Monday, November 11, 2013

Homeschooling Monthly Memories - Aug - Oct 2013

Between our trip away and what not, I have been really slack in updating our homeschool learning on the blog. It's been on my to-do list for quite some time!

Scouts 'Curriculum':


Demonstration of smoke filling a house - very graphic.



  • Scouts has involved campcraft skills, ropes/knots etc.
  • Fire safety night - talk by the Rural Fire Service, and camp cooking.
  • Navigation via GPS - they were blindfolded, driven to a location and then in a group had to find their way back to the hall.
Intentional Learning:

Creative Arts

  • YouTube videos - editing with Adobe Premiere Pro and Sony Vegas.
  • Drama classes
    • Classes - this term he has been invited up to the Yr 7 & 8 drama class (he's officially only in Yr 5!)
    • They are currently studying Romeo and Juliet in his class.
    • Crew for 'Charlotte's Web' - he had many roles including lighting, stage door, runner. 
  • Saw 'Rosenkrantz and Guildernstern Are Dead' at the Sydney Theatre Company. 
  • Singing lessons & trumpet - he took part in the mid-Year concert his music school puts on (in the music teacher's backyard!).




HSIE
  • Australian History

    • Finished reading "A Waltz for Matilda" by Jackie French
    • Went to a talk about researching Irish convicts and another about growing up in the area in the 1950s.
    • Began receiving the Inside History magazine.
    • Read "The Horse who bit a Bushranger" by Jackie French.
    • Trip to WA - visit to New Norcia, the Rabbit Proof fence, Albany Whaling station, Rottnest Island, Fremantle Prison & Roundhouse

  •  Medieval history day with other homeschoolers

  • Attended the Maitland Riverlights multicultural festival.
    • Made a chinese lantern to float down the river
    • Watched national dances and displays such as Indian, Chinese, Aboriginal and Brazilian.







Maths
  • He continued using the Mathletics curriculum.
  • Learnt about prime numbers.
  • Real-life use of Maths in cooking, measuring - he made a b'day cake for me from scratch - chose the recipe, shopped for the ingredients, cooked and decorated from scratch (no packet stuff!) with no assistance.
  • Longitude and latitude practice - reading and following the GPS.
  • Codes
The b'day cake he made for me with no assistance!

Science & Technology

  • Java coding
  • Improving Photoshop skills
  • Visit to natural formations such as caves, rock arches, rare forests, Pinnacles, Wave Rock
  • Dolphin watching, dolphin discovery centre / aquarium,

English

  • Read "Tales of Shakespeare - Romeo and Juliet"
  • Writing stories

PDHPE
  • AFL / AFL training (now finished for the year)
  • Archery
  • Yoga
  • Watching "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" series.
  • Swimming





As well as plenty of time spent hanging out with friends and family.