OHC - SQUIRREL HUNT

This week's outdoor challenge is Chipmunks, but as we do not have chipmunks in the UK, we focused on squirrels instead, primarily the indigenous red squirrel.


We started our indoor time reading the first few paragraphs of Beatrix Potter's Squirrel Nutkin - an impertinent little red squirrel.

Using our encyclopedia, we then did a little reading about squirrels as well as how they differ from chipmunks. 


Then we looked at the red and grey tree squirrels. The red squirrel is indigenous to Europe and the UK but in ever decreasing numbers. 

About 200 years ago, the grey squirrel was introduced to Europe and the UK to the detriment of the red squirrel - primarily for 2 reasons: 1) the grey squirrel is bigger and stronger and can easily take over the territory. They are also more hardy than the red squirrel; 2) the grey squirrel carries the deadly squirrel pox virus that can kill a red squirrel within 2 weeks.


Using Red squirrels in Britain and  Save our squirrels we learnt about the food, habitat and family life of red squirrels as well as the differences between red and grey squirrels. We also did a Nutitude Test :)


Then we went out for our squirrel hunt. We knew that we wouldn't find any red squirrels as they live primarily in coniferous woodlands (the grey squirrels don't like the little seeds of the pine cones) as well as more to the north of England and Scotland,but initially it looked like we wouldn't see any grey squirrels either. But right near the end of our walk, our perseverance paid off and we saw 2 little grey squirrels:

Back home, we completed a notebook page.

Then, after looking at pictures from our next impressionist artist, Berthe Morisot (1841-1895), we painted squirrels using acrylic paints thickened with egg shells, flour, sand, salt, etc. Berthe used heavy globs of paint, thick brush strokes and bright colours. 

Miss A's picture

 While the girls did their paintings, I finished reading Squirrel Nutkin to them - a sweet, enjoyable story, regardless of how old we are :)

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)