Spring Break Week

After St. Patrick's Day, we were kind of lazy about school.  It's kind of hard for us to get in school mode when we don't have co-op and the weather is decent.  And if everyone is getting along well, being nice to each other, or creative on their own, I hate to mess that up.  At any rate, we accomplished a tiny bit of school, including the conclusion of our study of Australia.

Math:

Since Sawyer has started learning about money, I thought we'd empty out their piggy banks this week
and get it put into their savings accounts.  This was a MUCH bigger task than I had anticipated!

Hayden's ugliest coin and most interesting coin.

Sawyer's ugliest and most interesting.

The boys both counted out all the coins in their piggy banks starting with the pennies and working
their way up to the quarters.  The bills we set aside.  After counting out each type of coin, I showed
them how many would fit into a roll, and we rolled what we could.

This system helped both of them for counting.

Some of the more unique coins and foreign currency that made it into their piggy banks.

Even Riley helped!

Social Studies:
And so our time in Australia ends.  We didn't get to everything that I had planned, but I figured the boys had learned enough, and I for one, am ready to move on.  We learned about the music, the people, the art, and of course, the food.  Can't end a study of a country without experiencing the food!

Scratch art Aborigine style!

Riley perusing the book we just read.
Children Just Like Me by Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley

 We completed a team project this week using the Aboriginal signs and symbols in our art and storytelling.  All three of us worked together to create a story.  I found this idea here.

 Hayden working on his part:  3 spears

Sawyer working on his part: a campfire

Getting some more detail in.

I was shocked how cooperative Sawyer was with this activity.

The finished product with all three portions put together.

Close up of the paintings:  campfire, spears, kangaroo tracks

Close up of the story.

Sawyer's section.  I wrote the words that he dictated, and he traced them.
"People were camping in the Australian woods.  They heard dingos howling.  It was night."

Hayden's section.
"The men decided to go hunting.  They wanted kangaroo.  They found a group of them and attacked."

My section (not really necessary, but for the sake of hearing the completion of the story):
"The kangaroos ran off, but not before one spear hit its mark.  The men continued to follow the tracks,
and they ate a good dinner that night."

Fairy bread:  A traditional snack at children's parties in Australia.  The boys HATED this.  (Just kidding).

After watching a few videos throughout the week on youtube and Amazon Prime,  the boys worked
together to build a coral reef habitat in our little water table.

Making the reefs were interesting and fun.

Water in the water table:  also fun.  The actual reef didn't work out so well, but hey.  What can you do?

And finally…..  the Australian meal of the month:  Australian BBQ!

Shrimp and Snags on the Barbie!

and Hasselback Potatoes!

Hayden helped me (sort of) make the dessert:  Lamingtons.

After baking the butter cake, it had to be cut into squares and dipped in a chocolate frosting.

Then they get rolled in coconut.

We also made Anzac biscuits, a cookie that was made back in World War I era to be sent off to the
soldiers.  They were NOT pretty, and honestly, I forgot to take an "after" picture.  I guess they tasted
good enough, though, because they got scarfed!

Dinner time!

Dessert time!

Is it yummy, Riley?

How can you tell?