Monday, 3 November 2014

Ancient Greece and the 2500 Year Old Parthenon

Ancient Greece!

We have not covered this topic before so it's exciting for all of us!

We briefly read about the Stone Age and The Bronze Age in Greece, commencing 40 000 years ago.  We moved swiftly onto Minoans and Myceaneans before settling on the Classical Period of 500BC -336BC.

Our first point of call was the Acropolis.

 The children watched a great documentary about the Parthenon...

(at lunch we discussed the documentary and the children were as amazed as I was to learn that the craftsmanship of the pillars was so extraordinarily well done and airtight that upon separating two parts of a pillar, renovators discovered a wooden peg which was in such perfect condition that it still smelt of fresh wood - 2500 years later!)

...while I made a dough base which was the only thing I could come up with to stand...

...tubes in...

...to make our own Parthenon.





Monkey Girl created the roof.

Ballet Girl made the statue of Athena to whom the Temple was dedicated.


The Boy made The Erechtheum Temple which was made in honour of a mythical Myceanean King



And Panda Girl made Athena's Olive Tree which stands in the courtyard of the Erechtheum Temple

Our Acropolis


Before lunch The Boy became a Greek slave and rinsed and perfumed everyone's feet.  Everyone found it tickly and hysterical.


Fresh air and leaves.


After lunch the children worked hard on Poetry...


Monkey Girl chose a poem to analyse.  She noted that it was lyrical with a rhyme scheme of A,B,C,B and that A was Trochaic and B,C,B were Iambic.


...Maths...

...and Nature Study and Spanish.  We had a phone call to say Trampolining lessons were cancelled which was disappointing but Ballet Girl made dinner and then the two eldest went to Sea Cadets, boots sparkling, ready for their monthly Ceremonial.

Saturday, 1 November 2014

Happy All Saints! (And a bit of Batman)

I can't quite believe the length of time this virus has hung around: seven weeks and counting.  Panda Girl's also developed into a chest infection so we had to cancel some planned activities for our half term holiday and I think I did officially go a little bonkers in my brain.  There is only so much housework and 24 hour nursing one can do inside four walls, right?

We did however get a lot of reading done.


The Boy played with bugs...

...did a lot of Batman-ing...

...and watched the birds on his bird feeder.

He also went to a Light Party where he was a superhero like Jesus (who needs Halloween?!), as did two of his big sisters.

...and was an awesome Archangel Raphael at an All Saints Party.


Panda Girl was Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha...

...and Monkey Girl was St. Bernadette Soubirou.

Tuesday, 28 October 2014

An Afternoon at The Museum

After five washes done, three beds stripped and three bedrooms tidied all before lunch, I got a little behind with washing up the breakfast stuff.  My Boy saw me in a whirlwind and said, "don't worry Mummy!  I'll wash up for you while you make lunch."  He's amazing and I intend on keeping him forever and ever.

After lunch we met up with some lovely friends (our ex-neighbours) who have been very good to us over the years.  Their grandson was visiting and so we took the opportunity to visit a favourite nearby museum.

 Explaining the workings of a tractor.







Monday, 27 October 2014

Beautiful October!

Panda Girl made her First Holy Communion yesterday!  She STILL has this HORRIBLE virus but she was extremely brave and smiley.  I love you Panda Girl.  May Jesus watch over you and keep you always.  :)

Today we went to the Forest Centre and made extremely cool willow bird feeders.





Lard and bird seeds.  We all have smooth and moisturised hands after mixing this!

Aren't they brilliant!  What a great idea.





We soaked up the beautiful October sunshine and went pond dipping. There was not much going on in the pond but they did catch some fish and water snails.






Panda Girl laughed mischievously after catching a dog bowl in her net.  It must have blown in there in the recent strong winds, but she was delighted! 

Ballet Girl used her new weaving knowledge to make a boat and out of grass.


I lay on the grass and enjoyed this beautiful blue!

An afternoon for friends and and evening for Sea Cadets.