Friday, April 17, 2015

School Holidays ~ Always Learning

The boys and I enjoyed a much deserved break for the Easter School Holidays.
But we are always learning even when our "formal school terms" are not in session so there was LOTS of learning happening this April.
Enjoy my HUGE selection of photos...

 We started our holidays with Easter weekend and helping this little guy celebrate his 2nd birthday.  So Easter Sunday afternoon was spent at an indoor playground (photo below).


 The kids (young and old) had a blast and this giant slide was a BIG hit with everyone!!





 **********************
 Then Easter Monday it was off to the zoo (with the same family as Easter Sunday - extended birthday celebrations)!!
This was my first trip to the zoo since getting my new camera and boy did I have fun!!

 Munchkin made sure that one of the first things we did was check out the frogs!
Seeing the frogs had been on his list of things to see during our last trip and we forgot.  I have NEVER heard the end of it since... from last November until now... anytime the zoo was mentioned Munchkin made sure to remind me that he missed out seeing the frogs!!

 We were surprised and delighted to see that the Bongo has had a baby!



 It is tradition to photograph the boys in the Fennec Fox ears EVERY time we go to the zoo.


The Meerkats are one of my FAVOURITE animals to visit when we go to the zoo!


 I think this is the first time I have EVER seen the Fennec Fox!


Being able to go INSIDE the new Lemur exhibit was AMAZING!!



Just before 3pm we got a rainstorm which cancelled the spider show... so the boys played in the semi-covered playground instead!


 We were pestered by turkeys... who appeared to be after food as they kept investigating the pram and found something to nibble on!!

 We caught a glimpse of the rather rain bedraggled peacock who was NOT interested in showing off his beautiful feathers!

 The Saltwater Crocodile was keeping an eye on us!


The zoo was filled with Golden Orb Weaver spiders!



There were Navy ships and rain clouds in the Harbour!!


The Pelican and Seal were unimpressed with the weather!




 The elephants were enjoying an afternoon snack of blocks of wood which they alternated between playing with and eating!  Such fun to photograph their antics!!



 On to see beautiful birds...

 Playful sea otters...

 and the Koi!
All up it was a wonderful and fun learning experience at the zoo!


 Weather in Sydney in April can be variable and volatile and this year is no exception so ANY time the weather allowed we spent an hour or two at the park!!


 ... enjoying the playground equipment...



 ... and appreciating nature!!














 Lots of fun family time was enjoyed at the park!!
*********************

 While Munchkin enjoyed Octonauts videos on YouTube...


Monster and Monkey enjoyed playing Bingo with their FAVOURITE librarian at the special Bingo day he holds EVERY school holidays.
It is the highlight of each holiday for both of them and they will cancel just about anything to make sure they can attend!

 *****************************




One of the things I love about homeschooling is that despite the 3 year age gaps the boys still enjoy spending time together and playing with each other.
 ******************************






 More fun creatures found during a family evening walk to the park.











 Another HUGE bonus to homeschooling (since hubby owns his own business and can somewhat set his own hours) is that we can spend quality time together as a family at all different times of the day/week/month/year!

 Last but certainly not least we ended the holidays by celebrating Munchkin turning THREE!
On his actual birthday there was a play date with the boys best friends...






Followed by a party in the park that weekend for all his friends!
What a wonderful April School Holidays!
We are refreshed and ready for some more structured learning!

Friday, April 3, 2015

Term One Evaluation ~ Monkey

Read Aloud Books:

