NPWS volunteers

Spent a nice rainy day at Bent's Basin as NPWS volunteers. We were making flaps which were to be placed at the entrance of wombat burrows to test the effectiveness of this method for delivering medicine to treat mange in the wombats. Unfortunately the rain stopped us from going out to put the traps in place, and soccer has now started so we are unlikely to get the chance to go back and see how they worked unless they do a weekday run - but it was a great homeschooling experience nonetheless and one we enjoyed heaps.

African drumming workshop

Today we joined in with an African drumming workshop with other homeschoolers. We learnt about how the drums were made and the materials they are made from, and the boys learnt to play some increasingly complex rhythms. Boronia and the boys had fun playing with the other kids afterwards - Waratah even learnt how to play handball.

Mt Annan Sustainability Centre

Mulga making a "cuppa" in the kitchen...

and offering it to Fiona, who graciously accepts.

Waratah interacting with his friends.

Boronia exploring.

Gundungurra geocache and a Dino garden

First, some reading in bed.

S1 English: RS1.5 Reads a wider range of texts on less familiar topics with increasing independence and understanding, making connections between own knowledge and experience and information in texts.

S1 English: RS1.6 Draws on an increasing range of skills and strategies when reading and comprehending texts.

S1 English: RS1.5 Reads a wider range of texts on less familiar topics with increasing independence and understanding, making connections between own knowledge and experience and information in texts.

S1 English: RS1.6 Draws on an increasing range of skills and strategies when reading and comprehending texts.

 These are the superhero books that Mulga got for his birthday. Very popular with the boys.

Off for a quick spot of geocaching: this cache was called Gundungurra in honour of the local Aboriginal tribe. "The territory of the Gundungurra tribe includes Burragorang, Katoomba, Picton, Berrima, Taralga and Goulburn, with the intervening country." 

S1 Maths: MS1.1 Estimates, measures, compares and records lengths and distances using informal units, metres and centimetres.

S1 Maths: WMS1.2 Uses objects, diagrams, imagery and technology to explore mathematical problems.

S1 Maths: WMS1.5 Links mathematical ideas and makes connections with, and generalisations about, existing knowledge and understanding in relation to Stage 1 content.

S1 HSIE: CCS1.2 Identifies changes and continuities in their own life and in the local community.

S1 HSIE: ENS1.5 Compares and contrasts natural and built features in their local area and the ways in which people interact with these features.

S1 PDHPE: ALS1.6 Participates in physical activity, recognising that it can be both enjoyable and important for health.

Then off to the Mt Annan Sustainability Centre to plant a dinosaur garden.

Waratah enjoyed learning about the succulent plant varieties and drew diagrams of them on the blackboard. The top one is Mother-in-Law's tongue, and the bottom one is the Jellybean plant.

S1 HSIE: ENS1.6 Demonstrates an understanding of the relationship between environments and people.

S1 Science: ICS1.2 Creates a range of information products and communicates using a variety of media.

S1 Science: LTS1.3 Identifies and describes ways in which living things grow and change.

S1 Science: ESS1.6 Identifies and describes ways in which people and other living things depend upon the earth and its environments.

S1 Science: INVS1.7 Conducts guided investigations by observing, questioning, predicting, collecting and recording data, and suggesting possible explanations.

S1 PDHPE: COS1.1 Communicates appropriately in a variety of ways.

S1 PDHPE: INS1.3 Develops positive relationships with peers and other people.

S1 Creative Arts: VAS1.1 Makes artworks in a particular way about experiences of real and imaginary things.

Boronia enjoys a spot of gardening too.

Mulga engaged in some imaginative play with the little kitchen, and took a turn at the chalkboard - this was a picture of a journey accompanied by a complicated superhero narrative.

First time geocaching - Madoline Glen

We have been wanting to try geocaching for a long time now, and we finally got our first opportunity, with a our Blue Mountains Homeschool Bushwalk group. We all met at Springwood to walk through Birdwood Gully, and hopefully pick up a few geocaches on the way. We were all first timers, and it took us a while to get the hang of using the compass apps on our various devices (we were using an iPad in a Griffin Survivor case with Compass Commander. I have since purchased the geocaching.com app which is VERY user friendly).

Waratah climbing the wall of. a cave

Mulga with his "fossilized T-rex tooth".

