When did you last see your father?

This is Chloe's version of the civil war painting 'When did you last see your father?' I think it's wonderful. She is currently working on another one, only with oil paints.

Well Chloe has been busy working on her English civil war lapbook.
She's really working hard on it. And today she even said that she would miss history when we finish her lapbook - Little does she know what plans I have for her. LOL

She's taking the lead in her work alot more now that she is on her own.
She designed the front cover of her lapbook and had clear ideas of what she wanted - and didn't want!!

Next week we will start back to our timetable properly. This week has been mad with the kids going back to school and college.
I'm really looking forward to re-starting our learning journey again. Our timetable has had to change though.
On Mondays we will study Maths and Science.
Tuesdays will be art day with swimming at lunch time.
Wednesdays we have Maths, skating, and French.
Thursdays we will study english and History.
And Fridays we will study English and Geography.
Every morning we have an hours private reading, spellings and personal study.
Personal study is something new I'm trying. At first I'm going to give Chloe a card with a persons name or an event on it. She will have all week to research it and then produce something on it. She may want to do a lapbook, a power point presentation, a leaflet. Who knows it will be her decision.
I got a great book from the library on Famous people which has given me lots of ideas.

Knitiing.

Well I've nearly finished my first history unit. It's on the village of Eyam in Derbyshire. I've wrote out all the information - all 18 pages of it!!! Now all I have to do is make up the questions, tasks and activities to accompany the unit.
While I was working Chloe asked if I would show her how to knit.
At the moment she is busy knitting a little scarf for one of her teddies.
I can rememebr my mum showing me how to knit and having my own little knitting bag.
If she takes to it I might try and make a patch work blanket. Maybe showing certain events - though I don't know what yet!!!

Megabus/train - WOW!!!

I've just recently found out about the megabus/train!
It looks fab, you can travel to most 'big' cities - London, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburugh etc for a couple of quid!!
I think it works by pre-selling tickets at off peak times - I think!!!
But Chloe and I could travel to Edinburugh from B'ham for £2 each!!!!
London from as little as £7 each!! It's mad.
It now means that we can open up our learning options as we don't go to many museums because I don't like driving in 'big' cities.
I'm hoping to arrange a trip to London, just for the day, as part of our history topic. Once we've finished our civil war lapbooks; we're moving onto the Great fire of London. I'd like to walk the fire route, visit the London museum (i think that's what it was called) the monument - all though they are repairing it at the moment! And anything else we can fit in.
My kids have never been to London before so it would be a great adventure.
Watch this space.....

We started back yesterday.

yesterday we officially started back on our learning.
We're spending the next couple of days finishing off our English civil war lapbooks.
Yesterday we looked at who should govern England now that King Charles was dead? And Oliver Cromwell's campaign in Ireland. Chloe doesn't like learning about people being tortured and having their headspopped onto spikes!!! Bless her. :-)
I sometimes wonder if it is all to advanced for her and maybe I should go back to what they teach in primary school??? Especially when my older children say that they didn't study that until year 8 - she's only yr5 and very proud of it!
She seems to take it all in though and is enjoying learning about it all. I think she would be so bored if she went back to school.
Today we are looking at the battle of Worcester. Charles the second actually came to Shropshire and hid at Boscobel House, so we're planning a trip there soon.
It was starnge having just one child. Daddy was home too(finishing off the decorating) so he kept on adding little bits of info , which was nice to have someone else's points of view and learning style.
I can't wait until the lapbooks are finished. I will take a 100 photo's as we have worked very hard on them.