Sorry, alliteration is my Achilles' Heel...
Sorry.
Anyway, the weather has been pretty fantastic, so we've been trying to make the most of it! A few adventures, a couple of which I'll blog separately, and of course trips out to the park too -
Still got the usual things like maths happening -
Little brother & sister like to join in too, Maia really likes these magnetic foam shapes ("Magnetism Jigsaw Puzzle" according to the box!), and Leo just likes anything he can bang together -
Lexi mixed up a batch of playdough, but this one doesn't use Cream of Tartar!!
Cooked Playdough WITHOUT Cream of Tartar
1 cup flour
1 cup water
2 table spoons oil
3 teaspoons white vinegar
1/4 cup salt
Mix all ingredients in a pan then stir over a medium heat until it clumps together.
Knead on a floured surfaces
Add colours as desired.
(thanks to Nina from the NZ homeschooling Facebook groups for sharing the recipe!)
We decided to head along to the local "Natural Learners/Unschoolers" group, who meet fortnightly for adventures & play, this time at the secluded Titirangi Beach -
See what I mean about the weather? Brilliant.
February is famous (infamous?) for being the haunt of Valentine's Day, and whilst we don't usually do anything to celebrate it, I thought it sounded like a good excuse for baking.
Lexi made a chocolate brownie from Who's Cooking Tonight? by Tauranga teen Claire Gourley
and slathered it in this obscenely good brownie frosting (butter, chocolate, sugar - the ultimate food pyramid)
and we made some little chocolate hearts with the left over chocolate -
(with not a small amount of muttered cursing, I'll admit)
Eli has started on Grade 1 of the Math Mammoth "Light Blue" series curriculum, and is flying through it! I've found the pacing of this to be really good for my kids, just a little bit challenging, but doesn't labour over a single item to the point of drudgery. Despite being worksheet based - she gives recommendations for manipulative games and web activities that complement each chapter - it uses lots of images and drawing to illustrate concepts.
And Lexi has now officially moved onto the next stage at St John, she is no longer a Penguin and has moved into the Green Cadets group!
It's time for a new uniform!
