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. 

The source of the river project

Evan asked to take the wooden boat that we have to float, so off we went to Milhouses this week - the pond was a bit lack lustre as there was very little wind, and as Evan identified it needed a sail, which we didn't have.  We decided to take it on the river (not the fast flowing part, but the bit alongside the playpark)

Here we go.

Nice and steady, ready for a real whoosh.

With friends later on in the week they explored how a river forms using sand and water (after doing their own version of this in soil at the bottom of the garden)

Here is what happens when it floods!

Inspired by the vocabulary and interest in this I decided that we should investigate a local river, so we started by watching this video this afternoon.

I mentioned that we used to live near to the source of a local River, and that it too begins with the moorland.  I suggested that we could go on an exploration of it this afternoon, so we finished up our breadmaking and gathered our explorer bags, grabbers, fishing nets, wellies etc, local map and compass and headed up to Ringinglow to find the source of the Porterbrook.  Looking at the OS map we saw that the close footpath should meet up with the source so we set off to try that.  It was extremely muddy, as we have had a load of rain in the last week or so, but as we had our wellies this was planned for and absolutely fine.

This was the bit the map told us the source was, but, clearly, that is not it!

We followed this up, unfortunately it was blocked off by the fence, but we did get to follow it despite that, watching its busy journey towards us.  We kept going right the way up to near to the farmhouse you can see in the distance, where we believe the source is, under the ground of the field.  

This hole is the very first visible part of the river, as far as we could tell, as the field beyond this wall had no part of the river, it seems it had been piped underground.  A tinge of disappointment, but a later conversation when Pat returned home, settled our minds that really we probably had found the source.

Some lovely mushrooms on our journey.

This is beyond the road back where we started where a waterfall breaks the Porterbrooks neck (so to speak) 

The kids used the fishing nets we'd brought to see if they could catch anything, or at least feel the force of the river.

To the side of the path is more tributory of the river, coming directly off the moors.  This is always dripping, even when there hasn't been rain in ages.  It is my belief, but I would love to be corrected, that the water coming through is water filetered off the moors over a long time.  Here is Autumn collecting the water to helpfully place into the river manually, to save it the job!

Evan uses his new grabber to hold the bucket over the river to pick up foam.

More grabber / bucket action.

Having now explored the Upper course will continue this project no doubt with further trips to the Porterbrook to discover its delights on the middle and lower courses.  We'll be using this fabulous Wiki page as our guide I imagine... I'm looking forward to the Shephards Wheel. 

Looks like it is open at the weekends 10-4.  Must decide on a good day to go soon.

Here is a video of the Source of the Amazon, can't wait to show the kids.

Mid august and this is what is going on

Pat is sort of on holiday but is actually running summer school for y6/y7 s as they transition into the school.  Literacy week over,  games and outings next week.  Much more fun!  Though he did manage a trip to the national space place in Leicester,  which he has recommended to us.

Evan lost his tooth on my birthday after a week of wiggles...  Feeling that it might be a bit of a special moment.  Currently he has begun a tiger project. Inspired by Tom's lapbook on whales.  We have lots of great books from the library,  and making ideas.  He managed to earn enough money for the gup-x last week,  so both these things are pretty central to his life right now.

Autumn was really angry last night that Momo came and went home in 24 hours  (she was retrieving her car)  autumn continues to be strongly emotional about everything,  and love knee sits,  and exploring her strength whilst there (back bends among others) Storying and fully embodying the characters and story is one of the core features of where  she is a a presently.  It is fascinating to watch her.  We love her adult type phrases which add he is full of presently,  especially when slightly out of context.

I have been working on the magic,  inspired by Rhonda Byrne.  It is all about feeling gratitude for everything from the water we drink,  to the money /things we were given as children and finding things to be grateful for even in the most challenging of circumstances.  It is putting a lot of the things I've been working on with my self development together,  in a really meaningful and practical way.  It has seen me speak much more nicely to my husband,  find the joy in jobs which I previously saw as chores and negatively,  as well as feeling more powerful,  and sharing it with the kids too. I start each day with a list of 10 things I am grateful for,  and end the day on the best thing from that day while holding my magic rock.  I dill the say with the daily project too. All done alongside what I am doing anyway.  I am so grateful to Rhonda Byrne,  Chris Ojari,  who have inspired to go on this journey,  and my family,  without whom none of this would be happening.