The younger children have been having a lot of fun playing with the pattern blocks. I found a website that has pattern block designs to print and laminate. Jude and Niamh can copy the designs, but Ciara prefers to just put the pattern blocks straight onto the card.

Jude's cool design.

Ciara had fun trying her own designs too.
Eden has been reading the Count of Monte Cristo to Jude and Niamh, they really enjoy her reading to them.

Doing more maths fun with m&m's, this time exploring the idea of graphs.
Ayla getting in on the action, she loooves to climb up on chairs.
Ciara carried on her shape study by doing shape printing with biscuit cutters.
And she really enjoys doing a bit of cutting out everyday!!

Learning about Marco Polo

We had a great time learning about Marco Polo this week, and ashamedly the children always thought Marco Polo was just a game they played in the pool. We read this book together below, and I found it lovely to learn a lot too, it is amazing how different parts of history in my mind is slotting together. The only thing I found frustrating about the story of Marco Polo is that there seems to be a lot of doubt surrounding the journals and accounts that Marco Polo kept of his travels. Many things don't seem to tie up and lots of facts seemed to be hugely exaggerated and embellished.


Eden read this book herself and enjoyed it tremendously.

Chinese inventions and another Chinese meal

This week we learned about a lot of what the Chinese invented, the children could not believe how much they had invented, they could not fit in everything so just chose some interesting ones, like ice cream, fireworks, compass, banknotes, wheelbarrow.
Eden helped me make the Chinese meal this time, sweet and sour prawns, with noodles and prawn crackers of course. Dad really likes Chinese food, so he is really enjoying all the meals.

Jude eating noodles.
The children had fun setting the table and decorating it with their Chinese lanterns.

Making a Chinese sweet treat

The kids were so excited to make these Tang Huluars or Tang Hulus as we had read about them in a few Chinese books. I found lots of pictures and stories about them online, but couldn't find a recipe. From the description though it is just a sugar coating covered around fruit, so I just found a recipe for toffee apples and used that instead.
Eden prepared the fruit on the sticks.

And then we made the toffee together, I covered the fruit as the boiled sugar is so very hot.
And the kids really enjoyed them too, and so did dad when he got home later.

Chinese writing, lanterns and map work

Jude and Ciara enjoyed doing some Chinese writing with stencils


And then they made some Chinese lanterns. Jude never likes to cut out because he is left-handed and finds it really awkward. I have tried buying him left-handed scissors but that didn't help much. I was so pleased he managed to cut this all out himself. Ciara on the other hand loves cutting, and also managed to make one all by herself.
Tessa had a nice chair while Niamh was writing her name in Chinese.
Can you see Niamh's name in Chinese on her lantern.
Eden thoroughly enjoyed re-creating a Chinese map, filling in mountain ranges, rivers, landmarks and neighbouring countries.

Ancient Chinese short stories

We are going through this book of short stories at the moment, very enjoyable for all ages.

Wild China, a documentary

We thoroughly enjoyed watching this dvd, highly recommended.