During the first week of September, we visited Yorkshire and discovered the hydroelectric plant on the River Wharfe, in Grassington.
"In 1909, Grassington received its first electricity from a hydroelectric plant at Linton Falls, which continued to run until 1948. Plans to revive the plant through an English Heritage project, using two Archimedean screw turbines to produce 510,000 kilowatt hours per year came to fruition a while ago.The plant, now operational, sits on the River Wharfe just below the town."
We also enjoyed walking along part of the Leeds to Liverpool canal, as it passed through Skipton:
Leeds - Liverpool Canal
On the way home from Yorkshire, we stopped off at Abraham Heights, to explore, amongst other things, the caves there.
Here we developed a keen interest in minerals.
We collected some pieces of limestone and bought some other mineral samples from the shop.
"In 1909, Grassington received its first electricity from a hydroelectric plant at Linton Falls, which continued to run until 1948. Plans to revive the plant through an English Heritage project, using two Archimedean screw turbines to produce 510,000 kilowatt hours per year came to fruition a while ago.The plant, now operational, sits on the River Wharfe just below the town."
We also enjoyed walking along part of the Leeds to Liverpool canal, as it passed through Skipton:
Leeds - Liverpool Canal
On the way home from Yorkshire, we stopped off at Abraham Heights, to explore, amongst other things, the caves there.
Here we developed a keen interest in minerals.
We collected some pieces of limestone and bought some other mineral samples from the shop.
Since then, Matthew and I have cracked open several rocks in the River Barle at Landacre Bridge on Exmoor.
This is a great site for studying erosion and deposition.
On Wednesday 7th September, the children had their first Science Class of the term, where they learnt how to make circuits using conductive paint and conductive thread.
In Art, the children found out about Pop Art and created an Andy Warhole inspired piece of Art Work.
While Sarah was at Music School on the 17th, Matthew went to his friend's house to pick apples, He had also enjoyed climbing the apple trees to reach the apples in his Grandad's garden with Aunty Fiona earlier in the week.
Later we all went to Art to Art with Sarah's friend to paint some china. Everyone was very creative. Sarah painted a cup and a coaster to go with the tea pot she got for her birthday.
Afterwards we enjoyed a meal at The Harvester.
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| Matthew and his friend made crumble together. |
Later we all went to Art to Art with Sarah's friend to paint some china. Everyone was very creative. Sarah painted a cup and a coaster to go with the tea pot she got for her birthday.
Afterwards we enjoyed a meal at The Harvester.
The lovely waitress was interested to see that Sarah was reading a Horrible History book and told her that she learnt most of her history from these books. She told us she was studying Zoology in Bristol.
The next day we took Matthew, Sarah and their cousin to Landacre Bridge, where they enjoyed gliding along the river on surf boards. This was when Matthew and I discovered all sorts of minerals and enjoyed cracking open the rocks to find them.
They also made a Library at home using Sarah's new Library set.
On Monday 19th, we went to visit our friends in Porlock, as they had made a birthday cake for Sarah.
On Wednesday 21st September, we went to Taunton for the children's Science and Art Classes, where they also have immense fun playing in the garden with their friends.
In Science, they had fun with electronics and made some little robots.
In Art, the children looked at the art work of Emma Dibben and created their own still-life of cut fruit.
Sarah went to her Music School on Saturday 24th September, after which, she met up again with her friend in a coffee shop
to look at the china they had painted the previous week and which was now ready. They were both very pleased with the results.
to look at the china they had painted the previous week and which was now ready. They were both very pleased with the results.
The following day, our friends from Porlock came over to our house for Sunday roast. It was great fun. The children played together, totally absorbed in their games.
On Tuesday 27th, we drove to Wrantage, near Taunton for another horse riding lesson with a small group of home educated children. Sarah and Matthew really enjoy these sessions, which are really well run.
We then joined the home ed group at Caroline's house for their Dinosaur themed topic day.
The most exciting part for Sarah and Matthew, was playing all sorts of team games with their friends in the garden towards the end.
We then joined the home ed group at Caroline's house for their Dinosaur themed topic day.
The most exciting part for Sarah and Matthew, was playing all sorts of team games with their friends in the garden towards the end.
On Wednesday 28th, we went to visit Lanacre Barn Art Studio, where the children were given a mini Master Class by the Artist, Jo Minoprio. Sarah and Matthew both chose a favourite painting to 'copy' and she showed them the various techniques she had used to create these paintings. They took home their art work along with a postcard of their chosen works. It was an amazing experience.
Jo Minoprio Art
Jo Minoprio Art
The next day on the 29th September, the children went to their drama class in Oake, where they are going to act in a production of Pater Pan. Matthew has the part of John, with 20 lines and Sarah is a pirate, as well as a stage hand. They got to choose their own parts and Matthew has already learnt his lines.
After drama, Matthew's friend came to stay the night at our house and we took Sarah to stay with her friend in Porlock. Matthew and his friend had a chocolate / fruit fondue. At bedtime, they also enjoyed sharing the jokes in Sarah's Aquila Magazines,
as well as reading Flat Stanley.
On Friday, they took their snacks into the woods and played on the go cart, before making American pancakes.
In addition to these activities, the children have continued to work their way through the brilliant Conquer Maths programme. Sarah has written some amazing poems and Matthew has dictated some imaginative stories for his blog.
Sarah has also chosen to make her observations into news stories and has created a ten page newspaper with illustrations.
They have both enjoyed cooking (They made some chocolate crackle cakes independently on Sunday) and enjoyed riding their bikes up and down the farm track, as well as at the park and at Grandma's.
Sarah can't wait for us to replace our camera, so that she can get back to taking photos, which she loves to do.
as well as reading Flat Stanley.
On Friday, they took their snacks into the woods and played on the go cart, before making American pancakes.
We met his mum in Minehead and I picked Sarah up from a Youth Group later.
In addition to these activities, the children have continued to work their way through the brilliant Conquer Maths programme. Sarah has written some amazing poems and Matthew has dictated some imaginative stories for his blog.
Sarah has also chosen to make her observations into news stories and has created a ten page newspaper with illustrations.
They have both enjoyed cooking (They made some chocolate crackle cakes independently on Sunday) and enjoyed riding their bikes up and down the farm track, as well as at the park and at Grandma's.
Sarah has devoured lots and lots of books and is currently reading The Lady Jane Grace Mysteries, based in Tudor Times.
She has invented her own code language for pleasure and to share with their cousins.
Matthew was particularly excited about this idea and rang up the cousins to tell them about this.
She has invented her own code language for pleasure and to share with their cousins.
Matthew was particularly excited about this idea and rang up the cousins to tell them about this.
Sarah can't wait for us to replace our camera, so that she can get back to taking photos, which she loves to do.
