And the latest hare-brained homework project is...

[Honourspren]

Outing, hence NC (though I like this new one, might keep it 😁).

For a class of 7-year-olds, homework this half-term:

Design and create a game that uses magnetic force. You will have a chance to try out your games and evaluate them as a class.

I am thoroughly annoyed, on several counts:

• The game uses magnets, which school obviously cannot supply. We therefore either have to fork out to supply our own or guess the school magnets' strength and dimensions. Kids whose parents neither own magnets they can spare, nor have the money to buy their own will automatically disadvantaged.
• There is almost no way to design a game without also supplying other materials. At the very least, cardboard - even if you go for a maze-type game, the paper won't be strong enough not to rip once you try out the game, and again, without knowing what magnets the school actually has, you cannot design a suitable map. This means planning for standard magnets, so enough cardboard for at least A3/A2 size is needed. For a racing game or fishing game (both suggested) you need to build 3D walls to stop the magnets from interacting with each other. You need a supply of paperclips for other games.
• Which means parents (let's face it, mums) will need to get involved. Find the time to plan and build together, even if 7-year-olds can decorate alone.

Now, my child is very fortunate. I know how magnets work well enough to help come up with a realistic plan (many 7-year-old plans are far too complicated and designing a working game is well beyond the mental capabilities of many young children, who will want to see theirs work come evaluation day). I can supply materials because I collect craft materials, I can supply magnets because I had the money to buy some. I can sit down with my child for a day and make a game, because I am fortunate enough to be off work.

Many children won't have that. Any of it.

We've done many craft-based activities that school asked us to do, but all of them so far were possible to do with little help. This one, however, is not.

AIBU to say that teachers should think carefully before assigning such projects to children over half-term?

Ps. We didn’t do it, obviously but I think you could work around the requirements OP

I think that’s quite an interesting homework. It’s really easy to make up something that involves magnets. You’re definitely one of those parents op. Did you not know before you had children that they get given project type homework!

wth 😂

Eww. So many hell nos to this.

From the stench to the fly invasion that will follow. Let alone the fact I don't have a windowsill, or the spare meat to let it rot.

My favourite wtf homework as a child was having to collect a dead wasp so we could study it under the microscope. A few of my classmates collected live ones that were thorougly pissed off at being trapped, while I still vividly remember the stench in the room from wasps in various stages of decay.

The OP just comes across as a pompous prig. All this faux concern for parents who can’t do their homework with their children. Just stop with the virtue-signalling, and do the homework if you want to, and don’t if you don’t want to.

Outrageous.
I’m a teacher and I’d only ever do something like this in class, with resources provided!
I’ve made very simple magnetic games with this age group and younger.
They need ideas and guidance although it’s a lot of fun.

If you are concerned about other children not having resources or parental help could you invite one of those children to do a joint game with your DC.

Or if there is a class WhatsApp group, say you have bought some magnets does anyone want to have/borrow one

Not sure what your problem is. Sounds like a pretty engaging and simple project which encourages problem solving and imagination. God forbid school would encourage that

And who the F* did the risk assessment for this home work, as a science technician in a high school we have strict guidelines on what type/size and strength of magnetics you can give to which age children. Especially in a school setting rules tend to be stricter then the toys you can buy even for children at this age.

And yes we used to get lots of homework at primary that made me think well what about those who don't have the resources at home?

Now, my child is very fortunate. I know how magnets work well enough to help come up with a realistic plan (many 7-year-old plans are far too complicated and designing a working game is well beyond the mental capabilities of many young children, who will want to see theirs work come evaluation day). I can supply materials because I collect craft materials, I can supply magnets because I had the money to buy some. I can sit down with my child for a day and make a game, because I am fortunate enough to be off work.

Many children won't have that. Any of it.

so, you’ve got the magnetic knowledge to come up with a realistic plan. you’ve got craft materials hoarded at home. you’ve got the dosh to buy the magnets. you can sit down with your child because you don’t have to work. so, why not help some of the poverty-stricken mums who aren’t as privileged as you? why not share some of the resources you have and they don’t. anybody can talk the talk, but few can walk the walk. nobody likes a virtue signaller.

So you create a voting system then complain when people vote, do you think you may be overthinking this?

oh my god. just shoot me now. we know exactly what you’re doing. this is called showing off. using poor people to big yourself up. you should be ashamed of yourself.

Giggling uncontrollably at 'access to paperclips".

You're over thinking it.
Draw or make something simple that will potentially work.
As for magnets, many families will have something like Magnetics or a fridge market kicking about, alongside some cardboard (cereal boxes etc), scissors and sellotape.

I have some electronic kits OP if you want some.

Just take some wires and batteries and a few objects (bits of wood, teaspoon, chop sticks etc ) to wind the wire around. Obviously you need on object that is ferrous. But if you don't have one then your child can ask their teacher why it doesn't work.

The game is to be the first to create an electromagnet.

We had one that was to build a robot. Cue lots of competitive dads working away in the garage to make stunning looking robots. It was a competitive dad competition and sooo bloody pointless and unfair to kids who didn’t have Mr Showoff in the garage.

Reminds me of the time my daughter, age 9, at 8.00 pm on Sunday evening, asked me "Do we have any wood I can use for a school project?"

It turned out she was supposed to build a kite, and it was due the next day.

How were they supposed to show they’d done this homework? Take a maggot covered piece of meat into school?

Why does a year 2 child need homework?

Really easy for a grown up, perhaps! Why should she have known? Guessing she’s a similar age to DS, kids didn’t get this type of homework when OP was at primary. I only know about this stuff from reading Mumsnet!

Stench of rotting wasps?! Your posts are becoming more and more unbelievable, OP.

Unless they found it randomly inspiring, that is not the sort of thing my kids would get much out of whether I left them to it or not. I tended to write a note excusing them from that sort of thing.

We never struggled for interesting and challenging things to do in the holidays. Homework projects didn’t really fit into our schedule. They never matched up to what we were doing and I just didn’t have the desire to force my kids or the patience to support them.

Yes, they smell quite bad, having been kept in a box for a few days. Try it and come back to me.