Picture Books and/or Information Books - 
Australia's Deadly and Dangerous Animals - Steve Parish
DK Secrets of the Deep Revealed
Animal Homes
A Visual Introduction to Wild Cats
A Visual Introduction to Monkeys and Apes
The Horrible Science of You
Superscience Flowering Plants
Zoom! The Invisible World of Plants by Camilla de la Bedoyere
Green Eggs and Ham
Reptiles by Karin Cox
DK Plants Bite Back by Richard Platt
The Cocky, the Crow and the Hawk by Christine Nicholls
Karana The Story of the Father Emu by Uncle Joe Kirk
How the Birds Got Their Colours
Warnayarra the Rainbow Snake
The Rainbow Serpent by Dick Roughsey
Seasons in Australia ~ Summer by Greg Pyers
Fables from Africa
Plant With Seeds
Learning About Plants
Seasons in Australia ~ Autumn by Greg Pyers
Wild Predators ~ Killer Fish
Plants and Flowers by Lynn Huggins-Cooper
Wild Predators ~ Killer Insects
Chipper the Cheetah
African Elephants
Elephants
A Troop of Chimpanzees
The Antartica Book ~ Life in the Freezer
Crabs and Crustaceans
Worms
Sharks
Spider
Slugs and Snails
Koala
Australia's Most Amazing Animals
Deadly Spiders and Scorpions
The Biggest Muddy Puddle in the World
Reptiles
Living Nature Reptiles
Noisy Nora
Big Cats
Mister Teddy's Outback Adventure
Marine Animals
Joseph
Blue-Ringed Octopus: Small But Deadly
Hairy Nose Itchy Butt
Daisy Saves the Day
The Carousel
Some Bugs
Birds
Knowledge Masters Monster Animals
Can You Find Me?
The Story of Ferdinand
Horton and the Kwuggerbug
First Animal Encyclopedia
Australia's Deadly and Dangerous Animals
Secrets of the Deep Revealed
My Cat Maisie
The Gift
Alexander's Outing
Mr McGee and the Biting Flea
Where the Moon Lives
Room on the Broom
Mr McGee and the Perfect Nest
I Wish I Had a Pirate Suit
A Bargain for Frances
Police on Alert
Bertie and the Bear
Who Sank the Boat
A Birthday For Frances
Bedtime For Frances
Best Friends For Frances
Found You, Little Wombat
Eric Carle's Animals Animals
Each Pear Pear Plum
Skippy Jon Jones and the Big Bones
Funny Faces

Other Reading Activities:
Reading Eggs online program
Participated in local library summer reading program

Maths:
Maths Plus Year 1
Units 1-9 covering the following topics:
adding numbers, one-half, making 2D shapes, uniform informal length units, take away, place value, identifying features of objects, comparing areas, equal groups, number patterns, names of 2D shapes, repeated time units, counting on, half of a collection, might happen/won't happen, comparing capacity, counting on to find the difference, groups of 10, following directions, comparing mass, sharing, counting, vertical/horizontal/parallel, picture graphs, adding on number lines, numbers to 30, odd and even numbers, recognising 3D objects, addition combinations to 10, half, describing chance, make/mark/move
Diagnostic Review 1

Maths Plus Year 2
Units 1-3 covering the following topics:
10-frame addition, one-half, classifying two dimensional shapes, informal length units, subtraction strategies, revising numbers to 99, three-dimensional objects, covering area, repeated addition, skip counting, different orientations, half past, faces/vertices/edges, digital time - half past and o'clock

Handwriting:
Foundation Handwriting Year 1
Targeting Handwriting Year 1

Writing:
Institute for Excellence in Writing Curriculum
Teaching Writing: Structure and Style program
wrote letter and designed card to send to his best friend

Scripture and Character Building:
Bible Read Aloud:
Acts: 6 ~ 2 Peter: 3
Memory Verse:
Psalm 23
Aesop's Fables


Science and Technology:
Read aloud books (see above) on a variety of science topics
Began a unit study on plants
** See read aloud list for book selection **

Magic School Bus Episode ~ Goes to Seed
Magic School Bus Episode ~ Gets Planted
Magic School Bus Episode ~ Dinosaurs
Magic School Bus Episode ~ Body Mechanics
Magic School Bus Episode ~ Bats
Magic School Bus Episode ~ Gets Programmed
Magic School Bus Episode ~ In the City
Magic School Bus Episode ~ Takes a Dive

Began keeping a daily weather log ~ visually observes the weather each day and pastes relevant pictures into his science notebook.

