tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18758577500922583472024-02-19T17:21:56.900+01:00A Window into 2i's Worldjdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-18393928955687789442009-08-29T16:26:00.001+02:002009-08-29T16:26:06.960+02:00On the move…..<p>From the start of September 2009, new posts to this Blog will be found here  <a title="http://class2ipregny.blogspot.com/" href="http://class2ipregny.blogspot.com/">http://class2ipregny.blogspot.com/</a></p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-34781351185643430162009-06-21T09:13:00.001+02:002009-06-21T09:16:58.422+02:00It is a funny thing…..<p>…..that around this time last year, I posted what indeed turned out to be <a href="http://cdnpyp2il.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html">the last post</a> of that school year, following an outstandingly (even though I say it myself!) successful day of Student-Led Conferences.  If you look back to the post you will see that the day was also reportedly the happiest day of the year; a day arrived at as the result of some cunning mathematical trickery by a British academic, Cliff Arnall.</p> <p>Imagine my surprise, having long since forgotten all about that, when I read in the paper on Friday evening, that the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5575435/Happiest-day-of-the-year-is-June-19-according-to-formula.html">'happiest day of the year is June 19 according to formula'</a>.  My surprise of course being that by some coincidence, June the 19th was the day that had been chosen for <em>this</em> year’s Student-Led Conferences.  </p> <p>The days leading up to Friday 19th June (more specifically the late nights and early mornings!) of course were for me somewhat less than happy.  However, to have a classroom filled with proud children sharing with parents and grandparents a snapshot of the learning that they have done during this long school year, made it worth all those long hours.  The looks on the faces of adults and children alike showed me that the happiest day of this year (or at least one of them!) surely had turned out to be June 19, whatever formula you use to work it out!</p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-74549465884738799212009-06-12T17:02:00.000+02:002009-06-15T10:36:59.733+02:00Bad planning…..successful outcome!<p>Having hunted unsuccessfully online for the opening times of the Military Museum (although had I thought about it I would probably have found them in one of last year’s posts right here!) we decided that we would anyway zip over the road on the off-chance that we might find the doors open, our fingers firmly crossed.</p> <p>But of course, in spite of all those crossed fingers, it was firmly closed.  As was the Chateau museum too.  Bother.  Deadlines (of which we know all too well) fast approaching – and out of luck. </p> <p>Well, we could have about-turned and trouped back to school again.  After all there was <em>so</em> much to do!  But eager voices urged; ‘Let’s see if we can find the monkey puzzle tree!’ and ‘Where is the tissue tree?’ and even ‘Can I climb to the top of the lightning tree?’  We had earlier been comparing notes; looking at the Guide Books children in previous years had written.</p> <p>On the way to check out these three things, we ventured somewhere I had not been before.  Into the orchard.  </p> <p>A new challenge.  Remembering some of the learning we had done in our unit of inquiry on Plants, we set about first to see if we could find any fruit growing.  A quick (but totally unnecessary as it turned out) reminder of what a fruit is and off we set.</p> <p>Squeaks and squeals as excited children ‘discovered’ tiny apples, as distinct from equally tiny pears.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjYEnPQvKuI/AAAAAAAAPik/-rLlrThKZSA/s1600-h/IMG_6814%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6814" border="0" alt="IMG_6814" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjYEoKChzcI/AAAAAAAAPio/DqaHtTKV4j4/IMG_6814_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>And how about these?  Soft furry baby quinces (can you see the remnant of the flower there?)…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjYEpN8D9PI/AAAAAAAAPis/xPj8kNeoxZA/s1600-h/IMG_6835%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6835" border="0" alt="IMG_6835" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjYEp0GkmoI/AAAAAAAAPiw/lZniiE_pJSg/IMG_6835_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a>  <p>and peaches too.  Not to mention hard green mini-plums.</p> <p>And then squeaks and squeals as excited teachers ‘discovered’ fat juicy ripe cherries, dangling enticingly from the branches.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjYEqwx9MFI/AAAAAAAAPi0/wR8scdiRRBY/s1600-h/IMG_6834%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6834" border="0" alt="IMG_6834" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjYErjgpXDI/AAAAAAAAPi4/4UNYejuHg3I/IMG_6834_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> </p> <p>But no, we did not pick any (tempting though it was!)  Instead we hunted around on the ground underneath the various trees for windfalls.  We eventually returned to school - having also checked out the monkey puzzle tree, the tissue tree (now of course lacking its tissue-like flowers but instead sporting these…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjYEstDIWeI/AAAAAAAAPi8/ZQN0vguGVYs/s1600-h/IMG_6820%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6820" border="0" alt="IMG_6820" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjYEtqNbVLI/AAAAAAAAPjA/sB2v5nSa-Lg/IMG_6820_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>intriguing fruits) and having allowed Amelia and others to scale the lightning tree - red-lipped, with our pockets and fists bulging with the results of our scavenging.</p> <p>As the title admits, bad planning – but a most successful outcome.  Sore tummies notwithstanding.</p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-9111224299240002482009-06-11T00:31:00.000+02:002009-06-15T09:35:33.884+02:00Deceptively simple<p>At first glance, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregny-Chamb%C3%A9sy">Pregny-Chambésy</a> shield looks simple with its straightforward two-colour design in <font color="#0000ff">blue</font> (to represent the lake) and <font color="#ffff00">gold</font> (for the wheat…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX3u4yRqNI/AAAAAAAAPhA/0dzWjWkKMpE/s1600-h/IMG_4768%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4768" border="0" alt="IMG_4768" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX3vy19NKI/AAAAAAAAPhE/lipXuho3PIo/IMG_4768_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>that once grew widely in these parts).  And yet, as we found out, it would take very good listening skills in order for us to make our own.  Let’s see how we went about it.</p> <p>First of all we made a template, by folding a piece of A3 paper in half, carefully lining up the edges.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX3w-dakpI/AAAAAAAAPhI/L8uF72rJTGQ/s1600-h/IMG_6781%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6781" border="0" alt="IMG_6781" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX3xiExdzI/AAAAAAAAPhM/JgWIHkNjK0Y/IMG_6781_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>Next, we measured 10cm from the folded corner along the shorter side and 25cm along the longer.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX3yi8YQSI/AAAAAAAAPhQ/HZ7lJb8Fm0s/s1600-h/pregnychambesy%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="pregnychambesy" border="0" alt="pregnychambesy" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX3zoQLVaI/AAAAAAAAPhU/c2mRWPx6mU0/pregnychambesy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="139" /></a> </p> <p>These spots we marked with a pencil, before joining the two spots in a J-shaped curve…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX302Qug1I/AAAAAAAAPhY/Y5zIIwCkskM/s1600-h/IMG_6787%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6787" border="0" alt="IMG_6787" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX31jscYbI/AAAAAAAAPhc/k4c0gZA9Njo/IMG_6787_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>so that when we cut it out, we ended up with a shield-shape.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX32jaSuzI/AAAAAAAAPhg/Rsj21POKI5s/s1600-h/IMG_6788%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6788" border="0" alt="IMG_6788" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX33gadjBI/AAAAAAAAPho/sEJhmvEjOkc/IMG_6788_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>What next?  Stick the white shield onto a piece of <font color="#ffff00">gold</font> paper and carefully cut it out…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX34mUHVvI/AAAAAAAAPhs/mSKQ-glRRe0/s1600-h/IMG_6792%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6792" border="0" alt="IMG_6792" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX35W7t4BI/AAAAAAAAPhw/iZorHRbhehw/IMG_6792_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>trimming any sticking-out edges.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX36Gn2fMI/AAAAAAAAPh0/FjxnnUhBwXg/s1600-h/IMG_6796%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6796" border="0" alt="IMG_6796" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX365Ce2TI/AAAAAAAAPh4/uYkPB2PCark/IMG_6796_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>Now use the <font color="#ffff00">gold</font> shield as a template to trace and then cut out an identical <font color="#0000ff">blue</font> shield.  Put this safely to one side…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX3-Ep-49I/AAAAAAAAPh8/l96_H9oXl-4/s1600-h/IMG_6801%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6801" border="0" alt="IMG_6801" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX3-ze3OvI/AAAAAAAAPiA/fHrB4yEghZo/IMG_6801_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>while you draw a wiggly cross on the back of the <font color="#ffff00">gold</font> shield.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX3_tJnPrI/AAAAAAAAPiE/A9k3dayHp1c/s1600-h/IMG_6802%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6802" border="0" alt="IMG_6802" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX4DIEafVI/AAAAAAAAPiI/_TujpMscJ2Q/IMG_6802_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>Mark these <em>very</em> faintly (on the <font color="#ffff00">gold</font> side) so that you will know which piece goes where. (Starting at the top of the shield and moving round clockwise, we used the letters N, E, S and W!)  Now, cut along the wiggly lines…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX4ErjnluI/AAAAAAAAPiM/Q7_bXFnqKgc/s1600-h/IMG_6804%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6804" border="0" alt="IMG_6804" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX4FR4MU5I/AAAAAAAAPiQ/Zso42Lvfweg/IMG_6804_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>so that you end up with 4 pieces.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX4GCrRPbI/AAAAAAAAPiU/hwl9SR0lzZY/s1600-h/IMG_6805%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6805" border="0" alt="IMG_6805" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX4GzZ0XVI/AAAAAAAAPiY/jYuq70SzvFc/IMG_6805_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>Now, how good are you at jig-saws?  Well, as long as your labelling system works, all you need to do is discard those marked N and S and stick the other two (W and E) in the right places on the <font color="#0000ff">blue</font> shield.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX4IOxhd3I/AAAAAAAAPic/RfSXu9F8_nI/s1600-h/IMG_6806%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6806" border="0" alt="IMG_6806" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SjX4IrqOJsI/AAAAAAAAPig/v__GMZmjoMI/IMG_6806_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>Simple?  Why not come and see how we all got on?</p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-82874603448619911772009-06-05T16:35:00.000+02:002009-06-08T16:37:46.238+02:00How lucky we are…..<p>Having been out and about to various places in our local area, we were having a chat-on-the-mat reminding ourselves of some of the places we have seen on our travels.  Places, we discovered, where people can work and where people can visit.  Tommy, ever thoughtful, suddenly pronounced; ‘We are lucky to have Chateau de Penthes…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0h4yLzw6I/AAAAAAAAPeQ/M7_Fec9UVQQ/s1600-h/IMG_5767%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5767" border="0" alt="IMG_5767" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0h5n5D6GI/AAAAAAAAPeU/G0Zq2eXigzU/IMG_5767_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>in our local area.  You can walk all around - and see tadpoles.’</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0h7bqyqpI/AAAAAAAAPeY/eqmtjoa4XlY/s1600-h/S6300042%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="S6300042" border="0" alt="S6300042" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0h8WM15qI/AAAAAAAAPec/AsveJqTs1yA/S6300042_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Shahrbano continued.  ‘A few weeks later you can see frogs and you can hold them.’</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0h9UvbtBI/AAAAAAAAPeg/ysngxSkFm60/s1600-h/IMG_9864%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_9864" border="0" alt="IMG_9864" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0h-ahkivI/AAAAAAAAPek/6hJivgqBcfE/IMG_9864_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Rammy reiterated.  ‘We are lucky to have Chateau de Penthes because there are a lot of things you can do like catch tadpoles - and climb trees.’</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0h_8Hf-OI/AAAAAAAAPeo/EA5eZy4V940/s1600-h/IMG_5677%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5677" border="0" alt="IMG_5677" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0iA6pRlxI/AAAAAAAAPes/BUOXM69UOh4/IMG_5677_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>‘You can look at the tall trees,’ added Aabis.</p> <p>‘Yes, you can amuse yourself by looking at the amazing leaves and trees,’ elaborated Amelia.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0iC_Q0NzI/AAAAAAAAPew/IGGRJDv-c0o/s1600-h/IMG_5847%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5847" border="0" alt="IMG_5847" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0iD7vl-bI/AAAAAAAAPe0/67cyEdLIUZU/IMG_5847_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="194" /></a></p> <p>‘We are lucky to have Chateau de Penthes because there is a nice view,’ said Quentin.</p> <p>‘From the wall by the chateau you can see a bird’s eye view and the sun shining on the lake,’ Dylan pointed out.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0iFdens3I/AAAAAAAAPe4/zWokdVQTa3E/s1600-h/IMG_5762%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5762" border="0" alt="IMG_5762" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0iGDedv5I/AAAAAAAAPe8/yRfpIGK3IKo/IMG_5762_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>‘You could paint the view from the wall by the Chateau,’ contributed Tatiana.  (As we did the other day.)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0iHLrprVI/AAAAAAAAPfA/zTQaF9wXuxI/s1600-h/IMG_5839%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5839" border="0" alt="IMG_5839" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0iIBI-WpI/AAAAAAAAPfE/JtlPoe3fP84/IMG_5839_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="220" /></a></p> <p>‘You can see birds,’ said Shouq.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0iJb5tmeI/AAAAAAAAPfI/2tGqaEOJvaQ/s1600-h/IMG_5726%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5726" border="0" alt="IMG_5726" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0iKFUouQI/AAAAAAAAPfM/I1xBjkIOlGY/IMG_5726_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="176" /></a> </p> <p>‘You can hear the birds sing,’ added Ryoma.</p> <p>‘You could rest on the grass or go for a run,’ suggested Amelia.</p> <p>‘And it’s a good place to walk your dog,’ added Meghna.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0iLBU-49I/AAAAAAAAPfQ/zaruxBxPh-E/s1600-h/IMG_2854%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_2854" border="0" alt="IMG_2854" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0iMCUuh2I/AAAAAAAAPfU/FdSTU5tbSdQ/IMG_2854_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="196" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>‘You can roll down the hill,’ said Martin.  </p> <p>‘You can play,’ Viivi told us.</p> <p>‘You can have a picnic there,’ said Virginia.  ‘And you can learn stuff.’</p> <p>‘Yes, you can go in the nice museum.’  Sivert.