A day at the Observatory

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Yesterday the boys and I went to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich with another Home Education group.  Rabbit had a Dramabuds lesson in the afternoon so she stayed at home with Supergirl for the day.  I decided to drive there, as the route by public transport was a bit complicated and not that appealing on a cold, wet day in November.  The drive wasn’t a lot of fun either, and I did get a bit lost, but I found my way there eventually (it took an hour and twenty minutes) and I was quite proud of my achievement.

It was good to meet up with some other home educators, and the children enjoyed each others’ company.  I found, as always, that it is considerably easier to have one child fewer than the usual number, though it is very hard to work out why.  Perhaps I should borrow other people’s children from time to time, so that when I give them back it will seem easy having just four!  Maybe I’ll borrow these ones – they are no trouble.  Anyway, I digress…

We started off with a “moon-walking session” aimed mainly at the younger children, but the lady who was running it was extremely good at dealing with the wide age range (about 1 to 9 years, I think.)  She started off with a presentation about the planets, and shared a few key interesting facts about each one.  She also handled it very well when Owl, Monkey and a couple of the other children kept putting their hands up to add more facts of their own, and was very patient.  We sang some songs (five little aliens, and similar) which kept the little ones entertained, then pretended to be in a rocket flying to the moon, getting out and walking on the moon and then flying back home.   It was a really good mix of interesting information, imparted in a very simple way, and active learning.  My personal highlight was probably when the lady said (after the millionth interruption) “I love having Home Ed groups, you’re all so intelligent, you know everything!”

After that, we ate our packed lunches and had some free time to look around the exhibitions, and go to the shop.  Then we had another session in the planetarium.  I thought that Monkey and Tiddler might be afraid of the dark, but they were fine and they loved it.  All three boys wanted to see it all over again, so I think we’ll have to go back with Rabbit and daddy sometime.  We had a final quick look at the exhibitions, and they didn’t want to leave, but we had to.  The journey home was better because I took an alternative route and didn’t get lost, but it was dark before we got back and the traffic was heavy so I was glad to get home.  I asked the boys if they wanted to draw or write anything about the day, and Owl wasn’t in the mood, but Monkey made this model of a space shuttle.

Owl’s sleepover in London

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This post is written by Owl about his trip to London last week.

Granny came to collect me and we went on four trains.  We arrived at Bethnal Green station and walked to the museum.  It was very windy outside and we were nearly blown over.  In the museum, there were two puppet theatres and I did a puppet show.  There were also some very big dolls’ houses.  Some were built in cupboards, and were so big that they were mainly used for display.  It would have been hard to play with them as they were so high up.

When we went out it was not so windy.  We got the train back to Stratford and went to the Lego shop.  I thought the Lego shop would be outside on its own but it was actually inside the shopping centre.  It was a long walk to the Lego shop.  When we got there, it was quite impressive.  There were computers, a pick-a-brick section and an area where you could build your own minifigures.  I built three minifigures and we bought them.  We also bought a small box of pick-a-brick.  (Pick-a-brick is where you buy your own selection of Lego bricks.  It also has a bigger range of bricks on the computer.)

We bought pizza in M&S and went home to the flat for supper with Grandpa.  I found it hard to sleep but I did in the end.  In the morning, we listened to Grandpa’s CD of a Roman poem, “Horatius held the bridge.”  Then Grandpa went to work.  Later, Granny and I went to the Museum of Transport.  We saw lots of old carts and trains.  There was also a trail where you had to find 13 posts with stampers on them and stamp the card you were given.  There was a map on the back showing the locations of the posts.  Then we went home on the train, by a different route.

My first Maxi Hama Beads

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We got the Hama Beads out again yesterday.  This time it was a Maxi kit that I have been saving for while, and I really meant to do it when Tiddler was around, but he was out shopping with daddy and the others chose it over the Midi kit I also offered.  It was quite satisfying, as they could each do one design, and because it was Maxi they were all completely independent.  The kit comes with a divided tray, which Monkey and Rabbit enjoyed using together, and Owl did his after they had finished.  It would make a good Christmas present for a young child, as a simple introduction to Hama Beads.  The pegboards are transparent and can be placed over the pictures, which makes copying the designs easy.  I really like the fact that the kits come with a generous amount of extra beads, so it doesn’t matter if one or two get lost, and after a few kits you can build up quite a good stash of extra beads for repeating the designs or making up some of your own.  The kit also comes with stands for displaying the finished creations.

