Home Education Report 1st August 2010 to 31st May 2011

Both children are both studying Maths and English with the intention of taking iG.C.S.E.s in the near future. This is the only structured approach we use, and both children are happy with this.
The rest of their education is formed by using their home and the world around them as their learning environment..
We go to a lot of effort to expose the children to new ideas, subjects and experiences, allowing them to follow up anything that interests them.
As our approach to B and D’s educations is opportunity based, child centred and flexible, it is not possible to submit a timetable, or to specify in advance all the activities we will be undertaking.
Both are given plenty of time to explore their own interests. We listen constantly to what the say and request and try to provide learning opportunities within their interests. We believe that they are naturally inclined to learn and that they can be trusted to do so.
They are free to explore their own interests and we make sure that they have practice at essential elements of learning.
We work hard to provide an educational environment that keeps their interest and also allows them to be free to be independent learners.
Where a topic becomes popular, we use it to access a variety of subject and opportunities so that a broad education value is achieved. Discussion plays a great part in our approach. They have full access to books, cd-roms, music, television, radio and Internet (monitored) and we will always discuss anything that they take an interest in.
We have a good supply of books, pens and paper, toys, craft supplies, laptop and space to work.. We have broadband internet access and the children all have the opportunity to help us find the answers to questions they ask as well as playing internet hosted games on education and fun sites.


Please see attached a sample of their weekly diary, a list of subject topics we have covered and a list of educational tips.

English and MathsBoth using workbooks - B Key Stage 3 and D Key Stage 2
　
Science
Atoms and Space.
Wind power.
UFOs
DNA
Weather.
Astronomy
Gardening
Cooking
Making Fires
Birdwatching
Farming
Water
Human Body
Earthquakes
Rocks and Minerals
Chocolate Geology
Bushcraft　　
Geography　　
A lot of our geographical work is taken up within history studies, however notable topics this year have included:-

Country Study
France
Japan
Australia
Egypt
Ireland


Map Work
Mapping Continents
Counties in England
　
History
Egytptians (Daniel)
Romans
Exeter Civil War
Victorians
Joan of Arc (B)
Tudors (B)
Middle Ages (D)WWII, The Battle of Britain.
Sir Francis Drake
The Bronze Age
William The Conqueror
Family Tree

 PE 

 Regular bike rides, walks, rugby (D) drama and dance sessions (B) and lots of play in the park..Both children enjoy regular bike rides, walks, swimming and playing in the park. B attends Drama and Dance, D plays Rugby for a local team and both children attend  Athletics Club.


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. We also go on regular HE Group organised trips.
Both Children attend Athletics Club, and B attends Drama and Dance and D attends training sessions for the local Rugby team.
As a family we go to our local Church where the children attend Childrens Liturgy, we also attend Church Outings with other families and are involved in various activities.

R.E

Regular study of own religion
Hinduism - Rangoli craftChinese Festivals
Buddhism

Art　
Origami - Paper Boxes
Stain Glass Mosaics
Water Colours
Sketching
Charcoal Drawings
Marble Painting
Artist study of Van Gogh
We attend a pottery Group once a month, and we have clay which the children use.

Trips
Two visits to Organic Arts - West Town Farm - Winter Woods and Clay.
Occombe Farm
Dart Raffe FarmEducational Trips
Local History - Exeter - Visited Exeter Cathedral, Stepcote Hill, Roman Walls and The House that Moved.
Rockpooling - visit to the Seashore Centre, Goodrington.
Cockington Manor
Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve
Topsham Museum
Barnstaple Museum
Killerton House
Bradley Manor Woods.
Exeter Cathedral Workshop
Crealy Pumpkin Festival
Bicton Park
Bill Douglas Centre
Sculpture Walk at Exeter University
L.E.E.P
Quay History Trail
Exwick History Trail
Living History Workshop
Victoria Park, Paignton
　
　

Weekly Diary from November 2010

English and Maths

Using workbooks for both of these subjects .
History

Local History - Exeter - Visited Exeter Cathedral, (Workshop on Cathedral History) Stepcote Hill, Roman Walls and The House that Moved.
Geography

Bus riding through local areas of Devon, mapping out the route on our local Devon Map when we got home - travelling through - :-Dawlish Warren, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Kingsteignton, Newton Abbot, Bovey Tracey and Chudleigh, with great views of Dartmoor.
Science
Rockpooling - visit to the Seashore Centre, Goodrington. Looking at the underwater habitats in the Bay range from eel grass beds to limestone rock gullies,cuttlefish, jewel anemones , honeycombe worms,seahorses and the Devonshire cup corals .
Nature Painting with natural dyes.
R.E
Daily Bible Study. Hinduism - Rangoli craft.
Art and Craft
Making gargoyles from clay, Rangoli craft, painting with natural dyes (including cow dung).
Trips
Exeter Cathedral Workshop,
Goodrington Seashore Centre.
Walk at Bradley Manor Woods - Photography Group
In addition to the above we attended the local HE group where D is part of a Science Group and B a Spanish Group.