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0iNEzz9fI/AAAAAAAAPfY/2QvsNPnMuMk/s1600-h/IMG_5848%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5848" border="0" alt="IMG_5848" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Si0iODbmf0I/AAAAAAAAPfc/XB7H1wU2MuI/IMG_5848_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="175" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>And we could have continued in a similar vein - had we not needed to get to French.</p> <p>The discussion was all the more extraordinary if you look at the timing; we had earlier in the day indulged in the fantasy of pretending that we might have anything that we wanted in our local area, just outside the school gates.  Imagine leaving school each day and being able to dive into a swimming pool or ride on a rollercoaster, pet a friendly lion or even, perish the thought, shop endlessly for toys.</p> <p>Well, a pleasant dream perhaps; but it would appear that in fact we are happy with our lot and, perhaps more importantly, that we understand quite how lucky we are to have it.</p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-76568949074235853032009-05-29T20:31:00.000+02:002009-06-01T20:38:06.219+02:00The Green Schoolyard<p>We have a shiny new sign.  Well, in truth, it is neither shiny nor new; it is ‘green’ as in recycled.  And it took my eye; largely because of the fact that the letters had been cleverly formed by leaving spaces unpainted white.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQe0rLnhSI/AAAAAAAAPbY/cRle13oGlbM/s1600-h/IMG_6490%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6490" border="0" alt="IMG_6490" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQe328nVGI/AAAAAAAAPbc/lKglZRovt4w/IMG_6490_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>But I digress (so no change there then!)  I am here (again) because of our latest ‘workout’ in the garden (which I should probably start calling the Green Schoolyard).  Sadly we have had a bit of a problem.  Just take a look at this wheat.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQe7Gx1AMI/AAAAAAAAPbg/UQj0dWQY5jE/s1600-h/IMG_6465%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6465" border="0" alt="IMG_6465" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQe-Y0WTlI/AAAAAAAAPbk/iaJop_ORY7Y/IMG_6465_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Look closely; what do you notice?</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQfCMmTd0I/AAAAAAAAPbo/ulx-yfJtj88/s1600-h/IMG_6464%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6464" border="0" alt="IMG_6464" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQfF_1EXxI/AAAAAAAAPbs/q-u3iQ0cDNE/IMG_6464_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>What can possibly have happened to it?  Suggestions included the possibility that someone had walked on it or that it had blown over in the wind, or even that a hailstorm had flattened it.  But we learned that it was not that at all.  To help us understand, we were cunningly corralled into a squashed up roped-in place in order to ‘grow’ from tightly-packed seeds into tall, strong healthy plants.  And it turned out to be impossible for us to grow so tightly-packed without falling over.</p> <p>The same would have been true for the growing wheat.  Seeds that had been too generously scattered left growing plants with too little space to become tall and strong.  Instead they just keeled over.  An important lesson noted to be remembered for next year.</p> <p>And then we went off around the rest of the garden to look for similar signs of too-tightly-packed seeds having led to weak plants.  We quickly spotted floppy lettuces.  But with lettuces it didn’t matter too much because you can eat them.  Which we did!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQfJrH2YtI/AAAAAAAAPbw/absnMyFPvjM/s1600-h/pregny%20garden1%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="pregny garden1" border="0" alt="pregny garden1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQfM-6ws9I/AAAAAAAAPb0/muXZGAFvIV0/pregny%20garden1_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="305" height="185" /></a> </p> <p>There was work to be done too.  Warm sunny weather and rain had meant that everything (including things we <em>hadn’t</em> planted) had shot up.  </p> <p>The roses were a profusion of colour…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQfRhbWnEI/AAAAAAAAPb4/X4TN8QeZo9A/s1600-h/pregny%20garden2%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="pregny garden2" border="0" alt="pregny garden2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQfVSg0w_I/AAAAAAAAPb8/3-1ZrzHenM8/pregny%20garden2_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>but in amongst the healthy peas…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQfZqlHHyI/AAAAAAAAPcA/oFF0htvmRS8/s1600-h/IMG_6484%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6484" border="0" alt="IMG_6484" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQfcl8HzoI/AAAAAAAAPcE/PGpgyYOHdNU/IMG_6484_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>and run-away beans…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQfgOOo7OI/AAAAAAAAPcI/KL3jm-z78f4/s1600-h/IMG_6473%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6473" border="0" alt="IMG_6473" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQfjdmnK1I/AAAAAAAAPcM/fSanaKGdWl0/IMG_6473_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>were ‘weeds’…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQfngB70AI/AAAAAAAAPcQ/jrOsEk-PN4g/s1600-h/IMG_6482%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6482" border="0" alt="IMG_6482" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQfq52eaDI/AAAAAAAAPcU/PVsHjCUxcLU/IMG_6482_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>that needed to be cleared, in order to give more space to the plants that were <em>supposed</em> to be there.  So it was ‘all hands on deck’, removing them.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQfupMMbxI/AAAAAAAAPcY/cZwE3Obq5L0/s1600-h/IMG_6489%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6489" border="0" alt="IMG_6489" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQfyl16rZI/AAAAAAAAPcc/xSH7xShXk9o/IMG_6489_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>Being careful to remove just the things that were <em>not supposed</em> to be there.  After all, we want to be able to harvest our strawberries and our cabbages…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQf2Cnc5dI/AAAAAAAAPcg/6MXOYecNho8/s1600-h/IMG_6477%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6477" border="0" alt="IMG_6477" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQf74JrEdI/AAAAAAAAPck/StK_pDajOKI/IMG_6477_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>as well as pick the odd bunch of Sweet Williams and even sweeter lavender.   Mmmm!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQf_zigFsI/AAAAAAAAPco/bfW6iBGCd9c/s1600-h/pregny%20garden3%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="pregny garden3" border="0" alt="pregny garden3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiQgC_vSQyI/AAAAAAAAPcs/7M1IescQFHE/pregny%20garden3_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="303" height="184" /></a></p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-42502887869355078452009-05-28T17:11:00.000+02:002009-06-01T17:17:58.774+02:00Make like a ‘real’ landscape artist<p>As if it wasn’t enough to go on one expedition, there we were, planning a second; on the <em>same</em> day!  I told you it was a lovely day, didn’t I?  </p> <p>Break time saw a flurry of teacherly activity; a hustle and bustle of preparation; two sizes of paintbrush, fine-tipped and fat (check).  Clipboards (check).  Special (<em>expensive</em>) watercolour paper (check).  Freshly-cleaned tins of watercolour paints.  Paper towels.  Bottles of water and colourful plastic cups (check, check and check).</p> <p>And shortly after the cowbells (bells not unlike this one) rang….. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPwvZrW2xI/AAAAAAAAPZw/2R_dBLqVQVk/s1600-h/IMG_3892%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_3892" border="0" alt="IMG_3892" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPwwqC0joI/AAAAAAAAPZ0/9UKclYEet4c/IMG_3892_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>to signal the end of break and the return of the hordes, off we set again, incidentally in the same northerly direction as we had an hour or so earlier.  However, we ignored the next turning to the left and instead walked right past the fortified building (also on our left) and on towards the beautiful grounds of Chateau de Penthes, for this was to be where we would search for a landscape worthy of our closer attention.</p> <p>The perfect spot (and pose!) having been chosen…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPwyJ31O3I/AAAAAAAAPZ4/VzNGm2tYi0U/s1600-h/IMG_6374%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6374" border="0" alt="IMG_6374" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPwzDEW77I/AAAAAAAAPZ8/-n9R1iTLBmo/IMG_6374_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>water was poured into cups…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPw0Jvoz0I/AAAAAAAAPaA/i1sJ5pN2B2Q/s1600-h/IMG_6353%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6353" border="0" alt="IMG_6353" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPw04ZFrEI/AAAAAAAAPaE/jWxVjD5EdC4/IMG_6353_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>and this and other equipment distributed.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPw2OpfBiI/AAAAAAAAPaI/V3-2RsM-6r8/s1600-h/IMG_6354%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6354" border="0" alt="IMG_6354" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPw2wrd1TI/AAAAAAAAPaM/p0n6cfncfF8/IMG_6354_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  <p></p> <p>Fat brushes were used to wash the special (<em>expensive</em>) watercolour paper with water.  Fine-tipped paintbrushes were swirled in water and then dipped into chosen colours.  Paper towels were put to use to dab off excess wet (and to mop the odd spill).</p> <p>Before our eyes…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPw39R9bYI/AAAAAAAAPaQ/FMuriuNj1as/s1600-h/IMG_6357%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6357" border="0" alt="IMG_6357" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPw4mPfaYI/AAAAAAAAPaU/BXTDjsmfNXk/IMG_6357_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>landscapes took shape.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPw5-sTeEI/AAAAAAAAPaY/pup-8uW94mQ/s1600-h/IMG_6358%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6358" border="0" alt="IMG_6358" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPw6i6jWEI/AAAAAAAAPac/iLjR2W6927g/IMG_6358_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>Colours were scrutinised…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPw7vaGh_I/AAAAAAAAPag/_vFa5ZDiLEc/s1600-h/IMG_6372%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6372" border="0" alt="IMG_6372" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPw8dN6DgI/AAAAAAAAPak/W8BLE5mXesI/IMG_6372_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>and carefully copied.  Those mountains do indeed look blue!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPw9irrM7I/AAAAAAAAPao/0n4WGUmvXEA/s1600-h/IMG_6365%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6365" border="0" alt="IMG_6365" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPw-Z6MNmI/AAAAAAAAPas/LLP1K73RFhw/IMG_6365_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>  </p> <p>Frequent comparisons were made to make sure we had got the shape of the trees right.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPw_ajpR8I/AAAAAAAAPaw/qZXTyMC4G3o/s1600-h/IMG_6361%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6361" border="0" alt="IMG_6361" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPxAVI4gCI/AAAAAAAAPa0/v2jFOdsyJOg/IMG_6361_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>And whoever it was that said trees were merely green….. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPxCc6Wl6I/AAAAAAAAPa4/kaDYIEng00s/s1600-h/IMG_6384%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6384" border="0" alt="IMG_6384" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPxDX3CIOI/AAAAAAAAPa8/i-I-hvgG1hQ/IMG_6384_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>was surely…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPxEQNIcWI/AAAAAAAAPbA/vWxOhAXhSNM/s1600-h/IMG_6383%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6383" border="0" alt="IMG_6383" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPxFKtralI/AAAAAAAAPbE/ydvtJweg0os/IMG_6383_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>mistaken!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPxGtWvqsI/AAAAAAAAPbI/-JEegUXxkJY/s1600-h/IMG_6391%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6391" border="0" alt="IMG_6391" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPxHew5BII/AAAAAAAAPbM/4DQ3AyJkB18/IMG_6391_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>And after all that creativity, there was even time at the end for a bit of a lie-down on the warm grass…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPxIl8j-9I/AAAAAAAAPbQ/t0sMaaysenU/s1600-h/IMG_6393%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6393" border="0" alt="IMG_6393" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPxJX6CzaI/AAAAAAAAPbU/LAjrnbsxLs8/IMG_6393_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>before tidying everything up and trudging back to school.</p> <p>The finished works of art will soon be proudly (deservedly so) displayed in the classroom.  Why not take the time to pay our gallery a visit?</p></p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-61129764857778973532009-05-28T15:16:00.000+02:002009-06-01T16:24:54.523+02:00Trying out our newly honed map-reading skills<p>Having learnt how to hold a compass horizontally to allow the swinging needle to settle before turning it oh-so-carefully until the needle is lined up with the letter N (for north) what better way to put our skills into practice than by seeing if we can find out about some directions in our local area.</p> <p>As well as compasses which we will share, we will each need a map of our local area, plus a clipboard and a pencil.  And our wits about us.  </p> <p>And we’re off!  Leave the school and having crossed at the crossing, turn, yes, right.  Walk (in which direction is this?) until the next junction where we will turn left.  And a quick look at the compass confirms that yes, it’s northwest.  Go past this, fortified building…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVDzvA1RI/AAAAAAAAPYI/qUzZg7mDHtA/s1600-h/IMG_6307%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6307" border="0" alt="IMG_6307" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVEzPgNyI/AAAAAAAAPYM/TsaTHZ8rFkw/IMG_6307_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>(which is on our right) the shadows of whose impressively strong and high fences throw fantastic patterns on the footpath!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVGqEiEGI/AAAAAAAAPYQ/0q4fBt5A0nM/s1600-h/IMG_6309%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6309" border="0" alt="IMG_6309" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVHk3uGYI/AAAAAAAAPYU/wjDYMtcX_7A/IMG_6309_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="209" /></a> </p> <p>Walk in the dappled shade of this ‘avenue’ of trees…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVI4oOXqI/AAAAAAAAPYY/ZHXDj4SoqQg/s1600-h/IMG_6311%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6311" border="0" alt="IMG_6311" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVKy2z8_I/AAAAAAAAPYc/s92LXm4sEjg/IMG_6311_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>and then turn left.  Pass this building…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVMLXVlBI/AAAAAAAAPYg/AegfJTxRJnM/s1600-h/IMG_6315%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6315" border="0" alt="IMG_6315" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVMy26AQI/AAAAAAAAPYk/O79OUkRmbLQ/IMG_6315_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>which has these symbols on the glass doors…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVOOMebdI/AAAAAAAAPYo/xxjfsgn9oHA/s1600-h/mapping%20and%20painting%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="mapping and painting" border="0" alt="mapping and painting" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVO-eoC4I/AAAAAAAAPYs/6RmjmGOE7qQ/mapping%20and%20painting_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="139" /></a> </p> <p>on our way (in a south westerly direction) to the roundabout.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVQ9fjiWI/AAAAAAAAPYw/fmYZO7W-83o/s1600-h/IMG_6325%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6325" border="0" alt="IMG_6325" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVR2bQeqI/AAAAAAAAPY0/1w1Vv2uSu2E/IMG_6325_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>Turn – yes, you’ve guessed it – left.  