We love the kits, and it’s fun copying the designs, but the children are also getting more confident about making up their own.  I enjoy doing it too, though I haven’t yet ironed any of mine to keep.  I always think I should save the beads for the children, but that might have to change.  I’ve been looking around for ideas and there are so many things I want to try.  Here are just a few of them – if I put them here, maybe I’m more likely to get on and do them!

Candle holders

Melted Hama Bead Bowl

Christmas tree, presents and reindeer

Snowflakes

Birthday parties

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Today, while the boys were at this birthday party, Rabbit was at home with me because she was sick last night.  She was very disappointed as she had been looking forward to going, and even said that she could wear a scarf over her mouth “so that I don’t blow any germs out.”  She didn’t make any fuss when they went though, and was very good about it.  I did my best to make it up to her and we made a birthday party for her dolls and toys.

Then we added some real food and invited daddy.  I think she was happy!

Friday round up 23rd November 2012

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I’ve had a week of sleepless nights and it’s very late now so I might have forgotten some things, but this is what we’ve been up to this week.  On Saturday I had a particularly bad night (it was getting light before I even fell asleep) so on Sunday morning I had a lie in, while Suburban dad took all all the children to church.  I was very grateful and I made the most of it.  I slept from around half past nine until ten to midday.  It was a bit like being a student again.  Granny (Suburban dad’s mum) came round for lunch and we had roast pheasant which was delicious (and cheap, which was why we had it.)  The afternoon was mostly spent on  housework, while the children played and had stories with Granny.  We had another go at learning to use our new sewing machine, and managed to make two lavender bags.

On Monday the children did Maths and English (the big three), piano lessons and Bible reading, piano and violin practice (Owl and Monkey), made a car out of chairs (the little three with Supergirl) and helped to cook pasta with pesto (Owl).  On Tuesday Owl and Monkey went shopping with Granny while Supergirl and I took the little ones to Toddler group.  In the afternoon the children did Maths, English and music practice and lots of reading.

On Wednesday, Owl spent a lot of time engrossed in a Horrible Geography book about weather, as well as doing some Maths and English with Monkey and Rabbit.  Granny (my mum) came for lunch and took Owl to London overnight.  He enjoyed staying at the flat with Granny and Grandpa, visiting the Museum of Childhood and the Transport Museum and especially going to the Lego shop!  He also did some very good writing while he was there and I think he is planning to finish it and put it on here (if we get round to it.)  The rest of us went to Home Ed group on Wednesday afternoon, where the little ones and I enjoyed meeting some new friends, playing/ chatting and doing some lovely craft activities (making pictures out of lentils and seeds on sackcloth, and salt dough candle holders.)  Monkey didn’t join in much as he was feeling ill again, and just wanted to go home.  He wasn’t up to going to Beavers so we had a nice quiet table time before bed with all the little three doing sticker/ colouring/ activity books together.

On Thursday, Rabbit went to our childminder’s house – she is a friend from church and going there is an occasional treat for the children, and they are always asking when they can go.  Rabbit had a lovely time there as always, then went to her swimming lesson with Supergirl.  Monkey did lots of drawing in his “oodles of doodles” book and Tiddler did some of his Diggers and Christmas sticker books.  Rabbit did magic painting, a 3rd and bird sticker book, and her “nursery activity book” which she chose at the bookshop last week and has been working on a lot since then.   Monkey did some of his Beavers Christmas worksheet.  Owl and Granny came back from London, and Owl did some Science research about rocks, while the little three played with the Lego Duplo railway.

Today, Owl went to his violin lesson, but Monkey stayed at home because he was not well.  The little three made a den in the playroom with Supergirl, then Owl, Monkey and Rabbit did some Maths and English.  We then had a doctor’s appointment for the three younger ones which took up the rest of the morning.  In the afternoon, while the little three were playing, Owl and I got into my bed and read the section about fossils in his Science book.  He then spent the rest of the afternoon digging fossils out of plaster of paris (a kit which I’d forgotten he had from the Natural History Museum.)  The week has had its ups and downs, but I thought it had ended quite well, with a good home cooked supper, daddy home in time to eat with us, computer time, bedtime stories and the children settled easily, if late.  However, a very short time later Rabbit was sick in her bed and has been in our bed since.  She is still coughing a lot and it looks like it will be another disturbed night.

