Here is another in our suggestions series: Learning Together at Home (If you haven't already, click on the link to sign up for news and to participate.)

We would like to invite the children to design and make and robot and tell us what it is for? It will give them the opportunity to use their imagination, design ideas, making skills, to problem solve and share their thoughts and creative ideas. They could re-purpose household objects, use recycling material and other materials from around the home (with your agreement). Please send us photos of what the children have made or a photo of their drawing of what it could be; and the children's thoughts on it for us share.

" We would like to invite you to make a robot and to tell us what it is for? You could use recycling materials or re-purpose household objects or materials, but please do ask your parents first before using anything. We would love to see your imaginative ideas, your designs and what you've made. If you prefer to draw rather than make, you could draw you're design. Tell us about your thinking in designing and making and your ideas about what the robot would do?"

Here's a first example, from Edward and Thomas, in Penrith:

Shared by children & their parents ...Through the Window (slideview)

Thank you for all your lovely pictures: they showed children's eye for detail and capacity to interpret what they see and how it makes them feel. Sorry we had to turn some round.

Do send us more and we'll add them. 

from 'Traps & Tenderness': Viviana & Federico

Dear parents/ carers, and educators

We are beginning a  series of blogs and exchanges which will help support families and children learning together at home.

 Through these blogs we aim to provide an inspiring resource to families, so that home learning can be an exciting and joyful experience. The blogs will appear once a week on our website and on social media, and will include some ideas for you and your children to explore at home.We would like to share experiences of children and families in the blogs and invite you to participate by sending us your photographs, videos, notes from your family explorations. We'd be able to share some of your experiences on our blogs and on our social media pages – this will all help build a lively picture of parents and children around the country imaginatively exploring, learning and being together. We are in an enforced situation, but we can maximise the joy and playfulness and new perspectives which are hidden in our everydays. 

Some of the things we anticipate that the explorations will include are:

- working with different learning spaces at home (including the kitchen)

- materials and imagination

- story telling

- den building

- dressing up

- working with children's questions and ideas. 

Click HERE  to go to the page on our website where you can subscribe to our blogs post and also sign up to participate in sharing your s and your children's' experiences. 

Even over the Easter weekend, we have had some lovely early responses to the suggested first focus 'Out of the Window' and will be sharing these soon.

painting by Jaweria Sethi, director of Edopia School, Pakistan, April 2020

Out of the Window

Look out of your window: -  Draw a picture of what you can see – either the whole view or something in particular that you like. Tell us about your drawing: what can you see? How does it make you feel? 

We plan to share and develop this theme,, as the responses to this open invitation come in, and to offer - and to get - further suggestions. 

Traps & Tenderness

Here's an example of a mother and son exploring, reflecting and learning together: a holiday occasion brought  back and built upon at home, which gave everyone much  intrigue,  learning. and satisfaction.

You can read it on our website HERE.