First there was some grooming to do before the kids had a ride.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Amy is 6!
Technically, it isn't Amy's birthday until later this week, but we celebrated her birthday with a Pony Party on the weekend. Our actual pony had to go back to his home, so my big horse was called on to do "pony" duties for the day. He behaved well and the kids loved him, although I was very tired running along with him so they could trot. He has much longer legs than mine! The photos from the day aren't the best- just shows that I was too busy enjoying the party!
First there was some grooming to do before the kids had a ride.
There were plenty of friends and family to celebrate with...
The kids decorated some horseshoes which we had painted silver and tied with a ribbon. These were their take-home gift.
My Mum made an awesome pony cake with grassy field and hay bales...
Such a fun party, and our beautiful Amy is six!
First there was some grooming to do before the kids had a ride.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Mexican Day of the Dead artworks
We are really enjoying our study of Mexico, and we recently learnt about the Day of the Dead, a Mexican celebration of loved ones who have passed on. Rather than a gloomy affair (or scary, like Halloween), it's a colourful, joyful celebration. We read about it and looked at some photos of Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations (including parties in the cemetery!) and then tried out some Day of The Dead artworks. Colourful skulls are a feature symbol of the celebrations, and we created these skull artworks using black oil pastel outlines and water colour paint on watercolour paper. We were delighted to have Nan joining in with us that day :)
Lili wanted her skull to be happy...
Nathan decided to leave some white space in his...
Amy created two skull artworks...
Nan thought hers looked a bit like an alien, but I think it's pretty good...
I couldn't let them have all the fun! This one's mine...
and Lili...
Later in the week we made some Papel Picado. This is how it is used in Mexican celebrations...
Here's ours...
Adios!
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Homeschool - Term 3 so far
So much happening!
Language Arts
Lili and Amy enjoyed watching Charlottes Web by the Young People's Theatre Company.
Lili is continuing on with LLATL Red, and reading loads of chapter books. Here's just a sample of her reading material from the last week or two:
Amy is moving along with LLATL Blue. She has mastered single short vowel and single consonant sounds, and now we are starting blended consonant sounds. She has started to realise that she can read some books and has a new interest in reading early readers.
Both Amy and Lili enjoy using Reading Eggs.
Nathan has finished Finish this Book, and so started Rip the Page by Karen Benke. It's focus is more on creative writing and he really disliked it so after a few pages we have stopped and have now gone back to LLATL Purple. I'm still on the look-out for ways for Nathan to gain writing and spelling skills in a way that he can engage with.
Nathan's reading is going well, as usual. He has almost finished the entire Harry Potter series after only starting them a week or two ago.
We played around with some Spanish as part of our Mexico study, using this site
History & Geography
We are continuing on with our study of Mexico which we are all enjoying.
We went to Fighterworld, a military aircraft museum, which has re-ignited Nathan's interest in historical military planes. He has been watching you-tube videos of re-enactments of dogfights, and reading library books on the subject. He is planning on making another model aircraft- this time a German plane.
Maths
We are rolling along with Math-U-See. Nathan has started Zeta which is all about decimals. Lili has just started subtraction with re-grouping in Beta, and Amy is working on subtraction in Alpha. Plenty of other real-life maths in cooking, shopping etc.
Science and Technology
Nathan spent a day doing a CSIRO Science workshop on laboratory skills, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He uses a weebly website I've set up for him and likes to watch episodes of Scope. He has an interest in Architecture so has been watching Grand Designs. And Minecraft, of course!
All the children like to use the computer which can be used with a keyboard or detached and used as a tablet.
With all the animals and particularly the birth of our lambs, the girls have had lots of hands-on biology happening. While Nathan was too grossed out to see, the girls were happy to come with me to inspect the placenta and amniotic sac from the lambs. We have been watching the development of the lambs and the behaviour of the mother ewe. Lili has been asking loads of questions about reproduction and has been reading Let's Talk About Where Babies Come From.
As part of our Mexico study we learnt about volcanoes.
Sport & Health
Lili and Amy have been riding their pony as well as having weekly lessons. Having their own pony means they have learnt lots about general horse care and handling, like rugging, feeding etc.
Nathan is still doing Archery once a week with a homeschool group, and has started weekly Circus classes, learning how to use various circus apparatus.
Plus bike riding in the bush, scooter at the skatepark with friends, and jumping on the trampoline.
Creative Arts
Lili and Amy enjoy their weekly Art classes at a local gallery.
All the children have done some art with our Mexico study. The Prickly Pear cactus is on the Mexican Coat of Arms, yet it is a weed here and we happen to have a patch just over the fence in the neighbours paddock. We went over to look at it before coming home to draw and paint it.
We've done a little Mexican cooking.
Plus playing at the park with friends, Girl Guides for Lili and Amy, birthday parties to go to and plenty more!
