Individual learning together

Many people ask us what it looks like when we do individual learning together at the table. Well, here it is.

In the classical subjects such as Danish, Math, English and German, our kids follow each their own level of learning.

I teach these subjects individually, by laying out the books on our weekly schedule on the table the night before. Each pupil get a stack of books by their seat to complete a certain amount of work in, the next day.

I go through the work to be done, with them, one by one. Then they work independently and can ask for help, when they get stuck.

The music in the background is not background music edited onto the movie later, but was played while we worked. We often chose to listen to music while we work, if everyone agree to the chosen music.

We all help each other and respect when someone finds something difficult.

On our current schedule (it often changes), we spend around 1-3 hours a day on these subjects 3 days of the week. Our goal is to complete the books we use and the additional tests, by 1st of April each year. We have reached our goal every year.

Working with DNA and RNA

We have been working with physics and chemistry from a system called “Fysikemi” but they got boring when we got to book number 3 out of 6 books. Then we got a charge from the library for forgetting to bring back the books and decided to pay and give the books back for good.

Then we could start over with inspirational materials. Our daughter chose to study DNA and RNA and make a presentation for the rest of us. She chose to work with biology instead of physics and chemistry today. That is the freedom you have when you are homeschooled. You can see it here:

https://youtu.be/NpEM8nHpniU

Inspirational videos on DNA and RNA:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQByjprj_mA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKEziIKHGOE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdhL-T6tQco

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5gEIViVAPw

Working with probability theory

We have struggled a bit with probability theory, and made this gadget to select random numbers. We then compared it to manual random numbers using dice. Then we entered it into a spreadsheet and analysed the data up against each other. One of our kids build the number selector with dad.

You can see our recordings and progress here:

Random dice number selector we made.
Ordinary dice used.
Manuel probability chart.
It was very slow!

Real Life School

After finding and examining the school offer https://skolenivirkeligheden.dk/ we wrote to a few companies, that our kids found interesting. https://www.brusch.dk/ wrote to us that we were welcome to come by and get a tour around their company. They make technical precision solutions for a large range of companies and areas, such as space travel, medical, energy and science. They have a factory in Denmark where they use robots and precision machinery to produce products mainly in titanium, aluminium, silver, cobber and plastic.

Our kids found it very interesting and a good way to get to see an area of work you usually don’t get to know about in your daily life. We try to show our children as many areas of life and work opportunities, as possible, to give them as varied a view of life and the opportunities they have. This can help them, when they have to choose career direction and also give them an understanding of other peoples lives and how things around them are produced.

Space Capsule where some of their products had been used.
A selection of their high precision products.
Some of their components are used in educating hospital staff.
The main production room.
A small robot we were allowed to program.

The road to Palmyra

“Mum, there is an exhibition at the museum Glyptoteket I REALLY want to see, and it is ending in a few days. We have to go soon!” So of we went. The exhibition was an excellent introduction to the history of Syria and the Middle East in general.

It was also very well explained how archaeology has evolved over time and how different areas of the planet earth has had the most interest on and off in the history of mankind.

The growth of the population, culture and art in certain areas of the world and the rise of wealth from trade, was also the subject of the exhibition. The decline of a city and its decent into oblivion, gave food for thought.

You can never grow tired of Glyptoteket. There is just so much classical art and history packed into that place. And what a wrapping! The whole place is a beautiful piece of art, with Mosaic floors, huge plants, a fountain and statues.

A beautiful way to learn about history and art.

Glyptoteket 2020-02-27

Learning the Letters and Numbers

Hands on learning of the Letters and Numbers. When our children was 2-6 years old, we made this Memory game. The children measured up til black backgrounds and the white sheets of paper. They then wrote the Letters and Numbers on them in pairs, so we could use them to practice remembering the Alphabet and the Letters, while playing Memory game.

The Karen Blixen Museum

To make history come alive, we enjoy visiting museums. At the moment we are really fond of visiting museums with focus on one particular memorable historical person. We try to relate to that time when that person lived and understand how their lives has been. We get inspired and find energy from the strength and quirkiness of that person.

I have never really liked Karen Blixen. But the more we came across her in our studies and just what we were talking about at home, I more and more felt we had to go see her museum. I had seen the movie “Out of Africa” and I hated it. But as she was on our list to read on the public recommended list for primary school, I thought it was a good idea to give her a chance and keep an open mind. The kids should make up their own mind.

