Yes, I’m definitely quite late with this post! And I most likely will have the June update straight after this! So apologies for being behind, but it’s been an incredibly busy month that I’m a bit behind! May was a great month with a lot of time for the kids to get back into their routines after Easter.
Table of Contents
Science
There have been plenty of science podcasts to listen to, including Wow In The World, Tumble and Mysteries of Science.
We also visited Dynamic Earth again this month, using our membership passes (given for free on any visit last October). We will hopefully manage a couple more visits later this year, it’s a great place to visit with kids! And we also visited the Highland Wildlife Park recently to see the polar bears, bison, wolves and other animals.
The children also regularly chat about different scientific topics during normal conversation. These can range from super hero powers that are possible to what different growths are on trees.
We also regularly spot different wildlife when out for walks, including tadpoles at the edge of a fast flowing river, leeches in a small green loch an and plenty of insects. This is all part of biology and more specifically ecology!
History
History is always a favourite topic of both children. We regularly read books about Greeks, Romans, Vikings and more. Plus they enjoy listening to history podcasts, including Who, When, Wow and National Geographic Kids Greeking Out. Both are fantastic for getting kids into history.
We’ve also visited various historic places, including Floors Castle in the Scottish Border town of Kelso and parts of the Victorian aqueduct from Loch Katrine to Glasgow.
Geography
Geography is always a topic we talk about often and with a couple of holidays coming up next month we’ve been chatting a bit more about European geography. Both children are good at knowing where the continents are and how they were formed via plate tectonics. However, we do chat a bit more about specific locations of countries and capitals. Plus the different climates in different areas.
English
The eldest has read his way through all the Harry Potter series again and is now reading through the How To Train a Dragon series for a second time. Along with the Adam Kay medicine and body books. I’m also reading the final Wizard of Once books to the children before bed too. They definitely don’t grow out of listening to the story rather than reading it!
The youngest is still practising reading with Reading Eggs App, although I can definitely see some improvement. If he’s given the space and time he can definitely read the short easy reader books. Just need to convince him to try reading other things too! Definite progress! We’ve been reading the last of the Alex Bell Explorers book series, which he loves and also beginning the Starfell book series.
Maths
Both children have been asking to play Prodigy again. There have been a couple of updates to the program and they’re interested in playing again.
They also like to play a spoken game whilst we’re walking, it’s a bit like dungeons and dragons. So they spend time chatting about what is happening in the game and then add or subtract ‘coins’ depending on what happens. It’s definitely making them quicker at adding and subtracting smaller numbers.
We have played a few board games together, but not as many as earlier in the year. The weather is nice, so less board game time!
The children also do an online course in Minecraft Education coding. They’ve learnt a lot through this and getting to grips with exactly how to build and do fun stiff with their agent.
1000 Hours Outside
The weather has been so lovely recently that the kids have definitely had more time outside. So I can see that their 1000 hours outside sheets are starting to fill up more.
We’ve been outside camping, playing at the beach, going for walks and meeting up with friends. Plus the kids have been playing on the street when we’re home too. As you can see by the number of photos, most of our time is spent outdoors exploring over everything else! It’s a great thing to be able to do for our kids!
Clubs and Groups
All the kids usual groups have been on this month. So the eldest has had Scouts and dodgeball, plus our usual home ed park meet ups. The youngest has been doing, Cubs and dodgeball, plus drama, swimming lesson, gymnastics, dancing and Stagecoach. They also go to a local climbing wall once a week, with every second week being their NICAS course (learning different climbing techniques).
The youngest has also spent some time practicing his audition song for a local theatre show. Which he is very much looking forward to!
Art and Crafts
Art and crafts for us can be anything from drawing to building Lego or making potions! The kids have done a bit of all of these recently. Littlest making dozens of ‘potions’ out of coloured water, glitter, beads and other items into tiny glass bottles. I’ve been given and invisibility potion, lucky and inspiration potions.
The eldest has done a little silly stick men drawings and plenty of Lego building too. They have also been making designs in the sand and sandcastles. Which are very much art sculptures too.
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