Year 5 English - Science Fiction Independent Write
After weeks of exploring distant galaxies and futuristic colonies, Year 5 have officially wrapped up their Science Fiction unit! For their final independent writing piece, the children drew inspiration from Roy Apps’ ‘Time Spinner’. They were tasked with writing a gripping tale about a time traveller from a sterile, silent future who suddenly appears in our vibrant, noisy, modern-day playground. Building on our recent drama and ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ workshops, the children have done a brilliant job of describing the sensory shock their characters felt. From the chaotic shrieks of a football match to the strange, earthy smell of the grass, their stories are packed with atmospheric detail and high-level vocabulary. We have been so impressed by their creativity and their ability to help their travellers find a way back to the future! If a time traveller appeared in our playground today and could take you anywhere in history (past or future), where would you choose to go? Let us know in the comments!
Year 4 Science STEM Challenge
Year 4 had a great Science lesson this week, with a STEM challenge. We had to get in to a 'STEM' mindset, incorporating a wide range of analytical and cognitive thinking skills, critical thinking, complex problem-solving, and creativity. Our group task was an interesting one, but Year 4 approached it with enthusiasm and teamwork, each team managing to complete the challenge. Well done!
Year 5 Science Week - Does Toast Always Land Butter Side Down?
The Great Toast Tumble: Science or Superstition? If you spotted Year 5 dropping their breakfast on the floor this week, don’t worry—it was all in the name of British Science Week! Our budding statisticians have been investigating the age-old urban legend: Does toast always land butter-side down? To get to the bottom of this "sticky" situation, the children conducted a rigorous investigation using: Variables: We compared thick-sliced vs. thin-sliced bread. The Control: To keep things fair, we used a 'control' slice (unbuttered but marked) alongside our buttered slices. The "Jam" Factor: We even pushed the boundaries of science by adding jam to see if the extra weight or stickiness changed the outcome! The Verdict? After hundreds of drops and careful data recording, Year 5 discovered that the "butter-side down" myth is exactly that—a myth! Our results showed that toast falls completely randomly. Whether it was thick, thin, buttered, or jammed, there was no statistical evidence to suggest it prefers one side over the other. It was a fantastic way to see how statisticians use data to prove (or disprove!) the things we think we know about the world. Well done, Year 5, for some truly "crumbs-tastic" scientific thinking!
Year 6: Science - Science Week
For British Science week, Year 6 conducted an investigation into Murphy's Law (which states that if something can go wrong, it will go wrong!). We used buttered toast to see which side the toast would land on. Then we thought scientifically about why our findings happened, if they were random, or if there was a reason behind the results.
Year 5 Maths - Collaborative Learning with LBQ
Perimeter & Area: Mastering Measurement with LBQ! This week, Year 5 have been putting their geometry skills to the test as we consolidated our learning on Perimeter and Area. To sharpen our mathematical thinking, we dived into the LBQ (Learning By Questions) platform, which provided a series of tricky challenges to solve. The classroom was buzzing with mathematical talk as the children worked collaboratively in groups. It wasn’t just about finding the right answer; it was about the strategy. Groups were heard debating different methods, checking each other's calculations, and explaining their reasoning. What impressed us most was the incredible perseverance on display. When a question didn’t turn ‘green’ on the first attempt, the children didn’t get discouraged. Instead, they used the instant feedback to rethink their approach, discuss their mistakes, and try again until they succeeded. A brilliant display of teamwork and a real 'growth mindset' in action. Well done, Year 5!
Year 6: Maths - Volume
This week in maths year 6 have been looking at volume. Before learning the formula we need to use, the class experimented making different shapes with the same volume!
Year 1 - Phonics
The children in Year 1 have shown incredible dedication to their reading this week. We have been working hard during our Bug Club Phonics sessions, and the improvement in their confidence is wonderful to see. Our focus has been on: Blending with Precision: Combining individual sounds to read full words more fluently. Decoding Skills: Applying their knowledge to break down and read unfamiliar or challenging words. Spotting alien words: Using their detective skills to identify pseudo-words, which helps ensure they are truly mastering their graphemes. Learning to read is a complex journey, but the children’s persistence is paying off. It is a pleasure to watch them apply these new skills to their books and classroom activities. Home Learning Tip: When reading at home, encourage your child to point out any "alien words" they might find in their practice materials to test their decoding skills. Keep up the fantastic effort, Year 1. You are all becoming very talented readers.
Year 1 - Maths - Fluency Bee - Maths Mastery: One More, Addition, and Subtraction
Year 1 has been diving deep into the world of numbers this week as we explore one more, addition, and subtraction. Using the White Rose approach, the children have been moving beyond just finding the answer and are instead focusing on understanding the "why" behind the maths. Key areas of our learning include: Using Manipulatives: We have been using physical resources like ten-frames, counters, and part-whole models. This hands-on approach helps the children visualize how numbers can be combined or separated. Sentence Stems: To build mathematical vocabulary, we have been using specific phrases to explain our thinking, such as: "First there were 5, then 1 more was added. Now there are 6." "The parts are 3 and 2. The whole is 5." One More and One Less: The children are becoming experts at identifying the number that comes immediately before or after a given value, strengthening their understanding of the number line. It is wonderful to hear the classroom filled with such high-quality mathematical discussion. The children are not just "doing" maths; they are becoming mathematicians by proving their ideas and explaining their methods.
Reception- Technology-Follow The Mouse
In the bustling environment of the Reception classroom, the children took their first exciting steps into the digital world by mastering the IT mouse. With small hands poised carefully over the device, they practiced the fundamental skill of clicking the buttons to navigate the mouse along a winding track. This activity served as a fantastic practical application of positional language, as the children eagerly called out "left" and "right" to guide their movements and keep their mouse on the path. Developing this fine motor control is a huge milestone; it requires the coordination to input information into the mouse and how many steps it would make. Taking turns in this simple game with friends to show awareness of digital literacy.
Reception- Worship- Easter Story
The children in Reception were absolutely captivated this week as Jack the Puppet joined the circle to share the vibrant story of Palm Sunday. With Jack’s help, the children "travelled" to Jerusalem, imagining the dusty streets filled with waving palm branches and joyful shouts of "Hosanna!" as Jesus arrived on a humble donkey. Through Jack’s gentle storytelling, the children learned that Jesus didn't come as a powerful king to be served, but as a friend who showed extraordinary kindness to everyone he met. Jack explained how Jesus encouraged his disciples to follow his lead—teaching them that a small act of love, like sharing or helping a friend, is the most important job of all. It was wonderful to see the children's faces light up as they realised they could be "kindness champions" just like the disciples.
Nursery/Pre-School-Continuous Provision-Independent Learning
There has been lots of exciting independent learning happening in our Nursery/Pre-school this week! Our story of the week is Jasper’s Beanstalk. The children have enjoyed becoming 'little gardeners' and exploring different ways of planting flowers, creating beanstalks at the play dough table, and using their maths skills to measure beanstalks of different sizes.
Year 3 - STEM Challenge
Taking Flight in Year 3! Our Year 3 engineers reached new heights this week during an action-packed STEM Challenge! The mission was simple but the science was complex: design and build paper aeroplanes and helicopters, then refine them to see which could travel the furthest distance. The Engineering Process: Initial Prototypes: Students experimented with different wing shapes and body lengths. Testing & Measuring: We took to the "runway" to record our flight distances. The "Tweak" Phase: This was where the real magic happened! Children adjusted their designs—adding paperclips for weight, changing fold angles, or shortening blades—to improve stability and lift.
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