Victorian Project Planning

Our Victorian project will run from now up until Christmas, as I do love Victorian Christmas activities, and we will be starting with the Industrial Revolution and Victorian Farming. 

This week will firstly be an introduction to the Industrial Revolution, learning about how it had a trans formative effect on the world. From  harnessing fossil fuels to power engines, factories and machines, and how the Industrial Revolution fundamentally changed the way that human beings live.

Will start with showing James a picture of  a pre industrial scene and post industrial scene

Will watch THIS short video by Andrew Marr.  He tells the story of Britain's Insustrial Revolution.

Canals - will use this  RESOURCE  and watch this VIDEO and of course visit a canal.

How water mills were replaced by turbines.

Farming - will watch the Victorian Farming series on Amazon Prime. Using this RESOURCE

Craft for this week will be making a Thaumatrope and will make a decoupage box,

Cooking - Spotted Dick lol

Louise

Getting Organised for the new year

Getting organised for next Mondays "back to school".  Although the eldest two have already gone back to studying,

Will be looking at a Workbox themed learning style for J, which will including reading, writing, science, etc and lots of different activities to choose from. The Workbox theme takes a lot of organising and planning, but I think once I get into a routine, it should be pretty straight forward.

I haven't  got all the equipment, but that isn't  necessarily a requirement for work boxing,  so I am just going to use different folders for each subject, and I will use jars for each day of the week.

Each jar will contain a picture card printed from Homeschool Creations

Subjects will include, Science, Nature, PE, Literacy, Numeracy, Geography, History, Computer time, Bible Story and Art and Craft. Also will include library visit, museum, field trip, church, playdough, tv, puzzles, board game, game console, bike ride, park, walk, excercise, swimming, cooking, chores and clean up to also be included.

Science Resources

Science Workbooks - covering living things and non living things, different animals, parts of animals, animals on land and animal in the water, food of animals, parts of a plants, fruits and seeds, long or short, tall or short, big or small, heavy or light, hot or cold, hard or soft, smells, shapes and colours, body parts, senses, habits, food, solid and liquid,water. float and sinking, sound and light and shadow.Also one weekly science experiment

Plus Nature walks with spotting and activity sheets from Nature Detectives

Geography

Rocks and Minerals  using  chocolate geology which I did with my eldest two a few years ago after reading it on the  Peas in a Pod blog, and also using worksheets from Homeschool Den

History

Egyptians

Colouring - Princess of Egypt
Pharaoh Headdress from Firstpalette
Egyptian themed maze
River Nile Maze
Colouring Pages

Toilet roll cats

Egyptian Collars

using paper plates



English and Maths will be using worksheets and workbooks, and also websites during computer time.  Also will add read aloud time. M is reading The Faraway series by Enid Blyton at bedtime, so will find another book to read aloud during the day, maybe Harry Potter.

The eldest two are carrying on with their studying, B will sit 4 exams this summer, English Lit and Biology iGCSE, Religious Studies (Roman Catholic and The Gospel of Mark Units) and Maths GCSE.  D will be taking his next year, and for the moment is studying for Maths, English, Chemistry, Biology and Physics.

D is obviously still playing rugby, will his final Devon trials for under 15 taking place next month, and also continuing with his training with the Devon School of Rugby Academy

Just have a few more things to organise, then I am all ready for Monday..... I think!

Autonomy, gardening and Trials (of the sporting kind)

I cannot say that the last four months (since my last blog post) has gone to plan with regards to J's Home Education Plans.

But I think I have given up on that.

So I guess we are completely Autonomous.

We started allotmenting about two months ago, and J has learnt a great deal while there.All different kinds of mini beasts and various plants and we have almost got to the point of digging over most of the allotment, once this is done he will have his own patch to tend to, where he would like to plant pumpkins in time for Halloween and carrots for Rudolph at Christmas.  He also has his own spade and rake, along with garden gloves.  He also spends a lot of the time there playing with his action figures, and hurdling over bamboo sticks!