Language Arts
Lili and Amy enjoyed watching Charlottes Web by the Young People's Theatre Company.
Lili is continuing on with LLATL Red, and reading loads of chapter books. Here's just a sample of her reading material from the last week or two:
Amy is moving along with LLATL Blue. She has mastered single short vowel and single consonant sounds, and now we are starting blended consonant sounds. She has started to realise that she can read some books and has a new interest in reading early readers.
Both Amy and Lili enjoy using Reading Eggs.
Nathan has finished Finish this Book, and so started Rip the Page by Karen Benke. It's focus is more on creative writing and he really disliked it so after a few pages we have stopped and have now gone back to LLATL Purple. I'm still on the look-out for ways for Nathan to gain writing and spelling skills in a way that he can engage with.
Nathan's reading is going well, as usual. He has almost finished the entire Harry Potter series after only starting them a week or two ago.
We played around with some Spanish as part of our Mexico study, using this site
History & Geography
We are continuing on with our study of Mexico which we are all enjoying.
We went to Fighterworld, a military aircraft museum, which has re-ignited Nathan's interest in historical military planes. He has been watching you-tube videos of re-enactments of dogfights, and reading library books on the subject. He is planning on making another model aircraft- this time a German plane.
Maths
We are rolling along with Math-U-See. Nathan has started Zeta which is all about decimals. Lili has just started subtraction with re-grouping in Beta, and Amy is working on subtraction in Alpha. Plenty of other real-life maths in cooking, shopping etc.
Science and Technology
Nathan spent a day doing a CSIRO Science workshop on laboratory skills, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He uses a weebly website I've set up for him and likes to watch episodes of Scope. He has an interest in Architecture so has been watching Grand Designs. And Minecraft, of course!
All the children like to use the computer which can be used with a keyboard or detached and used as a tablet.
With all the animals and particularly the birth of our lambs, the girls have had lots of hands-on biology happening. While Nathan was too grossed out to see, the girls were happy to come with me to inspect the placenta and amniotic sac from the lambs. We have been watching the development of the lambs and the behaviour of the mother ewe. Lili has been asking loads of questions about reproduction and has been reading Let's Talk About Where Babies Come From.
As part of our Mexico study we learnt about volcanoes.
Sport & Health
Lili and Amy have been riding their pony as well as having weekly lessons. Having their own pony means they have learnt lots about general horse care and handling, like rugging, feeding etc.
Nathan is still doing Archery once a week with a homeschool group, and has started weekly Circus classes, learning how to use various circus apparatus.
Plus bike riding in the bush, scooter at the skatepark with friends, and jumping on the trampoline.
Creative Arts
Lili and Amy enjoy their weekly Art classes at a local gallery.
All the children have done some art with our Mexico study. The Prickly Pear cactus is on the Mexican Coat of Arms, yet it is a weed here and we happen to have a patch just over the fence in the neighbours paddock. We went over to look at it before coming home to draw and paint it.
Plus playing at the park with friends, Girl Guides for Lili and Amy, birthday parties to go to and plenty more!
Friday, August 2, 2013
Newborns
On Wednesday afternoon we fed the animals as usual. All of them come around bleating, neighing and clucking their expectations of a good feed; it's a great habit as they come to me and I can check their well-being.
I noticed that one of the ewes, Mary, had a very enlarged udder and a rather swollen-looking rear end. After the feed I kept watching her and noticed that she wandered off by herself, lay down and then got up again. We weren't expecting lambs for another few weeks but didn't really know for sure. Since we've seen foxes here the last few mornings I quickly got the kids to help move the sheep to a safer paddock closer to the house, and then we waited. And checked her, and waited, and checked.
At 10pm I went out and shone the flashlight and saw Mary's eyes shining back...and then two little sets of eyes shining back near her feet! So exciting, our first lambs.
One was a lot weaker than the other, and the following morning it was sitting off by itself, shivering in the cold, while the other lamb and Mary had wandered off. I got the little one up, which woke it and reminded Mary she had another little lamb to care for. We have kept doing this over the last 36 hours and the little one has gained strength.
The lambs are so fragile, on their long spindly legs, seemingly holding onto life with such a frail grasp.
They are both ewes, so our girls have campaigned for us to keep them both rather than eat either of them. Little Woolly and Daisy, I have to say that I'm inclined to agree :)
I noticed that one of the ewes, Mary, had a very enlarged udder and a rather swollen-looking rear end. After the feed I kept watching her and noticed that she wandered off by herself, lay down and then got up again. We weren't expecting lambs for another few weeks but didn't really know for sure. Since we've seen foxes here the last few mornings I quickly got the kids to help move the sheep to a safer paddock closer to the house, and then we waited. And checked her, and waited, and checked.
At 10pm I went out and shone the flashlight and saw Mary's eyes shining back...and then two little sets of eyes shining back near her feet! So exciting, our first lambs.
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