April Elective Home Education Diary

I’m trying to write this home education diary earlier this month, so I can get it out on time for a change! April was very busy, including a 2 week Easter holiday from all the usual kids groups and clubs. So we made the most of this time and went away on a narrowboat for a week. Then a few days visiting my parents over Easter weekend too.

Read More About Our Home Educating Family

• Our Home Education Philosophy
• Best Books For Home Educators and Home Schoolers
• How Do You Teach Kids Without Formal Lessons
• The Cost of Homeschooling in the UK
• Educational Activities For Kids
• A Letter To The New Home Educators
• How To Teach Your Child To Read At Home

History

The children both enjoy history and listen to various podcasts. They were excited that both Greeking Out and Live from Mount Olympus have new episodes out this month. Greek mythology is always a favourite of theirs. Although we also listened to other podcasts including Who, When, Wow, which have great history mysteries. The youngest also love listening to the Crash Course history playlist.

Whilst we were on our narrowboat holiday we also visited Chirk Castle, Castell Dinas Bran and some other sites. So the kids learnt about the history of these castles and also the canal. Little things including how canal boats were pulled by horses or that barges used to get through tunnels by ‘legging it’.

Geography – Elective Home Education Diary

Geography this month has included how country boundaries are not straight lines. We had a discussion of this when we were on the narrowboat and the border between wales and England seemed to wiggle tremendously between the canal and other features.

We also had learnt about ocean dynamics and whirlpools when we visited the Corryvreckan. It’s the world’s 3rd largest permanent whirlpool. We learnt how the underwater topography affects the movement of the tides in this section between islands. Which causes huge swells and lots of small whirlpools. It’s a lot of fun spinning around the whirlpools on a rib!

Another day out took us to Loch Katrine, where we sailed on the steamship to Stronachlachar. Then cycled all the way back along the loch. I had a map to show the children where we were, and how far we had gone every time we stopped. It was interesting as the loch juts out toward the side, which meant we had further to cycle back than we did to sail there!

Science – Elective Home Education

The usual podcasts were listened to this month, including Wow in the World, Tumble and Mysteries of Science. The children have also been looking at a few videos on Crash Course and Ted Ed too.

After visiting the Corryvreckan whirlpool (a fab science activity on its own), we went to Dunstaffnage ocean explorer centre. It’s really compact, but has lots of fantastic information. It’s worth a visit if you’re near Oban! The kids learnt about microscopic algae and animals, effects of marine litter and learn more about the wildlife.

We also visited Blairdrummond Safari Park, where of course we spent the day with a variety of different animals. The lions and giraffes were favourites. But we also enjoyed the new train ride to see the chimpanzees.

The kids had a great time on their Easter egg hunt that their grandpa laid out for them. It also involved launching a water rocket. So we had another day where we spent an hour just launching the rocket over and over, enjoying watching its trajectory and testing out salt water.

We had a home education day out to Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh. Which included workshops on oceans and a planetarium talk about space features. We also toured around Dynamic Earth as well. Although it was fairly busy, so I’m not sure how much they took in.

When we were sat in the Dynamic Earth workshop I was impressed to hear my 11 year old answering a question. The workshop instructor had asked them what differences there were between shallow seas and the deep seas. The youngest replied ‘deep seas absorb more red light’, something he’s never been taught, just learnt along the way. I’m not even aware of when or where he knows this fact from, but it’s just one of those things that home ed kids seem to just pick up. There’s no defined learning in autonomous education, so they absorb facts and knowledge from all over the place every day.

I love these little nuggets of information they have which I can’t even remember learning with them! It also makes me as a parent trust my children’s knowledge, as they often know more about certain subjects than I do! Obviously I still google to check they are correct if I’m unsure, but most of the time it simply proves them correct. And it gives me faith in their education and abilities, as we all have wobbles from time to time, wondering if we’ve chosen the right path for them.

Maths

Both children have been learning maths via Beast Academy. Although admittedly we haven’t managed to fit this in as often this month. Mostly because we’ve been away and busy for two weeks!

We have also played lots of card and board games, so there has been plenty of other maths going on too.

Language – Elective Home Education

Both children have been continuing with Duolingo, the eldest with Spanish and youngest with German. The eldest is now in the Pearl league and seems to be getting on well with it. The youngest is in the ruby league as it seems to be more difficult to move up in German!

When we’ve been playing games the youngest has been reading his cards or sections out by himself. Which is an improvement, as he usually asks us to read them! However, he has been enjoying listening to audio books and is often quoting the Hobbit.

The eldest has been reading everything as usual, he spent a lot of time reading various books on his kindle whilst we were on holiday. He’s also found a few more Rick Riordan books to read too.

Clubs and Groups

The usual clubs and groups have been running this month. Although there has been two weeks off from most groups due to the Easter holidays.

The youngest chooses to do lots of groups, these include, choir, scouts, 2 x drama groups, 2 gymnastics lessons, 2 dance sessions, lead climbing (level 4) and beginning rehearsals for the next show that he’s taking part in!

The eldest has chosen to just do Scouts and dodgeball classes. Although they also both do home ed Lego group, home ed board games club and 2 home ed park meets a week too. As well as an online Minecraft coding session.

Socialisation

Socialisation is always a funny one, not everyone likes being as social as their siblings or friends. My eldest has a lot shorter time requirement for socialisation than my youngest who would happily spend all day everyday with friends.

However, we try and manage this by making sure the youngest has enough time at his clubs and groups, as well as home ed groups during the day. Then spending a couple of days a week at home for the eldest too. It’s hard balancing opposites on socialisation, but it can work with some compromising!

Art and Music

We haven’t managed to do much art work this month, or visiting any galleries. But they did do a little colouring of some plain Rubiks cubes from Baker Ross. And chose to make birthday cards for one of their friends.

Music is the youngest’s favourite activity, but it’s mostly listening to songs from musicals rather than playing an instrument. Both children do enjoy using the shared keyboard we have too.

Physical Education

Both children are very active and are often running around outside together or with friends. We have two days a week at the park with friends, where they spend the entire time running, jumping and climbing trees.

This month we also completed a 21km cycle from Stronachlachar to Trossachs pier at loch Katrine. A great day out, just take lots of snacks! We also spent a lot of time walking whilst on our narrowboat holiday in Shropshire/North Wales. From hikes uphill for excellent views, to walking along the towpath to see the very beginning of the canal.

On Easter weekend we stayed at my parents and did a great Easter egg hunt over the North of the island they live on. Plus lots of other walks too! It’s not all fun and games though, the youngest did manage to bruise his knee badly on a rocky area over Easter. Whoops!

Home Ed Posts You Must Read

Pin April Elective Home Education Diary