June 2026 Home Education Diary

I’m VERY late with last month’s home education diary, apologies for that! However, we did go away to Ireland for 2 weeks at the beginning of July, and then the Isle of Canna, so I haven’t been at home to write it!

Anyway, June was the last month of term time and all the kids usual clubs and classes were on, finishing up around the last week of June. We had shows to watch, friends to meet and a fair bit of the usual learning 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

This month we have visited a few historical sites, including Linlithgow palace and Doune Castle in Scotland. We’ve been to both many times, but the kids were interested in listening to the Monty Python and the Holy Grail audio as they had just watched the film. Obviously we had to listen to the real history of the Duke of Albany too. Linlithgow Palace has been the home to many royals, including the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and her father King James V. It’s also home to an annual jousting tournament, that we watched at the end of June. It’s a historical fayre with jousting and reenactors showing off traditional skills. We learned about different weapons, food, dyeing wool and fabric and even falconry.

Whilst in Northern Ireland we spent a day visiting Carrick-a-rede rope bridge and the Giant’s Causeway, plus a walk around Derry/Londonderry. The rope bridge is a traditional bridge that was first set up between the land and small island by fisherman. Now it’s a tourist attraction, but very cool to visit! The walls at Derry/Londonderry were also worth a walk around to learn about the history of the town and the troubles.

We have also listened to a variety of history podcasts, including Live From Mount Olympus and Greeking Out. I’ve also been reading parts of a Religions book with the kids, starting way back in the first ancient religions based around animals and the earth.

Geography

Travelling to Northern Ireland and then the Republic of Ireland has included showing the kids where there are on the map. The relative ease of the crossing between Scotland and Ireland makes it as easy a trip as going to the Scottish Islands.

The kids have also been watching some of the Crash Course videos on YouTube, with littlest enjoying watching the geology series. I think I’ll try and encourage them to watch a glaciation one next, as that’s my favourite physical geography topic. Both children have also been testing their knowledge of country locations using the smart globe we have. We have also been talking about countries that no longer exist and capital cities too (thanks to Monty Python and the Holy Grail with the questions to cross the bridge!), including Assyria.

Although we haven’t really touched on much human geography through any formal means, we have chatted about tourism and overtourism . Plus discussions on early religions via the Religions book I’ve been reading to the kids.

Science

We always listen to podcasts (or musical theatre music!) when driving somewhere in the car. This has included science podcasts such as The Rest Is Science, Wow in the World and Tumble.

The eldest has also been completing some of his MEL science boxes that he had in his cupboard. Annoyingly they seem to be missing key ingredients, so we can’t do all the experiments. But we’ve still managed a few. The youngest has been using a science kit to try some more kitchen science experiments (we need to get another MEL science subscription!).

We have also seen plenty of interesting wildlife, including the golden ringed dragonfly, orange tip butterflies and a variety of birdlife.

For my birthday we took a boat trip out to watch the gannets at Bass Rock. Gannets are my favourite seabird and it was great seeing them up close. Obviously the kids can easily recognise gannets and are used to spotting them from boats and diving into the sea now!

We also did an egg drop experiment with friends this month. Creating cocoons for eggs in various makeshift apparatus made by the kids. There were lots of minor adjustments made to keep ‘their’ eggs safe and parachutes made of varying types. The kids loved it!

And of course we have had various discussions on volcanoes and how rocks were made in hexagon shape at the Giant’s Causeway!

Maths

Both children have been working through the Beast Academy program, reinforcing certain math concepts and introducing some new ones.

Of course there are the everyday maths too, whilst baking and cooking or working out how many seconds they have been alive! And various theoretical math topics have been introduced through the Rest is science podcast.

Language

The 12 year old has continued with his reading lesson with his dyslexia tutor and is also becoming much more adept at reading himself. Although long texts or strange fonts can be quite difficult still.He has been improving his spelling when messaging his friends on the family phone (a dumb phone with text and phone capability only).

The eldest has also improved his spelling for the same reason, I’ve noticed he’s had the dictionary out to check spellings occasionally! He also has no issues with reading and I’ve mostly been working on his writing.

Both children have been creating different projects on Word. One trying to write up entire events that have taken place on their DnD quests. The other writing instructions for magic tricks.

Clubs and Groups

The kids usual clubs and groups have been on this month. Plus the12 year old had several shows for his local theatre group, playing the part of the Dodo in Alice in Wonderland. He did a great job with his part, especially the singing.

Other groups include dancing (he has just completed a modern exam this month), gymnastics, drama, lead climbing and Scouts. Both children also have had dodgeball, Lego club and board games club.

Socialisation

The kids have had plenty of time with friends, mostly playing at the park, but also swimming in rivers and playing at friend’s houses. We did have some very heavy rain at the park one day, resulting in the huge river and soaking wet child in the photos below.

Art and Music

The youngest has been having singing lessons and also taking part in musical theatre show rehearsals. This term it has been Alice in Wonderland and he’s had the part of the Dodo.

Physical Education

The kids have had plenty of time for exercise, from walking the walls of Londonderry, to hopping across columns of stone at the Giant’s causeway. Plus running about at the park with friends and classes such as gymnastics and dancing.

Home Ed Posts You Must Read