Showing posts with label Home Economics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home Economics. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Ancient Greece

We've been covering a fair bit of ancient Greece in our Story of the World history book recently. Mostly it's been about waring. Now between us wars don't really appeal to my two girly girls so I have been making sure to add some activities that I think will keep them better interested.

Recently after their book work, I had the girls make Greek chitons.



They machine sewed a simple piece of cotton material together and turned it so the seam was on the inside. They place the seam at the back and then sewed a couple of buttons onto their chitons on the shoulders. Can I cross credit that with home economics too ... yeah, why not.


 
Here's Agent Smelly in hers ... the waist tie are those tie backs from our drapes ... hehe
 
 
Here's the Fashionista in hers. We didn't have enough material to make them wider, thus fuller which would have been more realistic. It was simply material I found in my scrap box ... had I been more organised (famous last words) I could have bought some to use.


 
I had to include this ... check out Agent Smelly's tartan socks ... it was cold!
 

 
The girls decided that they had put so much work into them that they had to wear them for the remainder of the day!  This is what the Papa walked in on that night ... two Greek Goddesses playing a board game.

These have now gone into the dress-up box ... and I am sure will be pulled out again and again. They were pretty chuffed with them.
Highhill Homeschool

Monday, April 22, 2013

S is for ... "Sewing"



I have been meaning to get back into teaching the girls some sewing this year but it kept getting put back further and further as I never seemed to have the time.

Last year when we tried to do it ,my sewing machine broke down and after two trips to the sewing machine Dr, and bills that probably cost more than the sewing machine did in the first place, I gave up.

So this week the girls I finally got around to getting the girls up to finish some projects they'd started and yeah the machine behaved!



Agent Smelly finished her library / ditty bag.



Here it is again with The Fashionista's blue one that she managed to get finished last year. We did them differently The Fashionista's pulls on either sides but Agent Smelly's just has one side she pulls.



and The Fashionista finished her PJ pants.


For their next sewing projects Agent Smelly will complete a pair of PJ pants and The Fashionista is going to make a skirt.


Highhill Homeschool

Sunday, January 27, 2013

"Cleaning your Bedroom"; Instructions for Kids

Following on from my post Cleaning the bathroom with kids I have now finished the next step in teaching the girls how to clean a room properly. This time I have produced a weekly and monthly bedroom checklist.


 
 
We are using all pinks accessories for the bedrooms, lounge rooms and other dry areas in the house.
 


I have printed the instructions onto A5 sheets, laminated them and placed them on a ring and into the relevant cleaning box.



WEEKLY BEDROOM CHECKLIST

  Gather supplies in their pink plastic tub:
·      cleaning / dusting cloths (pink)
·      one sheet of newspaper
·      a natural spray cleaner for mirrors, sills, walls and trims
·      vacuum Cleaner

  Pick up everything up off of the floor and put it away
  Hang or put in drawers any clean clothes lying about
  Empty dirty clothes hamper into the laundry hampers
  Knock down any cobwebs around the ceiling
  Change sheets, place dirty ones in the laundry, and then remake bed with clean sheets from the linen cupboard
 
To clean each piece of furniture, firstly you must remove every item from it, spray it with a cleaner if required and wipe with a cleaning cloth or simply dust the item with a fluffy cloth. Remember to dust or wipe the items before replacing them back onto the piece of furniture.

  Clean bedside table
  Clean bookshelf, always starting from the top shelf and then making your way down
  Clean any sets of drawers
  Clean your dresser
  Spray dresser mirror
  Wipe mirror clean with newspaper
  Organize and tidy wardrobe

With a new cleaning cloth
  Lightly spray and wipe the window sill
  Clean any marks on the walls or doors
  Spray and wipe around the skirting boards
  Wipe around any light switches and electrical sockets with the damp cloth. DO NOT SPRAY AROUND ELECTRICALS!

 
  Vacuum the carpet. Pay special attention to the edges near the walls (you will need to use the vacuum pipe to do this), and under any furniture.

  Empty your bin

  Put away supplies; dirty cloths into the laundry tub and the pink plastic tub with supplies into the laundry cupboard. Vacuum goes back in the laundry closet.