Direction?</p> <p>Spot this building in the distance and walk along the path towards it.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVTAYENMI/AAAAAAAAPY4/nvUKayW0Aoc/s1600-h/IMG_6322%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6322" border="0" alt="IMG_6322" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVUJ6vUZI/AAAAAAAAPY8/0h5PpZRNjNM/IMG_6322_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>Enjoy the pretty leaves on the trees…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVV1sRf3I/AAAAAAAAPZA/GqkhQs8oz_k/s1600-h/IMG_6326%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6326" border="0" alt="IMG_6326" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVXPZItzI/AAAAAAAAPZE/BCoA86dX-L4/IMG_6326_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>and the shadows they make (it is a lovely sunny day!)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVZbZypMI/AAAAAAAAPZI/e4I3bNbcejI/s1600-h/IMG_6329%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6329" border="0" alt="IMG_6329" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVaMEvm1I/AAAAAAAAPZM/LHcL2Qf-R_g/IMG_6329_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Stop every now and again to make sure you know exactly whereabouts on the map we are and to check the lefts and rights (the mostly lefts – it is to be a ‘round trip’!)  Make sure you have a ‘turn’ at using the compass to tell which direction we are heading in.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVbNX4XFI/AAAAAAAAPZQ/1o1NmQbTIz4/s1600-h/IMG_6332%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6332" border="0" alt="IMG_6332" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVb6Ex_9I/AAAAAAAAPZU/IoNVdh5zTGo/IMG_6332_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Turn left again at the next pathway.  And goodness me; who is that enormous statue of?  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVdTExWJI/AAAAAAAAPZY/hap6Qnx_Qj4/s1600-h/IMG_6334%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6334" border="0" alt="IMG_6334" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVeVA1RAI/AAAAAAAAPZc/BHDrMKzCy64/IMG_6334_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Zip down the grassy bank to check will you Aabis?  (See, I told you it was enormous!)</p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVfd1inqI/AAAAAAAAPZg/EiHbcv0mfFo/s1600-h/IMG_6335%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6335" border="0" alt="IMG_6335" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVgTV6OaI/AAAAAAAAPZk/DqaIyfk5yGc/IMG_6335_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Quickly onwards (as it is almost break time!) until we pass this building on our right…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPViMJls8I/AAAAAAAAPZo/yXHXYbHEK6s/s1600-h/IMG_6343%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6343" border="0" alt="IMG_6343" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPVjW9sw6I/AAAAAAAAPZs/Uf2nFXSoHJg/IMG_6343_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>then yes, turn left, at the next junction.  Up the hill (northwards again) in single file (along the narrow path) until we reach the place where we crossed the road at the start of our adventure.  And we are back - in time for break (just!) having marked our somewhat ‘circular’ route on our maps; having each had at least one turn at working out the direction we were heading in at our stopping points; and having hopefully found some way of ensuring we will remember whereabouts are each of the places we passed en route.  For our next related challenge will be to match (these) photographs with their position on the map.</p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-55777593150708718052009-05-27T14:14:00.000+02:002009-06-01T14:15:46.829+02:00Finding our way – through a fog of confusion!<p>A discussion that began with the question ‘What is a map?’ threw up all kinds of interesting ideas and conceptions; certainly plenty of food for thought (and we thrive on that kind of food in Class 2i!)</p> <p>Tatiana: A map is like a big paper with places on it.</p> <p>Virginia: A map is a paper who (sic) shows places around the world.</p> <p>Sharukh: A map is a big piece of paper with the names of roads and the names of areas and you use it to see how you go to the other areas.  And there are maps on the Internet.</p> <p>Meghna:  If you are lost you can just take a map and it tells you where to go.  (Now wouldn’t <em>that</em> be wonderful!)</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPFs4F6jHI/AAAAAAAAPXU/RbiIYLQKgkU/s1600-h/jd%20finds%20the%20way%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="jd finds the way" border="0" alt="jd finds the way" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPFtw8MXbI/AAAAAAAAPXY/5SRfTNOvJjI/jd%20finds%20the%20way_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Sivert: In museums maps tell you where to go in them.</p> <p>Martin:  It helps you to go where the right place is so you don’t go to the wrong place.</p> <p>Shahrbano: When you want to go somewhere you can see the map and it tells you where to go.</p> <p>Harrison: If you don’t know where a place is you can buy a TomTom that shows you where to go.  (A true sign of the times!)</p> <p>Tommy: Or you can use a compass.  (That was one large mouthful of ‘food for thought’.)</p> <p>Right.  Let’s home in on what Tommy suggested; namely that a compass can help you find your way.  And ask a supplementary question or two; How <em>does</em> a compass help you find your way?  What does a compass <em>do</em>?  What <em>is</em> a compass?</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPFuzEiXII/AAAAAAAAPXc/Zs8ypMxA4vs/s1600-h/IMG_6298%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6298" border="0" alt="IMG_6298" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPFvqvBJVI/AAAAAAAAPXg/1OkHtPqWqyc/IMG_6298_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>“If you have a compass you see, if it shows north you have to continue,” said Dylan.</p> <p>“North is up,” ‘corrects’ Virginia, pointing skywards.</p> <p>Sharukh, standing, “If I face this way, north is here.  If I turn, north is the way I face.”  A murmur of agreement here.</p> <p>OK; where is north then.  Can you point to north?  And, perhaps unsurprisingly, a forest of fingers point in my general direction.  But also somewhat unsurprisingly, there are also murmurs when I, facing them, wonder if north for me can be in the opposite direction.  Is north in front of me or behind me?  Can north be in two different directions at the same time?</p> <p>“No; north is a <em>certain</em> way,” concludes Amelia.  </p> <p>“What <em>certain</em> way?” asks Ryoma.  Good question.</p> <p>And a compass; what does it <em>actually </em>do?  Well, it points north.  North and only north.  In a <em>certain</em> way.  Anyone know why?</p> <p>Dylan again.  “It is because of the treasure buried.”  Hmm.  Too many computer games perhaps!</p> <p>"It is because of <em>something</em> in the earth,” confirms Sharukh.  But definitely <em>not</em> treasure!</p> <p>"There is a magnet in there,” Tommy tells us emphatically.</p> <p>And so, in a very roundabout fashion, we make our way via TomToms and museum guides, past street maps and buried treasure to the magnetic core of the Earth and the fact that a compass is a tiny weak magnet that is attracted to the huge magnet that is our planet.  And that this fact can help us find our way.</p> <p>And we set out to show it.  By remembering firstly, something we had learned about magnets in our unit on <a href="http://cdnpyp2il.blogspot.com/2009/01/our-fourth-unit-of-inquiry-note-for.html">materials</a>.  That a magnet has a ‘south’ end (or pole) and a ‘north’ end.  And that these two opposite ends stick (or are attracted) to one another.  And it wasn’t too far a step needed to link the North and South Poles of the Earth to the north and south poles of magnets, and work out that maybe the tiny weak magnet in a compass would be attracted by and point towards the opposite pole of the huge magnet that is our planet.  Let’s not here get bogged down by the confusion of the fact that a magnet’s north end points to the North Pole (no, no, no!)</p> <p>Instead let’s get our hands on some tiny weak magnets that are compasses as well as some somewhat stronger plastic-coated magnets and investigate how they work.  Let’s find out, for example, that even though it might appear that this compass is pointing towards the west…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPFw1DaEzI/AAAAAAAAPXk/Ena1EmN9eyo/s1600-h/IMG_6304%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6304" border="0" alt="IMG_6304" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPFxhN3w9I/AAAAAAAAPXo/OuMYmzx2mlY/IMG_6304_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>when we swivel the compass around towards the letter N, the needle stays in place (my goodness how exciting <em>that</em> was!) </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPFykODPrI/AAAAAAAAPXs/Vo0UTMzEErg/s1600-h/IMG_6303%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6303" border="0" alt="IMG_6303" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPFztwjQ0I/AAAAAAAAPXw/tI0_1p0PTMI/IMG_6303_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Let’s suspend a somewhat stronger plastic-coated magnet from a piece of string…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPF0bCTLPI/AAAAAAAAPX0/qor0DFuW2WE/s1600-h/IMG_6301%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6301" border="0" alt="IMG_6301" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPF1d36vVI/AAAAAAAAPX4/uBJ8itHf3hA/IMG_6301_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>to see if that too will point towards the north (which we confirm for ourselves is indeed in a <em>certain</em> direction).</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPF28HcHEI/AAAAAAAAPX8/Quf5eUcLBR4/s1600-h/IMG_6300%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6300" border="0" alt="IMG_6300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiPF3vc_8jI/AAAAAAAAPYE/8lxM1mauYxg/IMG_6300_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>And just for fun, let’s think about what might happen if we were to put different ends of a somewhat stronger plastic-coated magnet near (but not <em>too</em> close to) a tiny weak magnet that is a compass.  And then let’s check to see if we were right. </p> <p>And now that we are ‘experts’ on how they work, let us plan a map-following trip where we can put them to use.  More of which later.</p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-10408040575667650682009-05-15T08:14:00.000+02:002009-05-30T08:19:51.784+02:00Drawing on the white chalk with the black board<p>By now, Barney and Stig (remember?) are good friends and Barney is spending as much time as he can in Stig’s now beautifully smoke-free cave.  Yes, the <a href="http://cdnpyp2il.blogspot.com/2009/04/solving-couple-of-problems-with-glass.html">smoky problem</a> has been solved with an ingeniously executed chimney system, made using those ‘ruined’ tin cans and an upside-down bath tub, of all things.  And Stig has also been introduced to matches and learnt the ease with which it is now possible to light a piece of paper (imagine the fun we had acting <em>that</em> out with a partner!) race outside to see the smoke curling up out of the new chimney, before careering back inside again to repeat the exercise.  Over and over.</p> <p>Anyway, on a subsequent visit, Barney discovers that Stig has been creative, using a piece of charred, blackened board to draw on the white, chalk walls of his cave.  He has drawn a hunting scene, with stags fleeing in fear from humans brandishing flint-tipped spears.</p> <p>So of course we had to have a go ourselves.  Though <em>not</em> on the walls.  We did use burnt wood though.  Or charcoal to be more precise.</p> <p>First, we taped a piece of paper to the desk (you’ll see why later).</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDPHinhXjI/AAAAAAAAPWQ/nTzvZj2jmpE/s1600-h/IMG_5521%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5521" border="0" alt="IMG_5521" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDPIX267DI/AAAAAAAAPWU/VllORxCb5mA/IMG_5521_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Next we had enormous fun taking a perfectly good piece of drawing charcoal and bashing it to smithereens with a wooden spoon (improvisation; it was all we could find!)  We needed charcoal <em>powder</em> you see.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDPJWZO1_I/AAAAAAAAPWY/22OgM9laIhg/s1600-h/IMG_5526%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5526" border="0" alt="IMG_5526" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDPKJGgDyI/AAAAAAAAPWc/iZOH26kO7Rc/IMG_5526_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Then we squished up a paper towel, dipped it into the charcoal powder…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDPLpFgm-I/AAAAAAAAPWk/00Go6IFy7uY/s1600-h/IMG_5524%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5524" border="0" alt="IMG_5524" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDPMX-3CxI/AAAAAAAAPWo/JpU-Dnyal60/IMG_5524_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>before using it to turn the white paper a soft pale grey.  Our chalk wall.</p> <p>Next we learned the technique of using drawing charcoal; there is a special way to hold it to stop it snapping (drawing charcoal is thin and brittle).</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDPN-wWdLI/AAAAAAAAPWs/lEcuyLr7eBA/s1600-h/IMG_5522%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5522" border="0" alt="IMG_5522" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDPO1jDaNI/AAAAAAAAPWw/X_IDHQnfxvw/IMG_5522_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Then we used a combination of charcoal…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDPP2G_e9I/AAAAAAAAPW0/2gFU6ivG-9Q/s1600-h/IMG_5535%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5535" border="0" alt="IMG_5535" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDPQnoFIRI/AAAAAAAAPW4/yvy4-x9E6g0/IMG_5535_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>and chalk to create our very own ‘authentic’ cave painting.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDPR0SEdEI/AAAAAAAAPW8/FygmVinrfxQ/s1600-h/IMG_5536%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5536" border="0" alt="IMG_5536" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDPS3iAcNI/AAAAAAAAPXA/6v-gIFiBVw0/IMG_5536_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>In spite of some impressive black hands…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDPUdCvn6I/AAAAAAAAPXE/JfppgwbKqww/s1600-h/IMG_5534%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5534" border="0" alt="IMG_5534" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDPVoVPi-I/AAAAAAAAPXI/VsqkdJn3eV4/IMG_5534_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>I think that if you come to the classroom to take a closer look, you too will be amazed, not only by our hunting scenes, but also by the perfect white frames around them.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDPWpkwvUI/AAAAAAAAPXM/PIbFYNhiYi8/s1600-h/IMG_5540%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5540" border="0" alt="IMG_5540" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDPXqj3LaI/AAAAAAAAPXQ/_7yXJ14JSBA/IMG_5540_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a></p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-79380747602587620532009-05-15T07:23:00.000+02:002009-05-30T07:39:05.965+02:00Out and about…..<p>Having sat just inside the school fence, looking out at what we could see in <em>our local area</em>, of course we had to get ‘out and about’, to view it from the other side as it were!  So, with binoculars slung round necks…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDE5-MTtwI/AAAAAAAAPVQ/4j7OnRF6Vkg/s1600-h/IMG_1514%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1514" border="0" alt="IMG_1514" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDE7PiE7pI/AAAAAAAAPVU/LxIGT-Fq6zU/IMG_1514_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>and the school cameras distributed fairly among groups of children, off we skipped one not-so-sunny Tuesday afternoon.</p> <p>You see, we had earlier agreed that one of the ways we could find out what there is in <em>our local area</em> was to ‘go for a walk’ (with other suggestions being ‘ask someone’ and ‘look at a map’ (more of which later).</p> <p>Anyway, ‘go for a walk’ we did.  Albeit a brief one*.  First we peered closely at the Mission of the United States of America (‘click!’)