I have long been a fan of cooking up an educational experience, but things have just got a whole lot easier!

CookIt have introduced an online history cookbook filled with (mainly British) recipes from different historical periods.




Most of the recipes have a video to go with it (complete with period costumes!). And there are lots of extra history and food facts for each time period on the site.

I think this is a great resource for bringing history alive.

The BBC has produced an interesting little calculator that tells you how many people were alive on earth when you were born - and what number person you were since (non-creationist) history began - try it here.

We found our 'numbers' interesting - and the graph on the screen is a very visual way of seeing how fast the population is growing.

Here is an interesting video that nicely explains the growth in population.

I have had a geography photo hunt page up on the site for quite a long time now - but I recently was reading about a variation on this theme.



On my page the idea is that you take the photos - and then mark out a route on a map and get the children to go find the details in the photos (a bit like geocaching or orienteering).

But the new idea is that you give your children a list of things to find - and then they go and take a photograph of the item.

So you may have on your list something like -

• a number plate with the letter 'A' in it.
• a blue shop sign.
• a garden gnome

and so on. I was thinking that you could even combine the two ideas.

Plan out the route on a map determining in advance some photographicable(!) items along the way for the children to search out.

This would be an interesting thing to do on a field trip too. Lots of places (such as zoos and parks) have online maps and pictures you can look at before you go - so you could easily plan out your scavenger hunt in advance. If the place you are visiting does not allow photography - then go back to my original idea and print out pictures of items to find instead!

Sponsor

With Thanksgiving almost upon the Americans, I thought I would remind you about this neat thanksgiving for kids idea.

I think making a thanksgiving tree like this would make a lovely thanksgiving ritual to incorporate into your homeschool.

This fabulous idea came up on a homeschooling list recently, and made me really regret letting our dog eat our last hoola hoop!


This hula hoop rug looks simple to make - but really effective.

Although the instructions show you how to remove it from the hula hoop at the end - I really liked in on it - and thought you could hang it for an effective decoration (although of course it wouldn't be a rug then!).

I think we might have to go buy a hula hoop to try this one!

My children are fascinated by Lava Lamps!

So they jumped at the opportunity to make their own following this neat video.

It is nice and simple and doesn't use anything you probably don't have in your kitchen already.

And if you liked that, you can subscribe to Silvia's Super Awsome Mini Makers Show video podcasts in iTunes.

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We have made geodesic domes but I have been wondering whether it was possible to make our own cantenary arch blocks (like you see in museums).

Photo courtesy of Frankie Roberto




And yes, you can! From cardboard no less. There are some great instructions and photos on this site. And this looks like a really fun project to try.

You can either email them at their site for their patterns or have a try at making your own. I am not totally sure why they draw the arch 3 times. I would do it like this :

Take two chains - one longer than the other one. Mark them both into an equal number of sections (say 11). Hang the chains down a nearly vertical board, with the shorter chain inside the longer. Gravity will shape them into cateneries. Draw alongthe chains, marking the section points. Draw straight lines between the corresponding sectioning points of each chain. You now have a pattern for each of your blocks that you can scale up to make your cardboard models.

Have fun and let me know how you get on.

PS: My husband has just looked over my shoulder and said "It doesn't have to be a catenary arch. A semi-circle will work as long as you have a keystone piece in the top." So if you think that would be easier, why not try it that way?

I want to give the site a bit of an overhaul next year so I have been looking through it to see what needs 'tidying up'!

I keep coming across pages that I haven't added to for ages - and one of those is my kids inventions page.

I had been adding challenges here - and then forgot about it!! So I have added a new challenge for you to try.

Let's see what your imagination can build!

You know when you find yourself saying "You have to try this!"?

Well this is one of those sites! Educational value probably limited but VERY fun.

Go and draw a stickman here and see what happens!

• Rustyard. Create a safe route through the levels for the little robot. (30 seconds of ads before game.)

• Twang - Pull on the points on the line to 'twang' your ball through the level. (30 seconds of ads before game.)

• Icosien. This one is very challenging. Try drawing the pattern without redrawing any of the lines. (yes - more ads!)

The Three Rs!

Resources, Read-Alouds, and Recommendations

I have updated my list of our favourite Christmas books for you to enjoy - along with my short reviews.

Do you have a favourite christmas story? Do let me know!

Did you know you can get Playmobil and Lego versions?

We have had these in the past and the children really loved them. I thought you might like to take a look (or look in the UK).

Agony Aunt!

A Helping Hand!

Thanks to Mary for sharing her home school schedule ideas this month

More questions and answers to come! Sorry everyone. They ARE on my list.

Over To You...

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