How to Make an Apple Pie and see the World

Sunday

We had a lovely time on Sunday. Friends came over to chat and play and I think a good time was had by adults and children alike. The children all got along well together and also got quite wet - some sort of 'porridge shenanigans' in the garden involving lots of soil, sand and a hosepipe.

I can't honestly remember what we did on the afternoon but on the evening I managed to slope off once again for a curry with an adult to an adult environment.

Monday

This was our first day using Horizon Maths. It went down very well. It is really easy at the beginning. Ideally we should perhaps have started this at the start of the year - but we didn't have it then. I think the fact that they are getting off to a flying start will boost their confidence though so it's not a bad thing. We are one book short for Lily. It's the second workbook in the series so we aren't desperate for it right now but it would be nice to try to find a UK supplier (easier said than done) and order it sooner rather than later

We made a start on How to Make an Apple Pie and see the World by Marjorie Priceman.

I was in two minds about it because it was a Bank Holiday but concluded it didn't really matter whether it is a Bank Holiday or not. Craig was hoping to work up in his office most of the day and we won't get much done in the way of 'lessons' later in the week as we have a workshop and theatre trip planned.

We looked at some vocab from the book - locate, coax, evaporate, elegant...and so the list continues. We then had a little quiz using some apple flashcards I had made to fit in with an apple subtraction scenario in the story. They went down well. I was pleased to see how methodical Hermione was in the way she approached each subtraction.

On the evening I read Hermione her bed time story. Surprisingly she had requested The Three Billy Goats Gruff. After I had read it she announced that she would like to read it - and did - almost word for word. She was really pleased and proud of herself. We were both really delighted. This is just the second time she has expressed an interest in reading an actual book. She always shys away from reading books herself - although she is happy to read from flashcards and things. I think it's a sure sign her confidence is growing and I'm delighted. Just have to make sure I don't appear too enthusiastic about her reading books as opposed to her usual comfortable bits and pieces or she may take a step backwards. A big proud home edding mummy moment for sure!

Tuesday

Lots of 'normals' and Horizon today followed by How to Make an Apple Pie and see the World.

As we read the book we spotted the Eiffel Tower in the background of one of the illustrations. It was just part of the Eiffel Tower but still reasonably distinct. I asked the girls if they could see anything familiar on the picture. Hermione said almost immediately that she could see the Eiffel Tower - hurray all this education malarkey isn't in vain, she must have remembered it from when we studied Madeline.

We chatted about how apples come in many different shapes, sizes, colours and flavours. I explained that these are called different 'varieties'. I got out four different varieties which I had picked up at the market. We examined each one and tasted it. Hermione decided that Golden Delicious is her favourite variety of apple. I managed to rustle up a few sad onions out of the salad draw in an attempt to illustrate that many things come in lots of varieties - a squishy brown onion, a squishy red onion and a squishy spring onion in our case.

On the afternoon Hermione and Nana headed off to the local library to change their books. Hermione specifically asked that they look for the Beatrix Potter book from the Real People Real Lives series as she would like to read that one again. It was available and they brought it home. When she last read it I couldn't find her actual Beatrix Potter books for her to look at the illustrations which are discussed in the Real Lives book. I now think I've seen them in the attic somewhere so I must go and track them down. They are coming to the end of Tales of Olga de Polga by Michael Bond as bedtime reading. I think they are going to have another Famous Five next.

Wednesday

After reading the Apple Pie today we chatted about cinnamon. The story tells us that it comes from the bark of the karundu tree native to Sri Lanka. We looked at some ground cinnamon and some cinnamon sticks. Hermione munched her way through a fair chunk of a stick before announcing it was disgusting!

We stuck our story disk on Sri Lanks. This book mentions many countries but I opted to put it on Sri Lanka for no other reason that the map is least crowded there.

We then wrote stories about a trip around the world. Hermione wrote about a trip to Italy to find the finest orange material there ever was!

We looked at the map at the front of the book and traced the route of the ingredient trail.

I am a Nasturtium

I am a Nasturtium What Flower Are You?