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDE8s8HEVI/AAAAAAAAPVY/QlXfTqE6HN8/s1600-h/IMG_1504%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1504" border="0" alt="IMG_1504" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDE9bkoSqI/AAAAAAAAPVc/0LwnGGe83jE/IMG_1504_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>We also spotted a bus stop (‘click'!’)…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDE_Cm94PI/AAAAAAAAPVg/alPNNwuBWh0/s1600-h/IMG_1506%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1506" border="0" alt="IMG_1506" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDFAOzPWZI/AAAAAAAAPVk/setqttml0l8/IMG_1506_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>one on each side (‘click'!’) of the road (‘click'!’)</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDFB-AB9pI/AAAAAAAAPVo/rtbJ4oLEbjQ/s1600-h/IMG_1511%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1511" border="0" alt="IMG_1511" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDFCqw4A-I/AAAAAAAAPVs/76Th6_hCbt0/IMG_1511_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>There were lots of other useful signs telling us about museums (‘click!’) and parks (‘click!’)…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDFElyYurI/AAAAAAAAPVw/-sM0elbkSoA/s1600-h/IMG_1508%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1508" border="0" alt="IMG_1508" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDFFmrRaDI/AAAAAAAAPV0/-nDPKnEJ_qY/IMG_1508_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>tennis clubs (‘click!’) and restaurants (‘click!’ ‘click!’ ‘click!’)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDFHOFt7MI/AAAAAAAAPV4/XmmJsWD4400/s1600-h/IMG_1507%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1507" border="0" alt="IMG_1507" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDFIMjzBDI/AAAAAAAAPV8/w6_5M-m70iM/IMG_1507_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>Unfortunately, some of the signs that the teacher <em>didn’t</em> spot, were the darkening blackness of the clouds, the opening of umbrellas (sadly, <em>not</em> ours!)…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDFJZC229I/AAAAAAAAPWA/0PrN1C6Ibi4/s1600-h/IMG_1902%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1902" border="0" alt="IMG_1902" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDFKPDkNcI/AAAAAAAAPWE/572M_0H58hM/IMG_1902_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>and the drips and splashes…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDFLQ4C6pI/AAAAAAAAPWI/NthYkp_vh08/s1600-h/IMG_6479%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6479" border="0" alt="IMG_6479" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SiDFMAyOpkI/AAAAAAAAPWM/QkyUHAAdfww/IMG_6479_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>of fat drops of rain.</p> <p>Run </p> <p>for</p> <p>it!</p> <p>PS  Perhaps luckily as it turned out, I only had a tiny point-and-shoot camera with me; hence the rather poor quality of (most of) the pics.  Some of the photos taken by the children were of rather better quality…..</p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-41363281137866148612009-05-14T17:38:00.000+02:002009-05-30T09:47:24.916+02:00Something of a diversion…..<p>…..with a nod to two previous units (but perhaps I’ll leave you to work out which).</p> <p>A rustling red plastic carrier bag was thrust into my hands the other day.  It happened shortly after our impromptu traditional <a href="http://cdnpyp2il.blogspot.com/2009/05/welcoming-in-new-month-in-traditional.html">maypole dance</a> ‘performance’ the other day.  How would it be, it was wondered, if we had a look at another folk tradition.  A Russian one this time.</p> <p>Not being one to turn down such an opportunity, I opened up the bag.  It appeared to be full of decorated spoons.  Very prettily decorated spoons.  Shiny golden spoons.  But spoons all the same!  Shiny golden <em>wooden</em> spoons, as we quickly guessed, having heard the sound they made as they knocked together inside the bag.</p> <p>We were given a clue.  For this tradition, the spoons would have been used two at a time (so not for supping soup then!)  How so?</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/ShGAmzZUU8I/AAAAAAAAPUQ/8p697I8O-1c/s1600-h/IMG_5542%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5542" border="0" alt="IMG_5542" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/ShGAnkkW3_I/AAAAAAAAPUU/lj1aJyvSHOU/IMG_5542_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>‘Maybe,’ suggested Tommy, ‘they filled up the two spoons with rice and used to shake them like maracas.’</p> <p>‘Or,’ Shahrbano thought, ‘they hit solid things with them to make a noise.  Or they hit them together.’</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/ShGApf1clnI/AAAAAAAAPUY/FKZbw61MWYs/s1600-h/IMG_5543%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5543" border="0" alt="IMG_5543" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/ShGAqUgL-1I/AAAAAAAAPUc/nepTBz8fCKs/IMG_5543_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Quentin, never one to miss an opportunity for a run-around, had this to offer.  ‘They might have used them to juggle eggs.  Maybe they threw the eggs up high and caught them in the spoon.’</p> <p>‘Oh yes,’ agreed Aabis.  ‘Or an egg and spoon race.  But,’ he continued, ‘that might have broken the eggs.’</p> <p>‘Perhaps they held the spoons in one hand and knocked them together like Spanish dancers.  You know; like castanets,’ suggested Amelia.</p> <p>And you know, that’s not far wrong.</p> <p>There is a special way of holding the two spoons in one hand so that they are ‘back-to-back’.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/ShGArg_ajiI/AAAAAAAAPUg/sXAdrnMrb1M/s1600-h/spoons%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="spoons" border="0" alt="spoons" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/ShGAsRmvzXI/AAAAAAAAPUk/i93yqJXwrkY/spoons_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="331" height="200" /></a> </p> <p>Then, depending on how you cup…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/ShGAtnh5kFI/AAAAAAAAPUo/C8OUKMmr_8U/s1600-h/IMG_5552%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5552" border="0" alt="IMG_5552" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/ShGAuZ9wJOI/AAAAAAAAPUs/sUjuD-UkTAQ/IMG_5552_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>or flatten…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/ShGAvjgMnjI/AAAAAAAAPUw/DCN5MK4h6GI/s1600-h/IMG_5551%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5551" border="0" alt="IMG_5551" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/ShGAw12yfEI/AAAAAAAAPU0/4N8LoxsCngM/IMG_5551_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>the palm of your other hand, you can change the pitch of the sound made as you hit it with the two spoons together.  Easy!</p> <p>First get the grip right.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/ShGAyIw82sI/AAAAAAAAPU4/lkkuCDOw5Hk/s1600-h/spoons1%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="spoons1" border="0" alt="spoons1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/ShGAzHRQOdI/AAAAAAAAPU8/7vSluqTyKfc/spoons1_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="372" height="372" /></a> </p> <p>Then see what different sounds you can make. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/ShGA0fiTu4I/AAAAAAAAPVA/KWqkrcbNDKA/s1600-h/spoons2%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="spoons2" border="0" alt="spoons2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/ShGA1Yg-2oI/AAAAAAAAPVE/gCW6QkRA42g/spoons2_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="372" height="211" /></a> </p> <p>You might even be able to make sounds by knocking the spoons together on a different part of your body.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/ShGA2sHT86I/AAAAAAAAPVI/poc4cS7jNDo/s1600-h/IMG_5560%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5560" border="0" alt="IMG_5560" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/ShGA3blGLUI/AAAAAAAAPVM/KnbFJaNzefs/IMG_5560_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>With thanks to Ryoma’s mum for the introduction to a <em>rhythmical</em> Russian tradition.</p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-74964475719723774992009-05-07T17:49:00.000+02:002009-05-11T09:57:52.219+02:00Through the fence<p>Having ensured that we were familiar with our immediate ‘inside-the-school-grounds’ surroundings, we decided to take a closer look at what we could see as we looked outwards from within the boundary.  A sunny Thursday saw us head outside across the football field and towards the fence, clipboards tucked safely under arms.  Our task?  To sketch some of the things that we could see; some of the things to be found in <em>our local area.</em></p> <p>The grass was suitably dry after a good few days without rain, so it was OK to sit as we worked…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZCZBQWOI/AAAAAAAAPQY/FfDiauubj6s/s1600-h/IMG_5334%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5334" border="0" alt="IMG_5334" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZDXJvhAI/AAAAAAAAPQc/31eufPhEL9U/IMG_5334_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>with clipboards balanced on knees.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZEuhxnzI/AAAAAAAAPQg/EYEY7O3Efrc/s1600-h/IMG_5327%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5327" border="0" alt="IMG_5327" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZFm_WodI/AAAAAAAAPQk/xFAka7AAJ5o/IMG_5327_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>So, what can we see?  Turn to the left…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZHCvFfDI/AAAAAAAAPQo/uGwHKpoE_BI/s1600-h/IMG_5333%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5333" border="0" alt="IMG_5333" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZH43PeCI/AAAAAAAAPQs/d5hVZDzZ4E8/IMG_5333_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>execute a hasty but artistic scribble and…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZJCQvlNI/AAAAAAAAPQw/A8AZAnMIVjA/s1600-h/IMG_5332%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5332" border="0" alt="IMG_5332" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZKZj7AxI/AAAAAAAAPQ0/qHlonPbI5cE/IMG_5332_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>there it is, recorded.</p> <p>Change the focus a bit; look more closely…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZLZQRjII/AAAAAAAAPQ4/uq_SzsV9iww/s1600-h/IMG_5336%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5336" border="0" alt="IMG_5336" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZMFSCcxI/AAAAAAAAPQ8/h0hKikQPdeM/IMG_5336_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>and you might even spot a real live orange growing on a tree in a pot.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZNYoLDNI/AAAAAAAAPRA/T3p3pzH803c/s1600-h/IMG_5337%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5337" border="0" alt="IMG_5337" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZOcMPELI/AAAAAAAAPRE/ElGoXJ_8qxM/IMG_5337_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Take a bit of time so that you get it just so.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZPu6nT0I/AAAAAAAAPRI/yWjufEv2ddA/s1600-h/IMG_5338%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5338" border="0" alt="IMG_5338" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZQ0-jsII/AAAAAAAAPRM/CfN_eAoedbM/IMG_5338_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZR2DrylI/AAAAAAAAPRQ/8B3Qw41zIxY/s1600-h/IMG_5335%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5335" border="0" alt="IMG_5335" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZTDiyQDI/AAAAAAAAPRU/qPlGfZ2BjvY/IMG_5335_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Why not make a few more…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZUuxN91I/AAAAAAAAPRY/qDGxZMViI9M/s1600-h/IMG_5339%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5339" border="0" alt="IMG_5339" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZVtX7YII/AAAAAAAAPRc/rlDAea3LtgM/IMG_5339_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZW-GyLqI/AAAAAAAAPRg/fY6Yd4qMxi4/s1600-h/IMG_5343%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5343" border="0" alt="IMG_5343" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZYTcFlKI/AAAAAAAAPRk/DeWEwUHFZfI/IMG_5343_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>changes….. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZaNSM0JI/AAAAAAAAPRo/9Vx-Y4NlPiI/s1600-h/IMG_5340%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5340" border="0" alt="IMG_5340" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZbFEbRAI/AAAAAAAAPRs/tgC2R0wSrZI/IMG_5340_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>of position?</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZcTJiCnI/AAAAAAAAPRw/3TFYOTPr4IA/s1600-h/IMG_5341%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5341" border="0" alt="IMG_5341" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZdJB2NrI/AAAAAAAAPR0/wzyqCzITaFs/IMG_5341_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZenCjNzI/AAAAAAAAPR4/-UfxfNPMKxU/s1600-h/IMG_5342%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5342" border="0" alt="IMG_5342" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgfZfeU9XxI/AAAAAAAAPR8/La9VH7h0sYw/IMG_5342_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>And now, what next?  Next, we will take a closer look at the view from the <em>outside.</em>  Let’s get out and about in <em>our local area.</em></p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-8607571415215221922009-05-06T21:31:00.000+02:002009-05-10T21:47:30.971+02:00Our Final Unit of Inquiry – a note for parents<p>As May begins, so we begin our final Unit of Inquiry of the year.  In it we will add to what we already know about Our Local Area.  The Transdisciplinary Theme is: ‘Where we are in place and time’ and the Central Idea is that ‘Our local area is unique’.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sgcr9_uyxrI/AAAAAAAAPPw/-HRqThdTt34/s1600-h/chateau%20de%20penthes%20019%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="chateau de penthes 019" border="0" alt="chateau de penthes 019" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sgcr-hY3DeI/AAAAAAAAPP0/1ZLmdnrVXBM/chateau%20de%20penthes%20019_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>During the unit we will pursue the following lines of inquiry:</p> <p>· What is in our local area</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sgcr_yInwpI/AAAAAAAAPP4/UCW1xorRMPo/s1600-h/122_22022.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="122_2202" border="0" alt="122_2202" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgcsA6z_f4I/AAAAAAAAPP8/flgpqLKIuq8/122_2202_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>· Mapping in our local area</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgcsB-L_3iI/AAAAAAAAPQA/OOUYgd49PS0/s1600-h/IMG_08112.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0811" border="0" alt="IMG_0811" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgcsCwdysUI/AAAAAAAAPQE/75qVgQPdSGo/IMG_0811_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>· Finding our way around our local area</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgcsDoHOjEI/AAAAAAAAPQI/e1uy8KS-X-c/s1600-h/chateau%20de%20penthes%20017%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="chateau de penthes 017" border="0" alt="chateau de penthes 017" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgcsFFLycQI/AAAAAAAAPQM/gaL-2OKe_Bg/chateau%20de%20penthes%20017_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Questions such as <em>What is there in our local area?  How can maps help us find our way around our local area?  How are things connected in our local area?  How can we help others enjoy discovering what is in our local area? </em>will be posed.</p> <p>As we work towards answering such questions, we will pool what we already know about our local area, find out how maps work, use different maps to locate specific places in our local area, make our own maps that we as well as others might use and most importantly, get out and about in the fresh air as we discover more of what our local area has to offer.</p> <p>During the unit a range of skills will be developed; from <em>Social skills</em> where children will work in a co-operative group and accept shared responsibility for the completion of a shared task; <i>Research skills</i> where children will collect data from a variety of sources; <i>Thinking skills</i> where children will analyse information and come to conclusions; <i>Communication skills</i> where children will recognise that maps are a way of presenting information; and <em>Self-management skills</em> where children will behave in a safe and responsible way when outside the school environment.