Impressionist art


Did you know that Jane Austin first named Pride and Prejudice, First Impressions? Today we started looking at Impressionist artists. Using Artsmarts4kids and a book I bought in South Africa (and one we used for a term with our homeschool co-op) 

we started with Edouard Manet (1832-1883). Using the idea from the book to melt wax crayons, and then practice Manet's dabbing-line style with ear buds, they drew any picture they liked (the book suggests a still life but as Manet favoured blue/grey/black and white colours - judging by pictures we saw on Edouard Manet - I decided to rather give them free reign) Manet is not seen as a true impressionist - didn't label himself as one, either - and still favoured people instead of nature scenes. He also painted indoors, from memory or models, instead of outdoors.


Sarah and Alexandra are not too confident painting people and so painted their own pictures:

Unfortunately, i don't have a hot tray, so we had to run back and forth to the stove to re-melt the wax!

Alexandra 

Nature - One Hour Challenge:

The Outdoor Hour

I have been looking at ways to incorporate Nature Study into our homeschooling. Shirley, a friend of mine told me about this programme. We are meant to do the 10 week starter but since a pear study is this week's challenge, and we have a row of pear trees outside our window, I decided to jump straight in here. So we went outside, into the glorious sunlight, and had a look at our trees:

Most of the pears have already dropped onto the ground or been picked for home-made cider (these particular pears are used in the making of pear cider).

We had a look at the pears on the branch as well as how the leaves grow on twigs growing out of the branches.

Then we went indoors to have closer look at the leaves and to cut open the pears to look inside.

We do have a microscope but Sarah fashioned an impromptu one using her lamp and magnifying glass :) Here is Alexandra testing it out looking at pear flesh cells

Journaling our findings - Sarah also used pastels and created a story about pears being picked and exported. Alexandra sketched her fruit and noted down some interesting facts.

And then, seeing as we are in the throws of a wonderful Indian summer, we used our pears (or rather ones I had bought, as cider pears are not too great to eat) in a delicious summery fruit salad.

So, altogether, a super "first" one hour challenge

Nature study - from our living room!

In my endeavour to cater to to Alexandra's learning style :) we have put Considering God's Creation on hold for a while and decided to do nature walks instead - especially as spring seems to be springing - yeah!

But today it is raining and we wimped out - lol!
So, we did a nature walk from our lounge!

With  www.amazon.co.uk having a special on their DVDs, we bought a couple (well, more than a couple, actually!), mostly wildlife dvd's, including the movie, Earth (2009)


What a delightful movie/documentary. We have been to the Arctic Circle, met a mother polar bear and her cubs




And my, how beautifully the seasons change, up here!
We've watched a baby bird launch itself out of a tree - flying squirrel style! - and land safely (phew!) on a bed of leaves:


Then, we moved to the equator - where there are no seasons - and saw birds I have never seen before - wow!!

Bird of Paradise

Well, we're heading into the desert now, so need to take a break to get some water :)


This is a movie worth investing in ...
See you on our travels :)


(images copied off a google search)

Down time

Well, we are trying something new. In the past we pretty much stuck to official school terms and and took holidays when the schools were off (barring us travelling somewhere, of course). This year, we're following some of our friends' example - spending 5 weeks working on official academic stuff, and then taking a week's break. Must say, by Thursday last week, we were all ready for the week off (but I suspect, if we only worked for 2 weeks at a time, by the Thursday we'd be ready for the week off, too - lol).

Yesterday started off very relaxed - stayed in bed late reading, etc. Then had South African pancakes (suppose they're something like crepes) for brunch wit my Ouma's cinnamon sauce:
1/2 - 1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2-3 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch cream of tarter

Boil up and pour hot over hot pancakes.

Today we were a bit more productive.
Woke up to a very misty morning, but after lunch it was a glorious sunshiny day - maybe spring is around the corner after all - the birds were singing, little snowdrops and daffodils pooping up:) A good sign!. Went for a lovely walk and the girls rode their bicycles.

We spent the morning scrap booking - our first attempt - had a lot of fun. Unfortunately, the yellow in our ink cartridge ran out, so the girls were in "in the pink" with their photos - but they didn't mind much:)

Alexandra's first page - friends

Sarah's first page - Sisters

I had fun looking at our wedding photos again to choose some for my page.

And after lunch, Sarah baked buttermilk rusks (for my non-UK friends, no these are NOT Farleys baby rusks. They are pretty much a staple South African snack - baked, then dried till hard and dipped into hot coffee or tea - very delicious)
Buttermilk rusks: (recipe taken from Karoo Family Favourites)
1 1/2 kg cake flour                               2 1/2 cups sugar
750g margarine                                    1 tsp cream of tarter
15ml baking powder                            1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs                                                  500ml buttermilk (St Ives - can be found in cream/milk section)
1 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

* Rub margarine into dry ingredients (except bicarb.)
* Beat eggs into buttermilk, add bicarb and then pour into flour/margarine mix - quite a sticky dough
* Press into large baking tray (I use a roasting pan) and bake at 180 C (350F) for approx 45 minutes
* Allow to cool slightly, break or cut into desired sizes and dry out for about 4 hours at 100C (225F)

Especially good with that first cuppa of the day

And for the rest of the week - well, we've got a walk with friends lined up for tomorrow at Ashton Court and on Thursday we are going to the interactive Science centre - @Bristol with fellow homeschoolers. And on Friday, Sarah is off to camp in Wales with the Devotions crowd.

Phew, a good thing we aren't trying to fit in bookwork too!

Our privilege...and responsibility

One of my Facebook friends posted the following as her status:


Our children's characters are being moulded everyday; the question is, by whom? God's Word clearly states that these 6 things constitute your job description as a parent: 1. INSTRUCT THEM (Deut 6:6-7) 2. TRAIN THEM (Pro 22:6) 3. PROVIDE FOR THEM (2 Cor 12:14) 4. NURTURE THEM (Eph 6:4) 5. DISCIPLINE THEM (1 Tim 3:4) 6. LOVE THEM (Titus 2:4). The truth is that we have no greater responsibility


Wow! What a privilege and responsibility we have!


I thank the Lord that we have the opportunity and privilege to home educate our girls - 
..to instruct and train them in the ways of the Lord, to see their understanding of the Word and our Lord grow, to be able to search the Scriptures with them and find answers to the their questions

...to provide for, nurture and love them... I love having them at home with me, around me and a part of my day...to hug and snuggle and comfort at any time of the day...to listen to them talk, play, sing...


...and yes, to discipline them...because we love them so much and desire to see them becoming the women of God they are intended to be 


I have seen the village .... and I do not want it raising my children.

What books have you read recently to aid you in the above?
I have just finished James Dobson's "Bringing up girls":



And am halfway through Tedd Tripp's "Shepherding a Child's Heart"

Homeschooling

We are still homeschooling. Here Sarah is already year 8 - school year starts in Sept - but we are carrying on as usual. Both still use Bob Jones for English and MathUSee and Singapore for maths. Sarah has started using Apologia - General Science as well. For the rest, we are completing South African History - studying the Anglo-Boer war (Vryheidsoorlog) - watched Bok van Blerk's "de la Rey" yesterday and felt quite homesick!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esnz_hhsZXo&feature=fvst

We need to start deciding what route she wil take for high school so we are praying and trusting the Lord to show us His plan and purposes

We have made some h/e friends but do not meet on a regular basis as we did in SA - miss our h/e friends!