Treasure Hunts and Mind Mapping Durham

This morning we had a treasure hunt in the back garden with clues designed around the points of a compass. We didn't actually have a a compass to use - just established the directions before we began. The final clue lead to crisps and juice on the dining room table. All in all a big success.

Following this the girls decided to 'play school'. There was much activity as they printed out lots of handwriting practice sheets from the computer and made up their own word and number bingo's. They completed all the handwriting sheets and played the games of bingo's with great enthusiasm. This made me think about how much more they enjoy doing something which they are actively directing. They were doing what we often all do together in 'normals' but they were so much more enthusiastic as they were orchestrating everything themselves. All fairly obvious really, it was just one of those moments where it is highlighted today.

This afternoon Hermione and Nana headed off to Clayport Library for a Mind Mapping Durham session. They both enjoyed it. They had helped to make what sounded to be a collage of Durham using various pictures and craft materials. The collage is to be displayed in the library soon. We must find out when and go and see it.

Our Horizon Maths things arrived today. I've just glanced through but it looks quite good. I suspect we will make a start next week.

Last of the Big Snow

I'm pleased to say we finished Katy and the Big Snow today. I really don't think we could face another day of it. There just isn't enough 'to it' if you know what I mean to hold much attention for long - the activities we have done have been fine but the story itself hasn't grown and developed as the week has gone on.

We started with our 'normals' which once again consisted of the ladybird game, placing numbers in order of size and some flashcards - uh oh, I feel another rut coming on!

Following 'normals' we read the story and once again attempted to remember the ten listed characteristics of the snow plough. We looked at some snow ploughs in action here and http://dumpalink.com/videos/Train_snow_plow_gets_stuck-4hd5.html

In the story Katy is personified. We talked about this and decided to write a story personifying something which is important to us. Hermione chose to write about her blankie which she has for some obscure reason always called 'Gold Paws'. She grasped the concept of personifying something and her writing today was good. Her b's and d's now face the right way and words have reasonable spaces between them. I'm pleased.

We ate lunch alfresco today. It was wonderful. The sun was beating down and there was no need to mop and sweep around the high chair afterwards. We messed in the garden till dance class time at which Nana headed off with the girls and I took Miles down the main street for a wander. As per usual he insisted on calling into the pet shop to see the parrots. Hermione also had a great fascination for birds at this age. Afterwards we walked up to the fields at the top of the village to see three horses and their foals. Dancing isn't on for the next two weeks. I suspect Rainbows and Badgers will be off for half term too.

I saw a really moving video clip about children and schooling today called Animal School. You have to click on the purple rectangle to see the clip. I picked up the link from a home ed list.

Castle Eden Dene

This morning we did our 'normals.' We played the ladybird game and the Jolly Phonics books made a brief appearance too.

We read Katy and the Big Snow. I can see Hermione is starting to get bored wit this one. Of all the FIAR titles we have read so far I think this one is the one most aimed at younger listeners. Having said that it does still hold a lot of opportunities for discussion and exploration.

Following on from the story today we looked at something else which helps a city to run smoothly - traffic signals. I was surprised at how many the girls already knew. After that we looked at the compass on the map in the story, talked about N,E,S and W. I placed four sheets with N,E,S and W in what I hope were the appropriate points in the garden and we played a game in which I shouted a direction and the girls headed that way.

This afternoon we visited a friend and went for a walk at Castle Eden Dene I thoroughly enjoyed it and wish we could have spent more time there but I was conscious that we had left Soo and Miles back in our friend's garden and I started to worry about nappies, suncream etc

Grass clippings and all...

Today our back lawn was mowed for the first time. This may sound very insignificant but to think that in March 'gardening' consisted of hiring a guy with a huge JCB to effect some improvements I think we have come a hell of a long way! I sat and looked round tonight at the vibrant green lawn and the veg patch and I just felt so happy and content - as if one phase of the whole relocation/renovation thing is almost complete.

I was quite surprised at Hermione's enthusiasm this morning as she picked up an Explode the Code workbook and did a couple of pages not long after breakfast. I hadn't said anything - she just did it. There certainly is a love/hate thing going on with the workbooks. She then went on to add to the map which she started yesterday.

