Mama's Musings

AI - Artificial Intelligence - love it, hate it, or not sure?  I'm still on the fence!  That is a typical writer's response to a perceived threat.

I've been testing it out though, and I think it's a great tool for generating ideas.  For example, today I logged into ChatGPT and asked it to "write a 4 week unit study for children aged 5-7 who are learning about the countries around the world, especially developing nations and less common countries, and include food, stories, and art, as well as academic learning."  

For me to plan this would take maybe an hour or more, and for someone new to homeschooling, it could take a few hours.  In under a minute, ChatGPT gave me this:

Title: Exploring Our World: A 4-Week Unit Study for Children Aged 5-7

Week 1: Africa - A Continent of Rich Cultures
Introduction:
Introduce the concept of continents and explain that we will be starting our journey in Africa, a diverse continent.
Display a world map and locate Africa.
Share interesting facts about Afric...

I've had a lot of questions about some terms I use, lately.

What is an invitation to learn?
What is strewing?
What is a rich learning environment?
Why are you so passionate about make memories?

This photo is of Zeah's learning space a couple of years ago.  It still looks like this, but with some of the toddler items moved on, and more big-kid things (and mess, plenty of mess).  This room itself is an invitation to learn - there are a variety of toys, art activities, games and books (out of the shot) and she can set up to play and not have to pack it away right away.  The room is an open area off our living space so she can see and hear me while I do Mum things, or work from home.  For older kids, an inviting space might be games displayed on shelves, a comfy place to sit and read, quality books that are easy to find, art supplies that are accessible and interesting with images for inspiration, blank journals and nice pens, or a musical instrument in a living space (eg our guitars are ...

Twinkl have a brand new PlanIt Home Education Planner resource designed especially for Home Education and all aligned to the Australian Curriculum. This resource is hot off the press and includes a full year's worth of primary school aged-lesson planning across various subjects and topics mapped out for you. All you have to do is click on the links to be directed straight to all of the appropriate resources - how simple is that?

You can find this PlanIt Home Education planner here.

And if you need a code to access Ultimate access to Twinkl, I have one which is valid for MAY only! Login into Twinkl through this link, and then enter my code: HOMESCHOOLCONFIDENTLYMAY2023 to receive your free week of Ultimate access.

PlanIt resources include detailed lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations, creative and differentiated lesson activities, challenge cards, fact cards, eye-catching display packs, key vocabulary grids and even assessment materials. Twinkl have also included a blank planne...

Most kids love painting and drawing! Children are naturally curious, creative, and imaginative, and these traits are often expressed through their artwork. Painting and drawing allows children to express their emotions in a fun and engaging way. Art can help children develop important cognitive and motor skills that are critical to their overall development.

When it comes to art & craft, one of the most popular subjects among children is rainbows. Rainbows are vibrant, colourful, and full of energy, and they hold a special fascination for people of all ages. 

_{Photo credit: Taylor Heery (Unsplash)}

One reason why children enjoy painting rainbows is that they are visually stunning. By attempting to paint a rainbow, children are able to explore different colour combinations and learn about the colour spectrum in a fun and engaging way.

Another reason why children like to paint rainbows is that they represent hope and positivity. Rainbows are often associated with good luck and happy ...

For many children, playing in mud is a natural and instinctual activity that brings joy and excitement. Unfortunately, in today's world, children are often discouraged from playing in the mud due to concerns about hygiene and cleanliness. However, research has shown that playing in mud can have numerous benefits for children, both in terms of their physical and mental health. Below are some of the reasons why children should be encouraged to play in mud.

_{Photo credit: Ellie Storms (Unsplash)}

Physical Benefits
Playing in mud is a great way for children to get some exercise and develop their gross motor skills. Mud is an unstable surface, which means that children have to use their muscles to balance and move around. This can help to develop their coordination, strength, and overall physical fitness. Additionally, playing in mud can help to improve their sensory skills, as they learn to use their senses to navigate the environment.

Mental Health Benefits
Playing in mud can also have a...

For those who follow us on social media, you'll have heard a bit about my consult services.  Over the past few months I've increased my availability and I've been seeing more families face-to-face as well as over the phone and via video calls.  You can book sessions here.

Before these sessions I like to know a little about your family, homeschool, and challenges and I'll usually collate some info and resources to bring to face to face sessions or email to online clients.  Each session normally lasts around an hour and I'll email most clients some follow up information or resources, or answer further questions afterwards.

I've had great feedback on this process and receive a lot of satisfaction through helping home educators feel more confident about the journey ahead.  Some families I meet with are at the very beginning - either with little ones or just leaving the school system, and some are in transition into the teen years, preparing for university, or facing other changes or ch...

We're finishing a human body unit study that has lasted many months and included lots of STEM activities from both My Creative Box and Kiwico, the 1998 BBC documentary series The Human Body, Magic School Bus episodes, lots of books, puzzles, games, and of course imaginative play as various health professionals who mostly use bandages and a stethoscope!  Mum gets a few minutes to lay on the couch as a patient of course! 

These activities were complimented by some Twinkl resources such as their My Body Activity Pack for Kids.  There are so many printable resources online to teach most themes, and we choose those which appeal to Zeah.  Mazes used to be the favourite, but wordsearches are becoming her most frequently requested activity sheets.

Zeah enjoyed some anatomy classes through Outschool where they built body parts such as the inner ear with playdough while learning facts about that body system.  Including hands-on activities really appeals to her learning style.

Overall, thi...

Our almost-7 year old doesn't need any special reason or day to express love to her family and friends, so she's always excited when I suggest some crafts and activities for Valentine's Day.

Here are some we'll try this year:

Clay Nature Weaving Hearts by Mud and Bloom

Valentine's Day Pudding by Twinkl Parents on TikTok

Valentine's Heart Paper Garland on Twinkl

Yarn Wrapped Hearts by Design Your Life
(or another heart weaving/wrapping activity)

These simple heart cards by Messy Little Monster
(because... tie-dye!)

Love Bugs - I mean Lady Bugs by Housing a Forest

ALL the things on this page because nature craft is our favourite!  Thanks mothernatured.com.

Happy Lovers Day to you all, and those you love, and those who love you.

Five of our six older children did not attend highschool at all, and one attended for her final two years of formal learning at age 15.  By the time they were 15, all of our children were working part-time and enrolled in a certificate course, so we didn't really actively homeschool for the senior years.  It was a valuable time, however, to share life skills and learn how to become adults.  I am grateful (now) for the many, many hours spent driving and talking, and undertaking daily tasks with each of my six adult children throughout their teen and young adult years.  For the child who attended school, and also had various sport and work commitments, I feel like we missed some valuable connection and learning time that I enjoyed with the other children.

Some of our teens did study some traditional highschool subjects using textbooks and workbooks supplemented by online research, but mostly they were on their own paths by their mid-teen years and involved with their own certifcate course...