Loopy and Sons Learning Adventure

A Winter's Tale

2012-02-11T07:20:00.000Z

Absolutely brilliant! Last Saturday, we went to see A Winter's Tale at the Lyceum. It was an all male cast, but they were superb. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Even greater relief, was to get home on the last bus running through the snow!

Sailing

2011-11-13T07:08:00.000Z

We had brilliant weather for the sailing session yesterday afternoon, the only dry sunny day sandwiched between damp and foggy days. Unfortunately, my camera battery died after the first photo, but as soon there are others in the group that managed to get some too.

Jonathan had a brilliant time, and would love to do some more. Poor Daniel was away, so will have to wait until the spring to have a go. In the meantime, I am sure Jonathan will be flashing his certificate around, just to rub salt into the wound!

Thank you to Pauline for spotting it and arranging such a fabulous day

Markham Grange

2011-09-22T07:16:00.000+01:00

Give Daniel a camera and you're never quite sure what you'll get, but here are some of the pictures he took from the visit to Markham Grange

Bucket that never overflows

Not the real answer

Silo for munching mdf etc to feed the boiler

Food for the boiler

pipes along which the wood chippings go to the boiler, blown by a fan

boiler

inside the boiler

Fort Paull

2011-09-20T09:17:00.000+01:00

A very early start, and a long journey, but the weather was wonderful and the sighting of a woodpecker made the effort worthwhile

Not many photos taken as a lot was underground in the dark or directly into sunlight. The outside exhibits, definitely more interesting for boys.

Aircraft Carrier

Inside aircraft carrier

butterfly bomb

crushed under fallen masonry

Hull lift for lifting heavy debris

house martin nest

Signs on wall in barber/dentist

In other news, Jonathan has completed his first week at college, tired, but enjoying it which is the main thing.

College Registration and Gardening

2011-09-02T08:37:00.000+01:00

Wednesday saw us back at the college for registration day. There were a couple of tense moments as those dealing with the registration didn't know why someone at fourteen, with none of the relevant qualifications were trying to register for the courses. However, these were little glitches, and on the whole, the process was quite smooth.

Jonathan's weeks are going to be very full for this year-Monday am, English GCSE, Wednesday and Thursday, Bricklaying, and Friday am Maths GCSE.

There is a test after five weeks in Maths, and if the students don't pass this test, they are off the course.

English is a whole new curriculum with all class based assignments and four exams during the year. The book they will be studying is "Of Mice and Men". We are out today to get a copy so Jonathan can get some advanced reading done.

While this is all going on, Daniel and I have been busy in the garden. Onion seeds have been planted, and spring cabbages planted out. We're just waiting for the spinach plants to arrive and they'll go out to crop all over the winter.

Next thing on our list, will be induction day at college next Wednesday. College for real starts the following Monday. Once all that is done, I have to start the whole process for Daniel.

France 2011

2011-08-25T06:56:00.000+01:00

East Midlands Airport to Dinard

First trip abroad for the boys, first flight

Terror? Nerves

Hysteria, relief, excitement

the view-"Cool!"

Ploermel

Rennes

Love the clock-Sun Dial

Beach near Carnac

Near Carnac

Swinging through the trees

My other monkey

Snails

How do I get this out? Do I really want to eat these?

In it goes

Savouring the taste

Where Daniel's best holiday friend lives- Toad hole. Daniel fed him crickets

Sunset on the sea as the boys came home on the ferry

lights at Portsmouth

Both boys thoroughly enjoyed the experience, Daniel especially enjoyed trying the different food, both boys asked for things in shops in French and spent time with French families, playing games. Language definitely wasn't a barrier. Both boys would love to go back and are adding different places to their travel list.

College Open Day

2011-07-07T09:38:00.000+01:00

We received a phone call on Monday asking if we could take Jonathan to the open day Wednesday for the bricklaying course, so before half ten yesterday, we were ready and waiting for the session to start.

We met the team of tutors, a couple of the extra support team and went through an overview of the requirements. Puntuality is a key requirement, and is strictly enforced. Breaks are exactly the same as if they were in work, fifteen minutes morning and afternoon, with forty five minutes for lunch.

