2012 Term 4 Week 4 Day 3

Kindergarten

Religion: God's Gifts
☑ Discussion of miracles and whether saints are real.

English: Reading Eggs
☑ Eggy Words

English: Story Time
☑ Hugh Lofting, Dr Dolittle (1920)
Chapters 10 - 11.

Mathematics: IXL / iPad
☑ Geoboard

Waratah's design

☑ Motion Maths: Wings (pre-multiplication)
☑ Mini Train for Kids (logic / puzzle solving)

Creative Arts: Art Study
☑ Henry Rousseau, The Dream

We discussed the original in terms of media, composition, and interpretation. Waratah then used the app PlayART to create his own version.

Human Society & Environment: Investigation
☑ We continued our virtual exploration of Melbourne Museum, today investigating the dinosaur exhibit (which Waratah found disappointing as he wants to see dinosaur skeletons in real life), and the Aboriginal exhibit (which Waratah was very interested in.)

Science & Technology: Experiment
☑ Today we played with water beads, starting with the unexpanded beads, hypothesizing what would happen when we added water, and then soaking and observing them as they grew. The boys spent several hours investigating the properties of the expanded beads.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education: Free Choice Activity
☑ Name it to tame it - we spent some time with the ABA Flash Cards & Games Emotions app, identifying and discussing the emotions portrayed in the photos.

Cultural Studies: Craft
Theme: Babies
☑ We made Guatemalan worry dolls from wooden beads, pipe cleaners, embroidery thread and fabric scraps.

Waratah's worry doll

PreK - Play-based learning (EYLF)

☑ Mulga said the water beads were frog food...

☑ Mulga has been having bad dreams lately, so together we made a Mummy and boy worry doll for him to put under his pillow and take his worries about going to sleep away.

Infant - Learning stories

☑ Boronia had some time in the jolly jumper and watched all that was going on.

2012 Term 4 Week 4 Day 2

Kindergarten

Religion: Lives of the Saints
☑ Discussion:

• who lives in heaven?
• what is an angel? 
• what is a soul? (Waratah wanted to know whether it was the same as the soles of his feet!)
• what is a saint?
• what is a miracle?

English: Handwriting Practice
☑ Waratah tried to convince me to let him watch Tom & Jerry cartoons early in the morning, by writing a note. I was pleased to see him attempt phonetic spelling (as he usually prefers to have me spell words for him to write). On this occasion he was trying to see if he could communicate what he wanted by writing alone, so to ask would have spoiled the surprise. He wrote Tom, cat (with the C reversed), Gere (with the G reversed) and malse (mouse). (His efforts were rewarded with a single episode, as a compromise of our 'only educational tv on school mornings' rule.)

☑ Waratah also used Maily to compose an email to me. He took a photo of himself and Boronia, and wrote both their names correctly (after asking me how to spell hers).

English: Story Time
☑ Hugh Lofting, Dr Dolittle (1920)

Dr Dolittle is still extremely popular. We read chapters 3 - 9 today. Waratah wanted me to keep going, but my voice gave out! He is keenly interested in the story and happily answering comprehension questions.

Mathematics: IXL / iPad
☑ Motion Maths: Wings (pre-multiplication)
☑ Mini Train for Kids (logic / puzzle solving)

Creative Arts: Craft
☑ We attempted to use coloured blu-tack as modelling clay. However, it was too sticky, so it was impossible to separate the colours after they were initially joined in the first attempts. After that, Waratah experimented with mixing the colours by rolling and spreading the resulting ball, and investigating its texture (squishing, rolling, pulling slow to stretch, pulling fast to snap).

Human Society & Environment: Investigation
☑ We virtually visited the whale exhibit at Melbourne Museum. Waratah correctly identified an ambulocetus skeleton, and told me more facts about whales than were provided in the exhibit. He enjoyed this app and we will return to it again.

Science & Technology: Experiment
Theme: Egg and Chicken
☑ Today Waratah learned how to blow the contents out of an egg. We used the contents to make breakfast and the shells for our culture craft.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education: Skills Practice
☑ Waratah demonstrated his mastery of the side gallop, performing it on the trampoline.

