Building a Home

One thing Austyn has is experience with how to move and how to go about building a house. We have moved many times and know what we should have looked for in the past and what we need to look for now when it comes to building houses and moving into new homes. Through our experiences and because our kids are at home with us and experience much of what we do, they learn the process. When we go and visit the house we are getting built, Austyn asks the contractors many questions. Yesterday he spent time with the electrician and last week he chatted with the painter. He was there through the process of choosing things. He is proud to say that he chose our wood floor that will be installed this week.

It's not always fun taking the kids everywhere, especially when there are behavioural problems. With all of the moving that we have done in the past year or so, it's made things hard for all of us.

Catapult

We have been doing a great deal of school type activities the past while but we still fit in random things that show up because of interests. In the background of this picture you'll see Austyn's newest, homemade toy. It's a catapult made out of large popsicle sticks.

The instructions on how to make it are in this book:

Lego Quest

 We haven't been doing the challenges for a little while but this time we finished in time and I was able to submit Austyn's entry to the blog. Here is what his entry said:

by Austyn, age 8, Ontario, Canada.

“This is a bridge between two towers. The black and white piece in front is a skyscraper. This gives you an idea of how large this bridge is. On the left side there is an opening at the bottom for cars to drive in and that is where they catch the massive elevator. It holds 50 cars at a time. They go up to the top and can cross over the bridge. The bridge takes about 25 minutes to cross at 100 km/hr. When they are finished being in the right tower they cross back over and go back down the elevator. There is a ton of parking in the towers and people can go there to work, live, shop, take vacations and there are very high viewing areas at the top of each tower.”

 After viewing all of the other entries from around the world he decided to make another bridge. Below he is illustrating that the bridge is almost as long as he is.

HERE is the link to this challenge. Austyn's is closer to the bottom. 

Math Manipulatives

 Why not? Build things with them!

Following Interests - Outcome

 

One thing that sets apart child lead learners from traditional schooling is that they have so much free time to explore their interests to the fullest. These kids get to delve deeply into whatever interests them. 

Austyn has many interests and our house becomes littered with things as he moves from one interest to another. One thing I notice with him is that as he becomes more skilled in the areas that he is interested in, his confidence level increases. He has nobody to compare to and isn't marked. This is his own personal gratification as he learns and discovers new things each day in his life.

 Here is an invention he made all on his own with K'nex. It is a ride for his Lego people. It spins around. He did it entirely by himself and without any instructions. I did however show him an improvement once he was finished so that the people would spin faster. 

 This is his fan. He also made this on his own, without direction.

Zoe was sick with a fever and he suggested I fan her with it. Then he decided that maybe it could be improved with paper or cardboard to make a more powerful wind. 

Isn't self discovery magnificent! :)

Blocks

Austyn hasn't played with blocks for a long time. Here is something he built. I got a quick shot before it was toppled.