1wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tree bark photo blog" border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="490" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rqMm0VJ1Hb0/WrLRSHLvr8I/AAAAAAAANp4/AQsn088-eoo1O6-sdNvXhfcdPmbOAhP1wCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4558.JPG" title="tree bark photo blog" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">With all that talk about observation I thought it would be nice to share a few photos. Photography has always been a way for me to record some of what I see around me. I take a lot of nature photos.I love tree bark, lichen, moss and blossom. As well as birds, flowers and the ocean. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Practice </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Someone asked me last year, how I took such good pictures of flowers and things. I replied, practice, practice, practice! I honestly believe it's because I've taken a lot that I've started to take a few good ones. I'll often take multiple pictures of the same subject from different angles. The above shots of what we thought were barnacles is a great example of this. As the one below is of serendipity, just being there in the right place at the right time with the camera ready!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Gratitude </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I also take and share photos as part of my gratitude practice as I've mentioned before. Nature is a great comfort to me. Noticing small things in each and every day is one of the ways I remind myself to feel grateful and in turn happy each and every day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-11424231190693427342018-03-22T11:30:00.000+01:002018-03-22T11:36:15.776+01:00Making Science Fun : Weather Reports<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JyzXM1G2puo/WrN4TnSqjvI/AAAAAAAANrY/m-Z-SuA105IvpBlC51eGFrZ76kkZuMltwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Snow Brittany Making Science Fun Weather Charts" border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1055" height="277" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JyzXM1G2puo/WrN4TnSqjvI/AAAAAAAANrY/m-Z-SuA105IvpBlC51eGFrZ76kkZuMltwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4833.JPG" title="Snow Brittany" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A light dusting of snow</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The weather has been rather strange recently hasn't it with late cold snaps and unexpected snow. Perhaps that's why we decided to make our own weather reports. </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">To chart the weather for a week and see what we found out. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I know a week isn't very long but this was just a beginning. An overture if you like into the world of scientific observation, chart making and eventually data interpretation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It was a great way of <b>making science fun</b> by combining a crafty activity (chart design and execution) with a hands on one (checking the local weather outdoors) and a computer based one (looking up the wind direction and the weather in other locations). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fHXgg__QVzI/WrOA7WP5ZII/AAAAAAAANso/H_NOUeL-NDsjvp5u9qHyxl4HlY3eq569ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Making Science Fun Weather Charts Home Education Geography Maths" border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="356" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fHXgg__QVzI/WrOA7WP5ZII/AAAAAAAANso/H_NOUeL-NDsjvp5u9qHyxl4HlY3eq569ACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4916.JPG" title="Making Science Fun Weather Charts" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Maya preparing her charts</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Observation</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Before I tell you how we went about making our charts, I'd like to talk about observation. As I mentioned in previous posts, I think it's important that kids learn about and apply the Scientific Method. Observation is for me one of the cornerstones of any good scientist's</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> (and artist's for that matter!)</span> approach to his work.</span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-3a680ade-4a6f-5538-9111-d8e51ec52c80" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Observation is essential in science. Scientists use observation to collect and record data, which enables them to construct and then test hypotheses and theories." </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/8-the-role-of-observation-in-science"> </a></span><a href="https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/8-the-role-of-observation-in-science"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Science Learning Hub</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Observing something and recording your results is a classic scientific activity. Charting your observations is one way of recording your data. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Encouraging observation skills can begin very early with very young children. It starts by talking to them about things you notice like new buds on the trees or the first blossom. Or how the iced over puddles look like they have trapped stars in them. These kinds of observations encourage children to look closely at things. They foster an attitude of wonder faced with the magic or science of the natural world. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XJubWA5YphY/WrOA4e2p6nI/AAAAAAAANsY/3NuoGId7DokpD2OKcWAXwblAoMiy1WkMwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4910.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Making Science Fun Weather Charts Home Education Geography Maths" border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1180" height="248" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XJubWA5YphY/WrOA4e2p6nI/AAAAAAAANsY/3NuoGId7DokpD2OKcWAXwblAoMiy1WkMwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4910.JPG" title="Making Science Fun Weather Charts " width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Lotta's Weather Chart</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Record making </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This time we chose charts or tables to record our observations. We often record our natural science observations in nature journals (herbiers) and water colour sketches. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Combining craft and science is probably one of the most effective ways of making science fun for kids. Although this is often fostered in younger children, older kids often miss out on the crafty side of things in school as the work environment gets more serious and focussed on written records. I think that's a great shame as artwork and making things can really help invigorate their studies and help things stick in their minds. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ne5oHnJClBg/WrOGKn_odoI/AAAAAAAANtQ/AC8Z6Iha9QE5TKfiKd9XlS8UHrUu1L1hgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCF0153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Making Science Fun Weather Charts Home Education Geography Maths" border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="271" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ne5oHnJClBg/WrOGKn_odoI/AAAAAAAANtQ/AC8Z6Iha9QE5TKfiKd9XlS8UHrUu1L1hgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCF0153.JPG" title="Rainy Day New York City" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Rainy day in New York City</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bEjze3W08WM/WrOGKn95jGI/AAAAAAAANtU/ZB6SKGvZRp0GVU9IcYjRcciO5MB1fz7GACLcBGAs/s1600/DSCF0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Making Science Fun Weather Charts Home Education Geography Maths" border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="271" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bEjze3W08WM/WrOGKn95jGI/AAAAAAAANtU/ZB6SKGvZRp0GVU9IcYjRcciO5MB1fz7GACLcBGAs/s1600/DSCF0204.JPG" title="Snow Falling on Paris" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Snow falling in Paris</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Why weather?</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">My kids have always been interested in the weather and the seasons. They're used to observing it and using that information to fill in the little calendar we have up on the wall. Furthermore, choosing the weather for our first chart making task made this a cross-over activity covering concepts from maths and geography as well as scientific method. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6pRwYI88okY/WrOA7D_4i7I/AAAAAAAANsk/NVvZ2q29pL0kNMIne0MWMHiF32Bgy3UkQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4915.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Making Science Fun Weather Charts Home Education Geography Maths" border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="568" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6pRwYI88okY/WrOA7D_4i7I/AAAAAAAANsk/NVvZ2q29pL0kNMIne0MWMHiF32Bgy3UkQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4915.JPG" title="Making Science Fun Weather " width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">A book we used for inspiration</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">How we did it</span></h3>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">First we talked about what a chart is and why we might want to make a record of the weather. We also discussed how meteorologists gather their data. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We looked at some examples of weather charts and decided to chart the weather in our commune (local area), St Barthélémy. Both girls also picked another place to chart.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We agreed our charts would cover one week and record wind direction, temperature and weather type.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We drew up our charts (8 columns and 4 rows)</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We filled in the days using our calendar to help us* (this led to an interesting conversation about abbreviations such as Mon and how we write the date).</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We devised a key. This involved deciding on how to depict the weather conditions, the wind direction and temperature. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Our charts were ready to be filled in so we did the first day!</span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-29Kh2ENVkSw/WrOA5_ASIWI/AAAAAAAANsc/3LPy_N_Ksek6GaPGIVuj96ck2bLvRxyIwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4914.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Making Science Fun Weather Charts Home Education Geography Maths" border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1102" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-29Kh2ENVkSw/WrOA5_ASIWI/AAAAAAAANsc/3LPy_N_Ksek6GaPGIVuj96ck2bLvRxyIwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4914.JPG" title="Making Science Fun Weather Charts" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Using the calendar to fill in the days and dates</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Individualization </span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">There are several ways to individualize this project. In our case both girls decided to chart their home town and another place. