June was an incredibly busy month for us with 2 holidays back-to-back and lots of end of term excitement at clubs. So we spent a fun week working the locks along the Canal du midi and then another amazing week on a Mediterranean cruise. Which certainly helps with the kids geography! So here’s our home education blog for June 2023.
Table of Contents
Science
Despite being busy with various travels this month we still found time for plenty of science. The children have enjoyed their usual science podcasts, including Wow In The World, How To Be An Earthling and Tumble. We’ve also had a lot of fun with their Minecraft Education Coding sessions, great for STEM education!
We’ve also had great fun during our canal holiday on the Canal du Midi. The canal trip included around 22 locks to manoeuvre, so the children learnt a lot about the engineering of canals, the need for locks and how they work.
The eldest has also spent a lot of time building Lego, which is another fantastic engineering tool.
History
It’s been one of those months where we’ve visited more historic places than I can count! I’ve put a few photos below of some of our travels around Europe and Scotland this month. We’ve visited the Medieval City of Carcassonne, Pompeii, Roman forum and Colosseum, Linlithgow Palace and Craigmillar Castle.
With plenty of historic places the kids have learnt a lot. From how people in Carcassonne lived in a fortified citadel and how the people of Pompeii perished
We’ve also read books about history together and listened to podcasts including Who, When, Wow and Greeking Out.
Geography
With all the travelling we’ve been doing there was bound to be a little geography creeping in there. The children learnt about the connection of Spain, France and Italy via the Mediterranean Sea. They also learnt a little about canals, how the Canal du Midi connects the Atlantic and Mediterranean and why there are locks there.
There was also a huge thunderstorm whilst we were finishing our canal holiday, so that also sparked (!) some questions about thunderstorms and how they form.
Maths
Both children have been doing a lot of Prodigy maths again this month. It’s something they’re enjoying doing, although the eldest is a bit annoyed that they keep asking questions that require a lot of writing down to solve! It’s definitely good for both of them, especially as they only use it when THEY want to do it.
The eldest also spent some time making a cake for my birthday, it’s an owl cupcake and looked fab! Baking always has a lot more maths than people realise. Plus it’s a tasty result!
English
The eldest read A LOT, so it doesn’t take long for him to finish a book. I think he takes after me there, I read very quickly and used tor dad tons of books as a child. There’s less time for reading as an adult. So he has read plenty on his Kindle when we were on the canal and a little bit during downtime on the cruise.
The youngest has been practising on reading eggs Fast Phonics. This is where you have to read short easy reader books, which he is getting much better at. Hopefully if he does this regularly he might gain confidence and realise he can read more than he thinks. He still tends to say ‘I can’t read’ if anyone asks, but he can definitely read some things, just slower than he would like.
They have also both signed up for the Summer Reading Challenge which started on the 24th June here. They have to visit the library 6 times and read at least 6 books. There are various incentives such as free swimming and ice skating sessions after 2 books and a visit to the local safari park after 6 stamps!
Clubs and Groups
This has been the last month of the kids clubs and groups before the summer holidays. Unfortunately we missed 2 weeks of activities as we were away, but I think it was worth it! They did manage to catch the last of their dodgeball, Cubs and Scouts, swimming and gymnastics for littlest and Stagecoach for littlest.
Littlest also entered his dancing clubs choreography competition. He didn’t win, but did really well dancing all alone to a dance he made up himself. Now we know it’s happening every year he can start practising a little earlier!
Art and Craft
Although the kids haven’t been making much of their own art this month, they have seen a lot of sculptures and art work! The cruise ship was packed with art work and sculptures, which we did all enjoy inspecting! We even found one art work that had the Riverside Museum in Glasgow featured.
We also went to several theatre shows whilst on the cruise ship, including Hairspray, a show about the history of flight, an ice show and aqua show. I think that comes under art too!
1000 Hours Outside
With all that time in warmer climates we definitely spent a lot more time outside. The kids are over halfway through their 1000 hours outside now. I’m trying to remind them to fill it in for every small amount they’re outside too, little half hours playing outside between other activities.
But we certainly did make the most of the month, with swimming in waterfalls in Scotland, to swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. A home educators sports day at the park to sitting outside on the canal boat down the Canal du Midi. Plus lots more time exploring! I’m hopeful that we will finish it this year!
All Our Home Ed Monthly Diaries For 2023
- January 2023
- February 2023
- March 2023
- April 2023
- May 2023
- June 2023
- July 2023
- August 2023
- September 2023
- October 2023
- November 2023
- December 2023