We started our Victorian project with a  traditional Victorian Sponge cake.  This was interesting for the Boy  (my darling mini-chef) as he learnt how to separate eggs, whisk the egg white, pour the flour slowly etc, rather than pouring everything in and mixing it all up in one go.  Equal amounts of flour and sugar in this recipe and my gosh it tasted great :)

Queen Victoria fact bookmarks with Victorian lace

 We took a visit to our Discovery Centre which has an incredible transport museum.  I wrote the dates of Queen Victoria's reign on the children's hands (1837 - 1901) and they had to spot as many things as they could find from this era.

We watched some fun Horrible Histories about the Victorians and the girls had a delve into their dressing-up box to find clothes that looked Victorian or that we could accessorise to make them so. 

We've shared 'round a nasty bug this week and have all taken it in turns to be ill over various days. On 'well days' the girl have worked methodically through their Victorian packs and have completed some lovely work 

Our Victorian resources

Lent

The girls learnt a little more about the concept of Lent...

...They made bread pretzels to symbolise arms crossed in prayer...

...a dough crown of thorns with the intention to remove a thorn each time they do something kind, thoughtful and selfless.

Catholicicing.com has such fab ideas.  This one is a lent path so we can countdown to Easter.

Everyday throughout Lent the girls are choosing someone to pray for and offer up their day for.  They put their person up on our display so we can have a whole collection of people we have prayed for by Easter :) 

I like this one.  This is the path to Calvary.  The girls colour in a brick on the path each time they are obedient or truthful. :)

The girls went to their friend's gymnastics party at the week end.  It involved an hour of using some fab gym equipment at a huge gymnastics centre.  Having spent 6 years at weekly gymnastic lessons themselves, it was lovey to see the girls putting their skills to use.

Here are a  few more extras from our week:

Our annual safari park tickets mean we can nip there whenever we feel like a break - and going during term time means we have it all to ourselves!

Panda Girl did some lovely sums on her number line.  She used teddy to do the jumping.

Outside break during some early spring sunshine.  The Boy and Ballet Girl did some necessary trampoline bouncing, Panda Girl had fun with chalk and Monkey Girl...?  Well she took her book, as she does wherever she goes.  She can't even brush her teeth without reading a book, apparently.

On the Farm

Our Farm project was cut short but it was a fun thematic unit for the two smallies while the elder two carried on with their daily curriculum.

Face painting.... The Boy chose to be an elephant for his farm animal...

After piano lessons this morning we set up a farm..

...with straw bedding...

...a pond...

...some cow milking (butter and cheese making)...

...egg collecting, horse riding and sheep shearing.

In the afternoon The Boy had a good nap so we knuckled down to some Earth Geography, Maths, English, Science and World Costumes. Then it was books away and dancing shoes on for Tap Dancing, Modern Dancing and an hour of Gymnastics each.

We started our Farm project during the half term last week, with some plaster animals.  This particular thematic unit is aimed more at The Boy(2) and Panda Girl (6) but the other two are enjoying themselves too :)

The Boy loves scissors - just trying to teach him what he can and can't actually cut...

Farm Shop

 Books for the Boy and Panda Girl

The Farm that Grandad made

The kiddies each bought something fun from our local Farm Shop this morning.  Monkey Girl spent the day munching through carrots.

 February: a week after the snow melted, and suddenly we're apparently talking no coats and a pic-nic lunch.  True Brits (with a bit o' French :)

Making butter with Uncle Anthony.   A good excuse for some loud music and a bit of jumping.

Shrove Tuesday = Pancakes!!  And when Mummy's brother is visiting it's just completely awesome :)

I have 3 exhausted daughters after they completed 12 hours of rehearsals on Thursday and Friday and then 4 full ballets and 4 tap dancing shows over the week end.  I witnessed some of the back-stage frantic costume changes, including my Panda Girl changing from Fairy to Christmas Tree in seconds and my two eldest changing from tap-dancing Pyjama-ed Girls into Rockin' Robins  - and with over 60 children performing, the organisation and production was no mean feat.  They performed beautifully and I was a very proud Mummy.

Today my gorgeous ballerinas/tap dancers spent 6 hours rehearsing with their dance school, for their forthcoming ballet and tap&modern shows this weekend....

...while The Boy helped Nanny Mo feed her ducks and chickens...

...and brought an old nest home for our nature table.