Thirty percent of the course is done in the classroom, over seven units. There is a test at the end of each unit, and then an online exam at the end of the year. City and Guilds is the examining board.

The workshop area is divided into numbered sections, one allocated to each pair working together. There will be a number of tasks. You build them, get your mark, take them down, and begin the next one.

We will need to get Jonathan sorted with steel toe capped boots, working jeans, pen, pencil, ruler, calculator, tape measure and safety goggles.

While there, Jonathan did an assessment for maths and english. He came out level 2 for English (brilliant), and level 1 for maths, (not quite so brilliant.) At the same time as the bricklaying course, he will be doing his maths and english GCSE, and they will provide him with extra support for the maths. No doubt, with the extra help, his maths will soon be at the same level as his english.

We now have to wait for his official letter with the offer for the place, and then there will be an induction day on the 8th September. The course will then start the following week.

It's going to be a very busy year for him, but I am sure he will enjoy it, and it will be well worth it come this time next year.

College Interview

2011-06-28T06:22:00.000+01:00

Well, what a day it was yesterday. A long, hot day, but a great result for Jonathan after his college interview.

It looks now as if he will be able to start a full time college in September to do a bricklaying course, Maths and English GCSE's. This seems to be a better route, and quicker, to getting the relevant qualifications he wants

I need to phone the college today to confirm with them what Jonathan wants to do, as it was a completely different route to what we had been expecting, and then we need to wait. Hopefully, it won't be too long before we get a definite answer.

Construction Design Centre Visit

2011-06-14T06:42:00.000+01:00

Prompt at ten o'clock yesterday morning, Malcolm and Rachel from the LA came as promised to take Jonathan and I to have a look at the CDC centre where the BTEC Construction course is done.

It was a lovely building with great facilities for the course. The standard of work from previous students is outstanding, some competing in national awards. I was excited with what I saw, and I wasn't the one doing the course.

The course is exactly what he wanted, giving him a hands on chance to try bricklaying, painting and decorating, joinery, block paving and drainage. He will also have the opportunity to go out and do on the job training, which is exactly what he wanted to do. As he was happy with what he saw, the process begins to enrol him on the course, and we now wait for a date for the induction day.

We are also waiting for confirmation of an appointment with the college on 27th June to sort out GCSE courses. Hopefully, that won't be too difficult to sort out either.

A lesson in proportion and athletics

2011-06-11T06:18:00.000+01:00

Daniel was able to spend an hour or so with Jonny on Thursday. Jonny is the tutor that ran the art workshops he attended.

Daniel expressed a desire to be able to sketch with more detail, in the manner of Ruskin. In order to help him. Jonny gave Daniel an exercise in proportion. His subject was a tiny marigold leaf, and he had to fill the page.

He didn't have long to work on it, but he managed to get the proportions of the leaves to match. Since coming home, he has begun a sketch of a pitcher , so hopefully, he can put the lesson he learned to good use.

Now to a different form of exercise, yesterday was the start of a seven week athletics course. All the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Yesterday was lots of sprinting exercises and races. Unfortunately, the boys are going to be away and will miss the long jump. Maybe they can practise on the beach while they are away.

Florence Nightingale and William Shaw

2011-06-08T07:45:00.000+01:00

Monday, we had a fantastic day out at Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet. We spent the day with Florence Nightingale and her grandfather, William Shaw. It was a very informative session, both for the children and adults. It wasn't until Monday that I realised that there was a connection with Florence Nightingale and Sheffield. Her grandfather, William Shaw lived at Tapton Hall, and at the age of six, Florence came to live with him.

Grandfather William Shaw-(absolutely fantastic)

Florence Nightingale-(scary)

Reenacting the Crimean War

Complete with amputated leg. Young nurses to clean up the hospital building and to provide clean dressings for the wounded

Trying to write with ink pens

Quite often, being left handed, Jonathan struggles with the ink pens, but this time, it was a very successful attempt

Nose to the grindstone

Daniel in Mr Shaws coat and top hat

Florence Nightingale

The afternoon session was with William Shaw talking about Victorian remedies, those that worked, and more often, those that didn't. The children made lavender water and then went to "cure" a baby with cholera. This was the hardest part for the mothers in the group, to think of what was inflicted on babies in the belief it was making them better!