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Maya (11) picked Manchester, UK a city we have visited. Lotta (5) picked Wellington City, NZ because she really wants to go to New Zealand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The children were also able to personalise their charts by designing their own symbols for the different weather types. They all really enjoyed thinking them up. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EAmrgO5Enf4/WrOA5-91uCI/AAAAAAAANsg/ukuqKVV8R10bIAcHsmcedcSSgGjuEIg_ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4911.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Making Science Fun Weather Charts Home Education Geography Maths" border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1128" height="260" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EAmrgO5Enf4/WrOA5-91uCI/AAAAAAAANsg/ukuqKVV8R10bIAcHsmcedcSSgGjuEIg_ACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4911.JPG" title="Making Science Fun Weather Charts" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Noah's Weather Chart</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Adapting this activity to different ages</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This project is easy to adapt to different ages. For younger children you might need to give more help with drawing the table. I began the lines for Lotta at either end and then she did the joining up using a ruler. I also helped her with the writing by doing dot to dot letters for her to trace. She really enjoyed drawing her weather type symbols including a purple umbrella for rain! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Noah (8) was able to do his table by himself. He needed some input particularly for revising the cardinal points and writing the text. He came up with an airplane symbol to indicate wind direction which was very innovative. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">For an older child like Maya there are lots of ways to make this more complicated. She was able to do her own research online to check the weather report each day. Concerning her chart she also chose to record the temperature in degrees Celsius rather than as cold, warm or hot like her younger siblings. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YCk2jtOdlhA/WrOBBCUAxGI/AAAAAAAANsw/DKgpylxuLAYZRZJ8nfJUcxBUvOm0IGWSACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Making Science Fun Weather Charts Home Education Geography" border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1103" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YCk2jtOdlhA/WrOBBCUAxGI/AAAAAAAANsw/DKgpylxuLAYZRZJ8nfJUcxBUvOm0IGWSACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4908.JPG" title="Making Science Fun Weather Charts" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Maya filling in her weather chart for Manchester</span></td></tr>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Recording our Results</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We filled our charts in for a week. Although the children did forget at least once each, they were able to complete their charts by asking their siblings. Only Maya the eldest ended up with a hole in her data. I felt this was an important lesson for her to learn, that you need to be constant to get good scientific data. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I know a week</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> might not seem very long, but I felt it was a good beginning without the project becoming tedious. </span>We have enough data to produce a graph, work out an average and a mean, all things I'll be doing with Maya. Most importantly the children ended the project still excited about it! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">If the children show enough enthusiasm I may suggest doing this again over a longer period. I'd also like to make a rain gauge (pluviomètre) and add rainfall to our chart of local weather at least. They also want to make a traffic chart in our local town though we're waiting for it to warm up a bit first as we don't fancy standing outside for an hour in temperatures only just above freezing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">More tips next time on how to keep history and geography fascinating and fun for all ages! As well as more science with Rainbows in a Jar and our list of some of the best science videos out there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">* The gorgeous artwork on our calendar is by <a href="http://www.victoria-keeble.com/">Victoria Keeble</a>. It's published by the people at <a href="http://www.johnaustinpublishing.co.uk/">John Austin cards</a>.</span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-34702270803459928302018-03-15T10:30:00.000+01:002018-03-15T10:30:06.931+01:00How To Help Your Kids Record their Scientific Experiments<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Today, as promised I'm sharing with you</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> the fruit of my research into how to help your kids record their scientific experiments. </span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Recently we've been writing a lot of what we call science reports. You could say that's because we've been doing a lot of science experiments. However, in the past we didn't often keep a written record of what we were doing. So I suppose you might ask why now?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Home Education comes in many shapes and colours. Every family does things their own way. Some have a curriculum some have no programme at all and let their children decide how they fill their days. Others like us fall somewhere in between. As our eldest daughter has got older we've become more organised. Mostly because that's what she's been asking for. But also because as her interests have emerged we want to make sure we're giving her the foundations she needs to achieve her goals. And that my friends means more science and perhaps more importantly a strong understanding of the scientific method. Writing up her lab work seems to me an essential part of the process. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">All good scientists record their findings. As noted over at <a href="https://study.com/academy/lesson/scientific-investigations-keeping-records-communicating-results.html">study.com</a>,</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Science is all about collecting evidence, and if that evidence hasn't
been written down at the time, people have no way of knowing how
reliable your results may be." </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Not only is this an essential tool for any budding scientist to master, it's also incredibly interesting in education on several layers. Firstly, for encouraging learners to communicate and share their discoveries in the written form. Secondly, for rubbing out the line that divides real scientists and them. As soon as they decide to do an experiment, to record some data, to further their understanding, they are scientists. Even if someone's taken the steps they're taking before them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">That said I can't emphasi<i>z</i>e enough that the most important thing is to get hands on with the kids and to make sure that what ought to be recorded in a report is covered orally. Ask the questions, what are we using today? What are we doing today? And perhaps most importantly of all, what do you expect to happen? and what is happening? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">But back to the reports and how we do them! My kids are nearly 12, 8 and 5. They all like to do the experiments and they've all been involved with report writing. Here's how you can adapt science reports to different ages and keep it fun. Because making science fun is fast becoming my mantra. And guess what, I'm having a great time myself too! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Writing Science Reports </span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Whatever the age of the child a science report should cover 3 main areas:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Materials</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Method</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Observations </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The words we use to label and describe these sections and the way in which we fill them in are what we can adapt to different ages and/or abilities and/or affinities. By the latter I mean that not all children like writing whatever there age or abilities be whereas some children love producing reports even from a young age. That noted, for the sake of organisation I'll be explaining three ways of recording data for the age groups 5+, 7+ and 11+.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Five and upwards</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QGbDKf91ILQ/WqmbT0yBQPI/AAAAAAAANmg/24lc58T04EQpsuMAHnVBBqSu-37DPY09QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Science Reports Home Education Home Schooling kids" border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="330" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QGbDKf91ILQ/WqmbT0yBQPI/AAAAAAAANmg/24lc58T04EQpsuMAHnVBBqSu-37DPY09QCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_5033.JPG" title="Top Tips for Writing Science Reports with Kids" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Younger children like to do things like their older sibling. My youngest daughter loves writing reports for just that reason. However this age group can also have short attention spansit's best to keep reports concise. Lotta's reports answer the questions, what did we use? with a picture. And what did we do? with a couple of short sentences. As she likes to practice writing, I write these out for her in dot to dots and she traces them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Seven and upwards</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">An older child can write a basic lab report. Although it may not be very detailed it prepares them for what may be required in the future. Noah doesn't like writing much for the moment. So although he is 8 we try to keep his reports brief. We organise it as follows:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Our tools</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Our method</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Observations </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">He sometimes draws the tools rather than writing a list. And sometimes I act as a scribe for him and he tells me what to write. With a child who likes writing and has more patience with the written record you could probably work on something more detailed. For us the important thing is that he gets an idea of how we record an experiment and we get a record of his personal observations concerning what happened. We are also planning to give video reporting a try to see if that medium suits him better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Eleven and upwards</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">By this age a lot of children are more comfortable with writing and recording their own thoughts. They're also open to following a model. Maya enjoys this kind of written work and so her science reports are longer and more detailed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We are focussing on the scientific method and so I encourage her to order her reports as follows:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Title</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Hypothesis (if valid as some of our experiments are demonstrations)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Materials</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Method</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Observations</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Results (again if valid, this is often covered in the observations for the moment)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Science (this could also be a conclusion but Maya likes to record a bit of what she's learnt about the science behind whatever experiments we do).