The first ever image obtained in Mercury's orbit from the spacecraft MESSENGER can be seen here. How awesome is that ! It was taken just a couple of days ago. It makes the universe seem a much smaller place when we can see images like this.
Continuing this theme, we've also enjoyed the Wonders of the Universe TV programme, with Brian Cox. It was on TV but you can watch it on iplayer at the moment but only for the next few days it would seem, so be quick, something to watch this weekend? We have found it suitable, enjoyable and informative for children too, I'd say from about 7 years upwards, particularly if they are interested in science/space/the universe. It's an hour long, goes into quite a lot of detail, it's interesting and it provides different visuals to help explain.
We really enjoyed the stardust episode, where we found out that Betelgeuse is expected to go supernova, we've actually enjoyed them all, but that was our favourite. Wonders of the universe is a fabulous series containing lots of information for both young and old alike.
Sharing information and programmes like these are good for capturing a child's interest in space, it brings it all to life a bit more. For more ways of developing a child's interest in space further see my other blog post and if you have any recommendations for good planetariums to visit, we would love you to comment and let us know.
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Fairies
Over on the main site, we have been busy creating a Fairies theme section. It contains a mixture of different activities to make and do, some fairy colouring sheets, word search, a great room sign to make, recommendations for fairy chapter books, and more to come over the next couple of weeks. So if you have a child that loves fairies come across and take a look.
Sunday, 20 March 2011
The moon and the stars
You will often find that children become interested in things that are happening around them, something that captures their interest. Such as if they have watched the news or heard the information about the moon, with it being a super moon, it's brighter and closer to earth than usual, the first for nearly 20 years. Maybe you've been outside to have a look at the moon with your children.
Also if they are exposed to an interesting place or experience it can trigger off an interest. For instance a visit to a planetarium can spark off an interest in space, there are various planetariums around, see if you can find one close to where you live, they are certainly worth a visit. They are generally good to visit from about age 7 upwards, and some actually have a minimum age for admission. Generally the child needs to be able to sit still and concentrate and not mind being in the dark.
Also if they are exposed to an interesting place or experience it can trigger off an interest. For instance a visit to a planetarium can spark off an interest in space, there are various planetariums around, see if you can find one close to where you live, they are certainly worth a visit. They are generally good to visit from about age 7 upwards, and some actually have a minimum age for admission. Generally the child needs to be able to sit still and concentrate and not mind being in the dark.
For any children interested in constellations, there is a great phone app called google sky map. It's fantastic, just point the phone at the sky and it matches up where you are and tells you what constellations, or planets you are looking at. It really brings astronomy alive, and makes it interesting in a modern way, that the children of todays technology age can relate to.
Once their interest is sparked, it's useful to have some information resources at home for them to immerse themselves in and find out more.
Posters are good, very visual and immediate to look at and find out the information you want. Below is a good one showing the constellations, having a planet one is a good idea too, some show pluto, some don't, it depends if they take into account it's reclassification. The middle link below is a bigger sized poster than standard posters and is very detailed.
Books are a great way to find out information too, these tend to be more generically about space, but consequently tend to hold more varied information. The first book linked to is an ideal book for a younger child with an interest in space, it keeps the style simple, while still providing information suitable for a preschool child, ideal for a 3-4 year old. The second book is an Usborne see inside book, which are great for interactive learning, as they contain lots of information flaps to open really bringing the book to life, and is suitable for approx. 5-7 year olds. Next is a book, Solar System, aimed at the age group of 7+, it has more information than the first too, but is still larger print with lots of pictures. The last book the Encyclopedia of space, is packed with lots of information, and is suitable for older children, or those who are simply wanting more depth of information, it's more aimed at the 9+ age group but younger children may enjoy looking through it, particularly if they have a strong interest in space, or have exhausted the simpler books and are ready for more.
Books are a great way to find out information too, these tend to be more generically about space, but consequently tend to hold more varied information. The first book linked to is an ideal book for a younger child with an interest in space, it keeps the style simple, while still providing information suitable for a preschool child, ideal for a 3-4 year old. The second book is an Usborne see inside book, which are great for interactive learning, as they contain lots of information flaps to open really bringing the book to life, and is suitable for approx. 5-7 year olds. Next is a book, Solar System, aimed at the age group of 7+, it has more information than the first too, but is still larger print with lots of pictures. The last book the Encyclopedia of space, is packed with lots of information, and is suitable for older children, or those who are simply wanting more depth of information, it's more aimed at the 9+ age group but younger children may enjoy looking through it, particularly if they have a strong interest in space, or have exhausted the simpler books and are ready for more.