 

Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.  Saint Francis of Assisi


MONTHLY BEDROOM CHECKLIST

  Flip your mattress (with help from someone) after you remove your sheeting and before you remake it

  Change any duvets covers, quilts, blankets, etc that may require washing
  Spray window cleaner onto windows

  Wipe clean with newspaper or paper toweling

  Wipe light shades – Dad may be required to do the main light overhead.

  Let Mum or Dad know of anything that may not be working or is broken, so they can have it replaced or repaired.


The girls are actually quite enjoying grabbing the relevant cleaning tub and checking off the list as they clean their room.


If you'd care for a copy of any of the instructions emailed to you just leave your email address in the comments and I will email them to you. You can modify them to your own individual room requirements.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

One Proud Mama

Earlier in 2012 I suggested to the girls that they set aside some of their pocket money each week to donate to a worthy cause. I explained the reasoning behind it, but I didn't force them into it as sometimes that doesn't really teach children anything, except maybe resentment. I simply explained the concept, we discussed it further, and I left it to them to run with it if they wanted to.
 
Last month, just before Christmas, I overheard both girls, who were sitting by the coffee table, counting their money discuss donating money. My ears pricked up and I looked over to see The Fashionista emptying the change out of a money box onto the coffee table. She told her younger sister, that she was giving that money to the SPCA. Agent Smelly replied that she was going to give her money "to the cancer people".

I tell you it was a pretty amazing moment for me. I kept doing what I was doing in the kitchen but a HUGE, warm, glow spread through me. I was so proud that rather than be tempted into spending the money in those containers they chose to donate it. I had in fact that I had suggested it to them earlier in the year.  Granted it was not a lot of money but it did work out to be a a few weeks of pocket money (imagine you donating 3 weeks of salary) and I think the act is more important at this stage of their young lives than the amount.



Today I could see Agent Smelly being rather industrious at the table but I didn't bother her, because she was being quiet and I could see that she was just making something with some craft supplies and causing no harm. Later that night I saw this sitting on the bench. She had popped a $2 coin in the bottom of the canister and plans on filling it for 2013. 

I am really chuffed with the way they have both taken on board the concept of giving money to others. Both the Papa and I donate regularly to causes and we feel that we have been so blessed morally and financially because we do.


Friday, December 28, 2012

Cleaning the Bathroom with Kids

Well as anyone with children would know, it can be difficult to keep up with a good proper house clean with the kids clamouring for your attention or simply getting in the way. Thankfully my girls, who are now 8 and 10, are in the position to start to be of a real help around the house which is making life a little easier.

They are of course expected to tidy their rooms and I also ask that they keep their bathroom tidy as The Papa and I have a separate ensuite and theirs is the one visitors use.

On Christmas eve I asked The Fashionista to tidy her room for Christmas Day. After a wee while I went into her room and there she was laying across her desk stool like superwoman! I asked her if she thought that she had super powers and that her room would get cleaned by her simply laying on the stool? She cleverly detected my sarcasm (I know but sometimes it's just slips out) and she replied that she just simply didn't know which bit to do first. This seems to be a common problem with both girls and then they get sidetracked and the room stays untidy until I step in to help ... sound familar?

It got me to thinking, that even when they do finish cleaning a room, I am often not satisfied with the end results. I unwisely expect them to meet my adult standards. The Fashionista thinks that her wardrobe is there to simply shove things in when I ask her to tidy her bedroom floor. As for Agent Smelly, she just plays, and then at the last minute, when she realises her Mama's near boiling point, shoves things anywhere that they'll fit and then she can't find anything later.  I have also found a few items in the laundry basket after they have "tidied" their rooms that I am sure have only been tried on and then simply thrown on the floor. Apparently it is easier to throw things in the hamper than to hang them up or refold them to put away.

Rather than me nag, or repeat myself over and over again, or simply end up doing things myself, that it would be easier if they knew exactly what was required when I asked them to tidy or clean a room ... hence my new cleaning checklists.

I have just starting printing room by room cleaning checklists onto A5 paper and laminating them. They are in big type so that they are easy for the kids to read, This means each room's checklist will end up taking a few pages which I have popped onto rings for ease.