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgcsHjBuyRI/AAAAAAAAPQQ/eO1UBx8M-zs/s1600-h/a%20weekend%20in%20lyon%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="a weekend in lyon" border="0" alt="a weekend in lyon" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SgcsIeQJXHI/AAAAAAAAPQU/BOwuVzND_nM/a%20weekend%20in%20lyon_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="139" /></a> </p> <p>The main emphasis of course will be on social studies, but there will also be opportunities for work across the curriculum, including using different tools to measure distances in maths and sketching to record what we see in art.</p> <p>Why not come with us on our journey as we learn about and then share some of the treasures of our local area?   </p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-82731458456521854042009-05-01T16:00:00.000+02:002009-05-05T08:13:05.525+02:00Welcoming in a new month – in traditional style<p>We were <em>so</em> proud of our recently-completed and ready-to-play <a href="http://cdnpyp2il.blogspot.com/2009/03/inside-rag-bag.html">'feely' games</a> and we were itching to share them with someone.  And who better than our mums and dads?  So a hastily-written ‘if-you-happen-to-be-passing-tomorrow’ kind of an invitation was written and children raced home clutching them in hot sticky mitts (well; kind of!)  “Come to collect me a little bit early” – was the gist – “and pop up to the classroom for a quick round of ‘Find it; Feel-it’ before home-time.”</p> <p>And we really did, right up until the very last moment, intend that to happen.  But then a bright, warm, sunny May Day afternoon got in the way.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sf_XK7-KkgI/AAAAAAAAPOg/L3yOz1vmZOg/s1600-h/IMG_5186%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5186" border="0" alt="IMG_5186" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sf_XL77rIBI/AAAAAAAAPOk/sVdQrLzRMsE/IMG_5186_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>You see we had tried out our new class <font color="#ff0000">m</font><font color="#00ff40">a</font><font color="#ff8000">y</font><font color="#ff00ff">p</font><font color="#0000ff">o</font><font color="#ffff00">l</font><font color="#8000ff">e</font> in PE the previous week – and it was <em>such</em> fun, that we just had to have another go.  Possibly even at <em>plaiting</em> this time.  Mid-way through the morning we trouped outside, lugged out the <font color="#ff0000">m</font><font color="#00ff40">a</font><font color="#ff8000">y</font><font color="#ff00ff">p</font><font color="#0000ff">o</font><font color="#ffff00">l</font><font color="#8000ff">e</font> and the music player (and even arranged for an extension cable) to the daisy-strewn grass…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sf_XMymSBBI/AAAAAAAAPOo/9ceQbmDmW5c/s1600-h/IMG_5258%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5258" border="0" alt="IMG_5258" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sf_XN92_47I/AAAAAAAAPOs/sT6PBLRs6p4/IMG_5258_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>and set things up.</p> <p></p> <p>And do you know what?  Things went so well (not <em>too</em> many knots or tangles) that we thought <em>maybe</em> our mums and dads might like to see us dancing round the <font color="#ff0000">m</font><font color="#00ff40">a</font><font color="#ff8000">y</font><font color="#ff00ff">p</font><font color="#0000ff">o</font><font color="#ffff00">l</font><font color="#8000ff">e</font> too.  After all, it was such a bright, warm, sunny May Day afternoon.</p> <p>And so, at the end of the day, with a group of slightly bewildered-looking mums and dads and a sister or two squatting on the edge of the sandpit, standing or sitting on the daisy-strewn grass in the shade, we eased ourselves into a more-or-less straight line, cranked up the music…..and skipped towards the <font color="#ff0000">m</font><font color="#00ff40">a</font><font color="#ff8000">y</font><font color="#ff00ff">p</font><font color="#0000ff">o</font><font color="#ffff00">l</font><font color="#8000ff">e</font> to collect our ribbons.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sf_XPP6z7DI/AAAAAAAAPOw/f_jzcTCNRhE/s1600-h/IMG_5115%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5115" border="0" alt="IMG_5115" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sf_XQBOQgkI/AAAAAAAAPO0/715pqXqYRAY/IMG_5115_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>With girls facing clockwise…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sf_XRrHvBHI/AAAAAAAAPO4/roObqCaYViA/s1600-h/IMG_5120%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5120" border="0" alt="IMG_5120" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sf_XSkxOJWI/AAAAAAAAPO8/CU47MThJgCs/IMG_5120_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>and boys in the opposite direction….. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sf_XUNbV78I/AAAAAAAAPPA/XVxOoVPOIwM/s1600-h/IMG_5121%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5121" border="0" alt="IMG_5121" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sf_XVVvoNdI/AAAAAAAAPPE/KbuHlmrb4Wk/IMG_5121_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>we then skipped our way through an immaculate rendition of The Barber’s <font color="#0000ff">P</font><font color="#ff0000">o</font><font color="#0000ff">l</font><font color="#ff0000">e</font>.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sf_XWTpmjfI/AAAAAAAAPPI/ziGRH6Wn3hI/s1600-h/IMG_5126%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5126" border="0" alt="IMG_5126" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sf_XXWtKvYI/AAAAAAAAPPM/UFnkl4VVYhM/IMG_5126_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>And we even wound it back again to where we had started!</p> <p>Feeling just a <em>little</em> bit proud of ourselves, our ears ringing to the clapping of parental hands, we crossed our proverbial fingers (well I did!) and had a go at weaving.  All those unders and overs in time with everyone else’s overs and unders.  All those opportunities for going horribly wrong.  And do you know what?  Well just take a look…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sf_XYzo9hNI/AAAAAAAAPPQ/hncWIinBYNA/s1600-h/IMG_5112%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5112" border="0" alt="IMG_5112" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/Sf_XZ-4E8WI/AAAAAAAAPPU/kth-Ahe4p4I/IMG_5112_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>at what we managed!  </p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-23077966666728701072009-04-25T19:52:00.000+02:002009-04-27T21:49:03.501+02:00Joe’s House<p>We had a <em>very</em> exciting proposal put to us the other day.  Amelia’s mum has been writing a book for children.  It is a book about children’s rights; specifically the right of all children to have somewhere safe to live with their family.   It is called Joe’s House.  This is what the front cover of the book will look like (the book has not yet been published).</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXzb6jxJVI/AAAAAAAAPI8/Mt9HxKtLzJc/s1600-h/AVPageView%2027042009%20173736.bmp%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="AVPageView 27042009 173736.bmp" border="0" alt="AVPageView 27042009 173736.bmp" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXzc3ef1FI/AAAAAAAAPJA/DDRr7vG0YAA/AVPageView%2027042009%20173736.bmp_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a>  </p> <p>The book tells of Millie (that’s Amelia!) who lives at number 42 Bridge Street (which is where Amelia used to live in Portugal – although of course the street would have been <em>rua da ponte</em> in Portuguese).  It describes her journey to school each day, with her mum and her baby sister Lottie (yes, you’ve guessed it – Lottie is really Amelia’s sister).  Can you see Millie’s dad watering the plants on the balcony?</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXzd9XI7iI/AAAAAAAAPNI/KlAa564nLA8/s1600-h/AVPageView%2027042009%20173055.bmp%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="AVPageView 27042009 173055.bmp" border="0" alt="AVPageView 27042009 173055.bmp" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXzfN-4zSI/AAAAAAAAPNQ/r9Swm4tXTis/AVPageView%2027042009%20173055.bmp_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="367" height="193" /></a> </p> <p>Millie’s walk to school each day takes her past Mr Pastry’s cafe at number 36, Mr and Mrs Apple, the grocers, whose shop is at number 32 and Mrs Grey who lives at number 30.  </p> <p>In the book (and yes, in real life too!) Millie has<em> quite</em> an imagination.  On Monday morning, for example, she was a rabbit, bouncing along the road to school.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXzg8iM69I/AAAAAAAAPJM/qnVWyspuZ6c/s1600-h/AVPageView%2027042009%20174830.bmp%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="AVPageView 27042009 174830.bmp" border="0" alt="AVPageView 27042009 174830.bmp" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXziryMjGI/AAAAAAAAPJQ/MT5og7IvEi8/AVPageView%2027042009%20174830.bmp_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>We hadn’t got all that far into the story (Millie the rabbit had just bounced past Mrs Grey from number 30) when we reached a rather odd-looking page.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXzjUdpN1I/AAAAAAAAPNY/Ix23vfox-8A/s1600-h/AVPageView%2027042009%20175426.bmp%5B12%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="AVPageView 27042009 175426.bmp" border="0" alt="AVPageView 27042009 175426.bmp" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXzkSSjNEI/AAAAAAAAPNc/-IRl-_TcfaU/AVPageView%2027042009%20175426.bmp_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="367" height="208" /></a> </p> <p>It had words, but no pictures.  Hmm!</p> <p>As I said at the start of this post, the book hasn’t yet been published.  This is because it isn’t quite finished.  It has all the words it needs, but some of the pages don’t yet have their illustrations.</p> <p>Lisa (that’s Amelia’s mum) explained to me that she was thinking about filling in the gaps in the story with pictures done by children.  Possibly even the children from Class 2i!</p> <p>Well of course, we couldn’t let that proposal pass us by, now could we?</p> <p>But first we would have to read the story again even more carefully.  The first ‘problem page’ we came to told how Millie (the rabbit) held mum’s hand as she bounced past the BIG dog from number 25.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXzl48w9MI/AAAAAAAAPJc/XtlnrsCA3C8/s1600-h/IMG_5013%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5013" border="0" alt="IMG_5013" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXznekrAKI/AAAAAAAAPJg/__g51AKKInI/IMG_5013_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="239" /></a> </p> <p>Well, you would, wouldn’t you.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXzpE79l2I/AAAAAAAAPJk/lBRxmtdouyo/s1600-h/IMG_5003%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5003" border="0" alt="IMG_5003" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXzqd9MypI/AAAAAAAAPJo/kDNefykY_jc/IMG_5003_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="258" /></a> </p> <p>On with the story, to the part where Millie the rabbit bounces past Joe, sitting as usual on his park bench.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfX2HNVHrYI/AAAAAAAAPNo/mJVxwVmziD4/s1600-h/AVPageView%2027042009%20182447.bmp%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="AVPageView 27042009 182447.bmp" border="0" alt="AVPageView 27042009 182447.bmp" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXzr5uA2QI/AAAAAAAAPNw/W2obyunjoJs/AVPageView%2027042009%20182447.bmp_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="204" /></a> </p> <p>Joe is a little boy who has no home.  He ‘lives’ in the park.  Amelia told us that Joe really exists, although in real life he is a homeless man and not a little boy.</p> <p>On Tuesday, Millie was a lion on her way to school.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXztNy98rI/AAAAAAAAPJw/k8Cij4P2hDs/s1600-h/AVPageView%2027042009%20183234.bmp%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="AVPageView 27042009 183234.bmp" border="0" alt="AVPageView 27042009 183234.bmp" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXzuro2N_I/AAAAAAAAPJ0/LrtkajziFTo/AVPageView%2027042009%20183234.bmp_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>As she passed Joe, Millie said, ‘I’ve been thinking – Joe could come and live with us, in our spare room.’</p> <p>On Wednesday she was a mouse.  ‘What are you today?’ asked Joe.  </p> <p>‘A mouse of course,’ squeaked Millie.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXzv88PTZI/AAAAAAAAPJ4/Wox6JovWqvo/s1600-h/AVPageView%2027042009%20183245.bmp%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="AVPageView 27042009 183245.bmp" border="0" alt="AVPageView 27042009 183245.bmp" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXzw6mzvJI/AAAAAAAAPJ8/g_4uy9i3k5Q/AVPageView%2027042009%20183245.bmp_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>On Thursday, Millie was a beautiful butterfly.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXzynycPdI/AAAAAAAAPKA/TicBFMyJ79c/s1600-h/IMG_5010%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5010" border="0" alt="IMG_5010" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXz0XmhZJI/AAAAAAAAPKE/UPH3Vgigjag/IMG_5010_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="254" /></a> </p> <p>She fluttered past Mr Pastry, Mrs Apple, Mrs Grey…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXz2CvKpVI/AAAAAAAAPKI/mP3YRvz_KYs/s1600-h/IMG_5005%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5005" border="0" alt="IMG_5005" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXz3Wp02pI/AAAAAAAAPKM/Qi8VdBHlZ70/IMG_5005_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="260" /></a> </p> <p>and the big dog…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXz5IR5mJI/AAAAAAAAPKQ/EyAU8EF76IU/s1600-h/IMG_5008%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5008" border="0" alt="IMG_5008" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXz6dRvtOI/AAAAAAAAPKU/2pMRbH_bc7k/IMG_5008_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="258" /></a></p> <p>before spotting Joe.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXz8TcfHGI/AAAAAAAAPKY/M-OQHCghbG0/s1600-h/IMG_4998%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4998" border="0" alt="IMG_4998" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXz9uDPeeI/AAAAAAAAPKc/7xe08NtGrWo/IMG_4998_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" height="255" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Friday was dress-up day at school.  Millie wore her snow princess outfit.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfXz_nTyu4I/AAAAAAAAPKg/yfdsrmc-seM/s1600-h/IMG_5009%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5009" border="0" alt="IMG_5009" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfX0A1mbxkI/AAAAAAAAPKk/SbjcX7qEJU4/IMG_5009_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="341" height="257" /></a> </p> <p>She wasn’t even afraid when she went past the BIG dog at number 25.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfX0CkWHboI/AAAAAAAAPKo/Gb0HS_LIGvg/s1600-h/IMG_5001%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5001" border="0" alt="IMG_5001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfX0D2M2h8I/AAAAAAAAPKs/nNCPjX-PBWk/IMG_5001_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="254" /></a>  </p> <p>After all, she had her magic wand with her!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfX0FasD6QI/AAAAAAAAPKw/JDTzFyvoGcg/s1600-h/IMG_5004%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5004" border="0" alt="IMG_5004" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfX0GqR4JhI/AAAAAAAAPK4/JGzJgSRWbRc/IMG_5004_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="335" height="252" /></a></p> <p>‘What are you pretending to be today?’ Joe asked her.  </p> <p>‘I’m not pretending.  I’m a real Princess,’ replied Millie.</p> <p>‘Where’s your castle?’ laughed Joe.</p> <p>‘I don’t live in a castle; I live at boring old number 42.’ she replied.</p> <p>And so to the last page of the book.  Another blank one.  At the other end of the park Millie said to Mum, ‘I’ve had another thought. Maybe Joe doesn’t want a house. Maybe he wants a castle instead!’ </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfX0HQEhBEI/AAAAAAAAPN4/CB7-qfL3GxY/s1600-h/AVPageView%2027042009%20193948.bmp%5B11%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="AVPageView 27042009 193948.bmp" border="0" alt="AVPageView 27042009 193948.bmp" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfX0IYrr2II/AAAAAAAAPOA/vDHz6NivkHA/AVPageView%2027042009%20193948.bmp_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="366" height="203" /></a> </p> <p>And maybe <em>you</em> could paint a picture that would fit those words.