Reception - Handa's Surprise - Fruit Tasting
Our little explorers have been on a taste adventure inspired by "Handa's Surprise"! After reading the story, we explored the real fruits Handa carried in her basket: a creamy avocado, a sweet banana, a juicy mango, a tangy pineapple, and a bright orange. The children used fantastic describing words as they tasted each one. We heard about textures that were "smooth like silk," "bumpy like a road," and "soft like a cloud." Their taste buds had lots to say too – "sweet and yummy," "a little bit sour," and even a few "not so sure about that one!" faces when it came to the avocado! This hands-on activity not only brought the story to life and encouraged rich language development, but it also sparked our inner geographers! We had some great discussions about where these amazing fruits come from around the world, learning about the warm and sunny climates where mangoes and pineapples thrive.
Reception - The Great Outdoors.
Our Reception superstars have been making the most of the beautiful outdoors today! They were captivated by water play, enthusiastically adding bubbles, and skillfully filling and emptying pots and pans. We even had some very helpful bike cleaners in action! The creativity didn't stop there! Our budding engineers were busy building magnificent sandcastles in the sandpit, while others showed their bravery and developed their gross motor skills by climbing. What truly shone through was their wonderful social development. We saw fantastic examples of sharing toys and taking turns, building those crucial friendships and collaborative skills. Throughout all their play, their language blossomed as they communicated their ideas and needs. Even a few tumbles didn't dampen their spirits – resilience in action! Outdoor play provides such rich and varied learning opportunities for our young children, supporting their physical development, communication and language, personal, social and emotional development, and their understanding of the world. What a wonderful way to learn!
Year 6: English - Flashback Narrative.
In English today, year 6 have developed their plot for their flashback narrative. They will be re-telling the experience of being on the Titanic as it sank, from the perspective of a survivor many years later.
Year 4 P.E - Throwing and Catching.
Year 4 have been practising our throwing and catching skills in P.E., for both our Tennis and Cricket units. We are improving our accuracy for when we throw and the consistency of our catches. The practise is helping as we are really improving our skill in this area!
Nursery - Music - Loud And Quiet Sounds
The nursery class engaged in a lively exploration of loud and quiet sounds, focusing on how their actions could influence the volume produced by the drum. The children eagerly took turns experimenting with different approaches to playing the instrument. We observed a range of techniques, from gentle taps with soft hands or fingertips resulting in quiet sounds, to more energetic banging with open palms or fists creating much louder noises. It was interesting to witness the children's growing understanding of cause and effect – how the force and method of their interaction with the drum directly impacted the auditory outcome. Some children intuitively adjusted their movements, seemingly delighted by their ability to control the volume. This hands-on exploration fostered not only an awareness of sound intensity but also encouraged experimentation, active listening, and a playful approach to understanding basic physical principles.
Safety on the Road
Staying safe on our roads isn’t just a skill — it’s a lifelong habit. It is crucial to learn key strategies for helping children navigate streets safely and confidently, from practising journeys together to teaching them how to choose the safest crossing points. We’ve collaborated with THINK! to offer real-world advice on issues like the dangers of parked vehicles, reversing cars and mobile phone distractions — it’s an invaluable tool for parents and educators who want to help young people travel independently without compromising their safety.
Year 2 - Maths - Fractions
The Year 2 classroom was a hive of shape recognition today, with a focus on spotting fractions. Laid out before them were various shapes already divided into different numbers of equal parts. The children eagerly examined each one, their fingers tracing the dividing lines as they determined whether a shaded portion represented a half, a third, or a quarter of the whole.
Pre-school - Maths - Repeating Patterns
In Maths this week we have been learning all about repeat patterns. The children have had different opportunities to repeat a pattern using colours or shapes. The children repeated a pattern on the caterpillar using colours linked to our story 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' and made repeating patterns using chalk to draw shapes in our outdoor provision and hop along shouting out their repeated pattern.
Year 5 Peer Mediation Training Session 2
This week marked the conclusion of our Year 5 Peer Mediator training, where students took part in interactive role-play activities to develop vital conflict resolution skills. Through teamwork, listening exercises, and practical scenarios, pupils gained confidence and empathy—key traits for supporting their peers in times of disagreement. A big well done to our newly trained Peer Mediators!
Year 5 Science: Dissecting, Examining and Comparing Flowers
Year 5 scientists are currently immersed in the world of life cycles, and this week's investigation centered on the remarkable journey of a plant's life. To bring this concept to life, we conducted a comparative study of two beautiful flowers: tulips and lilies. Students actively identified the crucial male and female components responsible for plant reproduction in each specimen. By closely examining and contrasting these parts, they developed valuable insights into the similarities and differences in the reproductive strategies of these two flowering plants.
Year 5 Design and Technology: Pop Up Book Designs
Year 5 students are diving into a creative Design and Technology project: crafting captivating pop-up books for Year 1! After exploring a range of existing pop-up books, they thoughtfully discussed the key elements that would make a truly engaging and delightful reading experience for younger children. With these insights in mind, the Year 5 designers then embarked on planning their own literary creations, carefully considering which parts of their stories could come to life through clever paper mechanisms.
Year 4 Maths - Times Tables
Year 4 are becoming times-table whizzes! Each week, we focus on a different times table group, this week has been the 8 times table. Year 4 have loved singing along to the different songs and have even busted a few dance moves!