Kingdom of Plants ~ David Attenborough DVD
"Life in the Wet Zone"

PDHPE:
walk to and from the library
walk to and from the shops
walk to and from various parks
free play at various parks
riding scooter

Creative Arts:
Attended Paul's Magic Show at local library

Socialization:
Weekly attendance of church and Sunday School
Attended his brother's 9th birthday party
Numerous play dates with friends of multiple ages
Lunch at Burger shop with numerous friends
Attended cousin's 25th birthday BBQ with extended family members
Attended family friend's 40th birthday luncheon


Other Activities:
Played a variety of board and card games
  • Snakes and Ladders
  • Skip-Bo
  • Flinch
  • Chess
  • Memory
  • Blokus
  • Naughts and Crosses
  • The Dot Game

Term School Holiday Events:
January:
Library ~ Bingo
ANSTO ~ Water Rockets
Library ~ Popsicle Stick Crafts
Library ~ Paul's Magic Show
Library ~ Play Dough Afternoon
Library ~ Fun & Games Day

April:
Library ~ Bingo
Library ~ Fun & Games Day
ANSTO ~ Spooky Science
Lego Day (hosted at a friend's church)
Taronga Zoo
Little Dynamo's Indoor Playground

Term One Evaluation ~ Monster

Read Aloud Books:

Picture Books and/or Information Books - 
Australia's Deadly and Dangerous Animals - Steve Parish
DK Secrets of the Deep Revealed
Animal Homes
A Visual Introduction to Wild Cats
A Visual Introduction to Monkeys and Apes
The Horrible Science of You
Superscience Flowering Plants
Australia the Land - A Bobbie Kalman Book
First Australians ~ The Story of Indigenous Australia by Karin Cox
Zoom! The Invisible World of Plants by Camilla de la Bedoyere
Green Eggs and Ham
Reptiles by Karin Cox
DK Plants Bite Back by Richard Platt
The Cocky, the Crow and the Hawk by Christine Nicholls
Karana The Story of the Father Emu by Uncle Joe Kirk
How the Birds Got Their Colours
Warnayarra the Rainbow Snake
The Rainbow Serpent by Dick Roughsey
Seasons in Australia ~ Summer by Greg Pyers
Fables from Africa
Australia's Explorers
Plant With Seeds
Australian Geographic ~ The First Fleet
Learning About Plants
Seasons in Australia ~ Autumn by Greg Pyers
My Place
Australian Geographic ~ Strangers in the Land
Wild Predators ~ Killer Fish
Plants and Flowers by Lynn Huggins-Cooper
Wild Predators ~ Killer Insects
Australian Geographic ~ Life in Colonial Australia
Australian Convicts
Child Convicts

Chapter Books - 
Dingo ~ The Dog Who Conquered a Continent by Jackie French
The Goat Who Sailed the World by Jackie French
Tom Appleby Convict Boy by Jackie French
Meet Grace by Sofie Laguna (My Australian Girl Series)
A Friend for Grace by Sofie Laguna (My Australian Girl Series)

Independent Reading:
see written list ~ 

Other Reading Activities:
Reading Eggs online program
30 - 60 minutes of silent reading daily

Maths:
Maths Plus Year 4 Textbook
Units 1 - 9 covering the following topics:
addition facts, multiplication facts, 3D objects, centimetres, 2- and 3- digit subtraction, place value, symmetry, square centimetres, 2- and 3- digit addition, number patterns, describing position, column graphs, subtraction strategies, revising multiplication facts, describing and making objects, choosing length units, odd and even numbers, rounding to 10 and 100, polygons, time units, expanding and ordering numbers, compass points, column graphs, division facts, jump strategies, parallelograms and trapeziums, revising fifths and tenths, drawing 3D objects, split strategy for addition, am and pm time
Diagnostic Review 1

Maths Plus Year 5 Textbook
Units 1 - 9 covering the following topics:
revising 3 digit addition, multiplication facts, recognising angles, the kilometre, addition and subtraction strategies, thirds, sixths and twelfths, revising polygons, calculating area, revising 3-digit subtraction, revising division facts, picture graphs, cubic centimetres, addition and subtraction strategies, expanding numbers to 6 digits, grid reference, revising mass, multiplication strategies, problem solving, chance experiments, naming prisms and pyramids, revising 2-digit division, number patterns, dot plots, am and pm time, two digits multiplied by one digit, equivalent thirds, sixths, and twelfths, protractors, metres and kilometres, 4 digit addition with trading, missing numbers, drawing objects, picture graphs, division strategies, mixed numerals, classifying three-dimensional objects, column graphs
Diagnostic Review 1