Friday, 11 February 2011
Fairy Petal People
We have been making Fairy petal people from a kit by Klutz.
The kit comprises all the materials you need to make several petal people and a small book with instructions and ideas. The book gives instructions on how to make the basic body from the wire and then the rest is full of ideas of different things you could add to your fairy, there is a section on different hair styles and clothing and more.
This has been done very well, so you can use the booklet and make something, but it's not fully prescriptive, and there is plenty of scope for imagination and creativity as to how the final fairy will look.
No special equipment is required, just a pair of scissors, and all the rest is included in the kit: wire, floss, beads, glue, petals etc. This is all adequate to make perfectly good fairies. If you wanted to embellish them further, you could use anything extra you have for crafts at home.
We have made at least 6 fairies from the kit, and a couple of them do have elaborate petal dresses, if you used less petals per fairy you could definitely make more, as there were left over beads for the heads.
This Klutz kit is going to be suitable from about aged 6 or 7 upwards, but be prepared to help with the first one, and then they are fairly easy to copy. Children at the younger end, 6ish may also need a bit more help with fiddly bits, like bending wire, or gluing beads etc.
The other advantage of this kit is once the glue is dried the fairies can be played with and used in lots of imaginative fairy games. They could be used in dolls houses, or you could display them in some way, on a shelf or make a mobile with them.
This fairy petal people kit is great for any time, but is especially great for a rainy day activity, or during school holidays. It would also make a lovely birthday or Christmas present, particularly if you are buying a gift for a girl that likes craft sets, and making things, or who just loves fairies.
This is an excellent kit and good value for money.
The kit comprises all the materials you need to make several petal people and a small book with instructions and ideas. The book gives instructions on how to make the basic body from the wire and then the rest is full of ideas of different things you could add to your fairy, there is a section on different hair styles and clothing and more.
This has been done very well, so you can use the booklet and make something, but it's not fully prescriptive, and there is plenty of scope for imagination and creativity as to how the final fairy will look.
No special equipment is required, just a pair of scissors, and all the rest is included in the kit: wire, floss, beads, glue, petals etc. This is all adequate to make perfectly good fairies. If you wanted to embellish them further, you could use anything extra you have for crafts at home.
We have made at least 6 fairies from the kit, and a couple of them do have elaborate petal dresses, if you used less petals per fairy you could definitely make more, as there were left over beads for the heads.
This Klutz kit is going to be suitable from about aged 6 or 7 upwards, but be prepared to help with the first one, and then they are fairly easy to copy. Children at the younger end, 6ish may also need a bit more help with fiddly bits, like bending wire, or gluing beads etc.
The other advantage of this kit is once the glue is dried the fairies can be played with and used in lots of imaginative fairy games. They could be used in dolls houses, or you could display them in some way, on a shelf or make a mobile with them.
This fairy petal people kit is great for any time, but is especially great for a rainy day activity, or during school holidays. It would also make a lovely birthday or Christmas present, particularly if you are buying a gift for a girl that likes craft sets, and making things, or who just loves fairies.
This is an excellent kit and good value for money.
Sunday, 30 January 2011
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
Today we did the RSPB big garden birdwatch. We got a few birds visiting during the hour we were recording, but all of them were common ones, starlings, blackbirds, thrush, collared doves and a wood pigeon. Did anyone else take part, and have any interesting spots during the hour?
Since we started feeding them the number of birds visiting has increased, which is pleasing, but I would still like some of the more colourful birds to visit, we have had no tits or finches at all yet. We do get a robin, sparrows and have had a few visits from a dunnock and a pied wagtail a few times too but they didn't appear today while we were counting.
We also get a large black bird which I think is a rook as it has a light grey beak and from looking at bird identification, all the other large black birds like crows, and ravens, have black beaks. However they also say that the rook is seldom seen alone and is a social bird, and this bird only ever visits on it's own. I must try and get a photo of it and then maybe some of you can help me identify it. Does anybody have any other ways to differentiate between the larger black birds?
Here's a photo from today, mainly starlings but at the end of them you can just spot the thrush and the blackbird.
Since we started feeding them the number of birds visiting has increased, which is pleasing, but I would still like some of the more colourful birds to visit, we have had no tits or finches at all yet. We do get a robin, sparrows and have had a few visits from a dunnock and a pied wagtail a few times too but they didn't appear today while we were counting.
