Week Ending 5th February 2016

Germs and hand washing were the topics of the day on Monday, when Mrs Johnson, from Sam's Simple Science, came in to do workshops with children from Pre-School right up to Year 6.

The children's hands were coated in a special solution, which glowed white under ultraviolet light.  They washed their hands with soap and water, and then viewed their hands once again under UV light.  Some children were surprised to see that their hands still glowed white in places, showing that their hand washing was not as thorough as it could be!  They were taught that they need to wash their hands for the length of time it takes to sing two verses of "Happy Birthday" in order to get their hands properly clean.

Hedgehogs Class enjoyed an advernture on Tuesday.  This week, they went on the minibus to Ivinghoe, where they played in the park, then visited nearby Pitstone Windmill.  They were very excited to see a real life windmill, as they have been reading the book "Rosie's Walk" which of course features a windmill!

Later in the week, they had another trip, when they walked down the road into Eaton Bray to post a very special letter to Buckingham Palace, to wish the Queen a happy 90th birthday... I wonder if they will get a reply?

Back in the classroom, children have been working hard in Literacy, with Deer Class working on English grammar, and Foxes studying the poem Beowulf.  They have enjoyed acting out the story, particularly the bit where Beowulf defeats the monster Grendel.

Otters and Squirrels have been continuing their work on the theme of journeys, with Squirrels learning about Neil Armstrong, and comparing his journey with the journeys made by Christopher Columbus.  They thought about life on board ship, and mimed the activities that Columbus and his crew would have carried out.  Otters have found out about different forms of transport, looking at poems and songs with a transport theme, and designing their own vehicles. For Science this week, they went on a journey around the school grounds, hunting for signs of winter, and thinking about how many hours of daylight there are in the winter months.

Rabbits have been enjoying their Art lessons this week - they were given the task of creating an alternative setting for the book "Where the Wild Things Are" and painting their vision in watercolours.

In Choices this week, the Lego We Go group made models to their own design, all with moving parts powered by a motor.  The Jobs People Do groups enjoyed a visit from an actor, who got all the children involved in various fun drama activities - they thoroughly enjoyed themselves!  Meanwhile, two of our older boys asked if they could run a Choices group this week, and volunteered to be in charge of the Construction group.  They did such a good job of organising the activity and helping the younger children, that we are keen to repeat this, and to find other such tasks for our responsible Deer children!

Next week is International Week, so lots to look forward to before we break up for half term!

Week Ending 29th January 2016

It has been a very exciting week for Otters Class...  On Tuesday the children had a lovely surprise, when they received a letter from the Queen!  Back in October, as part of the Autumn term topic "What Makes Britain Great", the children wrote to Her Majesty, enclosing photographs and information about their own Coronation ceremony.  Otters Class received a lovely warm letter in return, together with some information leaflets and learning resources ideas.

They have continued their work on walking journeys, looking at poetry with the theme of walking, and learning how to write their own poems using simple alliteration.  In Computing, the children went on a virtual walk around Eaton Bray, using Google Street View.  They also learnt how to keep safe whilst walking, with Mrs Cooney, who used to work as a Crossing Patrol Officer.

Squirrels Class have also been enjoying some poetry.  They have been finding out about Christopher Columbus, and his voyages around the world, and have learnt this poem:

                                         In fourteen hundred and ninety two,
                                         Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
                                         He took three ships with him too,
                                         And called aboard a faithful crew.
                                         Mighty strong and brave was he, 
                                         As he sailed across the open sea.
                                         Some people still thought the world was flat!
                                         Can you even imagine that?

Hedgehogs went on the first of their minibus journeys this week.  They visited Ashridge Forest on Tuesday, where they went on a rather muddy, but very enjoyable nature walk.  They looked at different trees, investigated plants and roots, discovered animal tracks, and were even lucky enough to spot some wild deer.

 

Wednesday's EBA Enterprise session for Year 5 children involved making pancakes in the School Kitchen for one group, and sausage tasting for the other!  The sausages on offer included pork, pork and chilli, venison, chicken and tarragon, quorn and chorizo.  The children had to sample each one, guess the ingredients and evaluate them.  The favourite choice proved to be good old pork!

Meanwhile the Year 6 Enterprise group continued with their craft activities, the finished products of which will be on sale at a special Mother's Day gift stall in a few week's time - no photos yet though, as it's all top secret!

On Thursday, Rabbits Class hosted their Year 3 Assembly.  They shared the work they have done this year with their parents, and gave a special presentation about Victorian Schools, using the knowledge they gained from their trip to St Albans Catherdral back in November.