Handwriting:
Foundation Handwriting Year 3

Writing:
Institute for Excellence in Writing Curriculum
Teaching Writing: Structure and Style program
wrote birthday thank you notes
wrote postcards to international pen pals

Scripture and Character Building:
Bible Read Aloud:
Acts: 6 ~ 2 Peter: 3
Memory Verse:
Psalm 23
Aesop's Fables

HSIE:
Geography/History - 
We began an Australian History Unit Study.
We utilized information books and chapters books as the core of our study.
** See read aloud and chapter book list above for book selection **
Watched Australia: The Story of Us series on channel 7
We read a variety of Aboriginal Dreaming time picture books.

Science and Technology:
Continued his personal blog
Learned how to edit photographs using Gimp program
Started independently composing and typing content of blog
Edited each entry with assistance from mum

Read aloud books (see above) on a variety of science topics
Began a unit study on plants
** See read aloud list for book selection **
Built a solar paneled helicopter with dad

Magic School Bus Episode ~ Goes to Seed
Magic School Bus Episode ~ Gets Planted
Magic School Bus Episode ~ Dinosaurs
Magic School Bus Episode ~ Body Mechanics
Magic School Bus Episode ~ Bats
Magic School Bus Episode ~ Gets Programmed
Magic School Bus Episode ~ In the City
Magic School Bus Episode ~ Takes a Dive

Began keeping a daily weather log ~ tracking high/low temps, humidity, and rainfall using Bureau of Meteorology website and other weather websites as necessary.  Writing collected data down in a weather notebook.

Kingdom of Plants ~ David Attenborough DVD
"Life in the Wet Zone"

Spelling:
daily oral review of weekly lists as sourced from year 4 lists on the internet
(20 words per list)
written test taken every Friday


PDHPE:
walk to and from the library
walk to and from the shops
walk to and from various parks
free play at various parks
riding scooter

Creative Arts:
Attended Paul's Magic Show at local library

Socialization:
Weekly attendance of church and Sunday School
Hosted 9th birthday party for friends and family
Numerous play dates with friends of multiple ages
Attended best friend's Bowling Birthday party
Lunch at Burger shop with numerous friends
Attended cousin's 25th birthday BBQ with extended family members
Attended family friend's 40th birthday luncheon


Other Activities:
Played a variety of board and card games
  • Rummy-O
  • Yahtzee
  • Snakes and Ladders
  • Skip-Bo
  • Flinch
  • Chess
  • Memory
  • Blokus
  • Naughts and Crosses
  • The Dot Game
  • Scrabble
Imaginative (self created) Lego games with his younger brother

Term School Holiday Events:
January:
Library ~ Bingo
ANSTO ~ Water Rockets
Library ~ Popsicle Stick Crafts
Library ~ Paul's Magic Show
Library ~ Play Dough Afternoon
Library ~ Fun & Games Day

April:
Library ~ Bingo
Library ~ Fun & Games Day
ANSTO ~ Spooky Science
Lego Day hosted at a friend's church
Taronga Zoo
Little Dynamo's Indoor Playground

Week Ten ~ A Short Week

The last week of school was VERY short... with a trip to the library farther away on Thursday to visit their favourite librarian, and Easter weekend and school holidays beginning on Friday with Good Friday!  But we still squeezed some learning time in there...


Monster worked hard to finish up his last few maths pages and took his end of term tests, while Monkey finished up his IEW paragraph based on the Aesop Fable of the Ant and the Grasshopper.








 Meanwhile... as his brothers finished up their written work, Munchkin enjoyed some learning play!  First he put together his BIG dinosaur puzzle more or less completely by himself with just some verbal help from me!




Then he enjoyed lots of imaginative play!
I LOVE that he combined his Fisher-Price farm set, his Octonauts toys, and his Bob the Builder toys into one big scene!!