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Home > Uncategorized > Home Education Family Diary December 2024

Home Education Family Diary December 2024

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The last month of 2024 now completed. We always have a very busy December as we tend to have a variety of traditions we create or do. So I’m quite glad that we can now rest for a bit before getting back into the routine!

Here is all the learning (that I can remember!) that the kids have been doing this month!

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History

History has mostly included listening to podcasts around history topics, including Who, When, Wow and Greeking Out. Although there hasn’t been any new Greeking Out episodes for a while!

The kids also enjoy watching Horrible Histories and reading fiction books based in history. Particularly the Greeks! We visited the Castle of Light in Edinburgh as well and learnt a little more about the city of Edinburgh in the light shows.

Geography

Whilst staying in Clashnessie over New Year we found some very interesting geological formations. Folded rocks and Lewisian Gneiss. I tried to show the kids these, but they preferred to just climb the rocks! At least they could look closely at them whilst clambering over them.

Science

Science is always important, i don’t think you can get through one day without doing a little subconscious science! Whether it’s wondering about what makes soap work to how electricity travels into your house. The kids have been learning various topics from both podcasts (Wow in the World and Tumble) and also through Theatre of Science on YouTube.

We need to try and do some more kitchen science next year too. I think the kids got tired of the bicarbonate and vinegar experiments. But we can make sugar snakes and elephant toothpaste again instead!

This month we also visited Auchingarrich wildlife park and learnt about some of their animals there. The emus were the favourites!

We were also lucky enough to see the Northern lights whilst we were away (technically 1st January, but still). The kids had a look, but it wasn’t completely visible to eye.

And finally, Lego is really a STEM toy, including a lot of following instructions, engineering techniques etc. They got a fair bit of Lego for Christmas, so this has featured heavily in their education this month.

Maths

The children have been working through Beast Academy lessons every couple of days. We don’t do it every day as they find it rather tedious. They are both improving on their math abilities, although neither are particularly interested. This is one part of home education that isn’t autonomous at the moment as I feel they should catch up on some of the basics for general life skills.

We’ve also been playing a lot of board games, which mostly include maths. For example, Monopoly, Ticket to Ride and Zeus on the Loose. As it’s December and the month of making all sorts of tasty treats, they have also been doing plenty of baking. This is great for applying measuring skills. And also very tasty.

Language

The eldest has continued with Night Zookeeper and although he doesn’t write lots with it, he has been practising grammar and spelling. He chooses to use the programme himself as he enjoys it. He’s constantly reading books and has finished all the Rick Riordan books and is now reading some of the books he was given for his birthday and then Christmas! Will need to find another good series for him soon.

The youngest has been reading graphic novels and is certainly improving on his fluency. Although I keep encouraging him to ask for help on more complex words. He has also been listening to a lot of audio books whilst playing in his room too, mostly Harry Potter!

Clubs and Groups

Clubs and groups have been running through December, but most finished up mid way through the month for Christmas. The youngest had his panto performances over 4 days, plus an extra performance for the Stagecoach drama group. So he’s been very busy!

The 10 year old also took part in another recreational gymnastics competition and was pleased to win 3rd place again. He also has continued with his dance classes and lead climbing, finally climbing his first lead belays. He asked for his own shiny new belay device for Christmas, so he’s excited to use that in class next month.

Both children had scouts, Lego club and board games group during the month. Including walking about helping the Santa sleigh collect money around the local town.

Socialisation

Socialisation is always a part people worry about with home education. However, once you find a good group of home ed children it becomes easy. Friendships form and you meet them regularly. We have a great group of home ed children we meet regularly, usually 3 times a week and they range in ages from 4-13 years old. The kids also chat to other friends at different clubs and groups they go to.

Obviously socialisation includes talking to other people too. Including parents of your friends, shop staff, instructors at clubs, staff on trains or trams and random people who stop to chat on the street.

Art and Music

We did a little bit more crafting than normal this month, leading up to Christmas. This included making little fused glass Christmas tree decorations, handmade Christmas cards, snowflakes for the window, sewing puppets and painting ornaments.

We’ve also visited several different light trails which have interesting light installations.

Physical Education

The children spent a lot of time running around every week. Both on walks as a family and playing with their friends at parks. In addition to this they get more exercise at Scouts, dodgeball for the eldest and gymnastics, dancing and climbing for the youngest. The constant movement means we never need to worry about them not getting exercise!

This month also included frosty walks, scrambling over rocks at the beach, ice skating at Dundee and navigating a string treasure hunt I made for them through the house!

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