</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Maya </span></span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">often illustrates her report with pictures. Recently she also included a table with mass, volume and density using the formula mass/volume = density to fill in the third column. With each report I can see that she'd refining her written skills and gaining a deeper understanding of the value and importance of record keeping.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">To conclude, as I said at the beginning, we haven't been recording our scientific experiments for long and we no doubt still have a lot to learn but I hope this quick guide might be as helpful as <a href="https://elementalscience.com/blogs/news/how-to-record-an-experiment">this one</a> was to me. For now, the kids are enjoying writing their reports.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We also chat about what we've done with other family members who weren't present (dad, grandparents...) which gives the children another opportunity to process what they did and what they observed. And that act of processing and communicating to someone else what you did is what it's all about really. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">More science fun soon with weather reports and density. And also coming up soon, digging in to history and geography with lego, tv and lots more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-53684522295130386992018-03-09T10:30:00.000+01:002018-03-09T10:30:30.334+01:00Lava Lamps : The Ultimate Kids Science Experiment <span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Lava Lamps have to be one of the funnest science experiments we've ever done. Seriously, if you want to know <a href="https://tinyfeetandbluebirds.blogspot.fr/2018/02/how-to-make-science-fun.html" target="_blank">how to make science fun</a> for kids and encourage their sense of wonder you can't look much further than this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Experiment - check, there are fluids and solids involved and scientific gear required. Hands on - check, lots of pouring, mixing, shaking. Relevant - check, who doesn't think a funky lamp <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava_lamp#/media/File:Blue_Lava_lamp.JPG" target="_blank">like this</a> would be a great addition to any kid's room? Can be supported by interesting documentaries - check, and books - check.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">So on to the details. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-80c3VL2IvGk/Wp_0pT1EObI/AAAAAAAANbI/aDvJ77CesKcSFj-CkISeW_MOUi6kOgfKQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="kids fun science experiements lava lamps" border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="690" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-80c3VL2IvGk/Wp_0pT1EObI/AAAAAAAANbI/aDvJ77CesKcSFj-CkISeW_MOUi6kOgfKQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4806.JPG" title="The Ultimate Kids Science Experiment : Lava Lamps" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Bubbling Beauty - Lava Lamp</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Lava Lamps</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Materials</span></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Clear glass or plastic bottle </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Vegetable Oil (liquid)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Water (liquid)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Food Colouring (liquid)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Alka Seltzer tablets(solid)</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">What we did</span></h3>
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</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">First we poured the vegetable oil into a tall glass jar.</span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Then
we used a dropper to drip water into the oil This meant the kids could
see how the water didn't mix with the oil but sank through it to pool at
the bottom. I prompted their observations by asking them to watch what happened and describe it to me. We then talked about how this was because the water was denser
than the oil. If you look closely at the picture below you can see the water droplets beginning to cluster at the bottom of the jar.</span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5W10DXGtefE/Wp_1dIXOrOI/AAAAAAAANbQ/WZ7ZBbZZKqMCKnGrOambRYyAszyh-Ts2QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kids fun science experiments lava lamps" border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5W10DXGtefE/Wp_1dIXOrOI/AAAAAAAANbQ/WZ7ZBbZZKqMCKnGrOambRYyAszyh-Ts2QCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4773.JPG" title="The Ultimate Kids Science Experiment : Lava Lamps" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Dripping water into the oil</span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We did the same with the food colouring and again observed how it passed through the oil and then mixed with the water. </span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipMYLpUGY04/Wp_2sgetYDI/AAAAAAAANbc/K5REyU6VC_IGWkuVoGGZNWGTsrxJC175QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4779-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kids science fun experiments lava lamps" border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipMYLpUGY04/Wp_2sgetYDI/AAAAAAAANbc/K5REyU6VC_IGWkuVoGGZNWGTsrxJC175QCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4779-2.JPG" title="The Ultimate Kids Science Experiment : Lava Lamps" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Passing through the oil</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cum7IM1TOLY/Wp_2vaXY-9I/AAAAAAAANbg/Pifl6ctjryMJX02BXFgqDyJRV4UVn7ZlgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="kids science fun experiments lava lamps" border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="922" height="318" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cum7IM1TOLY/Wp_2vaXY-9I/AAAAAAAANbg/Pifl6ctjryMJX02BXFgqDyJRV4UVn7ZlgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4783.JPG" title="The Ultimate Kids Science Experiment : Lava Lamps" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Mixing with the water</span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> We took half an alka-seltzer tablet and dropped it into the jar and watched what happened. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-On9f_Ev4E2M/Wp_5A6gwBVI/AAAAAAAANbw/FUd9wXJIa1k9PARiC0ospdNfYnz0IMv8ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kids Science Fun Experiments Lava Lamps" border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="460" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-On9f_Ev4E2M/Wp_5A6gwBVI/AAAAAAAANbw/FUd9wXJIa1k9PARiC0ospdNfYnz0IMv8ACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4785.JPG" title="The Ultimate Kids Science Experiment : Lava Lamps" width="248" /></a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GFHdf3_vjL8/Wp_5BNO0lrI/AAAAAAAANb0/ul9fw_XqslMGippFcTDubw5tR-Ks6oulwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kids Science Fun Experiments Lava Lamps" border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="435" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GFHdf3_vjL8/Wp_5BNO0lrI/AAAAAAAANb0/ul9fw_XqslMGippFcTDubw5tR-Ks6oulwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4787.JPG" title="The Ultimate Kids Science Experiment : Lava Lamps" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching the Reaction</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We asked ourselves what else we could experiment with? What would happen if we put the lid on or dropped in a whole alka seltzer tablet? We also added some blue food colouring to the red to see what that would do. And then we got out our biggest torch and put it underneath the bottle. </span></li>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-birfRYo68Qg/Wp_6IpdDWmI/AAAAAAAANcE/YvYSOy-C6VcM1yxkuke2FHnMhYNRBFPPACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kids Fun Science Experiments Lava Lamps" border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-birfRYo68Qg/Wp_6IpdDWmI/AAAAAAAANcE/YvYSOy-C6VcM1yxkuke2FHnMhYNRBFPPACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4789.JPG" title="The Ultimate Kids Science Experiment : Lava Lamps" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Watching to see what happens!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T7rJ6qNGNJk/Wp_6IyJAyrI/AAAAAAAANcI/1cJXV7N6hssGum8pO3wq7zzkJB1TYjXhACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kids Science Fun Experiments Lava Lamps" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="337" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T7rJ6qNGNJk/Wp_6IyJAyrI/AAAAAAAANcI/1cJXV7N6hssGum8pO3wq7zzkJB1TYjXhACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4793.JPG" title="The Ultimate Kids Science Experiment : Lava Lamps" width="182" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Lovely Shades of Purple</span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">And just for good measure, we made some more! Three children often means three experiments. We began this together but luckily I had just enough oil and alka seltzer for them to do it again in smaller jars. This time they each worked by themselves and tried out some things differently to see what happened. Shaking happened, tipping upside down happened, adding differing quantities than the first time happened. And a lot of smiling and delight in the magic bubbles each and every time.</span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-60FyU1vyMJI/Wp_8R8ApeaI/AAAAAAAANcY/MGpJPEMifLwLjn7obPzUSxfs5DsI3FK3wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="490" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-60FyU1vyMJI/Wp_8R8ApeaI/AAAAAAAANcY/MGpJPEMifLwLjn7obPzUSxfs5DsI3FK3wCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4801.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Lotta (5)</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AbYH-3wHtrU/Wp_8bib7pMI/AAAAAAAANcc/AJjDdFiBjugz8GjV7DN5R4ObhLH8BAC3wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="849" height="346" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AbYH-3wHtrU/Wp_8bib7pMI/AAAAAAAANcc/AJjDdFiBjugz8GjV7DN5R4ObhLH8BAC3wCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4796.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Noah (8)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Maya (11)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Best for...</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Our sense of wonder. If you had to ask me what was the single thing that made this the ultimate kids science experiment for me so far, it would have to be the sheer delight on my kid's faces every time those bubbles appeared. With such simple and easily obtainable ingredients we did something really special. There is something amazing about Lava Lamps. They reveal the beauty and wonder of chemical reactions between liquids, solids and gases in a very peaceful and stunning way. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-whPNdFN4giI/Wp__vDhsHUI/AAAAAAAANc0/2ib5zc-_55gFXVe1PA7dYsMorAsgJUDsQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kids Science Fun Experiments Lava Lamps" border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="794" height="368" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-whPNdFN4giI/Wp__vDhsHUI/AAAAAAAANc0/2ib5zc-_55gFXVe1PA7dYsMorAsgJUDsQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4807.JPG" title="The Ultimate Kids Science Experiment : Lava Lamps" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Watching the Lava Bubble</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">In conclusion, we had great fun with this experiment. It allowed us to continue exploring states of matter (check out our other experiments <a href="https://tinyfeetandbluebirds.blogspot.fr/2018/03/the-best-experiments-to-explore-states.html" target="_blank">here</a>) as well as the concept of density. As usual we wrote the experiment up on paper (more about how that works for kids of different ages next week) and talked about the science. We also learned about how real lava lamps are made by watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AtBTP0Hf4g" target="_blank">this documentary</a> as well as reading about chemical reactions in our science books. </span><br />