Hermione went to the TVHE meeting today. The theme was percussion. She made a shaker which she seemed quite pleased with. She had also spent quite some time there playing a game called 'Tumbling Monkeys' which is apparently like 'KerPlunk'. Talking of games, I thought I would try to pick up a 'Pass the Pigs' cheap on Ebay the other day. No such luck. They are not cheap and they sell fast. I'll have to keep looking.

This afternoon they headed off to Rainbows. I know I say this almost every week but it really is a big hit with both Hermione and Lily. They love it. I never get to hear much about what they have actually done but they always come home in high spirits and full of joy - which is great to see.

Miles is really busy these days too. He still prefers pottering at home to going out and about but I'm fine with that most of the time - apart from occasions like this afternoon when he tried to get into the rain water butt - that wasn't good! He's forever after the girls felt tip pens so I decided to buy him some big chubby crayons of his own and leave them accessible on the dining room floor with some paper. He's spending quite a bit of time 'drawing'. He's still very much into The Little Red Hen ladybird book too.

I mentioned yesterday that we played a new maths game with ladybirds. Well, basically it consists of two boards with leaves on, ten big mummy ladybird cards with 1 - 10 spots on and ten small baby ladybird cards with 1 - 10 spots on. Essentially the mummies and babies have to be matched up to make a total of ten.

The highlights

Well, what a lovely long weekend we have had with Helen. She left this morning and things have been quite subdued here since.

There has been quite a lot going on over the past few days so I'm just going to list a few of the highlights.

Friday

Blissfully unaware of Helen's imminent arrival Hermione and Nana practiced their skipping out on the deck.

At about 12.30 there was a knock on the door. Nana went to answer it and got the shock of her life when Helen was standing on the doorstep. For a moment I feared she was going to have a heart attack as I think she thought something must be wrong. Thankfully she quickly realised all was well and I don't think I've seen her so happy in a long while.

On Friday afternoon Nana and Helen took Hermione to her modern dance class.

Saturday

Craig and Hermione went to a horse event. I was uncertain as to what exactly it was before they left which is possibly just as well as I'm rather uneasy about sports involving animals. It turns out it was some sort of steeple chase, dressage, racing type event - sponsored by Countryside Alliance - supporters of fox hunting. I'm not going to have a political/animal rights rant here although I do feel sorely tempted. All that needs to be said has been said here. Hermione enjoyed it but I doubt it will be repeated.

On the evening Soo prepared a lovely raw meal. Nana had been telling Helen about raw 'cooking' and was keen for Helen to experience it. We had a tomato dish which consisted mainly of beef tomatoes stuffed with a pate made from sunflower seeds, garlic, basil, sun dried tomatoes and olives.

We topped that off with raw chocolate pudding and an infusion made from hawthorn blossoms from the garden.

Sunday

Hermione showed Nana and Helen the way to Hardwick Country Park. They had had a pleasant wander around the park an then morning tea (and pineapple juice in Hermione's case) in Hardwick Hall itself.

In the afternoon we went out en masse for lunch. Unfortunately the table was long and thin which isn't really conducive to conversation but on the positive side it did mean that Miles food hurling was confined to just a couple of peeps as opposed to all.

Monday

Nana and Helen headed off to Newcastle for some serious shopping and we made a start on Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton.

We played a memory game based on some of the characteristics listed about Katy. We will play this each day and see how many more we can remember each day.

We thought about what main services we would have if we were in charge of planning a city. We made a list which looked something like - a farm, supermarket, fire hydrants, hospital, nurses office, police station, paddling pool (yes, apparently all cities need one of these), vet, electricity company, computer shop, water department, bus station and tram station (possibly of even less use than a paddling pool but it was listed all the same.

We played the rocket additions game, did a few pages of Explode the Code workbooks and checked out some word flash cards.

Tuesday

Helen left about 9.00 this morning. It was a difficult time.

We played a new numbers game today called the ladybird game. Pictures and explanation of this one to follow as I think I'm all most at the end of my blogging for one day.

We read Katy and the Big Snow and drew a map like the one in the story with a numbered key to show which building is which. I helped write out the buildings in the key and Hermione plodded on with the map. The picture below is of it in progress - look out for Sainsburys!