Learning with Lego

I saw on several websites about learning with Lego.
Today I tried to explain the concept of multiplication to Noel.
His question was in a 3 dimensional diagram and it was a little confusing for him. So I re-create the diagram using lego blocks. Definitely makes it easier for him to grasp the concept.

Above, calculating 3 sets of 13 using lego blocks.

Advent Calendar -DIY

Noel asked for an advent calendar this year. We agreed that I would make one for him.
I was not very keen on getting the ones with chocolate so I googled online for ideas.
Came across Sarah @ My Joy Filled Life and I loved the idea that she made one which emphasises spending time with her family.  The best part was she provided a free template to use. I modified it slightly as I did not have cardstock or laminator. I printed mine on printing paper and then stick them on my manila cards. The template also came with suggested ideas. However, given we are in the Southern Hemisphere, not all the activities apply, so I used the blank template and wrote my own activities at the back.

The cards took me about 1.5 hours to make (from printing to cutting and gluing on manila cards).
Brainstorming and writing the activites was another 45 minutes to 1 hour.

 

Noel's recent school work on Diwali celebration

Recently Noel celebrated Diwali at class. Some of Noel's Indian classmates mum came to class to tell them about Diwali. Mrs w wore a sparkly top brought in by one of the mums. The kids had Indian sweets they made rangoli and so on. It's pretty cool to be in a multicultural school. Here's one of Noel's artwork.

SPCA collections

My colleague is a volunteer at SPCA . She brought in her two gentle giant to meet us for the annual SPCA appeal.

C in her SPCA shirt and Takoda is a Newfoundland (still a puppy) while Lockey( not sure how to spell ) is a Leonberger ( lion dog)

Both dogs loved to be pat.

Quick pasta

I have seen lots of cooking posts on Fb. Earlier in the year somebody shared cooking spaghetti and sausages.

Today I tried it because Noel did not want to have 粽子 for lunch.

Night at the museum

Last school holiday we brought the boys and R our friend's son to Night at the museum. The kids were given a sheet and there were special booths set up relevant to the theme under the water and they get clues from the booth.

Here they saw the marine biologist. She showed them shark teeth and various other things. They also get to keep a souvenir of sea shells.

Then they met a fish scientist. They talk about fish bones with him and did you know a fish scientist is called an ichthyologist.

They also met this ladies who showed them fish hooks made from bones.

Disco night at BOS

There was disco night at school last Thursday. The year 0 to 2 got to groove from 5 30pm to 6 45pm.

There was a deejay and the hall was dark and flashing with disco lights and what not. There was glowsticks and flashing ring for sale and chips and chocolate.

Mum and I accompanied him and we hung around in the dark together with many other parents. Meanwhile he and his bestie Cj did their moves. N won a spot prize towards the end.

At 姑姑's shop

The boys made mask out of nori sheet. Seaweed man (superhero) in the making.

Tools: a piece of nori sheet

Noel folded and start eating and made eyes for the mask. Pretty cool?

Abel just managed to made some nose pad thingie

Amazing Grace

This is a pic of the recent Easter Cantata at church. Group photograph of the Sopranos and the Altos.

Chicken curry for Friends Day

I haven't cooked chicken curry in a long time. I followed my MIl's method and tried to reproduce her version.

I used 3 chickens.
Lots of potato
Ginger
Garlic
Onion
Chilli
Babas curry powder
Coconut cream
Salt

This is not the recipe for those watching the waistline.

First I coat the chicken pieces with curry powder.

Next I saute the onion, ginger,Chilli and garlic. When all the ingredients turned pasty add the chicken pieces and more curry powder. Then I added some water and start to simmer the chicken.
After about 10 minutes, I add the coconut cream. Lastly I add the potato and simmer until the potato is cooked.

Cereal gun

I am not one who is pro-guns but the boys would create guns with all sorts of things like using pegs, or using paper and fold into one etc. and these inventions never fail to appear everywhere around the house.

Today despite being sick, Noel made this gun out of cereal box.

I don't know to praise him for his creativity or for his effort in recycling.

Abel Wee MD

Finally Abel got to open this present I got him for Christmas.

Soon the two brothers started taking turns to be doctor and patient.

After about 5 minutes, I became the resident patient. They both take turns to examine me. First, It was taking my temperature , then listening to my heart on the stethoscope and finally trying to inject me on my bum.

Fun factor for the boys: 10/10

Word find

While waiting for Abel at Swimsation, Noel did the word find puzzle.
He is still getting used to the concept of the words going diagonally down or spelt backwards.

Block puzzles

On my way back from Vienna last Oct, I had a 17 hours stop over in Taipei city.  I joined the city tour (courtesy of the Tourism board)  and I asked the kind tour guide where I can buy books and stationeries.

We were at our last stop at Taipei 101.  He told me to go to Eslite ( 誠品書店). He gave me directions and off I went instead of going back to the airport with them.  At that point, I had no more luggage limit but hehe I had a big hobo hand bag that I manage to fill in with books and puzzle blocks. (I could really spend all day in that bookshop)

This is one of the puzzle I bought from Eslite in Taipei.  It retails for NT$150.00 The boys like Doraemon so I bought these 9 block puzzles.

Noel immediately played  no problems. Abel however, was taking time to process. Only recently he could do the puzzles without any help :)

 

I am a tower too

Abel likes to arrange his stacking toys.
On this occasion he also wants to be a tower.

From left, Dantoy stackers from the papakura education shop, middle one is from countdown supermarket and right one was gift from the Vandermarks.

Char Kway Teow

I have always liked char Kway Teow . I finally had the courage to try cooking it after all these years.

Ingredients:
Flat rice noodles
Bean sprouts
Onions sliced
Spam the tinned meat
Egg
Spring onions
Soy sauce
Sugar
Salt
Pepper

I sauté the spam then put aside. Next I add oil and sauté the onion and the bean sprout. After a minute or so, I cracked an egg and then I stir it with the onion and sprouts. Now is the time I add the pepper and sugar and salt and I add the noodle last and quickly add soy sauce and fry it. In the last 30 secs, I chucked in some spring onions to give the dish a burst of colours.


Verdict:
The hub gave me a passing mark. He doesn't mind me cooking it again. In fact I cooked 3-4 more plates after this one .

P/s: I will replace the spam with prawns or sliced meat next time. The spam is too salty for my liking.

P is for pencils

Uncle Allan gave Noel these for his 5th birthday. The boys' eyes practically lit up when I brought it out. 

I would too if I am their age. I remembered my favourite spot in the shop used to be the 'stationery' corner. I still like the corner. Now my excuse is to buy stationeries for the kids. hehe.

Lines ...

Abel is now 3yrs and 4 months. He's still learning to grip his pencil.

When he sees his brother doing homework, he asks for his too. It usually consists of matching picture. Tonight I gave him a new pencil and a new book to draw lines.

Puppet monster by noel

On the first term break (mid April) Noel had heaps of free time. I didn't enrol him in holiday swimming class due to some logistic reason.

He just stayed at home with Abel and did free play which sometimes or 90% of time translates into mega mess for me.

Anyhow here's him making a puppet monster. He was wanting to make it so that it would function as a shadow puppet.

The only help I gave was giving him the Popsicle stick.

Art time

We haven't done any art work for ages.


Noel first wanted to make thumbprint ppl. See the first pic. Guess we needed ink pad for that not water colour. That didn't stop them making hand prints.

They then explored printing with feathers.

All in all a very fun activity.