by sarah
Every year since Jack was 4 we have attended a classical music concert at Portsmouth Guildhall at this time of year. We love it, adds some structure to the seasons and is one of the highlights of the year.
It was a bit (lot!) of an effort to get up and go based on how I’d felt on Monday but definitely worth it.
We started off in Victoria Park where we managed 20 mins play, lunch in the cafe and then some other hardy souls from the local home-ed group joined us for another 15 mins in the park. It was really cold!
Then it was to the concert. This was the programme.
Overture ‘Ruslan and Lyudmila’ — Glinka
Meet The Orchestra — Jonathon Willcocks (he is also the orchestra’s conductor)
The Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba –Handel
Tubby The Tuba — Kleinsinger
Waltz From Swan Lake — Tchaikovsky
Trumpet Concerto (Finale) — Hummel
Hornpipe — arr. Hentry Wood
Tritsch-Tratsch Polka –J Strauss
Wigwam — Jonathon Willcocks
Sam doesn’t like things too loud (neither does Jack but he’s getting better with age) so I manufactured a muffling device from a scarf.
The final song is always an audience participation one and this is the first year that they both joined in with enthusiasm. I think they liked the ‘terrible disaster’ action…
Out and About
by sarah
Friday brought a break from the heavy rain that had poured down all week.
We joined the home ed group at Southsea Castle for a look around. Most of castle was closed for repair so there wasn’t actually much to look at. But we played with the stocks.
Sam in the stocks
Jack in the stocks
And went up into the Keep, where they watched a video about the history of Southsea Castle and posed with Henry VIII.
Meeting Henry VIII
We had a picnic and the kids played around the courtyard happily until we parents were scared off by the evil looks we were getting from a member of staff and retreated to the field outside.
Then it was Gunwharf for an ice cream and treating Sam to the Gap hoodie that he has been coveting for months so he could join the ‘club’.
The ‘Gap freaks’
Day to day life Home Ed Group Out and About
by sarah
Tuesday started with piano practice.
Piano practice
And a bit of maths and english.
Sam’s work
Then it was over to our home ed group meeting where one of the mum’s ran a workshop on painting with plants. She explained how she made the dyes and showed them how to rub colour out of petals.
Learning how to make natural paints
Some of the plants they used.
Some of the plants used to make paints
Sam’s picture is of someone bleeding to death.
Sam’s picture
Jack’s is of someone being shot with an arrow and erupting into blood and guts.
Jack’s picture
Outside there was a full scale storm going on, thunder, lightning, rain the works. But the kids still enjoyed playing. Sam fell over and managed to land face down in his cake
a cake accident
We left early and went to the shops as Jack needs a ‘lion tamer’s’ outfit for his drama play.
Jack then had a piano lesson before Cubs. Sun had come out so after dropping Jack off at Cubs, Sam, Pussy and I had 20 mins in the park.
a cake accident
Day to day life Home Ed Group
by sarah
Due to a combination of Google being awkward, Virgin completely crashing, holiday and preparing for holiday it’s been a long time since I’ve updated.
Early part of month disappeared in a mist of more Egyptian stuff,
a trip to Portchester Castle, where we had a play on the castle and then joined some friends on the field nearby for Hannah’s birthday picnic,
home ed group,
not forgetting ‘school’ work,
cubs, drama, playing with friends and chores
Day to day life Home Ed Group
by sarah
Yesterday at Adventure Group all the kids bought along a book they had enjoyed and told the group about it. The children all seem to be growing in confidence in this sort of situation and it is lovely to see.
Here is Sam sharing his ‘Gladiators’, he seems to have sent Oscar and Finn to sleep though
Once the sharing had finished they decorated fabric bookmarks.
Jack was very pleased with his.
The finished masterpieces.
Then time to play.
Before piano and an early night as Jack had a headache and wasn’t up to Cubs.
Day to day life Home Ed Group
by sarah
This term we have taken a calendar of ‘national days/weeks etc’ as a bit of inspiration for activities.
Last week was ‘Fair Trade’ we opted to look at bananas since about 65% of the bananas eaten in the UK come through Portsmouth and the boats are a familiar sight the kids can relate to.
We looked at the map and identified some countries where bananas grow.
Then we looked at some photos of the journey of bananas from tree to supermarket.
We then identified the key people involved in the chain and showed how money passed down the chain. We talked about how Fair Trade meant that those at the bottom of the chain received a fair wage.
Then we did a bit of Caribbean story telling through song and dance.
Thank you to Susie for the photos.
Now having got a week behind in posts it is time to go and prepare the bits for this weeks group.
Day to day life Home Ed Group
by sarah
Fire brigade came along to Adventure Group today.
The let the kids play with hoses.
Have a sit in the engine.
Crikey doesn’t he look grown up!
Jack looking at the equipment in the front seat.
At they got out their kit to tell us about it.
Then it was time for piano. Jack has now finished the first level of the course he is following and loves it.
Then Cubs, but just as Jack was going I think tiredness finally caught up with him and I ended up staying and bringing him home 10mins in as he had a headache.
Day to day life Home Ed Group
by sarah
The Home ed meeting we go to has moved venues to another playground.
This one is aimed at older kids and is bigger with more (and higher) climbing frames.
A fabulous sand pit
With water taps down for moat building.
There is a lovely outdoor stage area.
Staff are nice and helpful.
There are parachutes and games we can use, books and dressing up box too.
On paper it’s perfect. So why don’t we like it?
Boys I can put some of it down to not liking change, they liked the other park. Me, I don’t know, I can’t put my finger on it…
Day to day life Home Ed Group
by sarah
Yesterday we joined lots of other home educating families for a day out at Little Woodham. It is a reconstructed village set in 1642 and staffed by volunteer craftspeople. It is very close to us and not the first time we’ve been as it is a lovely day out.
Finding out how the buildings were built.
With the Sawyer.
My arm muscles ache!
In one of the houses.
Bed was hard and uncomfy.
To the inn.
Seeing the food they would have eaten.
And having a game of backgammon.
The kitchen garden.
The blacksmith.
Unfortunately they could get out!
Our favourite spot, a camp in the woods. We played here for ages long after most others had gone.
Exploring and hunting.
And roasting their catch. Poor Achilles! He definitely needs a bath now!
Sam spent ages working on shaping a wooden spear with a stone tool.
At home we used quills to do maths.
Home Ed Group Out and About
