Year 5 Maths - Using Place Value Counters to understand Decimal Numbers
Exploring the Power of the Decimal Point This week, Year 5 have ventured into the fascinating world of decimals, marking the start of an important new unit where we will discover the intricate links between decimals, fractions, and percentages. To ensure the children have a deep understanding of these concepts rather than just learning a method, we began by using concrete manipulatives. Using decimal place value counters and formal place value grids, the pupils worked to represent numbers with up to two decimal places. By physically placing counters into the 'ones', 'tenths', and 'hundredths' columns, the children were able to clearly see the value of each digit. This hands-on approach is vital for helping pupils understand that while a digit may look the same, its position relative to the decimal point completely changes its worth. Once the children were confident in representing these values, they moved on to partitioning. They manipulated the counters to show that a number like 0.45 is not just a single value, but is composed of four tenths and five hundredths. This ability to break down and rebuild numbers provides a solid foundation for more complex calculations. The engagement in the classroom was excellent, and it was wonderful to hear the children using precise mathematical vocabulary to explain their thinking. We look forward to seeing them apply this newfound confidence as we begin to link these decimals to their fractional equivalents!
Year 3 - P.E - Dancing Like Machines
Our Year 3 dancers turned the school hall into a living, breathing factory floor this week! As part of our latest PE unit, the children have been exploring mechanical movement and the fascinating shapes associated with heavy machinery.
Year 3 - Art - Exploring Stitching
Our young artists are taking their volcano paintings to the next level by exploring the tactile world of textiles. Before we merge fabric with canvas, we spent today’s lesson mastering the foundational skill of stitching.
Year 2 - RE - Exploring Our Church
What makes a building truly special to a community? This week, Year 2 moved their RE lesson beyond the classroom for a visit to the local church to speak with Reverend Kev. The children explored the unique features of the building, discovering the importance of the pulpit, the cross, and the special box used to store the chalice and paten. They were fascinated to see the small wooden box containing the numbers for the hymns and were particularly amazed to look through original parish magazines dating all the way back to 1906. It was a wonderful opportunity for the pupils to learn about the history and sacred objects that make the church such a significant place for so many people. #ReligiousEducation #Year2 #LearningOutsideTheClassroom #Community #PrimaryEducation #RE
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Year 2 - Maths - Dividing by Grouping
Have you ever wondered how we can make sure everyone gets an equal share? This week, our Year 2 pupils have been answering that very question by using physical counters to practically group different amounts. Through this hands-on exploration, the children discovered that this process of sharing is called dividing. By physically moving the counters into separate piles, they observed a fundamental mathematical rule in action: when we divide, the resulting answer gets smaller than the number we started with. It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they master these essential building blocks of arithmetic. #Mathematics #Year2 #PrimaryEducation #HandsOnLearning #Division
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Reception- Science-Bug Hunt and More
In the vibrant world of our Reception classroom, young scientists transform into intrepid explorers as they venture outdoors equipped with magnifying glasses to uncover the secrets of the undergrowth. This hands-on "bug hunt" allowed the children to develop keen observation skills, peering through lenses to identify the intricate patterns on a beetle’s wing or the rhythmic movement of a centipede. By investigating these tiny creatures in their natural environments, students begin to understand biological habits and physical features firsthand. This curiosity seamlessly transitioned back into the classroom, where the tactile learning continued. Children consolidate their findings by sculpting their own imaginative insects and engineering detailed micro-habitats within the sand tray, bridging the gap between scientific inquiry and creative expression.
Reception- Music- Putting On A Performance
Throughout the term, our Reception children have embarked on a rhythmic journey, steadily building a foundational understanding of musical theory through play and exploration. By experimenting with a variety of percussion instruments and vocal exercises, they have mastered the ability to distinguish between high and low tones, maintain a steady consistent beat, and speed. This musical progression culminated in a vibrant "Showcase Day," where the children took the lead in their learning. Each child selected a song that resonated with them, demonstrating remarkable independence and self-expression. Performing in front of their peers, the children displayed a surge in confidence, accurately applying their knowledge of tempo and rhythm to their chosen pieces. It was a proud moment of shared celebration, highlighting not just their new technical skills, but their bravery in taking center stage.
Nursery - Maths - I Spy...
This week, the children have been developing their early mathematical skills by learning how to categorise and sort by colour. To explore this concept, the children played a game of "I Spy" using a variety of resources set out on the malleable tray. Each child selected a coloured bowl and was challenged to find items that matched that specific colour to fill their bowl. This task encouraged the children to focus on the properties of objects and use their visual discrimination skills to ignore distractions and find matching items. Throughout the activity, the children were encouraged to use colour language to describe their findings. This hands-on approach successfully introduced the concept of sorting into sets and helped the children build confidence in identifying and naming different colours within their environment.
Year 6: History - The Maya
This week in history, year 6 have been researching many different Maya Gods and Goddesses. We learnt about the cultural significance of the Gods to the Maya, and also thought about the Maya leaders' relationship with the afterlife.
Year 6: Communion
Year 6 attended Communion at St James over Darwen Church this week, sharing thought-provoking prayers and confidently reading Bible passages to the church community. A lovely and meaningful experience.
Pre-School-Maths-Subitising
This week in Maths, we have been subitising up to 7. The children played a number of different games where they used their quick-thinking maths skills to subitise numbers and groups of objects from 1 to 7. The children loved using their quick-thinking skills and tested each other by holding up different numbers of fingers and quickly hiding them, allowing other children to subitise and give an answer.
Pre-School-Computing-Where Does Handa live?
In Computing in Preschool, we have been using Google Maps and Google Images to find out where Handa lives. The children loved using Google Maps to discover that Handa lives in Africa and to see where Africa is in the world. We used Google Images to look at villages in Africa, and the children were really engaged. They found it interesting to see how different our homes are compared to those of people living in huts in small villages in Africa.
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