At first we missed the spot where we were to turn off the track, and walked up the hill, where we stopped to play on some amazing wave-curled rock formations. I didn't get any photos of that because Waratah and I (and Boronia in the carrier) decided to go back down the hill to see if we could find the right spot. A short trek off the trail, and we had it! Back up the hill to get everyone else, and then back down the hill to let everyone share in the excitement of making their first find. It was a lovely big cache with something for everyone.

Hidden treasure!

Mulga was incredibly impressed to find this "Gandalf" statue.

Boronia thought it was all very exciting.

The children then made and hid their own special cache for homeschoolers. Everyone else went home, while we decided to have one last look for the cache we had missed right at the start. We did not find it, but we did find a gorgeous, active Satin Bower-bird nest.

Day trip to the beach

We had an Ebay purchase to pick up on the north side, so a trip to Dee Why Beach was added into the journey.

Boronia seemed to like her first touch of sand and seaweed.

Mulga had a fantastic time playing sandcastles.

Meanwhile, Yeti and Waratah went for a long walk... if we looked very carefully, we could just see them enjoying themselves in the distance.

Camden Council Play Day

After Mass today, we attended the Camden Council Kids Play Day.

We began with a guided tour of a police car, a fire engine and an SES boat.

Then some hammering at the craft tables, creating some amazing monster trucks. Boronia proved she was a baby with big brothers who was used to lots of noise by falling asleep in the midst of it all.

We created kites and flew them...

While Waratah opted for some more crafts, Boronia played some music, and then joined Mulga in the ball pit for some more fun.

There were lots opportunities for learning, too. We picked up pamphlets about all the emergency services, a child-friendly version of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, lots of information about worm farms and composting (as well as some pea seedlings), and a whole lot more...

Steamy Sunday

Waratah was unwell and had to stay home, but Mulga, Boronia and I had a lovely day out after Mass at the Campbelltown Steam and Machinery Museum open day.

We got rode both ways on the little train, being pulled one way around the track by a steam engine, 

and then back again by the little red diesel.

We also spent quite a lot of time listening to the steam organ, admiring the vintage cars, working out what various inventions were used for, and pretending to drive the old tractor.

 

Pet Fair and Veterinary Surgery Open Day

After Mass this morning, we visited the University of Sydney Pet Fair and Open Day.

This excursion was very popular and enjoyed by all. The boys got to explore the veterinary surgery - both for native and domestic animals, and get "hands on" with a wide range of pets. They were particularly enthralled by the snake man's demonstration.

End of Term 1 Swimming at Springwood

We have seen great progress at swimming this term. Waratah has realised that he really enjoys floating, while Mulga has discovered the joys of going underwater. Conversely, Mulga is still working on developing stability while afloat, and Waratah has yet to conquer his dislike of putting his face in the water, although he has worked hard at it and made a significant effort to do so.

Boronia has also enjoyed swimming, particularly the socialisation aspect of having a friend only slightly older than herself. She is quite a water baby, and has gone from being with me in the sling, to paddling and kicking along, with a bubble on her back, supported by a pool noodle or kickboard (and me of course).

Mulga has done well with a consistent teacher.

Waratah has experienced some stress from a succession of teachers while his regular teacher was recovering from an injury. However, I am very proud of him for persisting despite his dislike of the change in the expected routine.

As usual, to celebrate the end of term, the water slide was opened up. All the kids loved this, and their way of enjoying it demonstrated their personality in interesting ways. 

Mulga was a daredevil, going as fast as he could, face first.

Waratah was more cautious, but also enjoyed making the ride last as long as he could, slowing himself and even stopping along the way. He prefers to remain in control of the situation, where Mulga is prepared to let go and enjoy the rush. Both were equally happy afterwards, and part of my preference for this swimming pool - which involves quite extensive travel to get to - is the willingness of the teachers to adapt to the needs of the boys as individuals.

We always stay for a swim after our lessons, and for both boys (and Boronia) this is the highlight of their day. Both boys have greatly increased their confidence and ability to play in the water. Their increasing familiarity with the other homeschooled children we swim with has also increased their confidence in playing with others. Although we will not be swimming during the winter months (Term 2 and 3) we plan to continue expanding on this socialisation aspect by meeting some of these same families for regular bushwalks.