It is a very beautiful museum and lies in a very beautiful part of Denmark. The museum is in her old childhood home and it is also the place she spent most of her life. The museum staff was friendly and we felt were welcome. The museum has a sponsorship for fresh flowers to use for flower decorations around the museum. So the whole museum is full of beautiful fresh flower decorations and that together with Karen Blixens old furniture and stylish decor gives an all together peaceful setting.

There was so much that we didn’t know about her. That she was a brilliant painter. That she was an excellent storyteller. That she had made a pact with the devil. That she suffered from syphilis and a stomach disorder. That she had to struggle really hard to get her books published and was rejected many times. That she was first published in the USA. That she had met Marilyn Monroe.

The museum also had worksheets for the children to complete, which helped us get around and see the whole museum and not miss anything. The staff was also very helpfull with information.

Karen Blixen had a great advice for the next generation – The most important in life is to have courage, humour and love.

The view from the Karen Blixen Museum
Completing the worksheets
The beautiful rooms
A young Karen Blixen
Wise words from Karen Blixen

The Storm P. Museum

Going to museums is one of our favorite things to do. We love them. Find them so inspiring. It doesn’t really matter what the subject is. Today we went to the Storm P. Museum. We had for a few years been using the ice skating ring next to the museum. Every time we had said:”We should visit that museum”. Well, today we got around to it.

Especially my oldest child was eager to go there. I knew Storm P. from my dad and remembered reading cartoons by Storm P. as a child, which we had lying around the house.

Storm P. lived from 1882-1949. He was an artist who took part in 20 movies, a comedian, a cartoonist, an author and poet. He is mainly known for his cartoons, which was used in newspapers and magazines.

The museum showed a very versatile Storm P. Many sides to Storm P. that I didn’t know. It was much more interesting that I had imagined.

There was also a temporary exhibition about the cartoon “Valhalla” which all my children knew, even though it was from the 1970-ties. We also took part in an assignment, where you should answer different questions around the museum.

Our Curriculum

When we started out homeschooling, we went to the university library that stocks all the school related books for teaching primary school (Pædagogisk bibliotek). We read and read and borrowed and tried out different material that we found useful.

During the years we have tuned in on those materials, that we enjoy and find of a high quality. I will try to write our basic Curriculum here. On top of this Curriculum, we use all sorts of other material, but this is our classical basic learning.

Danish (our native language)
Min danskbog for (childs current grade), Forlaget Delta
Alkalær system for learning to read

Math
Sigma for (childs current grade), Alinea

English
Let’s do it, Forlaget Delta

German
Gut Gemacht, Forlaget Delta

History
Børnenes danmarkshistorie, Nils Hartmann
Børnenes verdenshistorie, Nils Hartmann
Danmarks konger og dronninger, Nils Hartmann
Hvem bestemmer i Danmark?, Nils Hartmann
Børn i danmarkshistorien, Nils Hartmann
Historien om Danmark under 2. verdenskrig, Nils Hartmann

Physics and chemistry
En meget kort historie om næsten alt, Bill Bryson
How science works, Judith Hann (Din bog om naturvidenskab)
The Science Timeline Wallbook, Christopher Lloyd
FysiKemi, Poul Bogetoft

Geometry of Innocence – Ordrupgaard

We visited Ordrupgaard for the first time together as a family 2nd of September 2018. We wanted to see the installation “Geometry of Innocence”, by Mike & Doug Starn in the park.

It was a very impressive experience to see a construction in that size made out of giant bamboo. I have always loved installation art. It feels like you can explore an art piece on so many more levels, than a painting (I love paintings too, though). For children, installation art, can be a playground to explore.

The piece brings out many emotions and thoughts – this looks so fragile, will it fall apart when we enter it? Is it at all sensible to bring my beloved family to the top of it, just for entertainment? Will it fall down? How can it be so strong, when it just looks like one great organic mess?

It brought around many interesting questions. These were the children’s questions. Why have they made it? Is it dangerous? How many meters of rope have they used? How much bamboo? Why bamboo? Did they make a drawing first? Can I go up to the top again?

One thing we agreed on for sure, it was beautiful and fascinating.