Day 75 & Day 76 - Friends & Food Chains.

Yesterday Theo sat and wrote the final chapters of his competition story before Paul and I had even got out of bed. He is becoming very self motivated. He was still writing when his dad left for work and only stopped once his story was complete. 

Whilst I made breakfast the boys sat and made a 'home school' sign to put up on the work room door. They were very proud of their handy work.

We went to library to return the weekend movie and renew a few books. Tristan and Theo took the opportunity to sit and have a read. The librarian gave them some Creepy House colouring sheets which they brought home. 

Whilst waiting for lunch they both played with some magnets. Theo taught Tristan how to build pyramids.

We went to the park after lunch and met some of their friends. The intention had been to only stay for an hour but the weather was lovely and they were having so much fun that we ended up staying for the afternoon. I was treated to a cup of tea by one of the slightly older girls who often sits and chats to me. It was a really lovely afternoon. 

Theo asked if his closest friend could come home with us to play with their LEGO. After asking his parents he accompanied us home. All three boys played together nicely chomping on strawberries and     drinking cup after cup of juice. We walked their friend home just before dinner time but before we left him they arranged to meet up again in the park after dinner. 

I have never seen the boys eat so quickly even refusing desert in order to get back out to the park! Tristan dressed up as a knight and they both took swords and shields to the park. Theo went to his friends house for half an hour to play before joining the fun in the park. Every child that they play with was there and they had an absolutely fantastic time. The boys had a massive game of knights with some having bows and arrows and others having swords. It was brilliant to watch. They finally all decided it was home time after a couple of hours. They returned to our house tired, sweaty, thirsty and hungry but incredibly happy.

They slept like logs.

We just missed Paul leave the house for work this morning which upset Theo. He hates not seeing his dad in the morning but he understands that he has to leave very early at the the moment. Tristan slept a little longer than usual no doubt because of all the fresh air yesterday. Theo was able to read his book in peace whilst I got a few household jobs finished and made breakfast.

Once we were all dressed and fed we had a stroll to the library. I needed to photocopy a couple of things and this gave the boys chance to have a look at some books. Theo found a few David Shan books which he has added to his extensive reading wish list. Theo had a pound to spend and he selflessly bought 3 big cookies so that we could have one each after lunch. He is incredibly kind hearted which makes me glow with pride.

Back at home Theo carried on with his dinosaur project for History. He wrote about the different time periods and whilst researching this he asked me why Pangea split up. I asked him to use the computer to find out the answer to this which he did. He was excited to explain about tectonic plates and how they move to me a little later on. 

Tristan looked at a few books before going off to play with the magnets. 

After lunch they had a half hour play in their bedroom whilst I prepared the table for the next activity. I  put out cards with various animals and plants written on, a big piece of paper, glue and some blank pieces of card for Theo. For Tristan I drew out a fox, rabbit and some grass and the letters 'g', 'f' & 'r'. I cut them out and placed these on the table for him. Once this was done I called them both down to the living room.

I asked them to sit and listen whilst I read to them about food chains. I asked them to call out various things such as 'energy' in answer to why we need to eat and so forth. I asked Tristan to grow from a seed into a plant and then I asked Theo to be the carnivore. They really enjoyed this. Once they had listened and digested all the information I sent them to the table.

I asked Theo to make 6 food chains from the cards and to also come up with one food chain of his own. He spent some time on the task. He was pleased when I told him that he had put them all in the right places. 

Tristan was able to independently work out the correct order of his food chain. He also put the correct letter against each picture. He was very proud of himself.

Theo practiced the piano for a while. I sat and read 'Whale' by David Lucas to Tristan. It is a good story so good in fact that Theo came and listened too. Tristan pretended to be a whale and peeped at Theo and I through the gap in a chair with his big whale eye. 

Once I had read the story through twice I asked Tristan if he would like to make a picture of a whale. He did. I helped him draw a blue whale which he then painted and cut out. Theo helped him stick it on some blue paper.Tristan made some waves from tissue paper and Theo looked for information about blue whales in a book. He discovered some interesting facts which I wrote down. Theo cut out the sentences and gave them to Tristan who glued them on to the picture. It was good to work as a team. 

Tristan went off pretending to be an explorer.Theo asked if he could do another activity rather than join his brother. I gave him a geography task by asking him to come up with a design for a bin. This is also going to be a DT task. He settled on a bin for paper and cardboard and has drawn a diagram showing measurements & materials. We will start to make the actual bin tomorrow afternoon.

Theo went and played with his brother whilst I made dinner. We went to the park after eating where they played with their friends for an hour. Theo enjoyed being chased by five Tristan sized children who caught him and wrestled him to the ground. He played along with them pretending to be incapable of moving and eventually admitted defeat. It was lovely to watch him bringing such joy to all the little ones. 

They had showers, warm milk and were tucked up in to their beds early tonight. Tristan feel asleep straight away but Theo stayed up and read for a couple of hours. Paul was very late home tonight but he did manage to see Theo before he fell asleep. 

We have enjoyed two lovely days. They have spent lots of their time in the company of their friends and have also created some wonderful work. 

Prudence Clarke

28.08.2013