To observe the moon

EclipseChristopher often observes the moon with mum or dad, when the sky is not clouded over. Today, suspended in the sky, a gold disk strongly lights the black night.

Dad draws the various forms of the moon on a paper, which he reuses at each observation. Christopher notices that the moon does not always have the same shape : sometimes it is fully round, sometimes only a crescent is visible.

Christopher is in bed and dad shows him, in a book, big photos of the moon. Dad prepared his boy a surprise. He switches off the light, switches on an electric torch, then lights a globe in the bedroom by changing the pencil of rays orientation. From his bed, Christopher alternately sees a completely lightened disk or only a crescent.

In December 2011, on the 10th, a total lunar eclipse took place. It was partially visible in the Eastern Europe.

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To eat fractals

RomanescoWhat is this strange green vegetable mum brought from the market today ? It is a Romanesco cabbage, a variety of cauliflower of Italian origin.

From afar, Christopher actually sees a cabbage, but when he approaches and looks more closely, a multitude of cabbages of various sizes appear : one cabbage, two cabbages, three cabbages, hundreds of cabbages ! Even mum could not count them.

Mum shows Christopher the vegetable’s fractal structure : spirals leaving the cabbage summits expand into geometrical arabesques, which parts have a shape similar to that of the whole set. Christopher is interested in its details and caresses its irregular surface. The ramifications of fractals allow to see the infinite.

At lunch time, Christopher will eat fractals heartily !

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To climb a double spiral staircase

chambordWhen visiting Chambord castle in France, dad suggests Christopher going up to roofs by the central spiral staircase.

He asks him to begin the ascent while he takes some photos.

Along the staircase, openings, allowing inward views, allow Christopher to see dad on the other side, at the same height. The ascent continues : dad and Christopher take the same staircase, without ever crossing themselves ! When they arrive at the top, they finally join together at the roofs.

At Chambord, the main staircase is a double spiral one : two staircases, turning one in the other one, allow to climb without crossing each other.

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Perpendicular rights

Christopher really likes war weapons. Dad bought a sword and a shield to his knight. Armed up to the teeth, Christopher is ready to face the wildest enemies who will be bound to appear on his road.

Dad shows Christopher how to brandish this sword to impress the opponent, by calling upon the power of perpendicular rights. Which enemy can resist this incantation ?

Dad makes Christopher‘s finger slide on the sword blade then, perpendicularly, on its guard. Christopher draws the shape of a cross.

To see if two rights are perpendicular, it is enough to put the sword at their junction. At home, Christopher found many perpendicular rights : bathroom wall tiles, table corners and even the outline of piano keys.

To become a great knight and bring down his enemies, it is necessary to begin by acquiring the wisdom of the ancients. These are the bases of the art of war apprenticeship.

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Alphabet letters

LetterThis morning, Christopher has difficulty in waking up. Once out of his bed, he stretches his arms and yawns.

This posture gives mum an idea : she suggests her young Y miming the alphabet letters.

A is a sharp mountain : legs are with feet apart whereas the arms, stretched out, join together above the head. B is acrobatic : mum keeps her balance on one foot, the other leg forming the first buckle and a bent arm drawing the second one.

C is more restful : it is enough to place the arms perpendicularly to the chest.

Sometimes up, sometimes lying, Christopher tries his skill at this new game with amusement, by imitating her mum who is forming the alphabet letters.

Will Christopher and mum be supple enough to mime all the alphabet letters ?

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To see the infinite

The section of wall in front of our apartment entrance is nearly completely covered with a big mirror, to give depth to the hall space.

Christopher spends time on observing it, from time to time. He discovered in it, a while ago, a strange little boy who watches him when himself looks at him. He looks like him and imitates him in all respects : when Christopher raises an arm, his “alter ego” executes the symmetrical movement without waiting. Even the most terrifying grimaces did not take him away. However, Christopher noticed two differences. When he shouts, his twin brother opens the mouth but remains silent ! When he raises the right hand, the other boy raises the left one.

Dad suggests Christopher showing him his thousand faces. He places him in front of the entrance mirror and hides one of his eyes with a second big mirror facing the first one. Plans of both mirrors are parallel. Then, with one eye, Christopher sees a multitude of little boys of various sizes, who greet him with a hand.

Dad proposes that Christopher counts their visitors : Christopher stops at ten. As soon as he thinks he has finished counting, there is one more to add. Christopher explains him that he saw the infinite today.

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To visit an airport

Today, dad is going to visit an airport with Christopher, in order to show him the ballet of planes taking off. Dad took care to check the timetable to come when there is an intense air traffic.

In the car, dad explains Christopher that the word airport consists of two parts : “air ” and “port”. Christopher already knows the second one : it is the place where boats join the ground. The airport is a port for planes.

When arrived, dad and Christopher enter into the immense hall of the airport, where Christopher feels a little lost. On the first floor, the cafeteria windows give a panoramic view of the strip, where propeller aircrafts and jet planes are parked.

Dad and Christopher also go to the end of the strip, to better observe aircrafts taking off and landing.

Christopher asks dad when he can take a plane.

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Advent calendar

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Another one month in the expectation of Christmas ! In order to help Christopher to wait, dad bought a particular Advent calendar : a Lego Star Wars calendar. This year, it will thus be a dietetic one because the surprises are not in chocolate. Even if his greed cannot be satisfied this way, Christopher is enthusiastic !

The calendar is made with a box on which small numbered doors reveal a treasure every day. Christopher has to count until the number corresponding to the day, to be able to open the door and take the contents behind.

The temptation to open several doors without waiting is great, but mum keeps her eye open !

The pleasure of the discovery is renewed every day. In addition, Christopher is so pleased to build a new little toy. Maybe Christopher will receive a Lego box for Christmas this year ?

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To plant a seed

What a surprising small seed dad showed Christopher this morning. So tiny but nevertheless full of promises.

Christopher  is amazed to see his dad planting this small « stone » in a pot with soil. When dad begins to water it, Christopher rushes to replace him. Slowly, you should not flood the seed !

Dad explains Christopher that to grow, a plant needs sun and water. The jar naturally finds its place on the edge of a window.

Christopher waits for a few moments but he does not see anything growing ! Being covered with a fine layer of soil, even the seed disappeared. Dad nevertheless told him that a plant was going to come out of the ground.

Christopher will need some patience to be able to observe a tiny stalk drilling the soil, thanks to its regular waterings. It will still undergo unexpected transformations before reaching its final shape.

Dad explains Christopher that he also was a small seed in mum’s stomach, at the beginning of his life. As the seed, he has already well grown. One day maybe he will even stand taller than his dad.

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