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfX0JVgTKaI/AAAAAAAAPLE/3VIQZhx7rDg/s1600-h/AVPageView%2027042009%20195103.bmp%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="AVPageView 27042009 195103.bmp" border="0" alt="AVPageView 27042009 195103.bmp" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfX0KKRMDqI/AAAAAAAAPLI/pgkSp6aUUJU/AVPageView%2027042009%20195103.bmp_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="244" /></a></p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-88879752405218573542009-04-24T23:30:00.000+02:002009-04-26T23:31:27.994+02:00From winter to summer in two short weeks<p>Having spent the last Friday evening before our Spring Break huddled round the fire in multiple layers of assorted clothing, following a return to sub-zero temperatures, imagine my surprise on our return a mere two weeks later.  Erstwhile bare trees…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQZYJgPqI/AAAAAAAAPGk/rWBSOv5aXWA/s1600-h/IMG_4392%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4392" border="0" alt="IMG_4392" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQaq60oHI/AAAAAAAAPGo/PxEHB53MljY/IMG_4392_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>are now clothèd all in green (ho ho).  The <em>mauvaises herbes</em> are all <em>poussing</em> like mad.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQbnu-IYI/AAAAAAAAPGs/60MXJABI7vM/s1600-h/IMG_5022%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5022" border="0" alt="IMG_5022" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQcoiz9XI/AAAAAAAAPGw/4CdhDxQBZVk/IMG_5022_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>And the school garden is virtually unrecognisable.</p> <p>Tulips…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQd6D7d8I/AAAAAAAAPG0/S7utKWK9_uE/s1600-h/IMG_4974%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4974" border="0" alt="IMG_4974" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQe2ph-VI/AAAAAAAAPG4/XGCzPPCoW7U/IMG_4974_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>and narcissi…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQf---nnI/AAAAAAAAPG8/CFJ4JbAQdy8/s1600-h/IMG_4992%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4992" border="0" alt="IMG_4992" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQgm_6lMI/AAAAAAAAPHA/HLLS1z1zHEY/IMG_4992_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>are nodding their pretty heads.  The allium gigantium…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQhjDy0-I/AAAAAAAAPHE/YO8bg-SLmvU/s1600-h/IMG_4988%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4988" border="0" alt="IMG_4988" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQineZ7JI/AAAAAAAAPHI/oARMTewVmM8/IMG_4988_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>looks fit to bust and Chloe’s sparkly tee shirt…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQj3NSjJI/AAAAAAAAPHM/i4KWCsHFl68/s1600-h/IMG_4980%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4980" border="0" alt="IMG_4980" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQk8k1IkI/AAAAAAAAPHQ/-s0PyMLhjQg/IMG_4980_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>is glinting in the sunlight.</p> <p>Those radish seeds we planted?  Almost ready to be munched upon.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQmBC6OsI/AAAAAAAAPHU/Z2nFX_IvLUQ/s1600-h/IMG_4975%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4975" border="0" alt="IMG_4975" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQnW0tMoI/AAAAAAAAPHY/AIAhJsh5wQo/IMG_4975_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>The garlic?  Heading skywards.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQoXtZ9QI/AAAAAAAAPHc/Vw76zXvC_pE/s1600-h/IMG_4959%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4959" border="0" alt="IMG_4959" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQpVmjNlI/AAAAAAAAPHg/v5T2Sook2XQ/IMG_4959_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>The well-watered herbs obviously relished their pre-vacation soaking…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQqn-eFII/AAAAAAAAPHk/QWab9He0YlI/s1600-h/IMG_4984%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4984" border="0" alt="IMG_4984" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQr4cdBuI/AAAAAAAAPHo/dEXiHsSBq_M/IMG_4984_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQta1jiwI/AAAAAAAAPHs/Ri1o2CsqFHg/s1600-h/IMG_4986%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4986" border="0" alt="IMG_4986" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQuZFeBxI/AAAAAAAAPHw/8Fr3M_YZkNE/IMG_4986_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>and the transplanted (by another class) chard….. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQvp07SUI/AAAAAAAAPH0/PWz20wQY8vQ/s1600-h/IMG_4961%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4961" border="0" alt="IMG_4961" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQwrQP7RI/AAAAAAAAPH4/uzcqldPjDao/IMG_4961_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>and cabbage seedlings are glistening and shiny with health.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQxrhyJXI/AAAAAAAAPH8/9Ofd9qfyJsA/s1600-h/IMG_4989%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4989" border="0" alt="IMG_4989" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQy7SyzGI/AAAAAAAAPIA/zg7m5pi9FZg/IMG_4989_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>But we had work to do.  Trenches to be dug and marked out in preparation for the planting of flower seeds.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQ0JH2VWI/AAAAAAAAPIE/dyEMKxa36ao/s1600-h/IMG_4976%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4976" border="0" alt="IMG_4976" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQ1NmQTTI/AAAAAAAAPII/RzidzrtJQw0/IMG_4976_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>And a challenge.  In the form of a handful of bamboo canes…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQ2UXaOcI/AAAAAAAAPIM/8gH4eE7kIUo/s1600-h/IMG_4965%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4965" border="0" alt="IMG_4965" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQ3n5VieI/AAAAAAAAPIQ/4zP9JZoZ7o0/IMG_4965_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>and the biggest ball of string I have ever seen…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQ40CKKPI/AAAAAAAAPIU/zub_QLO_xn8/s1600-h/IMG_4964%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4964" border="0" alt="IMG_4964" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQ5z5oxjI/AAAAAAAAPIY/32RI5sdiAmk/IMG_4964_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>which need to be turned into ‘tepees’ for runner beans to spiral up.</p> <p>What to do?  A team effort is definitely required.  Someone to hold the canes steady…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQ64Rw3QI/AAAAAAAAPIc/IuUIqJEj_GM/s1600-h/IMG_4971%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4971" border="0" alt="IMG_4971" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQ73pds-I/AAAAAAAAPIg/1bKcd8-ex9E/IMG_4971_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>while lots of hands work with the string…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQ9C019CI/AAAAAAAAPIk/V54y1Hwnsrk/s1600-h/IMG_4970%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4970" border="0" alt="IMG_4970" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQ-DpVbJI/AAAAAAAAPIo/76jXYbDwl-M/IMG_4970_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>winding it round and around…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTQ_SbelWI/AAAAAAAAPIs/fKqSBnj1soE/s1600-h/IMG_4978%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4978" border="0" alt="IMG_4978" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTRAGVcDiI/AAAAAAAAPIw/uRgbgoTLoRw/IMG_4978_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>and around!</p> <p>And just look here.  OUR runner beans, that we planted <em>in the classroom</em> in September, and which survived both the winter <em>and</em> spring breaks; temperatures which were too hot and too cold; being given too much as well as too little water…..somehow, against all the odds, had a sudden spurt of life and have now been transplanted outside and teased up one of the cane tepees.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTRBI-xDRI/AAAAAAAAPI0/miywu_VKXd4/s1600-h/IMG_4983%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4983" border="0" alt="IMG_4983" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfTRByCZxqI/AAAAAAAAPI4/stOkS-rIJc8/IMG_4983_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>One final thought, though.  I hope we have spiralled the beans in the right direction…..</p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-68698676502839302472009-04-21T18:46:00.000+02:002009-04-27T21:48:13.495+02:00Solving a couple of problems with glass jars and tin cans<p>Well, we now know what (or should I say who?) a Stig is.  Stig lives in a <strong>dark</strong>, <font color="#808080">smoky</font> shelter in a corner of the chalk pit.  He collects and re-uses the things that have been thrown away into the bottom of the pit.  Ask someone in Class 2i to tell you how he used the mudguard of a bicycle and the tube of a vacuum cleaner to collect his drinking water!</p> <p>One day, Barney gathered together some things that his grandmother no longer wanted; glass jam jars and empty tin cans. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfSQL9kymUI/AAAAAAAAPF8/hFNJAGkc2bM/s1600-h/Desktop%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Desktop" border="0" alt="Desktop" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfSQM8-wubI/AAAAAAAAPGA/zxHubxk8pz0/Desktop_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="313" height="189" /></a> </p> <p>He thought that Stig might be able to use them for storing things.  He was quite annoyed therefore, when Stig, fascinated to discover how to use a tin-opener…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfSQOKK5LHI/AAAAAAAAPGE/TwmdgDBCako/s1600-h/Desktop1%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Desktop1" border="0" alt="Desktop1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfSQPCSSdwI/AAAAAAAAPGI/FDGOn3_1Bf4/Desktop1_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="312" height="189" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>proceeded to take off all the bottoms of the tins.  “You’ve spoiled all the tins now!  You can’t keep things in tins with no bottoms!”  What <em>was</em> the use of a lot of tin tubes with no ends?</p> <p>Remembering what it was like in the shelter (<strong>dark</strong> and <font color="#808080">full of smoke</font>) we wondered how the tin ‘tubes’ and empty glass jars might be used to solve those two problems.</p> <p>Aabis thought about the problem of the cave being dark.  Maybe Stig and Barney would ‘put the cans out in line from Stig’s house and then the light of the sun will come in and it will go in the glass which is held up on a rope, and reflect.’</p> <p>Quentin suggested that they could ‘take two sticks, make a fire and put the jar over the fire and make a light.’  I wonder…..</p> <p>Ryoma would put a candle in one of the jars.  A similar effect - <em>perhaps</em>!</p> <p>Amelia was rather more <em>creative</em> in her thoughts.  ‘Put a jar in the roof, catch some glow worms and put three in each jar.’</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfSQQXOarbI/AAAAAAAAPGM/JJ88mV_sibo/s1600-h/IMG_4993%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4993" border="0" alt="IMG_4993" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfSQRHgzxwI/AAAAAAAAPGQ/P8Ghr6ov-AA/IMG_4993_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Dylan would make a hole in the side of the cave and put the jar in the hole so that the light shines through.</p> <p>Tommy had a similar plan for making the cave brighter.  ‘Dig a hole to outside through the wall.  Put glass jars in the hole…..then get some fire and <em>melt </em>the jars to make a window.’  Hmm!</p> <p>He also felt he could solve the problem of the smoke.  ‘Put the cans together and the smoke goes up the tube through the roof.’</p> <p>Shahrbano too felt that they could ‘take the cans and glue them together to make a chimney.’</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfSQR-9KEVI/AAAAAAAAPGU/3taGG5sRcJ4/s1600-h/IMG_4995%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4995" border="0" alt="IMG_4995" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfSQSglIoFI/AAAAAAAAPGY/fyUQHTnSTzg/IMG_4995_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="58" /></a> </p> <p>Martin and Virginia also would use the tins to solve the smoke problem.  They would make a hole in the roof, stick the tins together and put them in the hole to take the smoke out.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfSQT3_z8lI/AAAAAAAAPGc/yEcXMtH81Y8/s1600-h/IMG_4994%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4994" border="0" alt="IMG_4994" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfSQU62VrZI/AAAAAAAAPGg/EEuDJkDZz0Q/IMG_4994_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Of course, <em>you</em> will have to read the book to find out how close we got to the way in which Barney and Stig solved the problems.  What I <em>will</em> say, however, is that some of us weren’t far wrong!</p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-68255294082125836492009-04-03T17:18:00.000+02:002009-04-27T21:52:20.068+02:00Trouble in the vegetable rack<p>Thursday evening; hunting in the dark recesses of the vegetable rack for a clove or two of garlic, to perk up the dinner.  What did I find?  <font color="#008000">Green</font> shoots.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR75_daF9I/AAAAAAAAPDA/HSNxnT3noZM/s1600-h/IMG_1450%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1450" border="0" alt="IMG_1450" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR768EM6HI/AAAAAAAAPDE/bv1eDXiHiws/IMG_1450_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>I suspect that the dark had confused the garlic into thinking that it was underground and needing to ‘pousse’ or sprout.  Which, although it meant that I had to be a bit more creative with my flavourings than planned that evening, gave me ‘food for thought’ for the next day’s gardening tasks.  Perhaps it would continue to shoot, send down roots and fatten up in time for some later dinner if we were to plant it.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR78MoWiuI/AAAAAAAAPDI/T8GTvbWfdIk/s1600-h/IMG_1459%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1459" border="0" alt="IMG_1459" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR79CiMUtI/AAAAAAAAPDM/_TjRH6TUSOc/IMG_1459_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>So, let’s poke some of the sprouted cloves into our newly-prepared seed beds…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR7-Rkj8II/AAAAAAAAPDQ/BvK7bWZRxGA/s1600-h/IMG_1472%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1472" border="0" alt="IMG_1472" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8DO7W_KI/AAAAAAAAPDU/CJHCNdr-QNo/IMG_1472_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>and water them well!</p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8Etmp0PI/AAAAAAAAPDY/xxZcJu8vaiQ/s1600-h/IMG_1484%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1484" border="0" alt="IMG_1484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8FqSWxrI/AAAAAAAAPDc/PqCNsFw2pYM/IMG_1484_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a>  </p> <p>And while we are at it, we had better make use of our prepared (raked and carefully measured) beds and a sunny afternoon, and get some seeds planted too.  Radishes, carrots and onions.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR_EBYmtQI/AAAAAAAAPFM/xdVNRDxY45s/s1600-h/IMG_1461%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1461" border="0" alt="IMG_1461" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR_FbRAv-I/AAAAAAAAPFQ/njZ3LaMEjQM/IMG_1461_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a>   <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR_HdltOtI/AAAAAAAAPFU/nMMC8zgEfdA/s1600-h/IMG_1457%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1457" border="0" alt="IMG_1457" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR_IqZVUEI/AAAAAAAAPFY/nnQEEMLaKe0/IMG_1457_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR_KIKMQfI/AAAAAAAAPFc/zSxxzm881kU/s1600-h/IMG_1460%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1460" border="0" alt="IMG_1460" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR_LcRh3zI/AAAAAAAAPFg/iY8eNmoQVfo/IMG_1460_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Some seeds are <font size="1">tiny </font><font size="2">so they need to be sprinkled onto the soil from a cupped palm.