Pipe cleaner snowflake sugar crystal - part 2

We have some nice crystals growing on the snowflake now, but all the children want to do is taste it - they think it looks like rock candy.

Experiments with magnets

The children had a lot of fun doing all these tests on magnets.
First they wrote down a list of objects and wrote down whether they thought the objects will attract a magnet or not.
Testing the objects with the magnets.

2nd Experiment, test the strength of different types of magnets.
Jude building things with the magnets.
Testing the magnets out on different cans.
Ciara decided to build a tower with the cans.

Trafalgar Square and Tree sketch by Eden

We have started learning about London with Jude, but that didn't stop Eden from jumping in an enjoying the theme too, this is a sketch she did of the Lion statue at Trafalgar square.



A nice sketch I saw of hers, Mike thinks it was inspired from watching The Iron Giant dvd.

Bible Journal

Eden and Niamh read a chapter from the bible every day(Niamh doesn't read the bible yet but reads a chapter from the Ergermeier's Bible Story Book.) A few months ago they started a journal after their bible reading. They can choose to write a small narration, or copy a verse that stood out for them, or even draw a picture about something from the chapter. They have really enjoyed doing this, and I do hope that it helps the stories and truths in each chapter to be written on their heart.

Writing!!

Over a year ago, I really had a problem getting creative writing out of Eden. It was normally a case of I gave her a topic to write on, and she would end up saying "But I don't know what to write." I thought this was strange because she has such an active imagination and makes up the most complicated pretend stories for her and Niamh. But I suppose I was simplifying the whole writing process a bit much. The ability to think up a story is different from the skill of getting it onto paper, and so we have both been really grateful for the books below. Eden started on book 1 and has never had a problem writing the stories. They help her slowly build up the story in pieces, and then finish it off by writing a complete story. It has been so lovely to be charmed by the great stories she has come up with, finally she has been able to put her imagination down on paper. Oh and Eden has also nearly finished this book, so another promised reward on the way:D

Niamh started on this one a few months back, and although it is a lot simpler, with picture drawing, and sticking in photos, she has enjoyed it just as much. We are so pleased to have found these books.

A reward for a job well done

We swapped Eden's math curriculum over a few months ago, and Eden has completed her first Book. It is not that we were unhappy with Saxon Maths, it is just that after three years of doing it, Eden had got really bored with the format.

I told her once she finishes then she can choose a reward for finishing. It is amazing how much this insentive helped with her attitude since she is not one who would choose to do Maths for the fun of it, like I did as a kid. It has been great to see her make less and less careless mistakes as she made her way to the end of the book, and her ability to do word sums has increased amazingly well. Well done Eden! Niamh has started the book before this, but is complaining about it being too easy(such is life for a Math brained person), but I want her to be able to get all the math facts instantly. It is so funny to hear her say, mom I didn't even have to think about the answer, it was just there in my head, I know what she means.

Swapping over curriculums though has made me see that there are good things in one curriculum and good things in another, so with Niamh I will continue to pull out all the good lessons from the old curriculum Saxon, which is what Eden did last year. They cover some really good things that Mathusee don't seem to address. I am tempted to get the next Saxon for Eden too so she can do both, but I don't think she will be too pleased with having to do two lots of math a day being a right brained person, hmmmm will have to give that one some prayer and thought.

Some more winter crafts

Jude created this winter landscape.
Finally we got the glitter glue snowflakes right. Niamh made this one on baking paper and it peeled off easily.
Our wall display, Eden and Niamh copied and decorated some winter poems too, and Jude wrote some headings up. His writing is really taking off now.