As of September 1st 2008 we have been following a curriculum based on Mater Amabilis, a homeschooling website for both UK and American pupils.

Ballet Girl and Monkey Girl are, so far, enjoying themselves immensly and our 2 years of thematic units seem to have put them in good stead for learning. It is a little less work for me as I am now expecting baby number 4 and my evenings are now for sleeping!!

However, we do plan to keep a healthy number of thematic units flowing throughout our school year. Watch this space!!

Making fairy cakes for Aunty Grace's and Uncle Thomas' Birthdays.

The finished product. Ta da!

Pic-nic in the park. Ballet Girl had just recovered from chicken pox, Monkey Girl had it and Panda Girl was just about to get it. The joys of infectious illnesses.

Painting an icey scene with cling film and acrylics.

Working hard :)

Our end of Summer treat: Boogie Pete Live at the theatre!!!!

Picking blackberries - yummy!

I have been an absent, poorly, pregnant Mummy but I am ready to update my blog!!

...bar-b-qs...

...running about in fields...

...watching their uncles climb high high high up...

...Summer holiday trampolining sessions (Panda Girl and Ballet Girl) ...

...in the pool...

...out with friends...

...and helping Mummy.

...making the most of the sunshine :)...

...making things with 'The Play Rangers'...

...playing in the teepee...

...catching up with friends...

...at the play gym...

...and lots of bike riding.

The Rainforest Window Display

Our Rainforest books.

Papa took the girls to the Safari Park to find Rainforest Animals!"

Panda Girl and a squirrel monkey (Central and South American Rainforests).

Australasian Rainforest Lorikeets.

Monkey Girl and a red lorri.

In the car on the safari trail, drawing rainforest animals that they can see.

Rainforest craft.

Copying a sloth for her Rainforest book.

Ballet Girl's string sloth and her and Monkey Girl's feather birds' of paradise.

After yesterday's trip to the PYO farm Ballet Girl helped me wash and sort the strawberries to make...

... strawberry smoothies...

... and smoothie lollies :)

Today we went to a 'Pick Your Own' farm.

Monkey Girl and our strawberries.

Ballet Girl helping Mummy :)

It all got a bit too much for Panda Girl.

Panda Girl made a fantastic pom pom snake.
This morning the girls worked to 'Sounds of the Rainforest' - lots of lovely bird and monkey calls, rain falling and the stillness of the forest. They were enthralled :)

Today's rainforest worksheets (Panda Girl did a beautiful frog - bottom left). Ballet Girl did a great wordsearch and frog crossword. Monkey Girl made a lovely number snake.

Rainforest animals: a blue chameleon, a leopard Panda Girl was a snake.

We found some insects for our forest floor.

The girls found this so funny. Monkeys from the rainforest.

After work we went for a trek in our local woods/Rainforest, equipped with all things necessary for watching birds of paradise, dodging venemous snakes and hiding from jaguars.

Ballet Girl looked for howler monkeys.

Panda Girl cooled off with a bowl of water while her big sisters had their gymnastics lessons.

Craft Week window display

And we finished off the week with some games and a pic-nic in the park with Playgroup friends :)

Monkey Girl painting her Dora plaster of Paris model.

Ballet Girl made a bead princess all on her own. :) And Monkey Girl made a pink heart all on her own too :)