</font></p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8ShsJ0TI/AAAAAAAAPEA/9w9ImeaUXfE/s1600-h/IMG_1475%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1475" border="0" alt="IMG_1475" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8T0dT5yI/AAAAAAAAPEE/jnTbgVuLkKY/IMG_1475_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8VLO4_II/AAAAAAAAPEI/UDPHuzWyJgU/s1600-h/IMG_1476%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1476" border="0" alt="IMG_1476" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8WJ1SsoI/AAAAAAAAPEM/qNZsDv3Mbmw/IMG_1476_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>And then watered.  Well.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR_NIRm8YI/AAAAAAAAPFk/9KRa-cCROI0/s1600-h/IMG_1502%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1502" border="0" alt="IMG_1502" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR_ONXCC6I/AAAAAAAAPFo/KAtqs-u4V2U/IMG_1502_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Other seeds are big enough to be poked into the soil one-by-one.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8aN8PrRI/AAAAAAAAPEc/o-AlBl_TIIE/s1600-h/IMG_1480%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1480" border="0" alt="IMG_1480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8bXgVn6I/AAAAAAAAPEg/yiAKsK-rv48/IMG_1480_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>And then watered.  Well.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8dBAweTI/AAAAAAAAPEk/qPQ0NpAG6rU/s1600-h/IMG_1496%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1496" border="0" alt="IMG_1496" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8fXY2w0I/AAAAAAAAPEo/69SlZh8dLVI/IMG_1496_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>And while we have got the watering cans out…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR_Pt3VEpI/AAAAAAAAPFs/Vqn_2wx4KDc/s1600-h/IMG_1469%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1469" border="0" alt="IMG_1469" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR_QkVOlxI/AAAAAAAAPFw/Mra8KtZDH10/IMG_1469_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>I guess it wouldn’t hurt to give the rest of the garden a bit of water.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8g8E3BtI/AAAAAAAAPEs/PyZGuwyANj0/s1600-h/IMG_1487%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1487" border="0" alt="IMG_1487" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8iPpKAeI/AAAAAAAAPEw/kSTgtH7fVKU/IMG_1487_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8jgwWgnI/AAAAAAAAPE0/2l-o5GSf4J8/s1600-h/IMG_1488%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1488" border="0" alt="IMG_1488" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8kjncuKI/AAAAAAAAPE4/CedYPWmIuic/IMG_1488_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8mOx_vwI/AAAAAAAAPE8/FVeO3sgG2Xk/s1600-h/IMG_1490%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1490" border="0" alt="IMG_1490" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8nBTsoBI/AAAAAAAAPFA/rxm4svLpxRU/IMG_1490_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR_R0himYI/AAAAAAAAPF0/U7pOID6sqe0/s1600-h/IMG_1485%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1485" border="0" alt="IMG_1485" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR_TSM12xI/AAAAAAAAPF4/CS6NhdSH46s/IMG_1485_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>After all, there hasn’t been much rain lately.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8ooBVMYI/AAAAAAAAPFE/8GhwtnK9iXI/s1600-h/IMG_1468%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1468" border="0" alt="IMG_1468" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SfR8pkwyGZI/AAAAAAAAPFI/rbyA3-RrFbs/IMG_1468_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-26049928385472741242009-03-31T19:54:00.000+02:002009-04-01T07:34:11.953+02:00A different kind of strength<p>A weekend purge of my supplies cupboard (<em>very</em> therapeutic; thoroughly recommended!) turned up a forgotten supply of scritchy-scratchy sandpaper.  Which was crying out to be put to some use.</p> <p>What could be better than to use it to test the strength of paper?  But hang on; haven’t we done that already?</p> <p>Well, yes – and no.  Yes, we have found out the <a href="http://cdnpyp2il.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-strong-is-paper.html">strength of paper</a>.  But this is a different kind of strength.  This time we will be seeing how may times a strip of paper can be rubbed against a piece of sandpaper before it tears, or <em>wears out</em>.</p> <p>Again we will test our familiar three kinds of paper; pink A4 writing paper, newspaper and paper towel.</p> <p>Each strip of paper will be rubbed back and forth across a piece of sandpaper (which has been taped over a block of wood to make it easier to hold).</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8iF4m_SI/AAAAAAAAPBY/OdLowKoBgM0/s1600-h/IMG_14292.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1429" border="0" alt="IMG_1429" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8jEXaspI/AAAAAAAAPBc/e5_kcPymdac/IMG_1429_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8j2tAquI/AAAAAAAAPBg/Nddejy0e7qo/s1600-h/IMG_14302.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1430" border="0" alt="IMG_1430" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8k3_FQaI/AAAAAAAAPBk/yI3zEsTTlRI/IMG_1430_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>A careful note will be made of the number of rubs needed to <em>wear out</em> each type of paper.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8lzTJDyI/AAAAAAAAPBo/N8U-LzIftsg/s1600-h/IMG_14442.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1444" border="0" alt="IMG_1444" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8mpbUOoI/AAAAAAAAPBs/KllihBybypA/IMG_1444_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>At the same time, a careful observation will be made of what happens to the paper as it is being rubbed across the sandpaper.  Look what happened to this piece of pink A4 paper:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8nEgqemI/AAAAAAAAPBw/hBkriI_rNxc/s1600-h/IMG_14332.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1433" border="0" alt="IMG_1433" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8nlwxz5I/AAAAAAAAPB0/FdRk2MGrFME/IMG_1433_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8pDts_VI/AAAAAAAAPB4/DiYjLqzyYAs/s1600-h/IMG_14362.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1436" border="0" alt="IMG_1436" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8p54_wWI/AAAAAAAAPB8/sRUWHkgwl6o/IMG_1436_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>How was that different from what happened to the paper towel?</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8q3hc0yI/AAAAAAAAPCA/a5eq2yk8FJE/s1600-h/IMG_14342.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1434" border="0" alt="IMG_1434" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8rpk7HnI/AAAAAAAAPCE/qsTywnaSi0s/IMG_1434_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8sCqDYII/AAAAAAAAPCI/5sYGKyoTgSs/s1600-h/IMG_14372.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1437" border="0" alt="IMG_1437" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8sxs40tI/AAAAAAAAPCM/LF0hyMSqEU0/IMG_1437_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>And what about the newspaper?</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8tS4OQ_I/AAAAAAAAPCQ/f0DSEzhh3LQ/s1600-h/IMG_14432.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1443" border="0" alt="IMG_1443" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8uaPlwvI/AAAAAAAAPCU/OqcyVLrRKxQ/IMG_1443_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Now ask yourself; did each group get the same results?  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8u84FjaI/AAAAAAAAPCY/yzi6ZuyKJVI/s1600-h/IMG_14452.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1445" border="0" alt="IMG_1445" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8vXOiSJI/AAAAAAAAPCc/cBFEJIQsWtQ/IMG_1445_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>   <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8weiZkAI/AAAAAAAAPCg/WBY6ZwysNs4/s1600-h/IMG_1448%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1448" border="0" alt="IMG_1448" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8xLHCihI/AAAAAAAAPCk/iHrLx9mgBdw/IMG_1448_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Why do you think this was?  Quentin told us that he and his group rubbed their strips of paper across the <em>edge</em> of the sandpaper block.  They rubbed <em>really</em> fast!  Their paper strips wore out after just a few rubs.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8x1F0PJI/AAAAAAAAPCo/Qvy1SEhTqYw/s1600-h/IMG_1447%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1447" border="0" alt="IMG_1447" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8ybIE_1I/AAAAAAAAPCs/uJ66FUjS0WA/IMG_1447_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>    <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8y3iekNI/AAAAAAAAPCw/7_AUZRcRXO4/s1600-h/IMG_14352.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1435" border="0" alt="IMG_1435" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL8zlQdCyI/AAAAAAAAPC0/tehEwGWSXZw/IMG_1435_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Tatiana and her group were still rubbing away when everyone else was finished<em>.</em>  They rubbed <em>across the top</em> of the sandpaper block and quite <em>gently</em><em>.</em></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL80HB2sTI/AAAAAAAAPC4/tHRI5p8M1Lw/s1600-h/IMG_1446%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1446" border="0" alt="IMG_1446" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdL805VWTgI/AAAAAAAAPC8/BRMz365GKFY/IMG_1446_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="182" height="182" /></a> </p> <p>Now, I’m not sure about you, but I certainly know who to ask the next time I have any woodwork that needs sanding!</p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-36738107489110673242009-03-27T16:00:00.000+01:002009-03-31T10:31:28.316+02:00Preparing the beds<p>Under the watchful gaze of the friendly scarecrow, our winter wheat is continuing to flourish.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUjvnmvQI/AAAAAAAAO_g/1PgzFnWMoL0/s1600-h/IMG_43302.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4330" border="0" alt="IMG_4330" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUkLlGNUI/AAAAAAAAO_k/arPqtwn-MBE/IMG_4330_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Behind his (her?) back, all is busyness, as 24 eager Gardener’s Apprentices…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUlO_RrcI/AAAAAAAAO_o/dA1yRQVo2a8/s1600-h/IMG_43682.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4368" border="0" alt="IMG_4368" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUmgJqNbI/AAAAAAAAO_s/5Y6WJ-jcqTQ/IMG_4368_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>learn that today’s task is to ready the raised beds for Spring planting.  What, though, lies behind the mysterious shadow (a welcome moment of sunshine, that!) in the red plastic bucket?</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUnKAvf-I/AAAAAAAAO_w/cefFM73Ip-w/s1600-h/IMG_43672.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4367" border="0" alt="IMG_4367" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUn_CyzDI/AAAAAAAAO_0/evIwd3nkiEQ/IMG_4367_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a></p> <p>And why would we need to use a <em>measuring tape</em> as well as a rake?</p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUomoI-BI/AAAAAAAAO_4/UIVzVIzBjVg/s1600-h/IMG_43312.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4331" border="0" alt="IMG_4331" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUpB6E_8I/AAAAAAAAO_8/OO4AIFRHX1Q/IMG_4331_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>A peek inside the bucket revealed coils of string and scissors.  Hmm.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUplFyxUI/AAAAAAAAPAA/qvCI1sUh6q4/s1600-h/IMG_43432.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4343" border="0" alt="IMG_4343" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUqGQK6qI/AAAAAAAAPAE/Uxa93hivVOk/IMG_4343_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>What <em>exactly</em> would we be doing?  Well, the beds would have to be raked…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUq9r53fI/AAAAAAAAPAI/6cbWY6vKDZI/s1600-h/IMG_43372.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4337" border="0" alt="IMG_4337" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUrgFYNWI/AAAAAAAAPAM/L8Vy5KiUj8k/IMG_4337_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a></p> <p>and any remaining large stones removed.  Fat worms, though, would stay firmly put.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the dimensions of the beds (the length and the width) would have to be measured.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUsdSOINI/AAAAAAAAPAQ/ezdJSazuPzc/s1600-h/IMG_43332.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4333" border="0" alt="IMG_4333" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUtOQ4gII/AAAAAAAAPAU/6kgWIFucHK8/IMG_4333_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>String would be cut to size…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUt5eruQI/AAAAAAAAPAY/lzbGclemOgc/s1600-h/IMG_43352.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4335" border="0" alt="IMG_4335" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUuZw-0hI/AAAAAAAAPAc/xd6j2qOa_rI/IMG_4335_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a></p> <p>and tied…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUu4kzT4I/AAAAAAAAPAg/vB34g9YsjF0/s1600-h/IMG_43342.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4334" border="0" alt="IMG_4334" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUvb1BpvI/AAAAAAAAPAk/nsS22otnMrs/IMG_4334_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>criss-cross across the bed…..</p> <p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUwJtoi7I/AAAAAAAAPAo/GAr1v68wA1k/s1600-h/IMG_43362.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4336" border="0" alt="IMG_4336" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUwmvscnI/AAAAAAAAPAs/wlnyu9sNL94/IMG_4336_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>in order to mark out the planting areas.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUxCDLi5I/AAAAAAAAPAw/S-smAHHXrSM/s1600-h/IMG_43422.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4342" border="0" alt="IMG_4342" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUxj2jorI/AAAAAAAAPA0/1SdXR05athY/IMG_4342_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Sweet William plants…..</p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUy2KucEI/AAAAAAAAPA4/29IARYj5hhQ/s1600-h/IMG_43662.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4366" border="0" alt="IMG_4366" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUzh7hBbI/AAAAAAAAPA8/3qUFpfV7rS0/IMG_4366_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>and fuzzy-leafed sage…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHU0NW8xLI/AAAAAAAAPBA/PMNEzs7AG4s/s1600-h/IMG_43642.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4364" border="0" alt="IMG_4364" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHU1ChDieI/AAAAAAAAPBE/NCKevnb0058/IMG_4364_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>are ready to plant.  Seed potatoes…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHU1nxVoMI/AAAAAAAAPBI/0RXJaYGnr2o/s1600-h/IMG_40492.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4049" border="0" alt="IMG_4049" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHU2LBfpTI/AAAAAAAAPBM/D6cyT8bZ1uY/IMG_4049_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>and peas, radish, lettuce and carrot seeds….</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHU21k9u9I/AAAAAAAAPBQ/5gtZ9BZF3iA/s1600-h/IMG_14742.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1474" border="0" alt="IMG_1474" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHU39D-LEI/AAAAAAAAPBU/8Td-YlZCKyw/IMG_1474_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>are on next week’s task list.</p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-23054321114131572312009-03-27T15:00:00.000+01:002009-03-31T10:28:32.186+02:00What is a Stig?<p>There was somebody there – or something.  But what?  What do <em>you</em> think it could be?</p> <p>Tommy, who had sneaked a peek at the picture on the cover of the book, thinks that ‘one of the boys threw a piece of flint; it cracked and it hit Barney.  Barney did not see them.’</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHT9vtBBOI/AAAAAAAAO-Q/2J--5LSBPNY/s1600-h/IMG_43722.