HE Report

History

　

We finished the book “Our American History” book - Robert E Lee, Abraham Lincoln, Clara Barton, Ulysses S Grant, Louise May Alcott, Booker T Washington, George Washington Carver and Laura Ingalls Wilder. There was a test at the end of each chapter, and some topics often lead on to more interest.

We have also been following The Story of The World -

: History for the Classical Child Volume I Ancient Times - From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor -By Susan Wise Bauer

Covered - The earliest people, Egyptians on the Nile River, The First Writing, The Old Kingdom of Egypt, The First Sumerian Dictator, The Jewish People, Hammurabi and The Babylonians, The Assyrians, The First Cities of India, and The Far East - Ancient China

　

We attended a Great Fire of London workshop at St Nicholas Priory, as well as a Living History Day -

We met living history interpreters and saw how the Priory's Elizabethan kitchen would have worked in around 1600. Also found out how to make herbal remedies and we sampled some Tudor nibbles. There was also dressing up, and Tudor children’s games to play.

Local History -

Crediton - Visited local exhibition - Crediton through the ages.

Exwick - We went on the Old Exwick History Trail.

River Exe - We visited Topsham Museum - The History of The River Exe Exhibition - also t

he story of the weather around Topsham and the Exe Estuary, from the beginnings of the Met Office founded by Admiral FitzRoy in 1854; the art of weather forecasting and the trends in the climate around us.

Exeter - Roman Walls, Princesshay, The House That Moved.





　

We have covered the History of the Moon landing as part of our astronomy project, visiting The National Space Centre in Leicester, read various books about if from the library and also watched documentaries on it - including the debate whether we really did land on the moon - and discussed this theory with the children.

Science

Most science work is currently done through daily living - The children bake and cook regularly, we grow our own vegetables, fruit and herbs, and have pets who require care which the children take part in. We go on regular nature walks, plus nature study in our back garden. We are members of The Wildlife Trust, which has a series of “badges” children can work towards, and The Woodland Trust. We also read stories and poems about nature, using Ambleside.

　

Science experiments are done on a monthly basis, using various books and websites.

The children are also interested in bird watching, which they do mainly in and around our own garden. We also have a family membership with the RSPB.

　

Also an interest in healthy eating has meant a range of discussions on different foods, and a serious look at our own diet. Also the recent swine flu outbreak has provoked an interest in hygiene and germs.

Topics we have covered

The Human Body

Fungi - growing mushrooms and growing own fungi

Plants -

plants as living things, from Jamaican bananas to runner beans, did an experiment with food colouring and white and yellow flowers. Read What Makes A Flower Grow - Usborne Science. Planted seeds. Read Oh Say You Can Seed Dr Suess Learning Library.

Daylight saving time - why it happens, the earths tilt and journey around the sun, seasons. read Why is Night Dark - Usborne Science.

Exploring Creation through Astronomy - Using Charlotte Mason's methodology, 14 incremental lessons employ narration, notebooking, hands-on projects, and a course website to introduce 6- to 12-year-olds to the wonders of the solar system and universe.

Lessons covered to date :--

　

　

　

Geography

A lot of our geographical work is taken up within history studies, however notable topics this year have included:

France -

looked at French food, looking at websites about the daily menu of a French family. Watched the different stages of The Tour de France. then they designed their own jersey, and we managed to find a French Road Atlas at the second hand book shop and looked at the route on the map. We discussed how to use a map, read “There is A Map on My Lap – Dr Seuss. They both drew a map of their room using a Legend. Used BBC Website – learning colours and counting to ten in French.

Also they both found out how much it would cost us to go to France, for the day, and as a holiday, by looking in the travel brochures, also looked online for this as well.

Settlements

Looking at early settlers and the characteristics of early settlers’ settlements and how place names reveal information about a

town’s origins. Read Devon Place Names by Chips Barber. Looked at maps and Google earth. Visits planned for Spring - Dartmoor early settlements.

　

We also have started reading

Uncle Robert's Geography - practical stories that explain simple geographical concepts.