Cultural Studies: Craft
☑ We used our gouache paints to decorate the eggshells. Acrylic paints may give a better effect, but the boys were very pleased with the results of their efforts.

Waratah called his creations "Big Eye", "Longnose" and "Super Egg". He said he was inspired by Picasso (which is cool, as he didn't seem to pay much attention when we looked at Picasso a couple of months ago.) I thought we were making Christmas decorations, but the last time we painted eggs, about two years ago, we made egg faces. I had forgotten, but Waratah had not!

Big Eye and Longnose

 

Super Egg

PreK - Play-based learning (EYLF)

☑ Mulga similarly enjoyed the egg painting.

Infant - Learning story

☑ Boronia was introduced to Monkey See, Monkey Zoo (Lamaze). She particularly liked the leaping tiger, and after looking at all the pages closely, decided that they were also rather tasty.

☑ Looking in the mirror after her bath, Boronia was clearly focusing on her own reflection, and when asked, "Where's Mummy?" she directed her gaze to my reflection, then looked back and forth between the two reflections with a big smile. She is starting to recognise herself as a separate identity.

2012 Term 4 Week 4 Day 1

Kindergarten

Religion: Bible Story
☑ Dramatic retelling of David and Goliath. Waratah is now keen on making a slingshot (particularly having recently watched the Blinky Bill movie, where Blinky uses a slingshot to fire gumnuts.)

English: Story Time
☑ Hugh Lofting, Dr Dolittle (1920)

Having now finished reading all three books in Dorothy Wall's Blinky Bill series, I went looking for our next "living book" to read aloud. We started today with the first two chapters of Dr Dolittle and it is proving immensely popular. Both boys are listening with full attention, and Waratah is eagerly answering my comprehension questions along the way.

Mathematics: IXL / iPad
☑ Geoboard

I have seen Geoboards used to great effect in various activities (mainly through Pinterest). Making one for Waratah has long been on my to-do list. However, in the meantime, I have found an app which offers an electronic version. Not quite as much fun as playing with rubber bands and nails, I am sure, but useful now as an introduction to the concept, and later as an adjunct for exploration. For example, I envisage setting up patterns on the app for Waratah or Mulga to copy on the real board.

Creative Arts: Craft
☑ Sewing.

Waratah had an interest in making a treasure pouch, so we started sewing one out of felt. Today Waratah appliqued some decorative fabric on the front and sewed on a button. He also practiced threading the needle.

Human Society & Environment: Brainstorming
☑ What are the good and bad things about being a member of a family?

Science & Technology: Observation and Report
Theme: Chicken and Egg.
☑ Waratah let the chooks out and reported verbally on his observations of their behaviour.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education: My Body
☑ Once Upon A Time... Life: Blood [Playlist - 3 episodes]
☑ Once Upon A Time... Life: Platelets [Playlist - 3 episodes]

Having had several cuts and grazes recently, Waratah watched these episodes very attentively and asked questions, as well as answering comprehension questions along the way. He was particularly interested in the role that platelets played in forming a scab.

Cultural Studies: Investigating Diversity
☑ Waratah asked to decorate some blown eggs as Christmas ornaments, so we investigated various cultures which had a tradition of decorating eggs. We looked at pictures of traditionally decorated eggs from many different places, commenting on their similarities and differences, and the methods used to decorate them. Here are some of our favourites:



Poland - cut paper applique

Ukraine - wax-resist. Waratah noted a similarity to Aboriginal art in the egg on the left.

More from the Ukraine - wax resist.

Here is a tutorial for the wax resist method that we really want to try: http://susanbenarcik.wordpress.com/projects/what-to-do-on-easter/

Eggs decorated with seeds, beans and grains.

Russian icon egg

 

PreK - Play-based learning (EYLF)

Mulga was in a dramatic, creative mood today. He pulled a number of cans out of the pantry to build a robot which would "do all Mummy's work so all she has to do is play with us!" Unfortunately, this robot did not reach the final testing phase.

Mulga also spent a long time building a track for our wooden train set and dramatising voices for the trains.

