Starting from SCRATCH

The children have been learning computer programming with the free Scratch program. Click on the green flags to start. Try pressing the space bar whilst it's running.

By L

By R

Ceramic Platters

By R

These holidays we attended a clay platter making workshop at Campbelltown Arts Centre. We used various objects and leaves to make imprints on the clay before we glazed them. The children made dip pots too.

By L

By R

By L

By Mum

By Mum

By Mum

Puppets

This week we have been working on making puppets. First the children tried out various ways of joining fabrics such as glue, hand sewing, machine stitching and knotting. They tried out various interfacing to stiffen the materials. We used scissors, tearing and the rotary cutter to cut out pieces.

We decided to make aliens.

Circus Factory

We have just been to visit the Circus Factory exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum. As it's school holidays I'd usually avoid the place like the plague, however during the holidays they are also running acrobatics shows. If you're going to the exhibition I would recommend waiting until the next school holidays so you can catch the shows too.

The kids enjoyed the helium balloon exhibit.

And the carousel ride.

There are lots of costumes and circus posters on display.

We had a go at juggling, plate spinning and hula-hoops.

Egg Shell Crystals

The children have been growing these crystals. They are made by first dissolving crushed egg shells in vinegar. Next the solution is left for several weeks as the crystals begin to grow.

Light Up The House

This morning the children have been working on a design technology project with Dad. They wanted to light up the dolls' house. First they experimented with series and parallel circuits and switches (you can buy all the components for this from Jaycar Electronics). They then wired up the dolls' house with lights upstairs and down. Each level has a separate on/off switch.

Taxidermy and Lego Pompeii

We went along to Sydney University Museums to see the taxidermy display and the Lego Pompeii exhibition. The children tried their hand at constructing a play-dough animal over an armature in a similar manner to stuffing a specimen.

The Macleay museum has lots of creatures preserved in jars of alcohol, along with stuffed animals and skeletons.

It also houses some animal curiosities like this conjoined twins goat skull and a horse skull with only 1 eye.

Over at the Nicholson museum you can find artefacts from Egyptian, Greek and other ancient civilisations. We were interested in the new Lego Pompeii model.