(This bit is for my records!  Maths: pictograms, bar charts, frequency graphs, adding tens (Owl); addition, comparing lengths, shapes, 3x table, money (Monkey); dot-to-dots and colour by numbers, counting and writing numbers, shapes (Rabbit)

English: reading comprehension, writing a recipe, commas in lists, contractions and spelling, report about his visit to London (Owl); writing about Lego for the Beavers Hobby badge, joined up writing, anagrams and spelling, (Monkey); mazes, writing practice, and the Gruffalo activity book (Rabbit); Reading Eggs (all, I think, though I’m not sure – definitely Rabbit)

Science: rocks and fossils)

Praying for Kerry

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The fewer the words the better prayer.  ~ Martin Luther
I’m struggling to find the words to write this post tonight.  Like many other bloggers, I am thinking of Kerry from Multiple Mummy, and have been moved by her story.  This is what happened to Kerry and you can see pictures of her and her lovely family in this post by her husband on her blog.  Many of us will be praying for her, meditating, sending positive thoughts or just eating chocolate on her behalf, tomorrow night, Saturday 24th November, at 10pm.  Please join us if you can.  Thank you.
This post is part of a blog hop hosted by New Mum Online.

Random round up

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I’ve been so far behind that I’ve forgotten a lot of what we have done in the last couple of weeks, but this is some of it.  Some of the photos may be assigned to the wrong days but they are approximately right!

Monday 5th November was a quiet day at home, with music lessons cancelled because of Owl’s tummy bug and Monkey’s cough.  In the evening I attempted to go to choir with Suburban Dad but gave up because my back was really bad, and I couldn’t sit, or even stand still, so I walked home, took some strong painkillers and went to bed.

Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th November were mostly spent at home as well, but Monkey went  to London to stay the night with Granny and Grandpa at the flat.  He went to the Museum of Childhood and the Lego shop with Granny.

Somebody (might have been Rabbit with help from Supergirl?) wrote some lovely numbers on a blackboard, Monkey drew a shape man on the easel blackboard and he and Rabbit produced lots and lots of sticker pictures.

Thursday 8th November started off quite peacefully but ended up being rather an eventful day.  Supergirl took Rabbit to her swimming lesson by train while the boys and I had a productive time at home.  Owl made a Bronze Age lunula, brooch and shield.

The afternoon ended with a trip to A&E, because Monkey fell and knocked out his two front teeth.  I thought they were baby teeth, but I just couldn’t be certain.  He does have some adult teeth, and I couldn’t remember which ones, so it was a big relief when the doctor reassured us they were baby teeth.  He was very brave and stoical, even though he missed the fireworks at the Scout group bonfire night.  He and Suburban dad arrived at the end, just in time for a hot dog, and to meet with Owl, Supergirl and some friends of ours.

Friday 9th November started early with violin lessons, and the rest of the morning was spent at home with the children being quite busy and productive.  A friend came to visit us and then came back later to look after the other children while I took Monkey to the dentist for an x-ray.  At the end of the afternoon I took all of the children to the doctor’s because Monkey and Tiddler’s coughs were quite bad, but their chests were clear which was reassuring.  Over a week later they still have the coughs though.

Saturday 10th – Sunday 11th November was a fairly quiet weekend.  I’m not sure what happened when but I think these photos might have been from the Saturday (or maybe not!)  Monkey spent a long time drawing alphabet pictures on the easel, Owl played with a Lego Education set and Rabbit and I made a Bendaroos mermaid.  On Sunday we went to church and in the evening some friends came round and we had more fireworks and a bonfire which the children had helped to build.

Monday 12th November started with some Maths work on shape and symmetry, which led to a long session of all the children playing with the wooden blocks, shape sorter and clock, and doing some symmetrical paintings.  For some reason I didn’t photograph the paintings, and now I don’t know where they are, but I do have a random picture of one of Monkey’s wooden block creations.

I took Owl and Monkey to their piano lessons, and then in the afternoon we had our LEA visit, during which the children made some more Hama bead creations.

In the evening, Owl went to Strings group and then Suburban dad and I went to choir.

Tuesday 13th November started with a rush to get the children smartly dressed for photographs at the Toddler group.  After they were done, Owl and Monkey went home with Supergirl while I stayed with the little ones for the rest of the session.  While we were there, Rabbit started to feel unwell, and later that day she was sick several times.  Owl and Monkey went to their swimming lessons by train with Supergirl, and then in the evening Monkey and Tiddler made a Christmas cake with daddy while I went to Pilates.

