Autumn term at boat school
As half term comes around it seems a good time to reflect on
what boat school has been up to over the last few weeks. At times work has
taken quite a back seat while we sail or explore. Other times we have taken
advantage of enforced stops to get the books out and spend a couple of hours a
day concentrating on the nuts and bolts of literacy, numeracy and spellings –
or as some would say reading, writing and arithmetic.
Boat school have been experiencing all sort of things since
the summer holidays as we have moved up the French coast from the ‘Très Atlantic’
Verdon-sur-mer to the ‘intensely Breton’ Brest (their descriptions not mine!).
Salt pans at Pornichet |
A trip to the salt pans at Pornichet proved interesting.
There was fascinating learning in St Nazaire and Verdon with stories of the
second world war including some very good museums. In Camaret, a town renowned
for its artistic quarter, we enjoyed an art session. There has also been
lots of learning about the Napoleonic war including more great museums. Rock pool dipping
was as fun as always.
We have seen lots of physical geography. The boys have
admired arches, stacks, estuaries and sand dunes. Animals and plants have
continued to be an important part of our life ande now have a book full of
sightings, rubbings and sketches.
Pirate graffiti from prisoners in La Rochelle |
Our history time line has also been really helpful to work
out how world events link together. It was started as part of the Royal family
topic last summer on a really long piece of paper. Since then all sorts of
things have been added – the date of the first transporter bridge, Napoleonic
wars, man on the moon, Kings and Queens of Spain and France, a date a
particular lighthouse was built and many more things as they grab the boys interest.
We’ve now had to add an extra section as they wanted to have cave paintings,
menhirs and Roman walls they have seen on the timeline. In conjunction with a
great book called a street through time (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Street-Through-Time-History/dp/0751355356)
which has very detailed illustrations (thanks to Nanny for that one) and the
brilliant horrible history DVD’s, history has been really enjoyable.
General de Gaulles famous radio broadcast |
For PE there has been body boarding, swimming, walking,
scooters and many different playgrounds. Maybe climbing stairs should also be
on the PE list as we have been up and down many spiral staircases in various
towers and light houses over the last few months.
another stop, another playground.... |
As we travel they are also absorbing and revelling in the
regional differences in food, language and the surroundings. Maybe one of my
favourite moments though was the excited squeal of “Mum, come and see this
beautiful sunset”. We’ve succeeded in our aim to teach them to look around and
enjoy the world.
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