Green eggs.

Yesterday Oscar finished his chocolate project. He learnt about the different types of chocolate and the ways chocolate is used around the world.

Then we dug out this book that Oscar has had for a while. It's a story about how chocolate is made and about Fair Trade.

Then we watched a bit of a documentary that was on Wednesday night, alot of it wasn't really suitable for a 5 year old but I managed to fast froward through to the bits where Oscar could see cocoa pods being cut from the trees, see the cocoa beans being scooped out and left to dry in the sun and then the process of the beans being turned into chocolate. Both the book and the documentary led to us talking about Fair Trade so we went to the co-op and had a look for different Fair Trade products, then when we got home Oscar went through the kitchen to see how many fair trade logos he could find. Then it was off to Taekwondo narrowly avoiding the rain.

This morning Oscar spent his time colouring. Oscar has started to really enjoy colouring so I left him to it. This is my favourite picture from today. He said it's a rainbow coloured flower called The Mummy Flower.

Then we decorated some Egg shaped biscuits. Oscars Great Grandmother gave Oscar the kit complete with ready made biscuits.

We have had these kits before and have learnt form experience that the icing they come with isn't up to much so we made some more of our own.

We were right the yellow icing only covered one biscuit but Oscar was very pleased with his green icing.

Then Oscar got busy decorating his biscuits.

Roger said they looked like they had been sneezed on by a sweet shop.

Oscar said sweet shop snot tastes good.

Oscar has been asking for a while now if we could read the Harry Potter books and watch the films. I have said no to the books as I think they are a bit scary for a 5 year old but this afternoon  we cuddled up on the sofa and watched Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. Oscar loved it.

Then it was off to Taekwondo again. It was really nice to do the 15 minute walk there and back without getting wet or cold for the first time in  months.

Sunny day.

Yesterday Oscar and I left the house to visit some friends and I had that I've forgotten something feeling. When Oscar appeared dressed as a pumpkin with his friend Hannah dressed as a princess I realised I had forgotten my camera! They had a lovely afternoon together having a picnic on the kitchen floor, drawing, dancing, dressing up and visiting Hannah's' chickens.

Today we went to our home ed group at the library, there were some new people today which was lovely but new people can be a bit overwhelming for Oscar so he spent some of his time sat in a corner reading a book. He did eventually get tempted to join the rest of us and he made a big bee decoration.

Then it was off to the park.

It was a glorious day and I took lots of photos.

I love this last picture, for me it sums up the wonderful way children of all ages are able to interact and learn from each other. Oscar learns so much from his friend Remmy and really enjoys spending time with him.

Then Oscar went to his friends for tea where he had jelly and ice cream.

Pretty good day for a 5 year old.

Chocolate

Today started with yet more maths.

Then we started a new project all about chocolate. Today Oscar learnt how cocoa beans were once used as currency and all about the cocoa tree and how chocolate is made.

This is our alternative to the usual Easter stuff. I will at some point teach Oscar the story of the crucifixion but right now I think it's just not a very nice tale to tell a 5 year old.

 After lunch we read some more Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Then we went to collect Oscars' friend Tyler from school. After some play time the boys made some chocolate nest cakes.

Then some more playtime before having tea together.

Maths

I haven't blogged since Monday because we have been doing pretty much the same thing all week, maths.

 A couple of weeks ago I bought Oscar some posters, one of them was this.

Oscar has been fascinated with it and asked me to explain it to him, then he asked me how multiplication works. So I got out some engines and showed him.

He got the idea pretty quickly so I dug out a workbook and Oscar did some practice.

This is what Oscar has been doing pretty much all week.

We found some multiplication games on the computer.

He spent hours playing this and didn't want a hot cross bun until I told him he could eat it at the computer.

He can now also recite his 2 and 3 times tables.

When I was writing out some sums for Oscar on Friday I said that next week I would show him how to do subtraction using place value. He told me he could already do it, so I asked him how he knew and he said he just did. So I wrote out some sums for him and sure enough he knows how to do it!?

Friday afternoon I finally managed to tempt him away from his sums with this.

Another great charity shop find at just 50p.

So we made our own volcano.

Oscar loved it and I have told him that one day when the weather is good we will go out in the garden with a big bottle and make a bigger volcano.

So apart from a small volcano and a couple of trips to taekwondo that's been it this week really, maths, maths and more maths. Did I mention I've never liked maths?

Games day.

This morning Oscar asked if we could spend the day playing games, so we did.

Oscar wanted to start with Snakes and Ladders - maths.

Then it was Sum Swamp - more maths.

Next up was Kerplunk - physics.

Then Shrek - great for hand eye co ordination.

And finally Scrabble - literacy.

Then we made some pizzas - food technology.

We danced while they cooked - PE

Then we ate pizza.

It was a great day.

Last week.

Hello, I haven't blogged for a while due to being very busy. But here are some photos of what Oscar got up to last week.

Oscar did lots of reading and we have started Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

At our home ed group the children did some more of their bee project. Oscar tends to sit and twiddle his thumbs when someone else is reading and I think he is taking nothing in but then a few days later something will get him thinking and he will start telling someone (usually his dad) all about what he has learnt.

 When they went to the florist on Saturday Oscar told his dad all about queen bees, worker bees and drones.

After working on their project the children all made  a strawberry pin cushion as a present for mothers day.

Then it was off to the park.

On Thursday Oscar painted a Birthday card for his Great Grandads birthday. He enjoyed mixing paints together to get just the right colours.

He also did yet more sums.

And more colouring.

We have started a handwriting folder and Oscar practiced forming the letters A and B.

Then he decorated his folder with stickers.

Friday afternoon we went to a summer fayre at his friends school and Oscar bought this sunflower all ready to be planted and watered.

On Saturday I was banished from the kitchen while Oscar and his Dad got busy with some secret things. Sunday morning Oscar gave me some lovely handmade soaps (that I have forgotten to take a picture of), some chocolate (consumed before a picture could be taken) and these lovely flowers.