Rouse Hill House and Farm

Visited as a family on Sunday 25 August 2013.

Topics covered:
- Aboriginal implements, lifestyle and beliefs using interactive display in visitor's centre
- visited old style school house, discussed the displays there of old style writing, slates, desks, maps etc
- talked about the lifestyle of children of the mid 1800s, games played, things learned, expectations such as knowing times tables well, and having neat script, pointed out that the national anthem was God Save the Queen
- walked through large Georgian home, built on estate in early 1800s, discussed the displays of artifacts collected over the years that the house was lived in by several generations of one family
- listened to a guided tour that discussed the lifestyle of the family that had lived there, travelling, daily activities, finances
- took note of the wear and tear on the house noting that the materials were different than current construction and which ones lasted as well as which ones were not lasting eg stone, steel, lathe plaster
- walked through gardens and discussed plants, native and other, also talked about the brick gutters built to direct water to tanks for use on the gardens
- "played" with period costumes, watched Mum dress up in a dress with layers and hoop skirt

A Fresh Start

As part of Michael being registered in NSW for homeschooling at the moment I will be updating this blog weekly with his learning of the last week.

I need to keep these record so that he can be assessed for his Year 10 certificate when the time comes.

Best wishes
Jen

Animal studies

Animal comparisons is something I get Michael to do regularly.  Last time we did them on notebooking pages and compared Echidna vs Hedgehog vs Porcupine, Platypus vs Beaver, and Possum vs Squirrel.

You may notice a theme here... Australian animals vs others.  We can end up watching so many US or UK based shows that we don't remember which ones are the Australian ones.

For the next few I am going to be getting him to do up a PowerPoint presentation to share with his brothers.

Best wishes
Jen

Funny faces

This was part of a lesson from Sonlight on the many muscles we have in our face.

 

 

      

 thats me

Maitland Gaol Tour

Michael's notes:

the table's are low in the visiting center so you can not hand someone a knife under the table or a shoe with drugs in the soul of the shoe.
in some cell's  there is two area's so you can go in and out and you can have a radio but if you do something   wrong the radio is taken away for 6 month's.

No editing by Mum

Gold panning, Trout fishing and Woolen Mill

add more later

A Big Adventure

Mike has just gone out for his first long bike ride.

His dad used to do long rides between two small townships when he was about 10 years old and we have been hoping to encourage the same sort of independence in our eldest.   It has taken some time but today he decided that he wanted to ride from home to the local BMX track on the other side of town.  The journey was just over 8 km and the weather has been a bit grey and wet at times.

And he did it.  Dropped into his dad's work on the way dripping wet but extremely happy with himself.  I am so proud of him.  I will be collecting him with a change of clothes in the car and some nice hot chocolate chip muffins.  He deserves them.

Yay to my growing young man.  I am very proud of him for not wimping out on the hills or due to rain.

Best wishes
Jen

Boy's Legion Tues 8 March

Last week Michael learnt about first aid.  In particular he learned to not walk over the patient, and how to not get hit in the nose.  Hmm, he doesn't remember much.  Looks like I need to record this sooner after the event.

Jen

My Place 1988 and 1968

We watched two recorded episodes of My Place today.  I read to the boys from an encyclopaedia about Vietnam and Greece, the two cultures featured.  We discussed their climates, primary and secondary industries and their religions.

We also went on the website and played some of the games.  I love the hair do one and had to call my dad about the road rules one.  Very fun!

Best wishes
Jen

A Big Deal

Michael has always been afraid of heights, not extreme, but just a good healthy fear.  Yesterday he stretched himself and went on a treetops adventure at Minmi.  He went with a local homeschool group as part of an activity for our teenagers.  Quite often our events are safe for the little ones in the families but not adventurous enough for the bigger kids.  I am glad to see Michael stretching himself and trying new things.

He did only one of the three courses that other kids covered but considering he said he was starting to feel sick being up so high I was encouraged to hear him say  he was willing to go again.  Now that is a good thing!

Best wishes
Jen

Cooking lunch

Mike helped me out today by going to the shop and choosing food for lunch that we could cook quickly and cost less than $20.  He chose Garlic flavoured fish pieces and hash browns.  He even cooked them while I was talking to a visitor.  Oh, and of course, he also bought a family block of Cadbury's to share while waiting for the food to cook.

PD,H&PE