Following on from my recent post explaining how I was approaching home learning (NOT home schooling!), I thought I would update you on how we got on. For a video of our first day, click here.
The plan and the reality:
MONDAY
23.03.2020
9.15-10.00
English: handwriting, spellings, rhyming words.
The kids completed this and were really keen.
10.00-10.15
Break
10.15-11.00
Maths: Mathletics, Times Table Rockstars
This took about 20 minutes before they lost interest so I added a mental maths test for Matthew and some written number problems for Anya and Zach.
11-1
Meal prep, lunch and relax
1-3
Project 1: space: build a Lego space station and a space rocket, listen to music with space in title (similarities, differences, genre), paint picture of Earth, history of space travel, design and make an alien’s house, watch a film about aliens or space and write a review, create a cartoon about an alien visiting Earth for the first time, write a newspaper report about an alien invasion
We watched a shuttle launch from 2010 and also Apollo 11 (both on YouTube). Matthew and Anya then set about making a space rocket and space station.
3-4
PE with Joe/ walk
The kids wanted to play in the garden so they played with their scooters and ran some races. They then sketched out some space pictures ready to paint tomorrow.
TUESDAY
24.03.2020
9.15-10
English: project 1: write a story about space
Zach had a friend over (the son of a nurse who was unable to find childcare due to preschool closures) so did not join in today. Matthew wrote a story in the form of a diary entry and Anya wrote a traditional story
10-10.15
Break
10.15-11
Maths/Science: project 1: gravity and weight on other planets, planet size comparison
I used some toilet roll tubes as planet markers and got Matt and Anya to count out the correct steps. We looked at weight on other planets briefly but they were more interested in playing in the garden, including re-purposing the toliet rolls as javelins and having a throwing competition!
English: project 1: write a letter to an alien to explain how life has changed due to coronavirus
I changed this to get them to write a newspaper report of an alien invasion
10-10.15
Break
10.15-11
Maths: fractions and percentages
We cut up pieces of paper to show halves, quarters,thirds, sixths, eights and their equivalent percentages
11-1
Meal prep, lunch and relax
1-3
Project 1: space (see Monday)
Matthew and Anya did some shadow drawing
3-4
PE with Joe/ chase bubbles in the garden
PE with Joe
THURSDAY
26.03.2020
9.15-10
English: synonyms and antonyms, handwriting
I finished off the spelling test for Matthew while Anya continued writing her alien story
10-10.15
Break
10.15-11
Maths: Mathletics, time tables
Completed
11-1
Meal prep, lunch and relax
1-3
Project 2: restaurant: plan your own restaurant or cafe, design a menu/advert/poster, write a meal review for a newspaper, learn how to fold napkins, research kitchen hygiene (poster/leaflet for staff), cook items from the menu
The children got stuck in designing logos, signs, posters and menus.
3-4
7 minute workout/ throw and catch
PE with Joe
FRIDAY
27.03.2020
9.15-10
English: project 2: menu (adjectives to describe food)
They added to yesterday’s work, trying to persuade and entice people with delicious sounding food.
10-10.15
Break
We got busy in the kitchen making rice krispie cakes and microwave bread
10.15-11
Maths: project 2: prices and costings, discounts and special offers
Matthew got a bit of a shock when he discovered the prices of ingredients and needed to up his prices!
11-1
Meal prep, lunch and relax
1-3
Project 2: restaurant (see Thursday)
Matthew researched food hygiene and began work on a poster. Anya opted to read.
3-4
Walk/ throw and catch
PE with Joe
So, as you can see, we used the plan to generate ideas but did not get stressed if things didn’t work out. We adapted to spend lots of time outside as the weather was so lovely. Times were not set in stone so if an activity took more or less time than we just went with the flow. We have signed up to Disney Plus so are winding down each day with a film.
Walks were off the agenda following government advice. The kids had plenty of fresh air in the garden so I was not worried about them being active. We completed the PE with Joe from Wednesday onwards and did the warm up and first half in the morning and our own warm up and the second half in the afternoon to earn snacks.
This first week has provided some interesting insights which I will use for my planning of subsequent weeks. Anya got all of her spellings right except one so I will challenge her with some from the Year 3 list. I would like Matthew to practice his spellings more and I might break them down to give 10 a week over the next weeks at home. Zach needs to work on his pencil grip. Matthew speeds through activities whilst Anya is more precise. All of us need to be a lot fitter to keep up with Joe Wicks!
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