Our blogs
Date: 9th Sep 2022 @ 4:13pm
We'd just like to start the year off by saying a huge big thank you to all of the children and parents in our new Nursery classes. We have really enjoyed playing with you, finding out about what you like to do and we are so excited to be walking alongside you on your learning journey this year.
Each week we will put up videos and photos of the exciting things that happen in Nursery so watch this space! have a relaxing weekend and we'll see you on Monday.
From Mrs Ganner, Miss Wilkinson, Mrs Blakeley and Miss Conway
Date: 9th Sep 2022 @ 3:56pm
Welcome to 4CB!
This has been a very exciting week for year 4, and we have thrown ourselves into all of our learning.
In maths, we have been refreshing our knowledge on place value. We did this through using physical maths resources (such as dienes and counters), drawings, and abstract methods (e.g. 300 + 50 + 2 = 352). We had many maths superstars on our maths working wall, including Hassan, Tyrese and Courteous.
In reading, we have begun to explore the Hero Twins - a Mayan myth about a pair of twins who excelled in a game called Pok Ta Pok. We have also linked this to our writing, where we have begun to plan our own version of the Hero Twins myth.
In our connected curriculum, we have launched our new topic 'The Maya: What Can they teach you?' We did this through playing the game that the Hero Twins are famous for - Pok Ta Pok. It was a very challenging game, as we weren't allowed to use our hands or feet.
Our behaviour star this week is Daisy. Daisy has followed all of our school rules, been an excellent role model and has made a great start in year 4.
Date: 9th Sep 2022 @ 1:53pm
What a fantastic week we have had to start Year 4! We have been learning about lots of different things.
In maths, we have been using lots of mathematical words such as intervals, increase, digit, number and numeral. We have represented and created numbers to 1000 as well as partitioned numbers to 1000. Later on in the week, we began to use numberlines to plot missing intervals.
We began our connected curriculum this week and have started learning about the Maya! We played an ancient Maya game called Pok-Ta-Pok where we weren't allowed to use our hands or feet to try and get a ball in to a hoop. It was really hard!
We started our computing learning this week, which is all about how to keep ourselves safe online. We created pposters explaining how and what you should do if you get an unkind message.
In our reading and writing lessons, we started reading the text 'Hero Twins' which is a story of two ancient Maya twins called Hunahpu (Hoo-Na-Poo) and Xbalanque (Sh-ba-larn-kay). We described the lords of death and the twins using expande noun phrases. We had to remember to include a comma!
Music was a focus this week. On Thursday we started our music lessons with Miss Kent and had our singing assembly too!
We talked all about teeth in science this week and discovered that children usually have 20 teeth and adults usually have 32 teeth. Incisors are the teeth at the front of your mouth and are used for cutting. Canines are for ripping and molars are for chewing and grinding food.
Next week, we are looking forward to start out swimming lessons and we must be at school by 9am on Wednesday morning because we will be leaving at 9am!
This week we have been given words to practise spelling at home, as well as some maths homework. These need to be brought in next Friday (16th).
Don't forget about the meet the teacher session next Tuesday (13th)
Check back next week for another blog update!
4LJ :)
Date: 9th Sep 2022 @ 10:43am
It has been a fabulous first week back at school, and so good to see everyone again after the summer holiday and catch up with your news.
This week and next, we are assessing our EAL children's language levels, in readiness for EAL sessions to start the following week for our international new arrivals. We are so excited to get started!
Date: 8th Sep 2022 @ 11:16am
On Wednesday we had our connected curriculum launch for our topic 'What was it like to live in Ancient Egypt?" In class, we learned all about the hieroglyphic writing system used by the Egyptians. We then went looking for as many hieroglyphics as we could find on the playground. Once we had located each one, we unjumbled the hieroglyphics to discover the word mummification.
Date: 25th Jul 2022 @ 7:15pm
For the last week or so reception have been organising their very own garden party. They have made invitations, menus and even played super market sweep with Miss Riley so that they had all of the ingredients for their party feast. Today was finally the day and even though it decided to rain all day reception didn't let a bit of rain stop the party!
