Playmobil Antarctic Explorations.

 The children got 'Polar explorers for kids' for Christmas, and I had decided we'd start using it when it snowed.

 

  In 1772-1775 Captain James Cook got within 100 miles of Antarctica.

On his second voyage, Cook became the first explorer to cross the Antarctic circle. In 1775 Cook headed home disappointed that he had not found Antarctica, and in his report wondered if it really existed.

By 1880 ships travelled to the seas around the Antarctic to capture and kill the thousands of seals that Cook had described. The first man to set foot on the Antarctic was a seal hunter.

1820 Bellinghausen, Smith, Bransfield and Palmer all see different parts of Antarctica on separate expeditions.

1839 James Clark Ross voyages to find magnetic south.

 Robert Scott and Roald Amundsen race to the South Pole 1910-1912

Every country wanted to lay claim to as much of Antarctica's land as possible.

We retold the story of the race between Scott and Amundsen using Playmobil, with great success!

James Cook was the first person to cross the Antarctic circle.

I then set up two teams of playmobil figures, one team representing Scott's British team, the other  Amundsen's Norwegian team.
We compared each team, before we read the story of each man's expedition.

 This is Scott's team.

Although Scott knew nothing of Amundsen's plans to the South Pole, Scott had to rush his preparations, because other countries were also preparing to explorations to the South pole.

• Didn't have time to train his men how to ski.
• Failed to select the best dogs.
• Selected both ponies and dogs.
• took motorised sledges (which had never been tested in extreme conditions).
• Large team of 65 men.

 

 This is Amundsen's team

He kept his plan to be the first to the South pole a secret and raised funds for his journey, by telling people he was off to the North pole.

Spring Snow

This morning Rosanna was the only one in our house to be excited by the snow.

 Although it looked very pretty, we really could have done with out it today.

We were waiting for deliveries and had a home ed group to get to.

 Instead we had a crafty day at home, a table full of tissue paper, glue, paint, wool... and toilet rolls!

 The kitchen is now empty and plastered.

This time last year we we were having work done on the attic. 

It was so hot I had to give the workman cold drinks with ice cubes.

 

Freezing cold day and we had the door open to help the plaster dry!

This time next week, we'll have our lovely new kitchen :)

Two weeks of snow

For the past two weeks our lives were disrupted by the thick blanket of snow that covered Barnsley, as it did most of the country. We quickly found a new routine which included a daily sledging session.

With extra layers of clothes, thermals and a flask of hot chocolate, the kids could stay out for a couple of hours.

Home Sweet Holmes bobsleigh team

The kids progressed to jumps

Aprés ski in the back garden.

We made German snow lights.

Two weeks of snow, gave us time to experiment with snow ice-cream flavours.

I'm going to miss the free ice-cream, now the snow has begun to melt.

Orange slush

(snow and orange juice)

And while the kids made ice-cream, I drank Baileys, without ice...

and all was well in our little world!

Pretty bubbles in the snow

Since the snow arrived we've been learning about Antarctica. 

Explorers such as Henry Hudson noticed that unexpected things often happen to common materials in the very cold Arctic climate.

Today was definitely cold enough to try this bubble experiment.

If you blow bubbles on a very cold day they act differently to bubbles blown on a warm day. They  don't float around, but shatter in mid air.
It wasn't quite cold enough(!) this morning, so we blew bubbles into the freezer, there is a definite 'pop' as they shatter.

 We tried blowing bubbles again later, and saw more of the shattering effect.

When the bubble is blown in cold air, tiny ice crystals form, which shatter the bubble. Also the warm air inside the bubble expands and the pressure increases.The cold air stops the expansion and often causes the bubble to shatter.

Reuben also found this icicle, which is now in the freezer for safe keeping.

Winter Wonderland Part 1 and 2

Rosanna is in bed and Geoff has taken Jemima and Reuben out night time sledging and star gazing. Although there's not masses of snow we are making the most of the shallow covering and having lots of fun. This morning I did think maybe we should do some maths before we go out, and then I thought not. The girls would have thought it a crazy idea and how many days do we have snow. And I knew lots of learning would take place outside.

We live opposite a nature reserve, although we often walk there, it's a bit run down, suffering from litter and vandalism.

 but today it was transformed.

 

 The frost and rime covered plants were amazing.

I sent my husband a text telling him we were in Lapland!

 The kids were desperate to start sledging, 

although I could have stood taking photos all day.

 

 Rosanna was mesmorised by the frost and rime covering the plants. Initially she'd be cowering as we'd walked past them, mistaking them for spiky thorns.

 We had the place to our selves, until a man with 5 dogs appeared, none of them on leads. At this point the kids wanted to leave.

I was just about to publish this post, when Geoff and the kids come back from night sledging claiming his photos were better than mine and since we are joint authors he can add his 'improved' photos...

So what do you think...

Hope we don't have to don sumo suits to settle this argument!

Snowy walk and Clever hot chocolate

On frosty/snowy/wintery days my first thoughts are always to head towards Worsbrough reservoir.

 We set off via the footpath at the side of our house.

 

 View over Worsbrough from the top of the footpath.

 

 On to the Trans Penine Trail.

 Most of the snow had melted by the time we had got down to the reservoir, 

but still a lovely place to be, "chicken soup for the soul".

Having walked from home, we needed to warm up with hot chocolate.

I read today that a cup of milky hot chocolate 

could be a key to boosting brain power. 

Our daily ritual is to have a hot chocolate mid morning (sometimes afternoon too!) Much nicer for children than being told to eat fish!

And wouldn't it be great if adding cream and marshmallows also boasted brain power instead of boasting waistline.

Cheers x