The probability of finding love

I bought a box of gingerbread letters L-O-V-E

We picked letters out at random and counted how many turns it took to find 'LOVE'. 

First we said the letters had to be chosen in the right order. 

Then they could be chosen in any order, as long as we ended up with LOVE.

There were 4 L biscuits, 4 O biscuits, 5 V biscuits and 5 E biscuits.

The probability of finding 'LOVE' and selecting the letters in the right order, on average it would take 200 attempts to find 'LOVE'.

But if you're not as picky and happy to find 'LOVE' in any order as long as it's love, then the probability is 1 in 7.

And then we tried it out and sure enough in seven attempts we found LOVE once...

Rosie was the only one to find LOVE!

and at the end of the maths lesson, we could decorate and eat LOVE!

For online practice of probability, we used:

KS2 bitesize probability

KS3 bitesize probability

Data Handling

From Christmas to Bodmas- it was hard starting work with the girls again after a lovely Christmas break. Imogen carried on with Bodmas, a topic I could remember from my school days. When I finally got my thinking head on, we started data handling. Firstly, we looked in the newspapers to see how data is displayed.

line graphs

tables

pie charts

We then did data handling activities on:

ixl maths

bbc/ks2 bitesize maths handling data

bbc/ks3 bitesize maths handling data

I gave the girls a tube of smarties, and asked them to represent the colour data in the form of a pie chart.

First they made a table.

Then they converted data into sectors for the Pi chart.

Then measured out the sectors of the pie chart.

The finished pie charts.

You could extend this activity, by asking the children to write questions about the interpretation of their pie charts.

What's in a burger?

 What would you put in a tasty burger?

Very topical after the latest food scandals, we found this page in Reuben's doodle book. It appears the list is fairly open ended as to what can go in a burger. A couple of months ago, we'd have laughed if a horse had been drawn between the bread. And the goat peering over the top, well he'd better watch out!

Scrabble Junior Jigsaw Puzzle

 I found a Scrabble Junior jigsaw puzzle in a charity shop for 99p. 

I'd not seen this version of Scrabble before. It's a great puzzle with many levels of engagement. Firstly there's the jigsaw puzzle, which forms the board. Next there are missing letters within the words and tiles to complete them. Then there are questions on the box, like 'Find the pairs which go together.' King matches queen and so on.
We've already had 99p worth of value and I think it will keep the younger two interested for a while.

Pizza and Cocktails

Last week we went on an educational visit to Frankie and Benny's.

 The children started by decorating hats.

 Decorating pizzas next,

loads of toppings to choose from.

 Reuben layering the cheese rather too thickly!

 While the pizzas cooked, the children took to the bar and made cocktails, 

and the mums got served cappuccino and biscuits. 

 Pizza and cocktail!

A  great educational workshop and a relaxing time for 

mums to catch up over coffee too.

Home made crunchie honeycomb

Today we made crunchie!

 In a pan, heat 4 tablespoons of golden syrup with 200g of sugar. We heated it very slowly to avoid burning. Bring to the boil and then simmer until the sugar has dissolved.

 To test if the honeycomb is ready, dip a small amount in cold water, 

if it sets solid, it's ready.

 

 The fun bit - add 3 teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda

The mixture fizzes and this is how the honeycomb gets it's bubbles.

This gave us an opportunity to recap acids and alkalis.

Place the mixture in a tin lined with greaseproof paper.

Leave to set.

Break into pieces.

 We decorated the honeycomb with dark chocolate

Delicious!
'Can we make Kit Kat next week?' asks Reuben.
Watch out for more Home Sweet Holmes confectionery

Collecting a jar of hearts

I read recently that for a lot of people January is their least favourite month of the year and that new years resolutions can be more destructive than helpful. It is more constructive to focus on the good things that are actually happening already. So, we've starting collecting a jar of hearts.
We decorated a glass jar and cut up some heart shaped pieces of paper. When we do something that we want to remember, that makes us happy or proud, we'll write it down. Then every few months we'll empty the jar, read the hearts and smile :-)

You could adapt this for Valentine's day, by writing down messages placing them in the jar and giving 'the jar of hearts' to the one you love.

First camping trip of 2013!

I find weekends tricky. On one hand I want to spend time with Geoff and the kids, but at the same time it's nice to have time by myself. We had a family day out to Edale on Saturday and then on Sunday Geoff took the kids up to the big garden. Off they went with the tent, sleeping bags, cream crackers, jam, chestnuts and other random bits and bobs. It was several hours before I saw them again...

 making toast

 Enjoying toast

cooking chestnuts and bananas wrapped in foil.

 Geoff had saved some old lead from when we had the kitchen roof done,
they used the footpump to intensify the fire and melted the lead.  When the raked it out of the ashes it was shiny again!

The good thing about camping in the garden, you can come back into the warm house when it gets cold.

Edale - Derbyshire

Since our walk up shivering mountain last September, Reuben and Rosanna love all things to do with mountains.

 It's inspired them for art work.

  

 and even cooking.

We woke this morning to beautiful blue skies with no sign of rain or snow. 

The girls had their bedroom window open, bulbs appearing in the garden. 

"It must be Spring," I thought. 

Geoff planned a trip on the train out to Derbyshire, 

"Do you want a flask of hot chocolate?" 

"Oh no," I reply,  "it's far too hot today for hot chocolate."

... and then we venture out and it's barely three degrees!

 

Luckily beautiful blue skies greeted us in Edale 

and we set off for a walk along the river towards Kinder.

Across the bridge and away.

Kinder Scout was the site of the mass trespass in 1932 which eventually led to the opening up of private land for ramblers.

 A real Bridge to Teribithia

 

Can you see how the branches are acting like roots?

 Reuben and Rosanna were so excited by the mountains, 

wanting to know the names of each peak.

 'Y' tree

What is everyone looking at?

The perfect sledging hill, of course!