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<br />helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-18119987692028293932018-03-08T10:30:00.001+01:002018-03-08T11:44:04.778+01:00Celebrating International Women's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fck1woGbKqE/WqBxlJDZVtI/AAAAAAAANkQ/qsosC6J0gwMxXZ-rTGlU-G-oio5VIYMZwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1072" height="273" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fck1woGbKqE/WqBxlJDZVtI/AAAAAAAANkQ/qsosC6J0gwMxXZ-rTGlU-G-oio5VIYMZwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3403.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Today is <a href="https://www.internationalwomensday.com/" target="_blank">International Women's Day</a>, a global day for celebrating women's achievements in whatever field they be. We'll be marking the day together by talking about the impressive women we know personally as well as the ones we've read and learned about. Perhaps there will be some discussion of gender equality or a history lesson on the suffragettes. We'll just see where the conversation takes us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Later in the day I'll begin reading Madeleine L'Engle's wonderful book A Wrinkle in Time with my eldest daughter. I've been wanting to read this story with her before the new film version is released in April. What better day to begin a book with such a strong female character as Meg Wallace? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">In this space, I want to celebrate a few of the amazing women in my life and offer them all a virtual bunch of roses. I'm lucky to be surrounded by many wonderful women younger and older. Family and friends as well as my lovely pottery/sculpture group and local knitting club. I feel privileged to know these women and to have their inspiration in my life. Thanks girls! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Of course I have to begin with my mum, a strong, independent woman, who raised me to never doubt women's absolute equality to men. Thanks for that mum! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Then of course there's my two beautiful daughters. They may be little women right now but they have taught me much about what it is to be a woman as they explore their own femininity and search out their own role models. Hilarious pink and skirts only periods aside, it is a joy to watch them bloom. I truly hope for a world in which they will not have to fend off the unwanted advances of men in positions of power! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RHE7wdUPqw0/WqBh0B28ONI/AAAAAAAANd0/O2zirD7pZdcdBGXO_jm6jpX-eoUWEDYIgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="910" height="322" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RHE7wdUPqw0/WqBh0B28ONI/AAAAAAAANd0/O2zirD7pZdcdBGXO_jm6jpX-eoUWEDYIgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2659.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Becoming Sisters</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tRM1kQ2nvUs/WqBh3o53cJI/AAAAAAAANd8/NW_o6JkELU4dWkhrV_yEhdkPsB80w-REgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_9487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="513" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tRM1kQ2nvUs/WqBh3o53cJI/AAAAAAAANd8/NW_o6JkELU4dWkhrV_yEhdkPsB80w-REgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_9487.JPG" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Playing Together</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxhzUsPDQME/WqBiC5Xcy3I/AAAAAAAANeA/DY3BAFd3wIUoTi90vDUCPWv9IT-VjOs6QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="179" height="393" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxhzUsPDQME/WqBiC5Xcy3I/AAAAAAAANeA/DY3BAFd3wIUoTi90vDUCPWv9IT-VjOs6QCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3943.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Growing into Themselves</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kQbPEeu-G0M/WqBiaGiTDsI/AAAAAAAANes/xgIcU8ft0Nwkz_SanGWtUQ43T0HjRw_dwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="197" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kQbPEeu-G0M/WqBiaGiTDsI/AAAAAAAANes/xgIcU8ft0Nwkz_SanGWtUQ43T0HjRw_dwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4334.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Finding their Passions</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Of course a mention has to be made of my sister, Sam. She'll always be my big sister and may not know just what a role model she was for me growing up. Thanks to her too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">And of course all my beautiful neices. As do my daughters, they remind me how important it is that we 'grown up' women keep equality on the agenda. I want the world they grow into to be even better than the one we have now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">They are all so different and unique and growing up so fast. The one in the last photo will turn 16 next week, I was feeling a bit nostalgic, she's the one on the right!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">And last but, I'm sure she knows, never least, my
amazing best friend, who is without a doubt, hands down one of the
women I admire most. Not only is she a brilliant mum but she works a
demanding full-time job and still finds time to get involved with loads of great projects both at home and in her community. She's quite simply amazing. Oh and she's also raising two of the strongest young women I know, both of them kind, gentle and articulate and quite determined to make themselves heard. Just the kind of girls I like! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Bonus post about Lava Lamps tomorrow. Raising my girls to be scientists!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-69951911527483777752018-03-01T10:30:00.000+01:002018-03-01T10:30:25.949+01:00The Best Experiments to Explore States of Matter<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Science was not my favourite subject as a kid. However, as I outlined last week, science really can be a lot of fun. Experiments are one of our best ways to liven things up and keep everybody interested. As home educators we learn together. Our ages range from 5 to well a lot older than that but donning the goggles and getting our hands dirty certainly seems to keep us all engaged. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Today I'm sharing with you three of the best experiments I've found to explore states of matter. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9gWT7odweX0/Wpc5juxjsvI/AAAAAAAANZk/Pn48G8P_kncBTgOJXF9PgkWkRLhofjLLACLcBGAs/s1600/20170720_160129-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="677" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9gWT7odweX0/Wpc5juxjsvI/AAAAAAAANZk/Pn48G8P_kncBTgOJXF9PgkWkRLhofjLLACLcBGAs/s400/20170720_160129-2.jpg" width="367" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Maya and Noah in observation mode</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></b></h3>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">States of Matter Experiment 1 :</span></b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> Melting Chocolate</span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Melting
chocolate is a really simple way for kids to talk about states of
matter in particular solids and liquids. It's a concrete and practical
exploration of what the properties of these two different states are. To
make this more fun we combined this science experiment with a cookery
experiment and tried our hand at making our own chocolate 'mendiants' -
yum yum!</span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Materials </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h4>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Bars of chocolate (milk and dark)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Mixed
nuts and dried fruits cut into very small pieces (we used raisins,
cranberries, candied ginger, hazlenuts, walnuts and cashews, dried
apricots and figs). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A bain-marie (we use a pyrex dish over a pan)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Baking try lined with greaseproof paper</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">spoons</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">aprons </span></li>
</ul>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">What we did</span></h4>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">First
we looked at the bars of chocolate and discussed what state they were
in and what were that state's characteristics (hard, brittle, holding
its shape, etc).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Next
we broke the chocolate into small pieces and melted it in the
bain-marie. We took it in turns to observe it and talked about the
change that was taking place. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Once it was fully liquid we talked about the properties of liquids (flow, take the shape of their container, etc).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We
discussed how we could transform the chocolate back into a solid.
Heating it in the oven was suggested but we all agreed heating it was
how it had melted so perhaps cooling it was best. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We
poured small spoonfuls of the liquid chocolate onto the lined baking
tray and then sprinkled on different combinations of the dried fruit and
nuts. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We left the chocolats mendiants to set, checking on them regularly to see how they were doing.</span></li>
</ul>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Best for...</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Kids
who love chocolate, mums who love chocolate, Easter science activities,
holiday season science experiments with gift-making. We really enjoyed
this and the conversations we had were a great springboard for the rest
of our work on states of matter.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"></span><h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p9hJf-D9Fqw/Wpc50EHMPfI/AAAAAAAANZo/QK6enf010SoRUzF6BT9QJNDC38B-b6ZWgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="131" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p9hJf-D9Fqw/Wpc50EHMPfI/AAAAAAAANZo/QK6enf010SoRUzF6BT9QJNDC38B-b6ZWgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2671.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lotta ready to bake the scones!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">States of Matter Experiment Two :<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Making Butter</span></b></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It's
an oldie but a goodie guaranteed to please everyone, young and old.