Plan to print out a few identification sheets for insects before our next visit, and he is always referring to various Characters from James and the Giant Peach, which I think we may start reading again, after I have finished reading him Charlotte's Webb, which I am starting this evening.

J spends a lot of time drawing, sometimes from Tutorials online.  He recently copied this from an online Simpsons Tutorial

We have also been watching Astronomy programmes, and we are currently watching Earth's Extraordinary Jouney on BBC2.

With regards to reading and writing, he going at his own pace, and we are not making him sit and practice his reading and writing every day, that will come when his is ready and willing.  Having watched the other two start learning to read at age 7 without any problems I am not particularly  worried, and am more confident this time around.

So going OK, apart from I really would like to do more Science Experiments with him each week, so must get my act together in that area.

Teens.

B is studying away, ready for her iGCSE English exam which she will take soon, as well as still holding down a part time job.

D is studying, not as intensely as B, as he will take his first two next year.

The Rugby season has now come to an end, D and M have really enjoyed  playing and coaching, but are both in need of a rest now I think.  D has recently been selected for Front Row training by the Devon School of Rugby, and has been asked back for further training in the summer, so about a months break and it will all start again.

In the meantime the Athletics season has started, and D threw in his first Discus Competition of the year yesterday, throwing a PB of 30.03.  Wednesday will see him at the Devon School Trials, which is a great achievement for Home Educators as I had to go through all sorts to get him there. Eventually though it has all been sorted, and he will be taking part will all of the other Devon Schools.

So a busy month ahead, exams, trials and of course J's birthday!!!

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.

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.

Trip out with H.E friends at a local Nature Spot

Lots of fun at this group:-

Starting Fires - in a good way of course

 Making a shelter

 Eating bananas and chocolate cooked on the open fire

 Pond Dipping

Lou x

Trip out with H.E friends at a local Nature Spot

Lots of fun at this group:-

Starting Fires - in a good way of course

 Making a shelter

 Eating bananas and chocolate cooked on the open fire

 Pond Dipping

Lou x

Trip out with H.E friends at a local Nature Spot

Lots of fun at this group:-

Starting Fires - in a good way of course

 Making a shelter

 Eating bananas and chocolate cooked on the open fire

 Pond Dipping

Lou x

Well the beginning of the week didn't start off too well.  Tried to get an appointment with the dentist for D as his filling for his front tooth came out and now he has a jagged tooth.  Waited for cancellation but earliest I could get was Wednesday.  This meant that we didn't get to the HE group in Torquay which was a bit disappointing.
My dads op on his knees was successful, so good news there, so we visited him in the afternoon.

Tuesday was a much better day, it was a trip I had booked during the winter - at Dart Raffe Farm.

Have a few photos, but have to direct you to Classroom Free for a brilliant post of the day:-

Today - M and the children went to the Cinema to see Pirates of the Caribbean 4 - met up with two other HE families.  All enjoyed the film.  My friend Lou came round to keep me and J company, which was nice.

Tomorrow I think we had better do some Maths and English,and also another friend is visiting.

Lou x

Well the beginning of the week didn't start off too well.  Tried to get an appointment with the dentist for D as his filling for his front tooth came out and now he has a jagged tooth.  Waited for cancellation but earliest I could get was Wednesday.  This meant that we didn't get to the HE group in Torquay which was a bit disappointing.
My dads op on his knees was successful, so good news there, so we visited him in the afternoon.

Tuesday was a much better day, it was a trip I had booked during the winter - at Dart Raffe Farm.

Have a few photos, but have to direct you to Classroom Free for a brilliant post of the day:-

Today - M and the children went to the Cinema to see Pirates of the Caribbean 4 - met up with two other HE families.  All enjoyed the film.  My friend Lou came round to keep me and J company, which was nice.

Tomorrow I think we had better do some Maths and English,and also another friend is visiting.

Lou x