Ideas for year elevens

[SavoyCabbage]

My 16 year old is at a complete loose end at the moment. She's gone from constant revision to a couple of hours of 'bridging to A levels' work.

On our allocated exercise period today we saw some forget-me-nots and she didn't know what they were so I've had the brainwave of filling her with semi-useful general knowledge.

She lived in another country until she was twelve so does have gaps in her general knowledge so it's not so much actual useful stuff like sewing on a button or making macaroni cheese but more random stuff.

Little gems I've quizzed and subsequently 'educated' her on so far this afternoon have included:
The M25
Elvis
The Order of succession
The words to 'Jerusalem'
Winnie the Pooh
The geographic location of U.K. towns

Of course, now she's hounding me saying 'ask me another one' so I've told her we can start properly on Monday. And I've run out of ideas.

I've managed to fob her off by telling her to learn how to flip a coin before morning.

So, I'm looking for ideas...

Any of these any good?

Blue Peter presenters and their pets

Shipping forecast areas

Ranks of the Navy, Army and Airforce

Locations of National Parks

Locations of rivers (DH has to learn SUNWAD - the rivers of Yorkshire from north to south)

Draw the Lincoln Imp

Bake Eccles cakes, Chelsea buns and Grantham Gingerbreads

Also - read 1066 and That, and answer all exam papers therein

Can she identify the people on the bank notes and does she know why they're famous/what they did?

Has she read the classics? Does she know basic plot and characters?

Key sporting moments. Or sports people. Or football/rugby grounds etc.

Prime Ministers through the years.

Key TV like Corrie and stuff that you know even if you've never watched it! Can she identify Ken Barlow from a picture line up?

Bit utilitarian, but start her on the Highway Code

Less utilitarian but more fun, which re the Classics in the British racing calendar, wherebare the courses where they are run, and learn something about some notable winning horses (this sort of thing is always good for quizzes!)

Who got a gold pillar box? Why? Where are they?

Learn the Horrible Histories 'monarchs' song

Get her watching some National Institute lectures. Increases her science general knowledge

Thanks, these are great. Cooking regional foods is a great one as I'm so sick of deciding what to feed people.

She has read a lot of classic books. Last week when she saw a new £20 note she said she didn't know that £20 notes were purple so currency is a good one.

I don't know about the Lincoln Imp or gold post boxes myself..

It's like I'm planning to enter her in a pub quiz!

She's learning the Horrible History song right now.

Have her learn Ton Lehrer's 'Elements' song next!

Given her age, rousing through all the Horrible Histories songs wouid be good, as her generation in Britain wouid have grown up on them and they cover the primary history curriculum as taught here.

My favourite is Charles II, closely followed by Cleopatra, Dick Turpin and the Vikings. But they're all great!

You might find inspiration on this site:

www.visitengland.com

It says it does a weekly 'pub' quiz on Instagram, so you couid perhaps challenge each other?

Keen the countries, capital city , flag and were on the world map they are...

We are launching into UK cities this morning and then we can move on to Europe. The Visit England site is great and it's given me other ideas too.

Does she want to learn to drive at some point op?
I know she’s only 16 but she could start learning the Highway Code and practice questions for the theory test online perhaps?

We're in the same situation. Currently I'm lying in bed trying to work up the courage to get started on having DS help me tile the kitchen (DS is the most fantastically impractical child I have ever met)
We've also covered some basic car maintenance and he is plugging away at the Highway Code for his theory test.
I've also considered classic films that he may not have seen, but am utterly clueless about that one!

Following with interest...

Yes, she is learning the Highway Code as her birthday is in autumn so she was going to do it in the summer anyway,

Today has gone better than I thought. She actually said it was 'good to have a focus'😵