All in all, a wonderful day, and a great stepping stone to go back and do some more research.

Felt Making Workshop

2011-06-01T08:52:00.000+01:00

Yesterday, I took Daniel to a felt workshop with Shelly Hughes. This was one I really wanted to do with him, but a little accident on the way, prevented me from taking part.

They were making animals out of needlefelt.

This was Daniel's creation. It was fascinating to see a ball of fluff turning into recognisable animals and birds.

This is the first time Daniel has tried needlefelting and he enjoyed it, though he did find the continual stabbing monotonous at times.

Shelly is such a patient teacher, she is the one that did the drawing masterclass we attended a month or so ago. I'm hoping we will be able to attend more of her workshops in the future.

Millennium Gallery

2011-05-27T06:36:00.000+01:00

There is usually a good turn around of exhibitions at the Millennium Galleries and I try to take Daniel to as many of them as possible. We haven't been for a while, but as he didn't have Spanish this week, we took a bit of time to see the current exhibitions before meeting up with Jonathan,

There were three exhibitions we haven't seen, Graphic Nature, Kateřina Šedá: Líšen Profile and the Ruskin Collection. As a result of the seeing some of the detail of Ruskin's paintings and drawings, Daniel is going to have a try and get the same style using one of his plants as a study.

We still need another visit to catch up with some of the other exhibits but this will keep us going for a little while

Showcomotion

2011-05-26T07:02:00.001+01:00

Showcomotion is a film festival for children and young people being held in Sheffield this week. We've been to three films this week, and have enjoyed the kindness and hospitality of the staff at The Showrooms, Sheffield.

Monday- first two episodes of the BBC drama, Leonardo, followed by question and answer session with three of the cast

Tuesday-The Crocodiles Strike Back-German, with English subtitles. Lesson, ignore all the complaints beforehand, as they soon realised that subtitles don't take anything away from enjoying a film.

Wednesday-Tomorrow When the War Began

One thing leads to another

2011-05-21T08:25:00.000+01:00

Someone on the HE-UK yahoo group recommende the following site- http://www.periodicvideos.com/ . This is definitely right up Daniel's street. He's spent hours on there, though it may have been a mistake.
Next thing I know, there are experiments involving burning salt in the kitchen.

All this then reminded him of honeycomb, so two batches of honeycomb was made.

I am hoping that the novelty will wear off, and we won't need to buy all the chemicals he has on his list.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

2011-05-15T08:56:00.000+01:00

I don't know where time is going, but it certainly is flying by this year.

Last week was a busy week.

Wednesday-Jonathan went for his first French Lesson. As it was his first lesson, and we didn't know where his tutor lived, I went with him. It was great to find that I hadn't forgotten all I learned at school.

In the evening, we went and watched Carousel at the City Hall. It was a great performance and made for a great night out.

Daniel has now recovered from his week and a half of feeling ill, and had a great time yesterday. His dad came up for the day and they went orienteering in the woods. Greno Woods was hosting the National Orienteering Championships, so they did one of the fun courses.

Daniel enjoyed it so much he would like to do it regularly, Unfortunately, they are held at the same times as he play bowls. One nice day, we may go over to Norfolk Park and do the permanent course there. Otherwise, he will do one as Ashton Court when he goes to stay with his dad.

We are also waiting to hear if Jonathan can start a BTEC course in September. We need to wait until after a meeting between the Council and the home ed group on Friday to see how the application process will work. Hopefully, we should be able to get funding for the course.

Masterclass-Drawing

2011-04-17T07:35:00.000+01:00

Last Wednesday, I took Daniel to a drawing masterclass at the Millennium galleries. This workshop seemed to go so quickly. The artist, Shelly, who took the class, kept it moving and made it an enjoyable afternoon.
The first task was a warm up, three minutes to draw the person next to you. Now, I'm not someone that draws, and I went purely for Daniel, so I was a bit apprehensive.

Actually, I was quite pleased with the result, it might not look like Daniel, but at least it looks like a face! Daniel went in with a thing about faces, he doesn't like drawing them, so after three minutes, all he had was some hair, the rest was a last minute addition!

The next task was observational drawing. This is where I could go back to reading my book and letting Daniel get on with it.