This simple science experiment is not only fun to do but also provides a
tasty treat at the end. You might want to make some delicious scones
like we did to have something to spread your butter on. </span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Materials</span></h4>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">a clean jar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">a 240ml pot of double cream (a.k.a whipping cream) </span></li>
</ul>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">What We Did</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h4>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">First we poured the cream into the clean jar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We discussed the 'state' of the cream (the kids successfully identified it as a liquid)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We
talked about how we could change it into a solid (heating it and
cooling it were discussed). I explained to the children that we were
going to try shaking it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We
began shaking the jar, stopping regularly (5minute intervals) to
observe what was happening. We recorded our observations. After about
ten minutes we had yummy whipped cream (yes we tasted!). After about 20
to 25 minutes the butter was beginning to separate out. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It took a bit longer, but we continued until we had a solid pat of butter, fully separated from the butter milk.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We
poured off the butter milk and stored it in another jar (we used it in
pancakes later). We really enjoyed eating 'our' butter. </span></li>
</ul>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Best For ... </span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Younger
kids. They really enjoy science that's also cooking but this doesn't
have to mean excluding your older children. Mine were delighted to
rediscover this experiment and extremely proud of the yummy butter they
made.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NK_seMSw-xc/Wpc2UbmIxqI/AAAAAAAANY8/V-C5m6O8V18hAg2fcTqsg9uEaRn2aKzbgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Exploring states of matter experimenting with Oobleck" border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="147" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NK_seMSw-xc/Wpc2UbmIxqI/AAAAAAAANY8/V-C5m6O8V18hAg2fcTqsg9uEaRn2aKzbgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4730.JPG" title="The best experiments to explore states of matter Oobleck" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Maya delights in the Oobleck</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">States of Matter Experiment Three : Oobleck </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Oobleck or Cornstarch goo is a lot of fun and a great way to explore states of matter. It's a non-newtonian liquid which means depending on how you handle it, it reacts either like a liquid or like a solid. Kids love it because it's messy and gooey. And mums or teachers if you're thinking that sounds horrible, don't worry it's suprisingly easy to clean up. It can't go down your drain but it can be fed to your plants and if you wait it eventually goes powdery again and easily brushes off things and into the bin. </span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Materials </span></h4>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Corn Starch</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Water</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Food colouring</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Mixing Bowls</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Aprons </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Protective covering for your work surface </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BUO8Som7Xyk/Wpc2wtowkLI/AAAAAAAANZA/6c5VdSiPnPEHuiJ1FbSjfSqmAmltNST7gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4745.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Oobleck acting like a liquid kids experiment" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="1104" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BUO8Som7Xyk/Wpc2wtowkLI/AAAAAAAANZA/6c5VdSiPnPEHuiJ1FbSjfSqmAmltNST7gCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4745.JPG" title="The Best Experiments to Explore States of Matter Oobleck" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Flowing like a Liquid</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">What we did</span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">(for more detailed instructions check out <a href="https://sciencebob.com/oobleck-the-corn-starch-and-water-experiment/" target="_blank">sciencebob's tutorial</a> which is the main one we used) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">First of all we poured about a cup of cornstarch into our bowls and played with it to get a feel for the texture.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We poured half a cup of water into a measuring jug and added the food colouring of each child's choice to the water. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We added enough water to the cornstarch mixing it in with our hands until it slowly flowed on its own. In our case this was pretty much all of it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We played with the cornstarch goo. And boy was it fun. I threw some ideas out at the kids in the form of what does it do if ... and they threw in some of their own. A happy hour or more was spend just testing out what this stuff can do. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We cleaned up after a bit of googling to find out how best to do it. We then watched some very funny YouTube videos of people walking on, running across and playing around with Oobleck. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We read up on the science of non-newtonian liquids.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xluien2Cw_Y/Wpc3Wp2JbvI/AAAAAAAANZQ/PpMJ-wRkG5gGD3SNTamd-SM1qZaKcdlFACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4754.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Oobleck acting like a solid kids experiment " border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="1104" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xluien2Cw_Y/Wpc3Wp2JbvI/AAAAAAAANZQ/PpMJ-wRkG5gGD3SNTamd-SM1qZaKcdlFACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4754.JPG" title="THe Best Experiments to Explore States of Matter Oobleck" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Solid balls of Oobleck</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Best for ...</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Everyone though particularly kids who love getting their hands dirty. When the kids had finished, I have to admit I had a go too. There's something magical about Cornstarch Goo, how it's at once a liquid and a solid. And it just feels so good! And we were all really impressed when Noah managed to hold his bowl in the air by holding on to the Oobleck inside, now if that's not magic... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tD1fIhL9hq8/Wpc3xNDY7II/AAAAAAAANZU/uKvwRYdGRU0O0cQzRvHe8nItu9GoVRACACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Oobleck kids experiment, strong enough to lift a bowl" border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="345" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tD1fIhL9hq8/Wpc3xNDY7II/AAAAAAAANZU/uKvwRYdGRU0O0cQzRvHe8nItu9GoVRACACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4759.JPG" title="The Best Experiments to Explore States of Matter Oobleck" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Noah's bowl hovering over the table!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">All three of these experiments were fantastic, I really hope you'll try them with your kids. To support what we were learning through these hands on activities, we read up on the states of matter <a href="https://www.dk.com/uk/9781409347934-utterly-amazing-science/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.dk.com/us/9781405336581-the-new-childrens-encyclopedia/" target="_blank">here</a>. We also watched this great French kids <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxMNJ6-8n5c" target="_blank">documentary</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBgM73DLK1s" target="_blank">this one</a> in English. We then produced a visual schema showing what we'd learned about the three states and how matter changes from one state to another. After each experiment we do a little lab report which varies in style and detail according to the kids different ages and interest in written records. I'll share more about that soon and another fabulous states of matter experiment - the Lava Lamp! </span>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-89069065433997816512018-02-22T10:30:00.000+01:002018-02-28T16:21:32.216+01:00How to Make Science Fun!<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We're doing a lot of science at home this year after deciding to take a break from our Home Ed science group. As well as learning we've really been having a good time. I thought it would be nice to share with you the different ways we've found to make science fun!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Experiment, experiment, experiment! </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Nothing
beats getting your hands dirty and trying things out for yourself.
Experiments really do make science fun. Kids really love anything that
involves measuring, pouring, mixing, watching. It's even better if they
get to make a mess. So whatever scientific concept we're trying to get
our heads around, I usually begin my preparation by using the internet
to research any relevant experiments we can do at home. There are an
awful lot of great resources out there. I'll be blogging soon about
some of the specific experiments we've been doing and linking to the
places we've used then. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IENubUuCzL4/Wo2qsS166GI/AAAAAAAANWM/RZctqPJIrSIy6YXnbiCEHiMSZ82iiSn3QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Making Science Fun - Oobleck" border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="477" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IENubUuCzL4/Wo2qsS166GI/AAAAAAAANWM/RZctqPJIrSIy6YXnbiCEHiMSZ82iiSn3QCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_4741.JPG" title="Making Science Fun" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Maya has fun with Oobleck</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Find the best documentaries. </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">As
home educators we watch a lot of documentaries. They make science fun
by bringing it alive whether it be through amazing and ground breaking
footage or by telling the life stories of some of our greatest minds. Great
scientific discoveries often make great stories too and it's inspiring
for kids to see the real people behind the science.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Although screen time can be seen <a href="http://www.techagekids.com/2016/11/passive-vs-creative-screen-time.html" target="_blank">as passive</a><a href="http://www.techagekids.com/2016/11/passive-vs-creative-screen-time.html" target="_blank">, it can also be active and creative</a>.
For us this means, trying to watch together rather than using this time
as babysitting. It also means asking the children what they think about
what they've seen and drawing connections between what we watch and
what we're learning elsewhere. I can't say it enough, great
documentaries can be really inspiring. In science terms we love
everything with Physicist Brian Cox, his natural enthusiasm is
infectious. We also love the French series <a href="http://www.cestpassorcierstream.sitew.fr/" target="_blank">C'est Pas Sorcier</a> which really break things down in ways kids can get to grips with.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aZQpcXWryz8/Wo2uqWwnAdI/AAAAAAAANW4/rtxshMw9bTAB-ppsf0OMs9LZF0Xec1UiwCLcBGAs/s1600/Brian_Cox_at_Science_Foo_Camp_image2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="263" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aZQpcXWryz8/Wo2uqWwnAdI/AAAAAAAANW4/rtxshMw9bTAB-ppsf0OMs9LZF0Xec1UiwCLcBGAs/s400/Brian_Cox_at_Science_Foo_Camp_image2.jpg" title="Brian Cox By Bob Lee [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Photo by By Bob Lee</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Keep it hands on. </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Although
not everything can be explored through home experiments there are other
ways to make science fun by keeping it hands on. Building models (like
this one we made of the <a href="https://tinyfeetandbluebirds.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-homeschool-files-how-to-make.html" target="_blank">International Space Station</a>)
and making collages and drawings are all ways to keep kids engaged.
