Bits and Pieces...school trip, camp, baking and tests

 I had to use my phone to take a couple of photos this morning and guess what I found? Yes, the above photo. It seems that my children just can't stop experimenting with cookies and food coloring. I guess this one was Gaby's as she's crazy for anything green.

 The weekend before last we went to a book fair at Alexis' and Marie-Kate's school.  There was an exposition of what the different classes have been working on recently.  Above is Alexis' poster on what they did on the 27th March while in Auvergne (sorry for photo quality)

 And here's Alexis' model of a volcano which he later brought home, along with a very detailed collection of photos, texts and drawings in his very own project book (you can see a couple of them on the table.

 Marie-Kate has been busy too, above and below.  Yes those famous CE1 national tests, probably the last year that they pupils will have to sit them a according to our new socialist government. Sixty point for French and forty for Math and Miss MK did great, with ninety two out of one hundred.

Alexis in Auvergne...back on Friday

 Day out learning about the region's volcanos 

We are all missing Alexis here and can't wait to have him back home on Friday after twelve days away (longest time away ever). 
Luckily we've been kept up to date via dear Mr B's emails and photos, which have helped a lot.  They've done so many things and visited so many places, I think the children will need this up coming long Easter weekend to recuperate before going back to school next Tuesday.
One of the activities Alexis was really looking forward to do was climbing.

I can't remember if Mr B told us that this wall was seven meters high on ten.  Alexis(in orange) is holding the rope and I think it's Jeremy (best friend) who's climbing.


Monday night, Nicolas, a storyteller came and presented three tales from the region
Peti - Peta, L'histoire du curé and le champ du diable....can't wait to hear about them from Alexis

Here's Nicolas, kind of cute for a storyteller

And of course, they been leaning a lot about volcanos, visiting them (don't worry mum, they are extinct)

What an amazing school camp, lucky children, great guides and amazing teachers, I think Alexis is going to come back with such wonderful memories and an  obsession for volcanoes which he was already keen on before he left.




Roll on Friday.... and getting ready mentally to say goodbye to Charlotte who's leaving for ten days to Spain and then Gabrielle at the end of April, who's off to Germany with her class for four days, now that's more reasonable.
I bet that the girls will never get round to sending any postcards, unlike Alexis who has send four letters/postcards so far, making Mamie and Papy, Grannie and and Alain and I very happy (guess who will be getting a very big Easter egg this Sunday?) 

Youpi Volcano Charlotte Cake

Alexis made a Volcano sponge finger Charlotte for lunch ( prepared last night), he's been waiting to eat it ever since.....
Mixing pears, mascarpone and creme fraîche
almost ready for an overnight stay in our fridge

It lacks a volcano's allure, but it was eaten as quick as a flash

School's Out and Unplugged Science Volcano's and Sound

Youpi, May 2009

Friday was the last day of school for two weeks. We've been pretty busy with end of term meetings and outings, and now we have to prepare Marie-Kate's 5th birthday and a trip to London.

We did manage to do this weeks unplugged project, thanks to Alexis's monthly magazine "Youpi". This months theme was Volcano's.

Marie-Kate carried on this experiment because it was safe and easy. She made a volcano using some flour and soda.

She made the crater with her finger

The gas from the soda pushed the flour and the soda up and out of the crater, making it overflow like in a real eruption. Once the soda (magma)had lost its gas, the lava flowed down around the sides of her volcano.

I'd recommend this magazine to anyone, it's really super for children aged 5 to 8 years old. All my children have this magazine and loved it when they were younger. If anyone wants to swap some of our Youpi's for some something similar in English, that would be great.

Experiment N°2 Sound Waves





bowl covered with sandwich wrap

Alexis and Gabrielle decided to experiment with sound after watching a science programme for kids on Arte.

Scatter some rice over the top

Turn the music up ( Bryan Adams)



The noise makes the air vibrate, the noise is transmitted through the air, to the plastic. The plastic vibrates and the rice dances. The children loved this one.