Monday, July 22, 2013

Science Experiment - Absorption

Munchkin has been taking a much better (and longer) nap on the days that we are home all day.
I decided I need to start making good use of this time as I know that before long he will cease taking naps all together - so I have decided that nap time should be for science projects and/or arts and crafts or messy play!

So for our first day I set up a simple absorption science experiment - quick and easy and a breeze to continue with SHOULD the baby decide to take a shorter than usual nap (which of course he did)!

The only thing was, we used a generic brand of paper towel and the experiment specifically said to use a very thick paper towel so we have since bought some premium paper towel and the boys are eager to try the experiment again and see if we get different results!

 Carefully folding (Monster) and colouring (Monkey) their pieces of paper towel.

 Draped over a container with just the bottom edge of the paper sitting in water...

 Watching as the water begins to climb...

 10 minutes later...

 Our second experiment involved travelling two different water colours through paper towel to make a third colour in the middle glass... this experiment took FOREVER and we are wondering if thicker paper towel will make a difference!


 1 hour later...


45 minutes into the experiment


 3 hours later...



2 hours and 45 minutes later...


18 hours later (the next morning) we finally had our finished experiment!!

Friday, July 19, 2013

Art Gallery Excursion

Our homeschool group gathered in the city to take part in a tour at the art gallery.
The tour was geared towards school age children and was intended to help them learn how to look at artwork critically.  I was disappointed in the tour aspect of the event.  I thought our entire homeschool group would go on one tour together - instead we were split in to four groups.  Our tour guide was clearly unhappy at having a younger group and also criticized our choice to homeschool based purely on the fact that ONE friend of hers had a bad experience.  Our group mainly toured the Asian section of the gallery which the younger children simply were not interested in so overall it was kind of disappointing!

However, after the tour was finished a few families remained at the gallery to eat lunch together and afterwards we looked at a couple other exhibits and when the children were allowed to look at what they found interesting and exciting they lit up!

It was not a wasted trip at all and I think our group intends to return to the art gallery and let the children pick and choose for the day!

 Walking from the train station to the art gallery we saw this couple having wedding photos taken.  Week day weddings are becoming more common and Hyde Park and the surrounding areas are a popular place for wedding photos to be taken.  This is not the first (or last) time we will see a wedding in the city!

 The boys were over the moon when they spotted this motorcycle ambulance.
I have to say I was pretty excited to see it as well since we had never seen one before!

 It houses beautiful artwork, but the building itself is also beautiful.


Looking at some portraits.


 The children liked looking at and discussing this piece of aboriginal artwork.

 The rest of our tour was spent in the Asian part of the gallery.
The articles were beautiful and interesting - but probably not suitable to the younger aged children.





Two pieces of artwork showcased in the main entrance of the gallery.
I was shocked to learn that the aboriginal woman who painted the top painting has only been painting for FIVE years!  My photo doesn't do her painting justice - the colours were stunning!

Not sure what it is about this other piece of artwork that I like - but something about it really appeals to me!


 My favourite display for the whole day.
The remainder of the photos were taken after lunch when a few of us took an impromptu look at the aboriginal artwork.






 I was so excited to discover a new angle to photograph St Mary's Cathedral from - because I LOVE to take photos of the Cathedral!!


Monster and Monkey hamming it up in front of a statue and the fountain.
I believe the smile producing phrase of the day was "monkey's undies"!!


And finally - just before heading to the train station - a quick peak at the life sized chess game!
We didn't stay long though as it was a serious game and they were excited and noisy!

Friday, July 12, 2013

School Holiday Events

The boys enjoyed a variety of events over the two week school holiday period.


They LOVED the Liquid Nitrogen show held at a local museum.



Lots of hands-on experiences and learning at a space event at the same museum.


 And a day to learn about and interact with BUGS!!
Monster got a tad nervous as this stick insect climbed up his shirt.

They also attended another space program that was mainly craft based.
Due to the fact that Munchkin was awake and restless I have no photos of that event.



Our local library always has a great selection of activities to attend.
This school holidays they enjoyed a puppet show put on by Murphy's Puppets.
We also attended a Bingo afternoon and a Board games day!

Monster also attended a science based cooking session at ANSTO that daddy took him to, but due to their rules and regulations no photographs are allowed to be taken.

All in all we enjoyed our school holidays and the programs on offer to us.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Term Two Evaluation

Read Aloud Books:
Out There Somewhere It's Time To... by Mick Manning
Splat the Cat, Good Night Sleep Tight by Rob Scotton
Hubert and the Apple Tree by Bruno Hachler
In the Lion by James Foley
Mr McGee and the Elephants by Pamela Allen
Daisy All Sorts by Pamela Allen
Wash Your Face With Orange Juice by Peter Combe
Never Shake a Rattlesnake by Michaela Morgan
It's Christmas by Tina Burke
Ella Kazoo Will Not Go to Sleep by Lee Fox
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
Flash Bang Wheee! by Karen Clark
There Was An Old Sailor by Claire Saxby
Same But Little Bit Diff'rent by Kylie Dunstan
Sir Scallywag and the Golden Underpants by Giles Andreae

** We read aloud MANY more books than this - please see printed list **

Independent Reading:
see written list

Maths:
Maths Plus Year 3 textbook
Schoolzone Giant Maths 2-3 textbook
Mathematics Topic by Topic 2A/B textbook

Excel Basic Skills English and Mathematics Year 2:
Units 8 - 12

Other Math Learning:
Flinch card game
addition facts sheets practice to improve speed

Handwriting:
Foundation Handwriting 2

Scripture and Character Building:
Bible (read aloud) Psalm 121 - Isaiah 25
Book of Virtues by William Bennett
Big Ideas in the Bible by Chuck Swindoll
My Bible Friends

Science and Technology:
watched The Magic School Bus DVD's
used Skype program on the computer to chat with Nana

History:
watched Disney cartoon of Johnny Appleseed story

Spelling:
daily oral review of weekly lists as sourced from year 2 lists on the internet
written test taken every Friday

PDHPE:
tennis lessons with dad
walk to and from the library
walk to and from the shops
walk to and from various parks
free play at various parks

Creative Arts:
SQUILT music program - Twinkle Twinkle Variations by Mozart

Socialization:
weekly attendance of Sunday School
weekly attendance of story hour
attended a friend's 4th birthday party
attended a baby dedication service
scheduled play dates with friends

Other Activities:

Excursions:
City Trip to ride the steam train and attend Vivid Music Festival Darling Harbour

Homeschool Group Topics:
Due to weather issues and illness we did not attend homeschool group this term

First Term School Holiday Events:
Fizz Bang Event at Hurstville Museum
Bingo at local library
Bunny Craft at local library
Secret Agent Workshop at ANSTO
Games Day at local library