Wednesday 14th November was a beautiful sunny day, and Supergirl looked after Rabbit while I took the boys to the park with our Home Education group.  They had a great time playing with their friends in the playground and feeding the ducks.  In the evening, Monkey went to Beavers, and then I went to my Rosemary Conley exercise class.

Thursday 15th November was another day which started off with a Maths lesson that took most of the morning.  Monkey did some addition practice, then got the blocks out again and made a crab.  Owl did some work about Carroll diagrams, and we made one using some stars, then took them off so that Monkey could have a go.  Tiddler did some drawings and told me what each one was.  He started with a hot air balloon with a basket, and then there was another hot air balloon, a boat and a trailer, and a LOT of “horseys”.  Monkey made lots of interesting 3D shapes using Magnext.

In the afternoon, Rabbit stayed at home with Supergirl again, while I took the boys to another Home Ed group.  In the evening, Owl went to cubs, and I went to a knitting group meeting in the pub.  It was a little daunting, as my knitting skills are rather basic, but it was interesting to meet some new people, and I really enjoyed catching up with my lovely friend who blogs here – it was nice to talk to her in person for a change instead of online.

Friday 16th November was quiet and peaceful in the morning, and the children did a lot of Maths and English.  After lunch we went one stop on the train – oh the excitement – to the bookshop, to buy Monkey a joined-up handwriting workbook which he has been wanting for a while.  On the way there, I remembered that we had a dentist appointment later in the afternoon, so it was a rather short outing as we didn’t have time to go to any other shops, but the children enjoyed it anyway.  In the evening we went to our local Italian restaurant for supper, and ordered far too much pizza, most of which we took home with us.

Today (Saturday 17th November) Tiddler went to Dramabuds with daddy, Owl made a rubber-band powered aeroplane, and Monkey and Rabbit sorted through their trays of half-finished work and pictures.  Rabbit did some of her Nativity colouring book, and Monkey found a story he had started writing over a year ago and finished it.  It is about a pig who wants to know what Lego is like so he goes to Legoland.  I love it and would like to post it on here, but I need to ask him if he wants me to or not, and he is asleep now.  Anyway, if he wants to, it probably deserves a separate post!  At lunchtime we went to Granny’s church fair, and then Owl went to his choir practice.  In the afternoon all the boys had haircuts and we did some shopping, and then came home for supper, which was the pizza from yesterday – more than enough for another meal.

Okay, finally up to date, so I can go to bed now…

Half term and Halloween, Fireworks and Toffee

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I’m still rather behind on blogging but before I forget everything, here is at least some of what we did in half term week…  I spent most of the week trying to catch up on washing and housework after our weekend away in France, and I wasn’t feeling full of energy to do lots of creative things with the kids.  Luckily Dramabuds came to the rescue.  The big three went on a drama camp for three mornings (Tuesday to Thursday) finishing with a brilliant Halloween performance.  Owl was a wizard, Monkey a ghost and Rabbit a bat, and they all had a fantastic time.  On the Tuesday afternoon there were also two Dramabuds parties, one for the little ones which Tiddler and I went to, and one for the older children afterwards.

On Tuesday evening, Suburban dad carved a pumpkin lantern, and on Wednesday Rabbit and I made pumpkin soup.  We lit the lantern when it got dark and we decided that it would look even better with Monkey’s Diwali candle beside it.

On Wednesday afternoon, the little two went to Home ed group without me, at their friends’ house.  They had fun doing Halloween activities, and enjoyed having their own outing without the older ones.  While they were out, I did the flour cake game with the big two, and they played with the flour for a long time afterwards (the handprint is Owl’s.)

In the evening, we all played the apple game (standing on a chair and dropping a fork into a bowl of apples – like ducking for apples but easier!) and then the big two went to the rainbow party at church, and little two had a “party” at home.  This was Rabbit’s idea, and I didn’t mind, as all she wanted was to choose her own supper (fishfingers followed by maltesers and pineapple pieces!) and then play musical statues with Tiddler.  Best party I’ve been to for a while.

I can’t remember what else we did that week, but I know it involved a lot of Lego.  Among other things, Rabbit made a Duplo model and Monkey and Owl made Lego vowels.

 

We had a quiet weekend at home, as Owl and Tiddler had a tummy bug.  We had planned to have a bonfire on the Sunday evening, but we had to postpone it as the boys weren’t well, and also it was a rather wet day for building a fire.  We did have fireworks and sparklers though, and Suburban Dad and Supergirl made bonfire toffee and toffee apples.