I decided to start with cleaning the main (their) bathroom, so that I could write down the procedure as I went along. When I explained what I was up to, both girls very eagerly came along to help. They really seemed to enjoy giving the bathroom a thorough clean, in fact a couple of times I had to tell them to stop as it couldn't possibly get any cleaner. The funny thing is now that they know exaclty how much work is involved in cleaning the bathroom properly they decided to put some stuff away that they had sitting on the window sill and vanity, so that there wont be quite so much for them to move next time.



For our bathroom and seperate toilet, all the cleaning supplies are in blue (I have also use blue for the checklists) and only let the children use natural cleaners. 

Here's a copy of what's on our bathroom checklist, remember it is aimed at children so I have made it rather detailed. Feel free to copy and paste if it would be of any use to your kids. (Cleaning windows and mopping floors is something that I have not included as it's something I do for the whole house.)


BATHROOM CHECKLIST
  Gather supplies in the blue plastic tub:
·       cleaning cloths (blue)
·       one sheet of newspaper
·       old toothbrush
·       a general natural spray cleaner for the shower, mirror, etc
·       sponge / squeegee for the shower and bath
·       plastic gloves (optional for you to wear)
·       vacuum Cleaner

  Pick up everything up off of the floor and counters, and put it away.
  Remove items that are left permanently on the bench (whilst you clean basins, mirrors, etc so they don’t get broken) also out of the way outside the room.
  Place floor rugs and rubbish bin just outside the door but not in your way.
  Place dirty towels and flannels in the correct laundry baskets

THE BATHROOM SHOULD NOW BE EMPTY!

  Spray shower cleaner in the bathtub and shower, be sure to get it on both the walls and shower door.
  Spray mirror cleaner onto the mirror.
  Use a crumpled piece of newspaper (or mirror cloth) to wipe the mirror.
  Wipe the mirror frame with a clean cloth.

Use a cloth, which you must rinse when it gets dirty and between each activity to:
  clean the sink tap(s) and chrome sink plug hole(s). You may require the toothbrush to get around the edges of the taps and the edges of the sink hole.
  Ditto with the bath tap(s) and chrome bath plug hole(s).
  clean the sink(s), then counter, and the vanity cupboards. Don’t forget the cupboard skirting board.

Spray cleaner and then with a new damp cloth
  wipe off any marks on the walls
  wipe the window sills
  wipe the skirting boards down

Use another new clean damp cloth to
  wipe the items that sit permanently on the bench, and then return them to their places on the vanity bench top.
  wipe around power points and light switches. Make sure cloth is slightly damp, not wet, around electrical fixtures!
  wipe the doorknobs
  Wet your sponge and squeegee to scrub the shower. Remember to do the outside of the door too.
  Clean the shower taps and shower head.
  Scrub / wipe out the bathtub.

  Vacuum the floors. Pay special attention to the edges of the floor, near the walls, and under counters.
  Vacuum the bathroom mats
  Let Mum know if the floor needs mopping, otherwise replace the mats on the bathroom floor.
  Empty the rubbish bin and return it.
  Put out fresh towels and a flannel
  Put away supplies; dirty cloths into the laundry tub and your blue plastic tub with supplies into the laundry cupboard.

If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right!


 

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Learning to Sort and Declutter

Today the little madams were rather disappointed to find that for Home Economics that they would be sorting out their junk drawers and those little "hidey spots" where they put all those little pieces of paper, letters and junk er ... special keepsakes.


The Fashionista is really the worst of the pair as she hoards every little note and thing she has ever received or made. Rather than throw some things out, she will happily pass them onto her little sister. In this photo Agent Smelly has been called into her sister's room to take some of her big sister's My Little Ponies if she wanted them.

In the end, with some nagging gentle nudging along, they both did really well and managed to get rid of some of their "treasures" and even repack the stuff they were keeping away where it was supposed to go.

