Learning
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We’re ‘Traveling Around Australia’
Today we started our ‘travels’ around Australia with the aid of Downunder’s Australian Book Traveler. An easy picture book tour of our nation. The first core Travel book is The Australia Book by Eve Pownall. This is a meaty book chock full of Australian history, we used it earlier in the year for our history studies. It contains so much information we never finished. To be totally honest I thought it too long for our travel needs. So instead we substituted with Possum Magic by Mem Fox. Possum Magic tells the story of Hush and Grandma Poss. The travel Australia in search of the magic to make Hush visible again.…
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Enjoying and Recording the Sights of Asia
Following are the detailed plans which I will hand to our older children for our Asian sojourn. I have previously shared our goals and resources. I share them here in the humble hope that they may help others as I have been often been generously aided. Create a continent notebook; include narrations, art work, recipes,photos, maps, flags and Fact Sheet from your study. Travel Agency magazines are great for pics. Narration illustrations can use watercolors, lyra pencils, or block crayons. Mapwork Draw a map of your country, include the capital city, neighbouring oceans and countries. Continent Felt Maps You may like to make a felt map. Play some of the…
- Blog, Home Education, Home Education - Australia, Home Education - Highschool, Home Education - History, Learning
Studying World War 1
This coming term we will be studying World War 1. I have been compiling lists of books to read and planning research questions and activities. I thought I would share here as they may be of use to others, obviously the questions are of an Australian nature. Movies * Dad to preview suitability for Koala (15) Gallipoli Cooking Make Anzac Biscuits Activity Create a Soldiers or Nurses Uniform, or Dig a Trench. Research and Writing Each of the following should be at least 1 paragraph long, many lend themselves to longer.Create a personal timeline of important dates, also add dates to the Family Timeline book. Include maps where relevant to…
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Traveling to Asia, Resources
As I shared in my previous post we are ‘traveling’ to Asia in the coming Term. I have been gathering together book titles (from home and the library), audio resources and online links. Just what countries we are visiting are primarily dictated by the books I have found. Online Resources National Geographic Map Game Online Games (Looks great) More Games World Geography Quiz World Geography Map Games Foreign Languages Foreign Languages Foreign Languages for Travelers Thanks to Marilyn for the above links. (I substituted Asia for Africa.) General Resources * denotes Library Bks DK Geography of the World Children Just Like Me Children Just Like Me: Celebrations! Global Art: Activities,…
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Geography Goals
This term we are ‘visiting’ Asia; by popular request. As Australia is part of Australasia I feel it important to know our neighbours. For the last week I have been working on detailed plans and truthfully I have found it difficult to gather my thoughts (and resources) as we have not often studied geography in a deliberate manner. After ‘putting the horse before the cart’ with details, and struggling; it occurred to me there was another, easier course to plot. It would be more helpful to consider just what did I want the children to come away from their ‘sojourn’ with? The answer is basic map, flora/fauna and cultural knowledge.…
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Creating An Art Centre
One of my wishes for my ‘dream learning room’ is an art centre. As that event will be some time away I gave some thought as to how I could set up a temporary centre. My requirements were for a compact centre that contained the majority of supplies. We also needed a way to scoop all supplies off the table and away into the cupboard for meal times. Thinking I needed something like a tray I ventured into the shed to see what I could find. Imagine my delight when I spied this ‘builders box’ I had forgotten all about scooping up at a garage sale last year. Just perfect…
- Blog, Home Education, Home Education - Art & Craft, Home Education - History, Home Education - Reggio Emilia, Learning
Making Chainmail
Recently the children had the opportunity to be introduced to the art of making chainmail. They were so taken with this they have set up their own chainmail production line. First Carpenter manufactured a ‘gizmo’, using a piece of metal the thickness they wanted for their links. Tie wire is wound around the ‘gizmo’ about thirty times and then cut. (Gloves recommended for this part) Then every fifth link is opened with pliers and links are joined together. The ‘bug’ caught every child and the shed became a regular factory. It is time consuming work but rewarding. An afternoon’s work produces this string for Einstein, and this for Carpenter.
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Medieval Day
We were recently fortunate to experience a Medieval Day, which was hosted by our homeschooling group and presented by our local guild. The day was sensational! I truly think it may have been one of the best days our homeschool group has had yet. Many of the children (and parents) dressed in period costume. We started the day with a parade of costumes. The presenter from the guild was truly excellent, very skilled and very passionate about his topic. He was dressed in period costume and then suited up into knight’s armour, explaining as he went. It was a very interactive presentation which went a long way to keeping the…
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Mathematics – Breaking News
Breaking news about Mathematics! I have written before about Mathematics.com.au which has been such a blessing for us. When our oldest reached highschool we needed to follow a different path to previously. To find an Australian highschool(grades 7-12) course that taught in an audio/visual manner via the computer was an answer to prayer. Mathematics lessons are very well presented and clear; after printing out and completing the lesson the child enters the answers and the lesson is marked for you! Previously purchasable as a CD or an online course for a substantial amount of money (we paid hundreds) Mathematics is now incredibly available for free!! if you still prefer…
