Sydney University Museums

Sydney University

Today we went to the Sydney University Museums. Our main aim was to see a real Egyptian mummy so we headed first to the Nicholson Museum which covers Egyptian history (and other periods).

Mummy of a priest

Priest's mummy case

Mummy of a 5 year old boy - same age as R

Canopic jar and Shabtis

Mummified cat

Mummified crocodiles

Part of a tomb wall painting

Whilst we were in the area we also went to see the natural history collections at the nearby Macleay museum.

Jars of fish and sea horses

Mouse deer - the worlds smallest hoofed mammal

Orangutan

A jar of rats

Beetle

Both museums are very small and old fashioned with lots of specimens and few interactives. Its was great to have the children focus on the objects and not on computer screens. We had a great day.

Vegetable Crisps

Home-made crisps

Today we had a go at making our own vegetable crisps from potatoes, parsnips, carrots and sweet potatoes. They tasted pretty good even though they weren't very crispy (we were too impatient to cook them long enough).

Photo Manipulation

This week in Dad's photography class the children worked with Photoshop to manipulate some of their photos. Here they are:

By L

By L

By R

By L

By R

By R

Charcoal Landscapes

Landscape By R

Following on from our experiments with charcoal and our science topic this week (grasslands) we made a visit to Mount Annan Botanic Gardens. There we drove around to look at the grassland habitats and were lucky enough to spot a fox and some kangaroos. The children also tried their hand at charcoal landscape drawing.

Gum tree with hills by L 

Gum tree by R

Screwdriver Mayhem

This Saturday we joined artists Paul Gazzola and Paul Granjon at Campbelltown Arts Centre for a Cybernetic Carnival Workshop. Despite ringing the arts centre for details we didn't really have any idea what to expect. The project aims to make robotic style body extensions from recycled bits and pieces. These extensions will then be presented in a dance piece in October.

The children had a great time taking apart old machines like printers, video recorders, bikes etc. However we didn't actually get onto making much. It was good fun and free though so that was ok!

R wears some previously designed rotating glasses

L rides the floor robot

Harry Potter At The Powerhouse

R is currently reading through the Harry Potter book series so we decided to got to the Powerhouse Museum where the Harry Potter Exhibition is showing. Typically we weren't allowed to take any pictures of the exhibits. The exhibition contained sets, props and costumes from the films along with video footage, models and interactives. It was very atmospheric, especially the Hogwarts steam train as you enter the exhibition. Here's some pictures from the museums's website:

Hagrid's hut

Quidditch set

Harry's dormitory

After the exhibition we wandered the other galleries of the Powerhouse museum including the Wiggles gallery.

Dancing robot

Wiggles interactive

More Wiggles

After our museum visit we headed down to Darling Harbour to the new kids water play area. Thankfully I'd had the sense to pack swimmers this time!

Home-School Camp # 2

All the kids on the beach

We just got back from our second home-school camp at Ocean Beach Holiday Park in Umina. This time we were joined by even more of our home educated friends for a week of socialising.

It was pretty much like the last camp with lazy days spent at the pool and beach. playing together, barbecuing, and hanging out at the playground.

Here's my top 7 great memories:

• My L (age 3) and B (age 12) interacting together so beautifully. I could see lots of love in their faces.
• The dads organising and playing a game of football with the kids - my R's first real game. 
• My L finally being brave enough to go on the jumping pillow.

The jumping pillow

• My R sitting on a rock for ages gazing out to sea thinking; "its very relaxing" he said. 
• The younger children working together to build a bird's nest from grass.

Making a birds nest

• R and L riding around together on a go cart. 

Go cart

• And finally all the adults drinking and having a laugh together in the evenings. 

Mums and Dads

Here's a few more nice photos from the trip.

Sand sun by L

Friends

R and Z his best friend

At the playground