The children have access to world maps, UK maps, a globe and The Family World Atlas, National Geographic and Google Earth online.

English

Both children love to read. Rebecca has finish her bootrack with the local library, and has her badge for reading 100 books, Daniel has just started booktrack.

Rebecca is currently reading, and Daniel -

Writing - This is done in the form of workbooks. We do not make our children practice their handwriting, as they write when they need to, and both children have neat writing.

Puncutation and Grammar - again this is done in workbooks, but they are mainly learning from reading.

We do have spelling tests each term, and both children enjoy doing word searches and crosswords.

I have enclosed a sample of Rebecca and Daniels handwriting.

Maths

We use a mixture of workbooks, worksheets, and lots of hands on maths.

Their mental math is improving and they have the skills they need for everyday use such as time telling, measurement, money use etc. In addition to this, we use variety of games and puzzle books to expand their maths abilities.

Art and Craft

We have a wide range of art materials in the house. They have full access to paper, pens, scissors and glue at all times and both enjoy painting, junk modelling, collage, pottery and photography.

They enjoy Knitting, crocheting, weaving, pottery, woodwork and general arts and crafts.

In addition we have started to spend some time on art appreciation, we have looked at David Friedrich, Raphael Sanzio and John Singer Sargent

Both took part in The Big Draw which was held by The Devon Wildlife Trust in the local library.

Information Technology

Both are competent with the computer and have a wide range of games and software available to them. Both children have digital cameras, and sometimes attend a local HE Photography Group.

　

　

Socialisation

Both children have an active social life and play regularly with both Home Educated and Schooled friends. We attend two HE groups as well as the occasional History, Natural History and Photography Group, when the topics interest us. We also go on regular HE Group organised trips.

Both children attend Exeter Harriers Athletics - (twice a week during the summer, once a week during the winter). They have both tried various activities and we have found that Rebecca is good at sprinting and concentrates on this during competitions. Daniel enjoys field events and has thrown the discus (in a higher age group) and the Javelin in competitions.

Daniel plays rugby for the Crediton Under 10 team every Sunday (winter) and attends practice every Friday evening. Rebecca is part of a choir, and has sang in the Wren Trust Concert at The Great Hall, University Of Exeter.

As a family we go to our local Church where the children attend Children’s Liturgy, we also attend Church outings with other families and are involved in various activities.

　

Music

Both children use the keyboard, using “Start Playing Keyboard” by Peter Lavender.

They have also started experimenting with the guitar.

There is a choir at the local HE group which Rebecca has joined and performed in, occasionally Daniel attends these sessions.

Composer Study - Studying a Composer per term, from the Ambleside suggested list, and have just finished studying Bach.

The children listen to a variety of music at home.

　

Languages

　

Rebecca attends a Spanish Class with the HE group every week, and we also cover the basics of Spanish at home.

　

RE

　

We go to Church on a regular basis, where the children attend Children

’s Liturgy.

We all study the Bible daily.

The children also look at other religions and their festivals, using the calendar at the Enchanted Learning website, and Woodlands Junior site.


PE

Both attend Exeter Harriers Athletics club weekly, and have entered various competions.

Daniel plays rugby during the winter for Crediton Under 10’s. Rebecca attends  weekly Netball  sessions, and attends weekly Drama sessions.

The children have access to a trampoline, basket ball net, skateboard and air hockey, which they both use regularly.

We go swimming regularly and they play games in the park at the HE Group. We also go on regular family walks.

　

We have yearly passes for Crealy and Bicton Park, where they run around, go on long walks and use all the play equipment.

We also go on regular bike rides to our local park, where we also play football.

In the summer we play tennis.

　

　

　

Additional

We use the Ambleside Curriculum and also An Old Fashioned Education both are

online curriculums - designed to follow Charlotte Mason's method of home education. Each year has a list of books to lay out what resources will be needed to be collected or purchased, and an optional weekly schedule based on a 36-week school year to break the resources into smaller increments to help with pacing the books throughout the year. It covers science, history, geography, natural history, reading, writing, art and music.

We also take the children on outings throughout the year (see attached list).