Another approach to this can be trying things out physically. Maya and I
recently had a blast trying out some sports activities to try and
better understand the physics of Olympic Ice Skating. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NSoNagMsqfI/Wo2tclPd9VI/AAAAAAAANWs/H5J5ndnGiCsw8UbUaPUs0ZmhlBMYdYa9ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Making Science Fun - Model Space Station" border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="598" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NSoNagMsqfI/Wo2tclPd9VI/AAAAAAAANWs/H5J5ndnGiCsw8UbUaPUs0ZmhlBMYdYa9ACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0661.JPG" title="Making Science Fun - Model Space Station" width="529" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Noah and his model International Space Station</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Make it relevant. </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It's
never easy to find the motivation to learn about something when it
seems completely abstract or irrelevant. Experiments and hands on
activities are great for bringing science to life but it also helps when
the science you're working on can have some kind of link with everyday
life. Recently we've used the Winter Olympics and all those sports as a
springboard for learning about physics and biology. The kids have been
so involved with and impressed by the athletes performances that they
were pleased to learn more about just how they do it. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1tTXVsPL3mo/Wo2sLHJyNEI/AAAAAAAANWg/9Ou87bh2ySYBPGciT0JZMXV9dLftYOyGQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Making Science Fun - Great Books" border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="1072" height="424" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1tTXVsPL3mo/Wo2sLHJyNEI/AAAAAAAANWg/9Ou87bh2ySYBPGciT0JZMXV9dLftYOyGQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_4826.JPG" title="Making Science Fun - Great Books" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Learning about Athletes Bodies</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Books, books, books! </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Finally,
one last piece of advice would be to get your hands on the best and
most interesting books you can. Children's factual books are amazing
affairs of colour, fun and fascinating information these days. </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Editors
are really pushing themselves to make science books really
fun and interesting with pop ups, flaps, photography and humour. </span>Check
out <a href="https://makingsensegames.com/blog/best-kids-books-on-the-human-body/" target="_blank">this post</a> I wrote about the best factual books on the human body to
see what I mean. Then go and check out your local libraries, book
stores, car boot sales and charity shops and see what treasure you and
your kids can uncover. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kz1murOfDGo/Wo2rAQpOL3I/AAAAAAAANWQ/9CLYhuohMysigniQDQRV0dPHRB5wfztrQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="How to Make Science Fun" border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="330" height="424" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kz1murOfDGo/Wo2rAQpOL3I/AAAAAAAANWQ/9CLYhuohMysigniQDQRV0dPHRB5wfztrQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_4830.JPG" title="Making Science Fun" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Amazing Books about Human Bodies</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></h3>
helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-618910094453574652018-02-15T10:30:00.000+01:002018-02-15T10:30:18.375+01:00begin again<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">It's been a long time. There have been a fair few changes in our lives and just generally a lot of busyness. This blog fell by the wayside for a while as other projects took centre stage. I wasn't sure I'd come back here. And then I was looking through all my photos and thinking about the amazing time we've been having home educating this school year. It seemed to me there was still something worth sharing with you. And so I'm back with the intention of being here regularly again. I hope you'll be here too and enjoy a little insight into our daily lives.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">For now here are a few photos to bring you up to date...</span><br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We now have 2 cats! Introducing... Ziggy</span></h3>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiVlGnxW7fc/WoRnDF_2cwI/AAAAAAAANRM/7LuUniWo9fUo7J0Da9sXqWJlBq_0H369gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4156-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="197" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiVlGnxW7fc/WoRnDF_2cwI/AAAAAAAANRM/7LuUniWo9fUo7J0Da9sXqWJlBq_0H369gCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_4156-2.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Ziggy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The
little black guy was found in our garden by neighbours who were taking
care of our lovely part Maine Coone beauty Oksa (named for Oksa Pollack
the French Harry Potter). It's been a bumpy ride as he was malnourished
and definitely not toilet trained. Adding a new member to any family,
human or not, is never easy but he has reminded us what it is to watch a
small thing grow into himself and for that we are all grateful. Oksa is still not convinced taking him in was a good idea but she's slowly coming round...</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--f7kTjmvxDE/WoRnFgL0WcI/AAAAAAAANRQ/K1hljiqF94oSVQO_UZWK3b5OyX4fDbKIQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="329" data-original-width="358" height="366" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--f7kTjmvxDE/WoRnFgL0WcI/AAAAAAAANRQ/K1hljiqF94oSVQO_UZWK3b5OyX4fDbKIQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2404.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Oksa</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> </span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">It snowed in Brittany!</span></h3>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8oZmWHT8qp0/WoRoBrgFfyI/AAAAAAAANRg/9LMEbtYdLn8Amb9ZUnT5tQSsSsTjdJZbACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1103" height="425" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8oZmWHT8qp0/WoRoBrgFfyI/AAAAAAAANRg/9LMEbtYdLn8Amb9ZUnT5tQSsSsTjdJZbACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_4833.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Snow covered garage</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5wwLKrtL3Zo/WoRoCYLZj_I/AAAAAAAANRk/gx8J_LFOSeocP_ZZVB1aok2wb1XRQtGkQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1102" height="425" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5wwLKrtL3Zo/WoRoCYLZj_I/AAAAAAAANRk/gx8J_LFOSeocP_ZZVB1aok2wb1XRQtGkQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_4834.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Oh so white!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And I mean for more than 2 minutes. We actually woke up to a white garden for the first time since we moved here. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> We still spend as much time at the beach...</span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p6GmaB2qX1o/WoRqmZaJj-I/AAAAAAAANR0/KYe0ETdPr5g2NUdJ8pTIcHAo7Sb9VeNVwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-20180106-WA0005.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="459" height="358" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p6GmaB2qX1o/WoRqmZaJj-I/AAAAAAAANR0/KYe0ETdPr5g2NUdJ8pTIcHAo7Sb9VeNVwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG-20180106-WA0005.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing winter light<b><br /></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qxrnz3tQl4/WoRqoZLj-4I/AAAAAAAANR4/WCG0xELVKC4rLDwuGkMYxgAXtjsMiHAeACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1102" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qxrnz3tQl4/WoRqoZLj-4I/AAAAAAAANR4/WCG0xELVKC4rLDwuGkMYxgAXtjsMiHAeACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_4648.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birds, birds, birds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></h3>
helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-78873238301750426342017-08-02T10:30:00.000+02:002017-08-02T10:30:07.436+02:00Homeschooling : there's always more to learn....<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Because we work by following our children's interests, some subjects are returned to over and over again. When they really get passionate about something they have a thirst for information about it that can be astounding. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YAbN5p1TGk/WYA1PO6oMBI/AAAAAAAACPE/QACDqinzaBcr0YtNh-ii15yPAziur_DSgCLcBGAs/s1600/20170730_135748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Homeschooling Casles Middle Ages" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="552" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YAbN5p1TGk/WYA1PO6oMBI/AAAAAAAACPE/QACDqinzaBcr0YtNh-ii15yPAziur_DSgCLcBGAs/s400/20170730_135748.jpg" title="" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Scuscinio through the trees</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This has definitely been true of Noah and his fascination with Knights, castles and the middle ages. Each time I think it's waning, it pops back up again and we do a new round of hunting for books, finding documentaries and planning places to visit.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CLaC9IMMyEM/WYA1WW-pR6I/AAAAAAAACPI/LzRUtdRBT0shr91wJAb8s9jHJ9gHnXEmQCLcBGAs/s1600/2017-07-30%2B14.00.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Suscinio Casle Brittany" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="982" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CLaC9IMMyEM/WYA1WW-pR6I/AAAAAAAACPI/LzRUtdRBT0shr91wJAb8s9jHJ9gHnXEmQCLcBGAs/s400/2017-07-30%2B14.00.28.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The impressive Tour de Ronde</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">That's what led us to the Chateau de Suscinio last weekend and a wonderful participative guided tour. Suscinio was not a fortress castle but more of a home although as was current at the time, it wasn't permanently inhabited. The tour we took was all about the different jobs involved in getting the castle ready for the Duc de Bretagne whenever he decided to visit. It was fascinating learning about the artisans, the cooks, the cleaners, furniture movers, etc that worked to get the place up to standard.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJhs59Yq1PA/WYA1c4OXLZI/AAAAAAAACPM/o8NhVf7tBMEUV3hXmr9A9JC9hwffMdApgCLcBGAs/s1600/20170730_163123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Suscinio's treasure" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="982" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJhs59Yq1PA/WYA1c4OXLZI/AAAAAAAACPM/o8NhVf7tBMEUV3hXmr9A9JC9hwffMdApgCLcBGAs/s400/20170730_163123.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Suscinio's treasure : beautiful floor tiles</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Each family was given a role that they then explained to the rest of the group at a pertinent moment during the tour. Our family were the "Les Officiers de la Garde Robe". It sounds terribly important doesn't it! What it actually meant was that we were in charge of repairing and keeping clean all the clothes and linen as well as taking care of the precious jewels. Not too bad but certainly not quite as glamorous as the title implied. