Describe how your school has changed over the past year? It has become a lot harder, and more time consuming, mainly because of the photography diploma I am doing. This leads to a professional qualification and it is a lot harder than we thought it would be. However, I am really thankful to be given…
Category: Project Based Learning
Pierre-Auguste Renoir {Impressionist}
Last term Lillie spent a few happy weeks learning all about the Impressionist painters. She has included Renoir, Seurat, Degas and Monet. She studied one of these artists for two weeks. This week’s artist is Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Pierre-Auguste Renoir Resources Pierre-Auguste Renoir was a French painter who was instrumental in starting the impressionist movement of…
Project Based Learning: Endangered Animals – Tigers
Last summer I was wracking my brains to try to find a project that would hold A8's attention for longer than about five minutes. As she really does enjoy anything linked to nature I decided to go with an animal project. I wanted it to be a meaningful project so that she could feel that…
Exploring Africa Through Jewellery by L13
Hello, I am L13. I am Claire's quieter and somewhat more creative twin. Over the past year I have become very interested in home-made jewellery, so much so that Mummy decided to incorporate jewellery making into my school. Together we came up with a project based on African jewellery. I have always LOVED African jewellery,…
Africa: Religion, Myth and Music (A Post by C13)
Hi, I am C13, Claire's younger twin. As you may have guessed from previous posts I am a vivacious and fun loving teenager.☺ I am passionate about music, reading, writing and religious studies. I therefore intend to focus on these passions whilst learning about Africa. Africa: Religion, Myth and Music Learning to play the bongos: I love…
The Teen Years: Finding a Balance Between Exam Led Learning and Delight Led Learning
At what age does the future of one's children suddenly seem to matter more? At what age does home school becomes something a little more serious, and a little less fun? And when this does happen, how do you stop yourself panicking at the enormity of it all? It hit me sometime last year and…
Project Based, Authentic Learning This Term
I have put a lot of thought into what I wanted the children to cover and learn this term. Gary and I had decided we needed to up the ante for every child from B4 to T14. This year I will be using an eclectic mix of project based learning, studying for exams, interest led…
Shakespeare Unit Study
A Summer Shakespeare Club: Introduction Summer Shakespeare Club: Making Club T-Shirts A Summer Shakespeare Club: Adventure Box A Summer Shakespeare Club: Meeting the Members Shakespeare: Midsummer Night’s Dream – Day 1 Shakespeare: Midsummer Night’s Dream – Day 2 Shakespeare: Midsummer Night’s Dream – Day 3 Shakespeare: Midsummer Night’s Dream – Day 4 Shakespeare: Midsummer Night’s Dream – Day 5 Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet –…
Shakespeare Summer Club: Projects Week Four
Things went a bit manic this week, and yet it was probably the most exciting week we've had. All the children's hard work was about to come to fruition; everything was slowly falling in to place; acceptance notices were coming back from guests and the dining area was slowly being turned into an enchanted wood.…
Shakespeare Summer Club: Projects Week Three
Writing each individual act Each child had his/ her script written with parts highlighted for each character and enough copied for every person. I am hoping to provide you all a PDF of the whole play script, in case you wanted to see exactly how five such different acts could possibl;e form a fairly seamless…
Shakespeare Summer Club: Projects Week One
He, he! Thanks for all your suggestions on Saturday's post. I'll be showing it in all it's forest glade glory during the week, but you were all right (well apart from B13 and Lorna the nutter....). It is in deed a tree. I spend waaaay too much time cutting them out and have blisters to…
The Summer Shakespeare Club: PBL Choices
We have just completed our first Shakespeare club week and, whilst it is hard work, everyone is laughing lots and thoroughly enjoying themselves. It has definitely been worth all the hours I've put in over the past four weeks. Each afternoon the guys work for a couple of hours on their projects. As you know…
A Shakespeare Summer Club: Project Based Learning
I mentioned in my last post that the children will be doing some Shakespeare based PBL. PBL works very well in our household, not maybe as our main way to home school, but definitely as an important extra. I thought I would give a bit more detail as to what I will be expecting over…
South America Unit Study: Summer Adventure Box
I have already outlined my plans for my youngest two for this summer, and you will know that I am having a lot of help from my mum, Sarah and Lorna (Aren't I blessed?). This Summer Adventure Box needed to be extra special for just that reason. There will be more people than just me…
Project Based Learning: South American Animals
Whilst the older children dig deep into Shakespeare and all he has to offer, the little ones will be focused on South America. It will be a primarily literature based study, with the exception of the project based learning the littles will do. They have attempted to do projects before with my help but they…