His creative urges carried over into his iPad time, as he designed and tested some very unique vehicles in the Create a Car app.

Infant - Play-based learning

Boronia enjoyed her usual "air bath" and dabbling her toes in the grass.

Weekend Activities

☑ Quiet weekend at home, as Waratah and I were fighting colds. Unfortunately, this meant Waratah had to miss his end of year soccer trophy presentation.

2012 Term 4 Week 3 Day 5

☑ Excursion: Circus Oz at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre with the Penrith Homeschool Group.

☑ Excursion: Picnic and play at Tench Reserve with the Penrith Homeschool Group.

2012 Term 4 Week 3 Day 4

☑ Excursion: Swimming lessons
☑ Excursion: Picnic at Tench Reserve on the Nepean River

Mulga faces off against the goose. He thought he was going to chase it, but instead, the goose chased him!

 Boronia dabbles her toes in the grass.

Waratah wanders off to explore.

2012 Term 4 Week 3 Day 3

Kindergarten

Religion: Craft
☑ Kateri Tekakwitha was skilled at beadwork despite her damaged eyesight. Waratah chose to make a "snake" bead string of his own design.

 

English: Story Time & Comprehension Questions
☑ Ian Sands, How to Milk a Dinocow! (2011)

Mathematics: IXL / iPad
☑ Motion Maths: Wings (pre-multiplication)
☑ Mini Train for Kids (logic / puzzle solving)

Creative Arts: Drawing / Painting / Colouring
☑ Procreate - sketch, paint, create iPad app

The Twirly Picture

Human Society & Environment: Investigation
Theme: All about me.
☑ Waratah learnt about his paternal grandfather who was a cornet player

Science & Technology: Video
☑ David Attenborough The Amber Time Machine

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education: Skills Practice
☑ Throw and Catch

Cultural Studies: Investigating Diversity
☑ Kids and Home app - Waratah was particularly fascinated by the "Ketuvallum" or Indian Knot Boat - a houseboat made from coconut fibre and bamboo with just knotted rope, no nails, screws, bolts or other fasteners.

 

PreK - Play-based learning (EYLF)

☑ Mulga was extremely excited today when the mailman delivered his Christmas present - a trumpet. He could not bear the thought of waiting until Christmas, and spent the whole day playing his new instrument, even wearing the (oversize for him) white gloves that came with it, so that he would not get it dirty. At first he had difficulty making any sound, but he quickly developed the knack for it.

 

 

 

  

☑ Mulga was also keen to try the Indian beading, and with help, was able to follow the pattern and create a beaded fish.

 

 



Infant - Learning stories

Unlike her brothers, who generally were much more demanding of instant attention, Boronia is showing herself to be a happy, calm, self-soothing thumb-sucker (try saying that three times quickly!)

2012 Term 4 Week 3 Day 2

Kindergarten

Religion: Lives of the Saints
☑ What is a patron saint?

English: Games
☑ Phonics Genius
☑ Meme Tales

Mathematics: IXL / iPad
☑ Motion Maths: Wings (pre-multiplication)

Creative Arts: Drawing
☑ Stencil Drawing

Human Society & Environment: Mystery Activity
Theme: All about me.
☑ Shopping excursion with Daddy

Science & Technology: Why Is It So?
☑ Dancing raisins experiment - why does dried fruit "dance" in a glass of fizzy drink?

Science & Technology
☑ Audio illusions. Following on from yesterday's optical illusions, Waratah asked to re-watch one of our favourite videos, David Attenborough and the Lyre Bird. We also found this video of a lyrebird in Adelaide zoo that (very briefly) captured a human whistling and speaking as well as a range of construction equipment.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education: Video
Crawford the Cat lets everyone play

Cultural Studies: Craft
☑ When investigating talking sticks yesterday, we discovered the Aboriginal Journey Stick:

This is an idea that originates from the aboriginal people from Australia. When they went on long journeys, Australian Aborigines created a journey stick to help remind themselves about the things It acted as a verbal map, enabling them to recount the story of their journey to others. It involved tying objects to a recording their experience. Find a short stick and wool to show places, objects and feelings to stick. Your special tree! Hold your palm in front of you and draw on the main palm lines. You could use a stick dipped in wet mud to draw with! Now look around you for the same pattern in the branches of a tree, the tiny twigs, bark, roots or other parts of the plant. This is your special tree. Draw your unique palm pattern and the tree that you link with. they had seen and experienced. stick (that represented different experiences or parts of the journey) in the order that they found. It was an individual, unique and personal way of recording their experience.
(WESTONBIRT: The National Arboretum)
 

Waratah was intrigued by this idea, so we decided to make one, recording the "journey" around our house.