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6vZP3o1ZWA/WYA1jS4u_II/AAAAAAAACPQ/62wbdk7DTYEFmn_vsiqzRjAPtT9LCcAFQCLcBGAs/s1600/20170730_162955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Suscinio Floor tiles " border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="982" height="298" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6vZP3o1ZWA/WYA1jS4u_II/AAAAAAAACPQ/62wbdk7DTYEFmn_vsiqzRjAPtT9LCcAFQCLcBGAs/s400/20170730_162955.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Detail from Suscinio's treasure</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We learned so much during this visit about the ordinary people who worked and lived there. Once again, I was surprised and pleased to see how much we still have to learn about a subject we already know a lot about. The same thing happens with each new book we find or film we watch. Although there's a lot of crossover, there are always little hidden gems. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ERT7KA5u6ms/WYA1ovbOBSI/AAAAAAAACPU/hlwRC9UKUQgy0RdYwBbd9Jyt092Lfp4rACLcBGAs/s1600/2017-07-30%2B14.03.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Chateau de Suscinio" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="981" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ERT7KA5u6ms/WYA1ovbOBSI/AAAAAAAACPU/hlwRC9UKUQgy0RdYwBbd9Jyt092Lfp4rACLcBGAs/s400/2017-07-30%2B14.03.19.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Chateau de Suscinio imposing over the moat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Hopefully the children will take away from this the importance of using many source materials whenever researching something. And more importantly that there is always more to learn in life and even when we become something of an expert on a subject, as Noah surely is now in this subject area, there can still be more to learn. </span>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-79714378794057212892017-07-26T15:00:00.000+02:002017-07-26T15:00:06.302+02:00Adventures in Natural Dyeing<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">With heavy hearts the children waved goodbye to their British grandparents last week. We see them regularly and they were with us for two weeks but it is never enough for the children. We all really needed a pick me up so we got in the car and made our way to the lovely <a href="http://www.la-tisserie.fr/" target="_blank">Tisserie</a> at Branderion, a small but delightful little museum concerned with fibre, textiles and weaving. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FPHQ_AegJ2M/WXhgf0v5EBI/AAAAAAAACNc/TaUr0lkAxTM2VkHCaJ41bS_-aelybYArACLcBGAs/s1600/20170720_154135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Homeschooling Fibre, weaving, spinning, knitting" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="820" height="358" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FPHQ_AegJ2M/WXhgf0v5EBI/AAAAAAAACNc/TaUr0lkAxTM2VkHCaJ41bS_-aelybYArACLcBGAs/s400/20170720_154135.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">All the different animals who provide us with fiber</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lgB29C6d-qA/WXhgj8Wqw9I/AAAAAAAACNg/-rhttiqReaMPaQUhV9XuEYnxudKSY6cGACLcBGAs/s1600/20170720_154121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Homeschooling fibres and textiles" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="982" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lgB29C6d-qA/WXhgj8Wqw9I/AAAAAAAACNg/-rhttiqReaMPaQUhV9XuEYnxudKSY6cGACLcBGAs/s400/20170720_154121.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Really fun guess the animal fibre baskets</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I'd signed the children and I up for a natural dyeing workshop and we weren't disappointed. Not only was the welcome warm and the museum's exhibition interesting, the workshop itself delighted everyone. We were eight participants and we covered three forms of natural dye, cochineal (cochenille en français), indigo and leaves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">For the first two we experimented with tie-dying using elastic bands and dye baths. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-38cRoVWlj3s/WXhg2H6pE9I/AAAAAAAACNo/1qRDoaja5Yokqx2fMwtF4EbFsBEzVms4QCLcBGAs/s1600/20170720_160129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Homeschooling : dyeing with cochineal" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="982" height="298" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-38cRoVWlj3s/WXhg2H6pE9I/AAAAAAAACNo/1qRDoaja5Yokqx2fMwtF4EbFsBEzVms4QCLcBGAs/s400/20170720_160129.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Noah and Maya watch the bugs leak their dye!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">For the cochineal, the dried bugs were mixed with boiling water, vinegar and bicarbonate of soda before we placed material samples, one wool, one cotton in the dye bath and left them to soak until the end of the workshop. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The indigo bath was already prepared. We took it in turns to dip in aprons which we'd contorted with elastic bands. The later batches initially displayed an acid green colour alongside the dark blue but this faded as the aprons dried. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lueckutCMG8/WXhg8AThu3I/AAAAAAAACNs/dyhSO1Fu4PQv912P9glBMyi4oabDuKiewCLcBGAs/s1600/20170720_161534.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Homeschooling : dyeing with indigo" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="837" height="351" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lueckutCMG8/WXhg8AThu3I/AAAAAAAACNs/dyhSO1Fu4PQv912P9glBMyi4oabDuKiewCLcBGAs/s400/20170720_161534.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Noah dips his apron in the Indigo</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dj2IwtRo9QE/WXhg_hjJPRI/AAAAAAAACNw/uHTe5qzmiEAgeFMY9BWPd14lrBnSfIwlwCLcBGAs/s1600/20170720_161724.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Indigo dye bath" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="752" height="391" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dj2IwtRo9QE/WXhg_hjJPRI/AAAAAAAACNw/uHTe5qzmiEAgeFMY9BWPd14lrBnSfIwlwCLcBGAs/s400/20170720_161724.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Maya's turn</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_cDR4f1JSc/WXhhDLMUHVI/AAAAAAAACN0/pKzki4k8CWI17INQGZUOEjVJkKc0CS4PgCLcBGAs/s1600/20170720_161842.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Indigo dyeing with under 5s" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="497" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_cDR4f1JSc/WXhhDLMUHVI/AAAAAAAACN0/pKzki4k8CWI17INQGZUOEjVJkKc0CS4PgCLcBGAs/s400/20170720_161842.jpg" title="" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And last but not least, Lotta</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">For the third technique we picked fresh leaves outside and then after placing the leaves under a thin piece of cotton, used a hammer to release their dye. The material was then placed in a special bath with a fixing agent. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-829oVkc4_f4/WXhiMDU5-LI/AAAAAAAACN8/KODpOIwQ0iotTZ614onJyzj3B5x-UOJIwCLcBGAs/s1600/20170720_163029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Homeschooling leaf dyeing" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="982" height="298" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-829oVkc4_f4/WXhiMDU5-LI/AAAAAAAACN8/KODpOIwQ0iotTZ614onJyzj3B5x-UOJIwCLcBGAs/s400/20170720_163029.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Take the leaves</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F2yLTCV_ZpQ/WXhiRMNddWI/AAAAAAAACOA/j1rum4DxuUwGA74IczEqYeeEob7d4GtdACLcBGAs/s1600/20170720_163309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Homeschooling natural dyes" border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="947" height="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F2yLTCV_ZpQ/WXhiRMNddWI/AAAAAAAACOA/j1rum4DxuUwGA74IczEqYeeEob7d4GtdACLcBGAs/s400/20170720_163309.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Place the thing material over them</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P8bode_ceTg/WXhiVK5xW2I/AAAAAAAACOE/yGaZ3fbSV3cs0Sbjj_ug21a4yO0Nx0kHgCLcBGAs/s1600/20170720_163313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Homeschooling hammer dyeing" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="552" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P8bode_ceTg/WXhiVK5xW2I/AAAAAAAACOE/yGaZ3fbSV3cs0Sbjj_ug21a4yO0Nx0kHgCLcBGAs/s400/20170720_163313.jpg" title="" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And hammer...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The children were really delighted with all the results especially the aprons. The leaf dying really surprised them and they are very eager to try this again at home with other leaves as well as flowers (I'll keep you posted!). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m5_CgVuHAJE/WXhippL7FhI/AAAAAAAACOI/5gVx6epa6jMInV3hq8zKCtQs4E5Fp_WJwCLcBGAs/s1600/20170720_161718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Indigo tie-dyed apron" border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="654" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m5_CgVuHAJE/WXhippL7FhI/AAAAAAAACOI/5gVx6epa6jMInV3hq8zKCtQs4E5Fp_WJwCLcBGAs/s400/20170720_161718.jpg" title="" width="355" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The big reveal to Noah's delight</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cR_LmEAD5gk/WXhitqrHwbI/AAAAAAAACOM/CSPSr1a6lTA05jh4u60wk--CvEUPezXagCLcBGAs/s1600/20170720_163019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Indigo tie-dyed aprons" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="1135" height="258" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cR_LmEAD5gk/WXhitqrHwbI/AAAAAAAACOM/CSPSr1a6lTA05jh4u60wk--CvEUPezXagCLcBGAs/s400/20170720_163019.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Apron's drying</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> </span>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-46454673124224369002017-07-20T15:00:00.000+02:002017-07-20T15:00:16.343+02:00Five Little Things : Bringing in the Hay<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Living in a rural area, we follow what's going on in the fields a lot. From the planting through to the harvest we really enjoy watching the crops grow. Although we may not always be in agreement with our neighbour's farming methods, there's still something awesome about watching a field grow from bare earth through to seedlings and then to full grown crops. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">They're bringing in the hay at the moment here, the large machinery clogging the narrow roads traveling from farm to farm. It's fun to watch but we'd never taken part in it before. Luckily, while on holiday earlier this year, we had the good fortune to meet a friendly farmer who invited the children to join in. They really did have a wonderful time and were able to observe the process and the machinery involved. There really is no better education than hands on experience in this kind of case and I was amazed afterwards at all the details they'd picked up through observation and discussion with the farmer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">One of our objectives when we moved out of the city was that our children better understand the processes by which our food makes its way to our table. Although this mainly progresses through our own vegetable growing, this experience has definitely contributed to their comprehension of the work involved preparing animal feed and why raising animals requires so much land and labour. </span><br />
