History lesson: The Mummy, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Movie

To my opinion, the scenes were not as good as Indiana Jones. But nevertheless, it is still a great show to catch. This show basically showcased alot of the ancient chinese inventions - crossbows and many more. It covered alot of the Jnr's history understanding. The Terracotta warriors' formation got him excited enough to suggest that we should to see the real thing in China, someday.

Unschooling with the PSP - God of War

Well, we've moved on to another game - the God of War. Got to meet lots of Minatours, a couple of Medusas, many Immortals, and that lady Aphrodite seem rather nice too.

In conjuction with PSP learning, we've been reading stories from The Illiad by Homer. Son thought it was rather funny that this great philosopher had the same name as the great Homer Simpson! LOL! And how Argos was actually not just the name of a catalouge shop but the name of the land where Diomedes of the Loud War Cry hailed from.

The God of War game might be bloody and gory, but nevertheles a very intersting way to be immersed into a Greek mythology environment. Lots of logical challeges like that gets the brain juice going too.

Unschooling History

Hi Julie,

How's the eyes getting on? So what have you guys been up to?

I've got an interesting article here for you about homeschooling and socialising http://www.drlaurablog.com/category/home-schooling/

Well, i did my arts and painting session, but unfortunately as always, Gecko Jnr graciously declined to join me . Well, it shouldn't come as a surprise considering my son do not like the sensation of glue or anything sticky (other than playdough) on his fingers. What have you guys been up to? This is what we did, and hope it might be of interest to you. Gecko Jnr's into his latest PSP obsession with a game called 300, March to Glory. It's a story about one particular battle (don't remember the name) during the ancient history of the Persian Empire/ Greece, between King Leonidas and King Xerxes. And we've managed to Wikipedia it, had a good read and a really interesting discussion. I was struggling with all these Latin names, and surprisingly Greg corrected me on all of them, for he's learnt it all from playing the game on his PSP, LOL! Well, another example of learning without realising it LOL! Anyhow, we've managed to track Persia (now Iran) on the map.

Yesterday, feeling all fired-up, I went to the library to get more books and got the dvd for the movie 300. We watched the movie, learnt (absord more like it) fantastically alot in just 1 hour, about how people dressed and talk in the olden days, we noticed the different apperance and dressing between the Greeks, Persian and all the diffrent nations that came forth to war, under the one king from Eygpt. Very intersting for I managed recognised a few, all with thier distinct and unique talents, the Mongolians, the Indians with thier elephants, and many more warriors from the vast Byzantine empire. Got to know about the different type of battle tactics and weapons utilised in the olden days and believed it or not, mode of communications (from the used of messengers on horses to the sound of the horn to trigger off the next round of assault (arrows, lots of them) before the invention of tele-communications LOL! If one can overlook the violence and gory of the movie (it is a battle movie afterall), I think this is a fantastic movie to showcase the magnificence and richness and brilliance-ness of our past ancient history. In those days, it truly is about how much have you got to show for. And it shows why all those kings and ruler send thier vast armies to conquer other countries, to capture and owned the most precious commodity of all. Other than land, human power(armies, slaves, philosophers and citizens) must be one of the most valuable recources, for with more soldiers and warriors, one must be truly stronger and capable of expanding one's empire. How intersting it is compare to today's method of battle and monopoly.

Today, when we're talking about some conquerer, we're talking about someone's genius-ness in opening new market and cornering market shares, like Bill Gates and Richard Branson (yes, all these tycoons is nevertheless Kings of thier own right, isn't it?). It's still all about power and money, isn't it? Last week, I was feeling defeated and low, about to start considering sending Gecko Jnr to part-time schooling. But I think this is one of those few moments that makes me feel we are on the right track to educating Gecko Jnr.

During my foray in the library, I've even manage to find 3 different books, all with different "fun-based" methods on learning Maths. Plus I've managed to get a huge and thick encyclopedia, which I believe will be residing with us for a long while. I just need to remember to keep re-newing.

Well, so far for now.

Hugs and Best Wishes,
Mama Gecko

For every action, there's a re-action!

Well, to me, it's always the same pattern emerging. Whether it's tv or pc or toys. The grass is always greener on the other side.
And I think this is what happens here.

I think because DS was always too busy with his electronic media that he doesn't have time to play with any of his toys, that so much so when he's in someone else's home, he's binging on thier toys. Just as any kids whose home either have no tv or is allowed very limited tv time, will naturally binge on our tv. Of which the parents is very quick to cite this situation as an example why they don't allow tv, as the kid will get stuck to the screen.

As for doing everything they are not allowed to, well DS's friends (my kid's 7 and these friends are 9 and 10 and been to Steiner school and is now HEing) who seems to think it's cool to say all those bad words (because they were not allow to say them when they were at thier home), needless to say my son follow suit until I pointed out what he was doing and leave it to him to decide how he should behave. After a while of glorious swearing, the fun's ran out and son's decided that those words were rude and is "not nice" (Direct result of our many discussions while playing Grand Theft Auto, with many "translation" what those swear words meant). He has since taken to remind his friends not to say it, as there is no reason to (well, for DS yes-no reason for it, but for his friends, I believe they are expelling thier frustration of being clamp-dowm (or up, should I say) most of the time, so hence the need for such "verbal detox". Again, swearing give them a sense of control and power over thier lives, because for a short while, they are able to say and do what they are normally not allowed, it's called re-action, or for a better word "rebellion"! A very loud and liberating feeling for them, but not so for my poor ears!

These same boys will get stuck infront of the PS2 the minute they arrive, playing alot of the 15+ games that they are normally not allowed, and will try very hard to get my son to convince me to allow them to play with the couple "18+ games that they are most definetely not allowed" that I've put out of reach. My answer is always "Call your mum, if she says yes, then it's yes with me" and as always, it never went pass that stage. However when my son's turn to go to thier house, my son is not interested in thier Xbox at all (understandable as they only have 2 games, a racing game and a skateboarding one, both of which my son have no interest in). He prefer to play with thier toy.


As for doing everything they are not allowed to, well DS's friends (my kid's 7 and these friends are 9 and 10 and been to Steiner school and is now HEing) who seems to think it's cool to say all those bad words (because they were not allow to say them when they were at thier home), needless to say my son follow suit until I pointed out what he was doing and leave it to him to decide how he should behave. After a while of glorious swearing, the fun's ran out and son's decided that those words were rude and is "not nice" (Direct result of our many discussions while playing Grand Theft Auto, with many "translation" what those swear words meant). He has since taken to remind his friends not to say it, as there is no reason to (well, for DS yes-no reason for it, but for his friends, I believe they are expelling thier frustration of being clamp-dowm (or up, should I say) most of the time, so hence the need for such "verbal detox". Again, swearing give them a sense of control and power over thier lives, because for a short while, they are able to say and do what they are normally not allowed, it's called re-action, or for a better word "rebellion"! A very loud and liberating feeling for them, but not so for my poor ears!