Waratah's Journey stick on the left, mine on the right.

Detail of Waratah's Journey stick

Talking about it afterwards, we noticed the way in which a journey stick can be a map of the different environments we passed through.

From the pasture / grassland in the front paddock ...

through the fruit trees, chook pen and flower garden around the house...

to the bush out the back.

PreK - Play-based learning (EYLF)

Sensory Play
☑ Dancing raisins - fizzy fruit

Exploratory Play
☑ Mulga loved this David Attenborough spoof and asked to hear it multiple times!

Manipulative Play
☑ Zibitz Robot track

Dramatic Play
☑ Building a play fort

Creative Play

Mulga enjoyed running around with the stick and wool rather than creating a Journey stick.

Mulga did enjoy some sticker work, and using crayons to add some extra background colour.

Infant - Learning stories

☑ Boronia played in the clover, exploring the way the leaves and flowers felt on her face, her fingers and her toes.

2012 Term 4 Week 3 Day 1

Kindergarten

Religion: Craft
☑ Kateri Tekakwitha - making crosses out of sticks

English: Story Time
☑ Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Duck Rabbit (2009)
(Many of the activities below were inspired by the themes in this book.)

 

Mathematics: Weights and Measures
Theme: Measurement - Temperature
☑ Objective / subjective measurement - who thinks it is hot, who thinks it is cold, what does the thermometre say?
☑ Compared temperatures inside, outside in the shade, outside in the sun on the grass, outside in the sun on the driveway.

Creative Arts: Drawing
☑ Waratah drew an Oryx from his Draw Really Cool Stuff book.

Human Society & Environment: Discussion / Debate (Clarifying Values)
Theme: All about me.
☑ Can there be more than one answer to a question? How do we politely disagree? What are the benefits of listening to different viewpoints? Are there times when there is no right or wrong answer?

Science & Technology: Experiment
☑ We had a great time looking at and talking about different optical illusions. Here are some of our favourites...

Duck and Rabbit

The original Duck / Rabbit drawing

and some others

       

 

 

Old or Young woman? This was interesting, because the boys saw the old woman straight away and struggled to see the young woman, whereas I saw (and still see) the reverse. I think it depends on whether you "read" the picture from the top down or the bottom up.

 

       

 

 

What do you see?

We loved these hidden picture painting illusions...

 

     

 

More favourites... Sidewalk painting, and how many faces can you count?



     

 Moving pictures - playing tricks with your eyes.

 

And of course, some drawings by Escher...

   

Finally, we found an "optical illusion" in our own yard - in the form of a bearded dragon, camoflaging himself on a log.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education: Skills Practice
☑ Waddle like a duck, hop like a rabbit
☑ Also some tree climbing

Cultural Studies: Craft
☑ We discussed Australian Aboriginal and Native American talking sticks, and planned for us to make one and practice taking turns in a discussion - we talked about how and why they worked, and why they might be useful or necessary. We did not get around to making our stick today, but we have saved it as a project for another day.

PreK - Play-based learning (EYLF)

Sensory Play

Ladybugs tickle when they crawl on your hand!

Exploratory Play

Tree climbing

Manipulative Play
☑ iPad

Dramatic Play
☑ Trucks and cars

Creative Play
☑ Designing a roadway for trucks and cars

Infant - Play-based learning

Sensory Play
☑ blowing bubbles on Boronia's tummy

Exploratory Play
☑ tummy time on the grass

Manipulative Play
☑ Rolling the bell ball

Dramatic Play
☑ peek a boo in a mirror

Creative Play
☑ singing "name" songs