Year 1 & 2 STEM Challenge: How do birds make nests?
Year 1 and 2 turned into Ornithologists to hunt for natural nest materials, then switched to Structural Engineers to build nests that met our three "Bird-Approved" criteria: strong, waterproof and comfy! The nests were put to the test with a fan that represented the wind birds might face in their natural habitat and everyone's nest survived!
Year 1 History Comparing Toys from the Past
Toy Detectives in Year 1! Our historians at Darwen St James’ have been travel-travelling back in time! Using our Kapow History curriculum, the children explored how toys have changed over the generations. What we did: Compared "Past" and "Present" toys using our interactive board. Investigated materials like wood and metal vs. modern plastic. Discussed what has changed (batteries and screens!) and what stayed the same (the fun of a good train set!). It was brilliant to see such great note-taking and historical thinking from our youngest researchers. Great job, Year 1! #DarwenStJames #Year1History #KapowHistory #LearningThroughPlay #ToyHistory
Year 1 - History - Exploring Toys from the Past
Step back in time with Year 1! As part of our Kapow History curriculum, our Year 1 historians have been busy investigating toys from the past .We’ve been asking the big question: What were toys like 100 years ago? From wooden spinning tops to clockwork wonders, the children have loved getting hands-on with history. We aren't just looking at old objects; we are building oracy by describing textures, comparing materials, and debating which toys have stood the test of time! It’s been a fantastic, interactive way to bring the past to life. Well done, Year 1! #DarwenStJames #Year1 #PrimaryHistory #KapowCurriculum #LearningThroughPlay #Oracy #NurturingAmbition
Year 1 Lunar New Year Workshop
Celebrating the Lunar New Year with Year 1! Today, our Year 1 hall was filled with energy and excitement as we hosted an incredible Lunar Workshop with West End in Schools! The children took part in an expressive dance session to bring the story of The Great Race to life. We practiced following instructions to mimic the movements of the different Zodiac animals—from the clever Rat to the powerful Dragon! It was a brilliant, interactive way to learn about the traditions of the Lunar New Year through movement and music. Our little performers showed fantastic focus and creativity. Well done, Year 1! #DarwenStJames #Year1 #LunarNewYear #TheGreatRace #WestEndInSchools #ExpressiveDance #CulturalLearning #NurturingAmbition
World Book Day Reading Cafe
???? A Page-Turning Success: Our World Book Day Reading Café! What a brilliant way to celebrate World Book Day! It was truly wonderful to see our school community come together to transform the hall into a buzzing hub of stories, snacks, and shared imagination. From pupils to parents, the turn-out was fantastic, and the atmosphere was even better. Here’s a look at the highlights from our literary celebration: ????️ The Great Masked Reader Hunt The highlight of the afternoon was undoubtedly our Masked Reader Hunt. It was a joy to watch everyone turn into literary detectives! Using a series of clever clues, pupils had to figure out which teachers were hiding behind their favourite books. ???? A Marvellous Finale To wrap up the event, Miss Peckson took to the "reading throne" to share a chapter from her all-time favourite: George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl. There’s nothing quite like the magic of being read to, and you could have heard a pin drop as we followed George's mischievous concoctions. Why it Matters At the heart of today’s event is a simple but powerful goal: fostering a lifelong love of reading. Reading isn't just about literacy; it’s about empathy, adventure, and expanding our horizon. Seeing our pupils enjoying books together reminds us that a good story is one of the best ways to connect with each other. "A book is a dream that you hold in your hand." – Neil Gaiman #WorldBookDay #ReadingCafe #LoveOfReading #SchoolCommunity
Year 1 - Visit to Darwen Library
Books, stories, imagination… what better way to celebrate World Book Week? ????✨ Our Year 1 children had a brilliant visit to Darwen Library where they met librarian Andrew and discovered how the library works behind the scenes. They explored the shelves, browsed a wide range of books, and enjoyed sharing a story together. Moments like this help nurture a real love of reading from an early age. What was your favourite book when you were little?
Year 1 Geography UK Weather
Little Geographers in the Making! Our Year One explorers have been busy diving into the world of UK Weather this week! From identifying clouds to prepping for those classic British rainy days, these bright minds are learning how the world works around them—one forecast at a time. It’s all part of our mission: Nurturing Ambition and curiosity from the very start. Learning Focus: Geography & Local Environments Skills: Group collaboration and observation Current Mood: 100% chance of fun! ☔☀️ #DarwenStJames #YearOne #EarlyYearsLearning #UKWeather #LittleGeographers #NurturingAmbition #PrimaryEducation
Year 1 PSHE This is my Place
Our Year One children have been exploring the concept of belonging this week for Children’s Mental Health Week. By creating their own personal maps, they have been identifying the places where they feel safest, happiest, and most at home. At Darwen St James’, we believe that nurturing a sense of belonging is the first step toward helping every child flourish. When children know they have a place where they truly fit in, they have the confidence to grow and the ambition to reach their full potential. #DarwenStJames #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek #ThisIsMyPlace #Belonging #NurturingAmbition #YearOne
Year 1 - Maths Fluency
Buzzing with Fluency! Our Year 1 stars at Darwen St James’ have been busy bees today, sharpening their number skills! We are focusing on developing fluency by combining hands-on learning with digital practice. From tactile counters to high-tech hits, the progress is amazing to watch. ???? Today’s Math Toolkit: White Rose Fluency Bee: Building those vital number foundations through active, structured play. NumBots: Leveling up our mental recall and subtraction/addition speed on the laptops! ???? Watch out, world—these mathematicians are becoming faster and more confident by the second!
Maths Magic in Year 1
Maths Magic in Year 1 A huge thank you to all the families who joined our Year 1 Parents Workshop on Friday. It was wonderful to see so many of you engaging with all things maths as part of our NSPCC Number Day celebrations. Our young mathematicians had a fantastic time showing how they are developing fluency using some of our favourite tools: White Rose Fluency Bee: Hands-on resources building solid number foundations. NumBots: Leveling up recall skills on the laptops. Working together, at school and at home, is how we keep nurturing ambition in every child. #DarwenStJames #Year1 #NSPCCNumberDay #MathsFluency #WhiteRoseMaths #NumBots #ParentPartnership
Year 1 - Active Learning in English
Year 1 have been diving into the world of Oliver's Vegetables this week. To help us retell the story, the children created a physical map of the garden, using it to navigate through the days of the week and the different vegetables Oliver finds. By moving through the map, the children are using active learning to cement their sequencing skills and build confidence in their storytelling. It was a fantastic way to bring the book to life and get everyone moving while they learn.
NSPCC Number Day - Our Nifty Number Outfits!
Count Us In for NSPCC Number Day! Our school was looking a little different today as we swapped our usual uniforms for a sea of digits and mathematical patterns! From our youngest learners in Preschool to our eldest in Year 6, everyone joined in the fun to celebrate the NSPCC’s Number Day. It was wonderful to see the creativity on display, with both children and staff wearing their favourite numbers to help raise vital funds for the NSPCC’s "Speak Out, Stay Safe" programme. Whether it was a football jersey, a hand-decorated t-shirt, or even a giant birthday number 7, the whole school community came together to prove that there really is safety in numbers. A huge thank you to all our families for your brilliant efforts with the outfits and for your kind donations. It’s a fantastic day of problem-solving and numbers, all for a very important cause.
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