Well Done on an amazing year in reception! Each and every one of you have made us all so proud!
Date: 24th Jul 2022 @ 8:57am
This week we have been learning about a Kenyan artist called Kamau Joseph. He is an artist who works in Nairobi and his artwork is inspired by people doing everyday jobs in Kenya. His artwork has lots of bright colours that remind him of the different faces and tribes that live in Kenya.
We took some inspiration from his work and created our own versions using drawing pencils and brightly coloured oil pastels. The result was very effective!
Measures, Measures, Measures!!!
Date: 24th Jul 2022 @ 8:50am
For the last few weeks in our maths learning we have been looking at the measure topics of length/height, weight and capacity. We have been learning how to measure height/length, weight and capacity. We have also been learning the vocabulary associated with each area. We have used the station activity to practice these skills in some practical activity using small objects, rulers, balance scales and measuring containers.
Date: 20th Jul 2022 @ 9:43am
This week, we have been looking at all the learning we have done over the year and assessing how much we can remember and use independently. We have worked so hard and made so much progress ! Well done to all of our EAL groups !
Here's a look back at just some of the learning we have done this year:
Date: 14th Jul 2022 @ 4:12pm
Today was such a busy day! Years 5 and 6 performed brilliantly in the end of year show. Many children were a little nervous given that they haven't really had the opportunity to perform for a few years but you wouldn't have known it. We were so proud of the way the class really stepped it up and gave it their all. The glockenspiels in particular sounded amazing!
Then this afternoon, they were set the challenge of separating mixtures without using their fingers to pick bits out. They were provided with a range of equipement and had to work together to figure out how to do it. There were some brilliant examples of peer support and teamwork and they all managed to reach a decision about the most efficient method of working. Well done 5CR!
Locality Walk using map skills
Date: 3rd Jul 2022 @ 8:08pm
On Friday 1st July we went on a local walk around school to test out our map skills. We discussed the route that we would be taking and used the map to follow the route. As we were walking in the local area we were spotting all the landmarks that we could see which included Cycling Centre, Asda, Flipout, the bridge, canal, Flipout, Decathalon, Ethihad Stadium and Philips Park.
We also saw other things like the blocks of flats and electricity pylons. Once we sat down on the other side of the canal near the cycling centre we drew some of the landmarks that we could see. Next week we will be comapring Clayton with Kenya and discuss the differences and similarities.
Date: 1st Jul 2022 @ 5:14pm
This half-term, year 4 are exploring 'Sound' in their science lessons.
Today, we completed an experiment to help us explore how distance affects sound. We played music from speakers on the playground, before measuring how far we could walk (in metres) before the noise stopped.
Our ears were much stronger than Miss Brookes'!
Looking at the structure of our sentences
Date: 30th Jun 2022 @ 1:19pm
This week, we have been looking at how we can structure our sentences so they make sense.
KS1 have been using colour coded sentences to help us put prepositions in the right place in our sentences, and KS2 have been using different past tenses in a sentence to order events.
Date: 27th Jun 2022 @ 4:57pm
In art this week, we have been focusing on the artist Noel Badges Pugh. We took inspiration from his drawings of seashells to create our own. We used continuous line drawing to create the outline and then used a range of mark making techniques such as contoured lines, dashes, curves, hatching and cross-hatching to make the shells more 3 dimensional. We even thought about shadows and created these again using mark making techniques.
Date: 26th Jun 2022 @ 5:10pm
This week we finished the Masai shields with Mrs McAffer. We filled the shield with patterns using oil pastels and then used our sewing skills to sew some stitches around the edge of the shield. Later on in the week we used the shields to finish off our front covers for our connected curriculum books. We used green screen technology to create some photos as if we were a Masai tribesperson in Kenya. It looked very real!!!
Date: 22nd Jun 2022 @ 2:53pm
This week Reception has had a visit from Captain Patch. He left us some pirate things to use and a letter asking us to do some challenges! We loved being a pirate and did a great job of helping him. We needed to find the treasure by doing lots of weighing and measuring in the classroom and outside and did a brilliant job!
