We have lift off

That's right, you guessed it we have embarked on a space exploration inspired by Space Week from Camp Google

The experiments so far in camp google have been a bit hit and miss requiring a lot of equipment, and often more complex than they need to be.  So we have started doing our own thing inspired by the camp.  We went to children's section of the Nasa website which has a plethora of information, experiments, videos and games to engage in the subject.

This inspired exploration of satellites, what they comprise of and how they get into and orbit the earth.  A few YouTube videos and a section with information later and we have a Minecraft space station and a cardboard satellite ready for orbit.  Though Autumn was extremely upset at finding out it would cost £10,000 to get it to orbit.

Space Station

Autumn's Satellite

Further adaptations to the satellite

Next we plan on going to the library and seeking out further things on this subject, and watching "How to build a planet"

 and "How to build a universe" 

by the BBC again.

Since this weekend (27th September 2015) there was an amazing event in our skies - The Super Lunar Eclipse, this seems like an excellent place to begin more work on our project.

Below are some links I'm going to be using to shape this project.

Photos of the latest Super Lunar Eclipse by the Telegraph

Understanding of what a Super lunar Eclipse is 

Next we used the basic structure of the phases of the moon to do a worksheet identifying the phases of the moon. 

A long break and a new routine

We've had a long break from normal, but we are starting to get back on track... thankfully home education allows for changes in circumstances and abilities to do things in a particular.  We've carried on with groups, and even begun doing some more formal work, but I didn't document it on here.  To be honest, I think I forgot we had a blog!

Anyway, my decision today is to use the blog again to document, as simply as possible our learning journey.

Monday 15th September 2015

We begun using Camp Google - doing Ocean week  We did two experiments, one looking at floating - using different densities of water by adding differing amounts of salt.  The other exploring sonar using tin lids and tubes.

We went to the library and looked at books as well as read some "reading" books.  Each child at their own level.  We borrowed Frozen DVD which they watched later on in the afternoon.

Following from work with a friend last week on levers we explored levers and using a variety of forces on a seesaw at the playground.  Varying how we distributed our own weight to create greater and lesser forces on each side.  Using 2 adults and 2 children in a myriad of ways.  We looked at forces at play on the roundabout and how to make it move quicker and slower using forces such as friction and creating drag by adding width to the radius with bodies.

Evan decided to measure our shadows using footsteps.

Tuesday 16th September 2015

We began this morning with Minecraft time.  I am not usually involved in this time, as it is my "coming to" time and time which I make breakfast.  But during breakfast Evan told me of the mini games he has been on a server called mineplex. Playing build battles - with challenges to build an tem within a given time, and a hiding game which he won on using a strategy of crouching down so other players couldn't see his gamer tag.

This morning we have begun looking at the next bit on Camp Google which is a conversation with famous Oceanographer Sylvia Earle looking into the depths of the Ocean.

Following from the work begun by Evan yesterday on non-standard measurements we looked at using non-standard measurements of objects in the house.  Evan and Autumn used smaller items to attempt these measurements.  They found they needed to be careful to get an accurate measurement, but that they weren't as accurate as standard measurements.

Evan chose a cylinder so we looked at how to measure circumference and diameter.  We found it interesting to note that whilst the circumference of an object didn't look too big, when compared to the height it was hard to have the circumference less than the height.  I challenged the children to find one that did, and then to find one with a circumference double that of its height.  Evan found a stick for the former and a cake tin for the latter.

The next challenge came in the form of measuring a variety of objects around the house using standard measurements.  Autumn extended this by measuring the stairs, we have been discussing the different ways of doing this - whether to do it at an angle or measure the treads individually.  Evan decided to count the steps then measure one so that he could multiply them to get his answer.

Next we read some books.

We spent the afternoon with friends having fun.

Bolton Castle

Minecraft... Discovery continues

A few months ago I believe I wrote about my kids new found interest in minecraft... At the time my focus was mainly on how I could manage the emotions and limits of screen time. Now, things have moved on in our thinking, and the children's connection with it.  We have settled into a way of using it which allows them plenty of time without overly impacting on other activities.  The kids play on it before breakfast and after dinner each day when we are at home.

I have been back and forth in how I think about this... But one thing I have always seen and recognised is that Minecraft gets Evan talking. He will talk easily with fluency to anyone who will listen.  He loves the fact that he has a greater knowledge about this than most people he knows, and that Autumn and his friends defer to him for help.  Because he is so interested in it, his thirst for more is unquenchable, and he seeks to learn more all the time. He finds out new things by creatively interacting within his worlds, reading books and watching a famous minecraft player's videos on YouTube. (Stampycat)

They are both now interested in doing instructional videos which they hwbe both started blogs on... Links to follow.

I have noted his ability to support his friends using minecraft, in an increasingly sophisticated way, and has learned not to simply take over.

Multiplication

Today I was inspired by one of the many brilliant blog posts written in an ordinary life ( link later) she used lolly sticks to support her children consolidating and practising their knowledge of times tables. I thought we could give this a go using the same idea and addition of the number square to support as well. They both enjoyed this and saw patterns. Even remained engaged for over an hour, we did the 3 and 5 times tables.

It was really helpful, when engaging Autumn, to use the mini characters we made out if fimo.

I'll definitely revisit this way of doing this.  Autumn is now happily playing and organising the creatures on the 100 square.