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helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-42315369520683504382017-07-12T10:30:00.000+02:002017-07-12T10:30:18.016+02:00Homeschooling Science : Experiments <span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">One of my favourite things about science as a kid was doing experiments. Adding one thing to another and seeing what happened. Trying things more than once to control the variables. Wondering if anyone would blow up a test tube that day or not... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">As I've documented before part of our science curriculum is covered by the <a href="https://tinyfeetandbluebirds.blogspot.fr/2017/02/science-club-fire.html" target="_blank"><b>science group</b></a> the children belong to, a spin off from Les Petits Debrouillards (the little do it them selfers is the best translation I can come up with) but that doesn't stop us from repeating experiments at home and also doing our own. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Last week Lotta did some chemistry with bicarbonate of soda (alkaline) and vinegar (acid). The first part of the experiment involved mixing the two together and observing what happened. </span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UReBqj54B28/WWTubcWlUDI/AAAAAAAACLg/WSFIui0Qg58IQassqAbpcBIozfVhNAY5wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Homeschooling Science Bicarbanate of Soda and Vinegar Experiment" border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="147" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UReBqj54B28/WWTubcWlUDI/AAAAAAAACLg/WSFIui0Qg58IQassqAbpcBIozfVhNAY5wCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3606.JPG" title="" width="267" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The second part was a challenge - take the bicarb, the vinegar, a small bottle and a balloon and inflate and keep inflated the balloon without using air. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">First of all we talked again about what had happened when we mixed vinegar and baking soda. How it made lots of bubbles which were filled with gas. We talked about how we could get this gas into a balloon. We tried a few things. If we just mixed them together we did blow the balloon up but it was tiny. We worked out that was because the gas was escaping before we attached the balloon to the bottle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Finally we decided to put the vinegar in one receptacle, the bottle, and the bicarbonate in the other, the balloon. We then attached the balloon to the bottle and gave the whole thing a shake. Bingo! The balloon inflated and stayed inflated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Afterwards we detached the balloon and tied a knot in it. Lotta and her brother both observed that it didn't float up into the air a bit like a normal balloon but quickly sank to the ground which enabled us to talk about the gas produced being heavier than air.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">All in all this was great fun and enabled us to touch on some important principles of the physical world. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Top tips for experimenting with children</span></b><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Let them do as much as possible, it's not as fun to watch.</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Have the kids gather the materials you'll need where at all possible. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"></span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Try to resist edging them towards the right solutions, you can learn a lot from trial and error and this is one of the founding principles of all scientific process. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Encourage them to be observant. Questions like what do you see? what's happening? are good prompts.</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Repeat as many times as they want if you're able to. In my experience if they're asking to do something again it's that they still have something to learn from it even if you feel they've 'got it'. This is also true if they ask to do something again months or even years later. Perhaps in the meantime they've acquired new knowledge that will fuel their understanding of what's happening. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"></span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Challenges are a fun way to get the kids doing it themselves and trying out different things. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"></span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">If you're working with more than one child they can each try their own way either at the same time or successively. This is a good way for kids to see how other people think and problem solve. </span></li>
</ul>
helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-88379242027359687102017-07-08T11:00:00.001+02:002017-07-08T11:00:06.608+02:00Five Little Things : Bounty<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">There's a lot coming in from the garden at the moment. Added to that we made time to get to the Pick Your Own farm this week and came home with just over 4kilos of strawberries. Like all the end of the year parties (pottery, climbing, riding etc) it's kept us busy and away from other things but it is so good to revel in the best of what the season has to offer. Strawberries simmering....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">An immensely satisfying stack of jars filled up with homemade strawberry jam...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">For the jam, I followed two recipes from the wonderful <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Canning-New-Generation-Flavors-Modern/dp/1584798645" target="_blank">Canning for a New Generation</a></b>, the simply diving Strawberry Preserves and my personal favourite the Strawberry and Lavender Jam, with lavender from our own garden. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Of course the kids wanted to enjoy some of the strawberries other than in jam so we saved enough for a yummy Charlotte... (apologies for the terrible quality of this picture, three hungry beggars did not want to wait!)...</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uA7P4Dfdsgs/WV_7YNuaMhI/AAAAAAAACKc/RcZTWYDMecwilSe4FB-60MA0Pbm7oELBACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="1042" height="282" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uA7P4Dfdsgs/WV_7YNuaMhI/AAAAAAAACKc/RcZTWYDMecwilSe4FB-60MA0Pbm7oELBACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3613.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And as if all this strawberry goodness wasn't enough, Maya made us this beautiful salad with home grown Rocket and Borage, a delicious edible flower that brings a lot of bees into the garden promoting pollination across our veggie patch....</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JSoJyrK0kvg/WV_5wuguA6I/AAAAAAAACKQ/2iwpENYGyqcZYQCBdueX72Rh2g25bJhEQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rocket and Borage Salad" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="1104" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JSoJyrK0kvg/WV_5wuguA6I/AAAAAAAACKQ/2iwpENYGyqcZYQCBdueX72Rh2g25bJhEQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3615.JPG" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">It seems to me that really relishing the food each season has to offer us is one of the most important ways we honour nature and fill our children with passion and awe for the wonder that is our planet and how it provides for all living things. </span>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2325431085702387710.post-56418953408537474392017-07-08T11:00:00.000+02:002017-07-08T11:00:18.813+02:00Five Little Things : Keeping us Busy<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tnfunA1jQfA/WV_2512nYUI/AAAAAAAACJ4/0mqJjepbBr4MYPHck4dQxFSoVaVZyRrrwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1839v2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="343" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tnfunA1jQfA/WV_2512nYUI/AAAAAAAACJ4/0mqJjepbBr4MYPHck4dQxFSoVaVZyRrrwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1839v2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a special relationship</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">It's been a busy few weeks here. Visitors and end of the school year festivities have kept us busy. Yes even though we home educate we still get caught up in the over busyness of end of term time with lots of parties and events on our calendar. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">One of the things that's been keeping us busy all year really but especially the last few weeks has been Maya's Pony Club activities. She goes three times a week which already means a lot of our time is organised around this activity and has also begun taking part in competitions on Sundays. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">We've been really pleased that she's found a home away from home where she can grow her passion. She's made a band of friends, found other role models to learn from and made herself useful and welcomed in an environment outside of the home. It's really been a delight to see how horse riding and particularly her club l'Etre Cheval has allowed her to blossom and grow. Here are some pictures from last Sunday's dressage competition where not only did she have fun but also excelled at something she loves. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-plypYo25pRw/WV_2WbLYsTI/AAAAAAAACJo/PPsnOcTWpSol16JR6hWryMSMV2y0zz-hgCLcBGAs/s1600/20170702_103140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="519" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-plypYo25pRw/WV_2WbLYsTI/AAAAAAAACJo/PPsnOcTWpSol16JR6hWryMSMV2y0zz-hgCLcBGAs/s400/20170702_103140.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Maya and Janed take third place !</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EGAzpbu-aEU/WV_2fyjw7pI/AAAAAAAACJs/8hqLfyrCgBIgDQ-1zRa12ZRjA1FlPDwAQCLcBGAs/s1600/20170702_134210.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1363" height="215" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EGAzpbu-aEU/WV_2fyjw7pI/AAAAAAAACJs/8hqLfyrCgBIgDQ-1zRa12ZRjA1FlPDwAQCLcBGAs/s400/20170702_134210.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Horsing around with pretend ponies</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r4XI-ZX9S0c/WV_2ncoJKgI/AAAAAAAACJw/6h8PpZwsn1MeVd1uCwFVZo-ehtnwQVu-ACLcBGAs/s1600/20170702_115420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="661" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r4XI-ZX9S0c/WV_2ncoJKgI/AAAAAAAACJw/6h8PpZwsn1MeVd1uCwFVZo-ehtnwQVu-ACLcBGAs/s400/20170702_115420.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nervously awaiting the results</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LFtsyHS7eMU/WV_2uhgSEAI/AAAAAAAACJ0/gadigPIVpS4uscs6tbWITJFNfOMaF-VuQCLcBGAs/s1600/20170702_103133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="918" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LFtsyHS7eMU/WV_2uhgSEAI/AAAAAAAACJ0/gadigPIVpS4uscs6tbWITJFNfOMaF-VuQCLcBGAs/s400/20170702_103133.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of the judges (in the car)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span>helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11239050040880911053noreply@blogger.com0