All the objects had texture, most being pieces of wood with bark, although not all. Once they did this with their eyes open, they had to repeat it blindfolded.

The next bit of the afternoon was when Daniel struggled. It was using charcoal and he really can't stand the feel of it. He did try, but then went back to the kohl pencil. The next task was to touch items in the bag, not try to guess what they were, and to draw what they felt.

Then it was back to the faces. Rather than trying to draw what they could see, they were encouraged to draw what they felt, so a form of self portrait.

The next was to try and draw with charcoal dust, Daniel tried, but just couldn't take the feel of it, but those that did, the results were very effective.

The last one should have been done in chalk pastels, but Daniel used oil instead.

This is his masterpiece. We've had to move it to somewhere where it's not on view all the time, as the secondary face around the nose, keeps staring at me! I don't think he could of got that effect if he'd tried.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park-April 6th

2011-04-10T08:23:00.000+01:00

I was kicking myself that I had forgotten to take my camera, it was a fantastic day out. The highlights were the birds of prey flights and for Daniel, getting close to the Wallabies and their babies. I love the meerkats and it was great watching them at feeding time, along with their neighbours, the yellow mongoose. A group of mongoose is called a band.

The lions are even lazier than our cats, though it was a lovely sunny day, so who could blame them for sun bathing.

I think we would all love another opportunity to visit

April's Art Workshop-Mosaics

2011-04-06T05:59:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was a great workshop. We did some mosaics, most done using recycled products. Some of the children incorporated air drying clay. Some pictures of the workshop can be seen here.

As our masterpieces were still wet when it was time to leave, they've been left in the office for safe keeping until next month, Pictures will be taken when they finally come home.

Can't wait to see what the theme will be for next month.

Cromford Mill

2011-03-26T07:22:00.000Z

A lovely day at Cromford Mill and Village. We had a tour around the village before lunch, and then a tour around the mill grounds in the afternoon. A great insight into the life and work of Sir Richard Arkwright and his son, Richard Arkwright.

View towards first building-top floors lost in a fire after the cotton mills stopped working

Iron Mine

Grade 2 listed pig sty

North Street-top floors housed loom for father to work at home. the streets wide enough so the shadow didn't hit top floor

Original main road

Main building as it would have looked

Foundation of second factory-door ways to first inside toilets

Alarm clock-bell to summon workers

Hoober Observatory Visit

2011-03-13T06:26:00.000Z

Friday night the boys went with some of the home ed group on a visit to the Hoober Observatory. As their dad was up for the weekend, he took them.

Fortunately, they got there early and managed to catch the only break in the cloud to see the moon. Daniel was astounded by the amount of detail they could see. The lack of visibility didn't seem to dampen any one's enthusiasm for the visit.

They had a slide show about the universe and different galaxies and a tour around the observatory. It must have been good, Daniel wants to go back. Even better, he would love to have tens of thousands of pounds to set up his own.

Art-March 8th

2011-03-09T07:27:00.000Z

Theme this time-Sustainability in three groups-artistic, everyday and technological. Artistic and creative thought was shown to be important to come up with new ways of sustainable innovation.

This was followed by a visit to the local park where everyone participated in exercises to enhance sensory perception-1-walking round getting snapshots of the park, 2-collecting five natural objects of interest and making up a story about them, 3-drawing a sensory map of the area.

Once back in the classroom, the children collaborated to draw a sensory map of the park, using symbols, pictures and words.

The session ended with us watching the following video Using Natures Genius in Archtecture

I'm in heaven

2011-03-08T06:20:00.000Z

Spotted from the front room yesterday. One almost teenager, sheltering in the warmth of his greenhouse with his carnivorous plants for company. What is he reading? His book on carnivorous plants!

I don't 'do' art

2011-03-06T07:24:00.000Z

So says Jonathan,

so what's this?

The Deep-March 4th

2011-03-05T05:57:00.000Z

Wow, what a long day, but worth it.

It was the first time we've been to The Deep in Hull, and we could have probably done with longer there. The highlights were a workshop on coral, and watching the divers feed the sharks. We were too high up to see the saw fish getting their meal, but they were impressive.

Daniel was delighted to see a small collection of carnivorous plants, it was just like looking in his bedroom!