We also get a large black bird which I think is a rook as it has a light grey beak and from looking at bird identification, all the other large black birds like crows, and ravens, have black beaks. However they also say that the rook is seldom seen alone and is a social bird, and this bird only ever visits on it's own. I must try and get a photo of it and then maybe some of you can help me identify it. Does anybody have any other ways to differentiate between the larger black birds?
Here's a photo from today, mainly starlings but at the end of them you can just spot the thrush and the blackbird.
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Three Positive Things
Three Positive Things
I'm not sure exactly where the idea came from, it may have been something I read somewhere, but this is a positive family activity. It's great for everybody, but can be particulary useful if you have a child who has a glass half empty outlook, ers on the side of pessimism, and can be quite negative.
It's really a very simple idea, but can help change the focus onto positive things. At the end of the day, each person simply thinks of three things that day that have been a positive experience, things you have seen, activities you've done or places you have been etc. It seems to finish the day off nicely on a much more positive note.
It's useful for everybody in the household to do it, lead by example, so adults too. You might also find that once you start thinking of positive things they all start flooding in and then you have loads you can think of, not just three.
So particularly if you have a child who is pessimistic, negative, glass half empty, you might like to give it a try. Just by doing this one thing at the end of the day, we have found we are all more positive and focussed on the good things in our lives.
My three positive things for today are :
1) Seeing the beautiful sunset as we drove along
2) Eating a curly wurly
3) Sitting outside and having a cup of tea in the sunshine
I'm not sure exactly where the idea came from, it may have been something I read somewhere, but this is a positive family activity. It's great for everybody, but can be particulary useful if you have a child who has a glass half empty outlook, ers on the side of pessimism, and can be quite negative.
It's really a very simple idea, but can help change the focus onto positive things. At the end of the day, each person simply thinks of three things that day that have been a positive experience, things you have seen, activities you've done or places you have been etc. It seems to finish the day off nicely on a much more positive note.
It's useful for everybody in the household to do it, lead by example, so adults too. You might also find that once you start thinking of positive things they all start flooding in and then you have loads you can think of, not just three.
So particularly if you have a child who is pessimistic, negative, glass half empty, you might like to give it a try. Just by doing this one thing at the end of the day, we have found we are all more positive and focussed on the good things in our lives.
My three positive things for today are :
1) Seeing the beautiful sunset as we drove along
2) Eating a curly wurly
3) Sitting outside and having a cup of tea in the sunshine
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Thumbs up for Triominoes
We got Triominoes for Christmas and it's been a great family game to play. Initially when you open it up you see a box of plastic triangles with numbers on and a sheet of rules. It almost looks too basic to be fun, but we have really enjoyed playing it, several times now too!
Every game seems to be different as it depends on the initial luck of the hand you pick. The game can turn around really quickly too just by laying one triominoe. You can go from losing to winning in a few turns. For this reason it seems to keep childrens interest.
It combines a lot of luck and also a little bit of skill, or strategy and it gets the children you are playing with using numbers. Also to work out whether your number combination will fit requires use of spatial awareness too. Playing this game, children will naturally be using maths: numbers, patterns of numbers, addition etc.
Tri-ominoes is a great game from aged 5 or 6 upwards, depending on attention span and grasp of numbers, but at this age it is good as a family game with a mix of adults and children. Mainly so the larger addition and subtraction of scores has an adult around to assist. However it's not just a child's game, it's a game that will appeal to all ages, as older children and adults will enjoy playing it too.
Overall a thumbs up for tri-ominoes as a great family game, good value and good fun.
Every game seems to be different as it depends on the initial luck of the hand you pick. The game can turn around really quickly too just by laying one triominoe. You can go from losing to winning in a few turns. For this reason it seems to keep childrens interest.
It combines a lot of luck and also a little bit of skill, or strategy and it gets the children you are playing with using numbers. Also to work out whether your number combination will fit requires use of spatial awareness too. Playing this game, children will naturally be using maths: numbers, patterns of numbers, addition etc.
Tri-ominoes is a great game from aged 5 or 6 upwards, depending on attention span and grasp of numbers, but at this age it is good as a family game with a mix of adults and children. Mainly so the larger addition and subtraction of scores has an adult around to assist. However it's not just a child's game, it's a game that will appeal to all ages, as older children and adults will enjoy playing it too.
Overall a thumbs up for tri-ominoes as a great family game, good value and good fun.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)