Deer Class have been learning about Chinese New Year.  This coming year is the Year of the Monkey, and it begins on Monday February 8th.  The children have been looking at how Chinese New Year is celebrated, and are planning their own celebration, with an exciting Chinese meal to look forward to!

They were all very happy this week to be given a space to call their own - the Year Six Common Room is an area where they can relax, play games, read or go on the computer.  This is a privilege they have earned through working hard and behaving well, and will be available every Wednesday lunchtime... provided of course that they keep up this good behaviour!

Week Ending 22nd January 2016

This week, our new "Letters and Sounds" phonics programme has begun.  This takes place across the whole School, every morning from 9.00 - 9.30, and the children all seem to be enjoying it very much.

The children are split into small groups, each working with a member of staff, doing English language tasks appropriate to their age and ability.  The programme includes various strategies - interactive online games as well as more traditional paper and pen activities - all designed to keep the children interested and enthusiastic, while giving them a good grounding in the English language skills that they will need as they progress through their education.

For more information on this programme, please visit www.letters-and-sounds.com.  Here you will also find free resources that you can use to help your child at home,

Hamsters have been reading one of their favourite stories this week - the Gruffalo.  They have been enjoying all sorts of activities linked to this, including matching games, painting and printing, and acting out the story with puppets.

As part of the "Journeys" topic, Otters Class have been learning about transport and walking.  To link in with this, their text in Literacy has been Cinderella, and their Science lesson came from the story.

In the story, Cinderella wears silly glass slippers, and slips on the marble floor at midnight.  The children have been investigating why this happened, and were given the task of trying to find a different pair of shoes for Cinderella to wear, so that she does not slip.  They tested different shoes (with different soles) on different surfaces, and were able to recommend suitable footwear for Cinderella.  The children have put their findings together in a simple booklet.

Badgers Class have been thinking about the environment in their Science lesson, and have done a litter survey.  They analysed different items of litter, and grouped them according to the materials they were made from.  They concluded that the rubbish dropped by humans does have a negative effect on the environment.

It was cold and wet on Friday afternoon when Choices took place.  This didn't stop the children who went to Tilsworth Golf Club from enjoying their activity...  They devised a game which involved hitting the golf ball into an upturned golf umbrella!  Great fun!

On Thursday evening the Home School Association held their first meeting of the new term.  They discussed some of the exciting events that they have planned for the rest of the year - including a children's games night, St George's Day breakfast, and an Olympic themed Summer Fair.  They also confirmed that money was available from the Christmas Fair and other fundraising events, to be put towards upgrading the playground, and purchasing new equipment.  The children will be asked to vote on what they would like to have, so watch this space for exciting outdoor developments!

Week Ending 15th January 2016

Our curriculum topic for this term is "Journeys", and this week the children have been doing lots of work that ties in with this theme.

Squirrels Class have made their own vehicles from construction paper and recycled materials.  They thought about car design, and learnt about how the wheels turn on an axis, then had fun decorating their vehicles with lots of bright colours.

Children in Hedgehogs Class have been thinking about journeys that they would like to make.  They have written to Mrs Hounslow to ask her if it would be possible to use the School minibus to visit nearby places, for example, Dunstable Downs, Ashridge Forest or a local supermarket.  On Tuesday, they had the opportunity to have a good look around the minibus, which was very exciting!

Badgers Class travelled in the minibus to Luton on Thursday, to visit Stockwood Park Discovery Centre.  This trip was part of the Schools Linking Network programme, which pairs schools up, so that children can meet and befriend children from outside of their own communities.  Our partner school is Hillborough Junior School in Luton. Badgers Class met up with their Year 4 Class, and they all spent the day together, getting to know one another.

The morning included some team games and activities, where the children had to build a vehicle and transport one another across the room. They also had the opportunity to look around the museum of old vehicles and carriages, and complete a discovery worksheet.  The afternoon was spent outside in the park, which was lovely, but rather cold!  The children were delighted to make some new friends, and are looking forward to their next meeting later in the year.

More travelling was done on Thursday, this time on foot, by the children in Hiking Club.  They wrapped up warm and enjoyed a lunchtime walk around the village.  This is just one of many clubs that take place at lunchtime or after school - others include Chess Club, English Challenge Club, Marathon Club, Cross Country Club and Digital Leaders -  so there really is something for everyone!

Pre-School children in Hamsters Class meanwhile, have been enjoying reading "Stick Man" by Julia Donaldson this week.  They have used the story as a basis for lots of activities, including building, painting. construction and scientific investigation to find out which materials sink and which float.

 

 

Next week: a swimming gala for Year 5 and 6 children, and our first HSA meeting of the new year, which takes place on Thursday evening.