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4372" border="0" alt="IMG_4372" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHT-HnOzYI/AAAAAAAAO-U/Osgj0NEmGCU/IMG_4372_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>Sharukh had the idea that it was some<em>thing; </em>‘lots of pieces of chalk and Barney thought that was a person’.</p> <p>Leon thinks a some<em>body</em>.  ‘I think he saw a person.’</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHT_AHPfBI/AAAAAAAAO-Y/lj-3OizxJhE/s1600-h/IMG_43782.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4378" border="0" alt="IMG_4378" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHT_kqw5-I/AAAAAAAAO-c/aN2bO9knGJQ/IMG_4378_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a>  </p> <p>Aabis, remembering what we had said about people digging for chalk, thinks ‘it was a man that was about to find a crystal’.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUAAltUdI/AAAAAAAAO-g/Et3HlaEVZ4c/s1600-h/IMG_43772.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4377" border="0" alt="IMG_4377" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUA9pKjKI/AAAAAAAAO-k/oDPbtHxeUT4/IMG_4377_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Thomas picked up on the reference to old man’s beard.  ‘I think it was an old man with a long beard,’ he tells us.</p> <p>Tatiana thinks that ‘Barney saw a bear because animals live in caves like bears’ (<em>sic</em>).</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUBvXqtfI/AAAAAAAAO-o/1cwdBtpmo3M/s1600-h/IMG_43732.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4373" border="0" alt="IMG_4373" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUCQj3Y6I/AAAAAAAAO-s/cbZzu3Im5WE/IMG_4373_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>However, Virginia thinks ‘it is three ghosts and I think that he saw a shadow’.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUEoC7MeI/AAAAAAAAO-w/JFuW3AV72EM/s1600-h/IMG_43742.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4374" border="0" alt="IMG_4374" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUF1yHzxI/AAAAAAAAO-0/jZwH165tts4/IMG_4374_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Shani too liked the idea of some<em>thing</em> fantastical.  ‘I think it’s a witch that tied Barney up.’</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUGsttPHI/AAAAAAAAO-4/RJhHCnqESyQ/s1600-h/IMG_43762.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4376" border="0" alt="IMG_4376" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUG5Zp1qI/AAAAAAAAO-8/PQ-QfMr4M2I/IMG_4376_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>Raamy thinks ‘he saw the shadow of a monster’.  A pretty scary-looking one at that!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUHhvFTRI/AAAAAAAAO_A/8_QQIK1a6ak/s1600-h/IMG_43792.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4379" border="0" alt="IMG_4379" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUHxvE1fI/AAAAAAAAO_E/4nofVErEVe0/IMG_4379_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Chloe wasn’t sure.  ‘I think there was a troll, because trolls live underground.’</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUIXxtleI/AAAAAAAAO_I/r-MvWaaDeW4/s1600-h/IMG_43802.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4380" border="0" alt="IMG_4380" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUJcfaj_I/AAAAAAAAO_M/oqBF1KxRci8/IMG_4380_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>Or maybe a ‘rabbit because rabbits like to dig’.</p> <p>Owen thinks ‘it was the bicycle because maybe when he fell in he hit the bicycle and then it flipped up and went out of the pit’.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUJyQEYtI/AAAAAAAAO_Q/6SUBMWn_-wY/s1600-h/IMG_43752.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4375" border="0" alt="IMG_4375" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUK6-DNeI/AAAAAAAAO_U/TWjwu1Ug6kQ/IMG_4375_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Sivert too had the bicycle in mind.  ‘I think he saw an old tree and an old bike.’</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHULXDyF9I/AAAAAAAAO_Y/ZunLg40J6mY/s1600-h/IMG_43812.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4381" border="0" alt="IMG_4381" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHUL9XrtrI/AAAAAAAAO_c/PY4Tv0vyIyk/IMG_4381_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>What do <em>you</em> think it was?  Was it a some<em>body</em> – or a some<em>thing</em>?  Was it a Stig (whatever one of those is)?</p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-15680621626180418062009-03-26T15:00:00.000+01:002009-03-31T10:24:53.053+02:00Into the chalk pit<p>We began a new ‘read-aloud’ book on Thursday.  A book that was written quite a long time ago, by a man called Clive King.  A book called ‘Stig of the Dump’.</p> <p>A preparatory discussion cleared up that by <em>Dump</em>, the author meant a place where rubbish was left; rubbish like wrecked cars and old bicycles; empty oil drums…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHTOrjbLAI/AAAAAAAAO9k/Gj2EnvXiB8Y/s1600-h/IMG_43952.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4395" border="0" alt="IMG_4395" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHTPb-Wm2I/AAAAAAAAO9o/wV7WnHVyFxA/IMG_4395_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>and glass jars.</p> <p>But try as we might, we couldn’t decide what a <em>Stig</em> might be.  Time to begin I think.</p> <p>The opening chapter introduces us to Barney, a boy who was staying, along with his older sister Lou, with his grandparents.  He is bored and planning a visit to the old chalk pit; somewhere that incidentally, he has been warned about going too close to.  Somewhere with hidden dangers…..</p> <p>But Barney being Barney (and I suppose boys being boys) decided to ignore those warnings as he ventured rather too close to the edge of the pit…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHTQKjCbCI/AAAAAAAAO9s/47ySawj8wJQ/s1600-h/IMG_43942.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4394" border="0" alt="IMG_4394" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHTQ3hjOqI/AAAAAAAAO9w/AnRzU-2_4ig/IMG_4394_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>where the tree roots were exposed and the chalk was all dry and crumbly.  And where, if he looked carefully down towards the bottom, he could make out what looked tantalisingly like the propeller of a plane and perhaps the buckled wheel of a bike. </p> <p>And then suddenly, before he had time to think, he was tumbling over and over, down to the bottom, bouncing from branch to branch, getting tied up in strands of ivy…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHTRTSjtuI/AAAAAAAAO90/0aKME6KSvHc/s1600-h/IMG_43902.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4390" border="0" alt="IMG_4390" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHTSfUguQI/AAAAAAAAO94/ZkmAMXxN-q0/IMG_4390_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>and a tangle of old man’s beard on the way.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHTS7BxGsI/AAAAAAAAO98/bJLO-Amp1XU/s1600-h/IMG_99642.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_9964" border="0" alt="IMG_9964" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHTUC1izzI/AAAAAAAAO-A/nVYNkTG63ow/IMG_9964_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a>  </p> <p>Luckily his landing was softened by a bed of moss.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHTUuHwDkI/AAAAAAAAO-E/qQ8uCZTZpuI/s1600-h/IMG_43932.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4393" border="0" alt="IMG_4393" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHTVLzckbI/AAAAAAAAO-M/6Hbe-W1nurA/IMG_4393_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>When he opened his eyes he seemed to be lying on some kind of platform, with his feet secured above his head.  And as he peered into the gloom he realised that there was somebody there – or something.</p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-70501393768466071922009-03-26T14:00:00.000+01:002009-04-01T07:37:03.750+02:00Another look at paper<p>We were wondering; is the strongest paper also the one that sucks up the most water (or most <em>absorbent)</em>?  </p> <p>Virginia thought back to when we had looked at different kinds of paper using a microscope.  She remembered that the fibres of each piece of paper left holes and that paper towel had bigger holes than A4 writing paper.  She also noticed that paper towel is thinner than A4 writing paper.  She thought that meant the water would probably go into the holes (a bit like in a sponge).</p> <p>And how would we test to find out whether she was right?</p> <p>We would take three identical (same width, same length) strips of the paper we used before (<a href="http://cdnpyp2il.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-strong-is-paper.html">how strong is paper?</a>)…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSn9JLevI/AAAAAAAAO8c/9OOE6qfUYh4/s1600-h/IMG_43212.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4321" border="0" alt="IMG_4321" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSpYkJDTI/AAAAAAAAO8g/PeqghVdNutQ/IMG_4321_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>those being newspaper, paper towel and A4 writing paper - and attach them to a strip of masking tape.  This we would stick to the back of a chair so that the ends dangled downwards.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSqbhDJ-I/AAAAAAAAO8k/4NN95sHH5ss/s1600-h/IMG_43172.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4317" border="0" alt="IMG_4317" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSrZ7kDwI/AAAAAAAAO8o/szSsIUaFgXk/IMG_4317_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Next we would rig up a dish of water beneath the paper strips so that the ends dipped into the water.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSrwinzpI/AAAAAAAAO8s/fLXFBh5smJ4/s1600-h/IMG_43182.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4318" border="0" alt="IMG_4318" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSsZ0j0OI/AAAAAAAAO8w/XRFoJZYEhnU/IMG_4318_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>We would leave the paper strips in the water for exactly one minute (which of course we timed accurately with a stop-watch).</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHStKGK76I/AAAAAAAAO80/QSrlyQ6ug-A/s1600-h/IMG_43192.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4319" border="0" alt="IMG_4319" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSt5qp2QI/AAAAAAAAO84/8NTZtVlAdE0/IMG_4319_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Then we would measure how far up the paper the water had crept in one minute.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSvdtBwlI/AAAAAAAAO88/zIb-So4oCvA/s1600-h/IMG_43222.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4322" border="0" alt="IMG_4322" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSv26PFXI/AAAAAAAAO9A/m0OH7xir9Ng/IMG_4322_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>The newspaper:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSwzblmhI/AAAAAAAAO9E/PcHgIgeDogM/s1600-h/IMG_43242.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4324" border="0" alt="IMG_4324" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSxxlNbjI/AAAAAAAAO9I/jFhKJL0mJKk/IMG_4324_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>The A4 writing paper:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSyaNIuiI/AAAAAAAAO9M/QILRiOipXBE/s1600-h/IMG_43162.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4316" border="0" alt="IMG_4316" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSzOZck6I/AAAAAAAAO9Q/ZY-ZLsmEorc/IMG_4316_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>The paper towel:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSzzD59EI/AAAAAAAAO9U/6th-RLWW75I/s1600-h/IMG_43202.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4320" border="0" alt="IMG_4320" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHS0etQVSI/AAAAAAAAO9Y/R8SXKlOGrSQ/IMG_4320_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Then we would record our results in a table.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHS1F0epuI/AAAAAAAAO9c/MUuNDkexpFw/s1600-h/IMG_43232.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4323" border="0" alt="IMG_4323" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHS1ogUoiI/AAAAAAAAO9g/CddhTNatieI/IMG_4323_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Which type of paper did we find was the most absorbent?  Why do you think this might be?  Next time you wash your hands, think; which paper would I choose to dry my hands with?</p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875857750092258347.post-8236873674240023092009-03-25T15:00:00.000+01:002009-03-31T10:19:45.149+02:00Inside the rag-bag<p>A delve inside the rag-bag revealed a plethora of fabrics.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHR3By3iWI/AAAAAAAAO7U/Z3ggdIgUlTk/s1600-h/IMG_42292.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4229" border="0" alt="IMG_4229" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHR3tD7YJI/AAAAAAAAO7Y/yKQf5-CJJsA/IMG_4229_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>We found fabrics made from different materials; from cotton and silk; from rayon and polyester.  There were fabrics of different colours, but most importantly fabrics of different textures; fabrics that <em>felt</em> different from one another.</p> <p>For we had decided to use some of the scraps to make a game.  A <em>feely</em> game.  </p> <p>I am sure you have at one time or another played the game ‘Memory’, where cards are placed face-down on the table and you have to try to guess where two the same lie by turning them, two at a time, face-up to have a look.  And as the game progresses, so you begin to learn where the cards are and are able to rely on your <em>memory</em> to find matching pairs.</p> <p>Our games would be similar, but instead of relying on <em>memory</em> (an increasingly bad idea as far as <em>I</em> am concerned) players would rely on the <em>feel</em> of each card.</p> <p>So different fabrics were chosen…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHR4KVGkhI/AAAAAAAAO7c/U-uFGpi5v4g/s1600-h/IMG_42322.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4232" border="0" alt="IMG_4232" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHR5MjWzFI/AAAAAAAAO7g/pEy5FeZbg0Y/IMG_4232_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>according to how they felt.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHR50KC87I/AAAAAAAAO7k/e9UyWiBxKyY/s1600-h/IMG_42392.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4239" border="0" alt="IMG_4239" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHR6wFh3DI/AAAAAAAAO7o/r62T3RHoxIo/IMG_4239_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Rectangular pieces were cut out in pairs…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHR7i-aKeI/AAAAAAAAO7s/_xfSE3I1H-8/s1600-h/IMG_42302.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4230" border="0" alt="IMG_4230" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHR8M9T24I/AAAAAAAAO7w/UQvU75PacMs/IMG_4230_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHR84sU1YI/AAAAAAAAO70/VYD3G140AVw/s1600-h/IMG_42312.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4231" border="0" alt="IMG_4231" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHR9kI2sfI/AAAAAAAAO74/UnWLe6Wyvqo/IMG_4231_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>and stuck onto pieces of stiff card…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSCA7lErI/AAAAAAAAO78/q0SqRXP29eg/s1600-h/IMG_42382.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4238" border="0" alt="IMG_4238" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSCnmOH8I/AAAAAAAAO8A/kdsCWG684Mg/IMG_4238_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSDHMHrcI/AAAAAAAAO8E/Q7sUfLBC6bU/s1600-h/IMG_42402.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4240" border="0" alt="IMG_4240" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSEQV1VWI/AAAAAAAAO8I/nDqXook57JE/IMG_4240_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSFEPoGmI/AAAAAAAAO8M/uuIN018mUUs/s1600-h/IMG_42372.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4237" border="0" alt="IMG_4237" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSGeAX3JI/AAAAAAAAO8Q/XB1XBot1yWw/IMG_4237_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSHKdrVBI/AAAAAAAAO8U/iLdgJ8SZa8s/s1600-h/IMG_42342.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4234" border="0" alt="IMG_4234" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VCVHceBcFjY/SdHSH0eamwI/AAAAAAAAO8Y/pgY9OSKffRU/IMG_4234_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>until a ‘set’ of around a dozen cards had been made.</p> <p>The next job is to write the playing instructions, so that others will be able to enjoy playing the game.  Watch this space!</p> jdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12775085299874824485noreply@blogger.com0