Now I must remember to practice what I preach and go through mine soon. :)

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

White Chocolate & Vanilla Biscuits

The Fashionista was simply dying to make something from her Girls Rally magazine and asked if she could make some White Chocolate & Vanilla biscuits for home economics this week. It was their Grandma's birthday so I agreed, as I thought it would be nice to pop down with a fresh batch of those and the ANZAC cookies her little sister was whipping up.

I have got to say that even though I am not a fan of white chocolate, and we found out later neither is my mother-in-law, we ALL (yes even the ma-in-law), absolutely loved these biscuits and just kept eating them. Which is lucky because there was no quantity on the recipe and so we ended up making a whopping 66 biscuits!

I really cannot recommend this recipe highly enough.



White Chocolate & Vanilla Biscuits

Makes; approx 5 doz

Ingredients
  • 375g butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 6 Tbspn condensed milk
  • 3 tspn vanilla essence
  • 4 cups flour
  • 3 tspn baking powder
  • 1 1/2 cups white chocolate buttons (chopped)

Method
  1. Preheat oven to 165.C
  2. Using an electric beater, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
  3. Beat in condensed milk and vanilla essence.
  4. Sift over flour and baking powder and mix well.
  5. Mix in chopped chocolate buttons.
  6. Spoon walnut sized balls onto a lined baking tray - flatten slightly with finger tips.
  7. Bake for 10-12mins until firm and golden.

Recipe taken from Girls Rally Member Mag, No 2 - 2012

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Caramel Biscuits

Today The Fashionista pulled out one of our "4 Ingredients" cook books and made some gluten free Caramel Biscuits. We have now also made these using regular self-raising flour. which worked well too. 

The Fashionista is becoming very confident in the kitchen and the only thing I had to explain to her to do was how to "cream" the butter and sugar.



"Caramel Biscuits"

Makes 24

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbs. golden syrup
  • 1 generous cup GF self raising flour
Method:
  • Preheat oven t0 180'C
  • Cream butter and sugar.
  • Add syrup and beat until fluffy
  • Mix in flour until texture is such that you are able to roll it into balls (about the size of a large marble/tom bowler).
  • Place the balls on a paper line tray and allow for spreading (we did two tray loads). Press each gently with a fork and bake for 15 minutes.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Snickerdoodles with Agent Smelly

Today for home economics Agent Smelly wished to make "Snickerdoodles". I have been making these biscuits for the past 10 years now (although not as frequently as the family would like apparently!), and they are always such a hit.


What is it about breaking eggs that is so much fun that children basically fight to be the one to do it. Actually when I think about it I quite like breaking them too ... it's quite satisfying really.

Agent Smelly doesn't usually get as much time in the kitchen as her older sister, so today was all about her. The Fashionista was on another bench making our dessert for the evening, an apple crumble. This recipe has a few odd measurements so it was a great opportunity to work on some fractions. If something calls for a cup, I often give the girls a smaller sized one so they can work out how many times they will need to use it to make a whole cup. Both girls are pretty good with fractions and I am sure it is down to cooking and playing with measuring cups.


They are as delicious as they look. By the way they aren't burnt the darker colour on the outside is from the sugar and cinnamon the dough is rolled in before you bake them.

There are loads of different versions of the recipe but here's the one we use.

SNICKERDOODLES

Makes 4-5 doz depending on the size

Ingredients:
250gms butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups (350gms) flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Topping; mix together 2 Tbsp sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon (to be honest we often run out and end up making more topping but this is what the recipe recommends.)

1/ Heat oven to 200 deg C
2/ Mix together butter, sugar and eggs
3/ Blend in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt
4/ Shape dough into balls - we have found about the size of a tom bowler (one of those large marbles) works best
5/ Roll balls in the topping (which is easier when it's in a small bowl) and place them on ungreased baking sheets. Leave at least 4cm between the balls as they will spread.
6/ Bake for 8-10 mins. Again it will depend on how big you make your balls as to how long you will need to bake them for. Just make sure they are still light coloured (under all the cinammon) when you take them out. They will be very soft and so it's best to use an egg flip, etc to place them on a baking rack to cool or they will probably crumble.



Just thought I'd share this picture of The Fashionist who I had just advised how to rub the butter into the flour and sugar for her crumble. She was a little surprised by the feeling!
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