Using tenses to order events in the past
Date: 20th Jun 2022 @ 10:56am
Our KS2 group is looking at using different tenses at the moment. This week, we are using tenses to order two events in the past.
Tenses can be tricky, so we are playing lots of games to help us remember how each one is formed.
Date: 19th Jun 2022 @ 5:24pm
This week in our maths lessons we have been learning about arrays and how they can help us with multiplication. An array is a set of objects or pictures that are arranged into rows and columns. We made arrays using counters and then had a go at drawing arrays.
At the end of the week children requested the station carousel of activities so we consolidated our learning doing just that! Station 1 activity was read the statement and make the array and station 2 activity was read the statement and draw the arrays. Finally station 3 activity children had to read the problems and decide if they were going to draw or make the arrays.
By the end of the week, children were becoming much more confident at understanding and using arrays. They will continue to use these when they get into Year 2!
Masai Shields with Mrs McAffer
Date: 19th Jun 2022 @ 5:18pm
Last week we started our next art project with Mrs McAffer. We looked at the Masai Tribe from Kenya, with a particular focus on their shields. We discussed the colours and patterns on the shields. Mrs McAffer showed us the technique of rubbings using different patterns and oil pastels. We created some of these rubbings and then cut the piece of paper into different shapes to glue on to the shield template.
Next we are going to fill the rest of the shield using oil pastels and use our sewing skills to sew a border stitch all around the edge of the shield. Check back next week for the finished Masai shields!
Date: 15th Jun 2022 @ 10:05am
In maths, we have been learning all about scales and reading different intervals. Today we estimated the mass of different objects in the classroom before weighing each object. We used our knowledge of reading scales to help us.
Date: 14th Jun 2022 @ 12:50pm
In Nursery this week we are reading the story 'The Flying Bath' by Julia Donaldson. In the story, three superheroes (Frog, Duck and Turtle) help to save the other animals using their bath water!
We have been working hard to make our own puppets of the characters from the story. We have been thinking carefully about which colours to use and how we can add extra detail to our drawings.
Date: 12th Jun 2022 @ 11:47am
Welcome Back to the last term of Year 1!
What a start to the half term it has been this week! On Friday we launched our final topic called 'How do we get to the Masai Mara?' This topic is all about the vibrant continent of Africa with a particular focus on the country of Kenya. The focus of this topic will be geography and science objectives from the curriculum.
However, we started the topic with fabulous day of learning where we completed a variety of activities which began our journey into this great topic. We did a carousel of activities that included making a Kenyan flag, designing some African prints using patterns and different colours and finally creating a Masai tribe necklace.
We also had a visit from Mrs Ganner who came to teach us how to play a simple beat on a traditional African drum called a Djembe. We also joined Miss Higgin's class in the afternoon in the hall to learn a simple African dance! It was lots of fun and a good start to our final topic in Year 1!
Date: 10th Jun 2022 @ 5:20pm
What a busy week it's been and we still have another 6 and a half to go!
Yesterday, 5CR took part in the launch of their connected curriculum topic for this half term - Spain! We will be learning a bit about the geography of Spain and their customs. We will also be writing a balanced argument about bullfighting.
To start it all off, we learned some flamenco moves and made fans to use during a dance. Everyone threw themselves into it and had a great time!
Date: 8th Jun 2022 @ 4:46pm
Were the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings successful invaders?
Year 4 arrived to school today dressed in their amazing viking gear. We completed many outdoor activities, such as invasion and team games. We then went inside, where we raided an Anglo-Saxon village (year 5 classrooms) to find hidden artefacts.
When we returned to class, we used icing and marshallows to create a replica of Thor's hammer, before exploring how Vikings travel and why they invaded.
It was an exciting day, that all children and staff enjoyed! Children behaved really well, and enthusiastically tried each activity.
Miss Brookes & Miss Kenwell
Date: 8th Jun 2022 @ 10:06am
This week, we have been looking at how we can write events in order. We have read a book which showed us what we need to do to plant a sunflower seed and help it grow into a sunflower. So, we had a go ourselves and now we are going to write our own book using the same language structures!
