Year 4 Formal Elements of Art
In our first art session this half term we focused on the formal elements of art. We worked on developing a range of mark-making techniques using charcoal. Using the charcoal we expressed the meaning of different words and phrases such as gentle, powerful and chaotic. It was great to see how every child interpreted these in such a variety of ways and the end result was great.
Year 6 French
In French this week, year 6 recapped colours and shapes. They then applied this to describing flags of the world. They sang songs, worked in pairs, completed word searches and also played "Guess My Flag."
Fischy Music Concert
On Monday we had a special music concert led by Fischy Music which was a wonderful way to celebrate World Music Day which is on Saturday. We sang and signed a collection of our favourite Fischy Music Worship songs along with a couple of new ones.
Reception-Year of Prayer- Fruity Smells
For our Year of Prayer this week we immersed some different flavoured fruit tea bags in warm water. The children then passed the cups around the circle and had a smell of the tea to see what fruits they could identify by smell alone. We then prayed to thank god for the fruits and vegetables he provided for us.
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Year 3- French - Language and Culture
Today in French, the children began by exploring some interesting facts about French culture, then moved onto reviewing numbers through a song and game. They revised animal and number vocabulary by answering questions like ' What animal is it?' and 'How many are there? and recapped key grammar points such as adjectival agreement.
Year 4 - Year of Prayer: Fruity Smells
The Year 4 class are really enjoying the Year of Prayer theme this week. Each day, they have been guessing the scent of a different fruit/herbal teabag. We began with a tricky one, which was more spicy than fruity (turmeric and cinnamon), but the other two were a bit more of a familiar scent. The favourite so far has been blackcurrant and blueberry. After a little guess, we reflected on our favourite foods and said a prayer of thanks to God for the wonderful foods He provides for us.
Year 4 - PE: Tennis Skills
The Year 4s couldn’t wait to get rackets in hand for our first tennis skills session, but first they had to work on their ball skills. To develop their coordination they had to stop a ball rolled by their partner, but they had to use the hand their partner told them to. Our racket skills segment was an extension of this in which the children had to “splat” the ball and return it to their partner. Communication is our character development focus for this unit, which the children will develop by listening to their partner and looking for non-verbal cues.
Year 2 - Invasion games
This week in PE, Year 2 out their improved throwing and catching skills to the test in different games. They had to use tactics to ensure the ball reached their target without being intercepted. It was great to see how far the children have come from when we first practiced these fundamental skills back in the Autumn term.
Year 5 - Year of Prayer
This week’s Year of Prayer focus was all about fruity smells.The children enjoyed a fun and sensory experience as they immersed themselves in a selection of fruity tea bags, trying to guess the different flavours by smell alone. The children then took time to reflect and give thanks to God for the wonderful variety of fruits and vegetables He has created for us. We thought about how each fruit is unique, just like each of us and how God provides for us in so many colourful, beautiful and nourishing ways. Together, we said a prayer of gratitude, thanking God not only for the food we eat, but also for the joy that comes from sharing, tasting and exploring His creation with others. We were reminded that just as fruit helps our bodies grow strong, God’s love helps our hearts grow in kindness, thankfulness and joy.
Year 3- R.E-Exploring Sikh Beliefs: The 5 Ks and a Way of Life
In today's R.E. lesson, our theologians explored the 5 Ks of Sikhism: Kesh (uncut hair), Kara (a steel bracelet), Kanga (a wooden comb), Kachera (cotton undergarments), and Kirpan (a ceremonial sword). These are the five articles of faith that Sikhs wear as a commitment to their beliefs and values. They discussed the significance of each of the 5 Ks and why they are important to Sikhs today. We also explored the Sikh code for living and considered how following this code might influence a person’s choices and lifestyle. Through group discussions and illustrations, children examined different scenarios and thought about what decisions a Sikh might make based on their faith. They were also allowed to handle and observe artefacts and photographs of the 5 Ks, helping them connect more deeply with the topic. The children recorded their thoughts and reflections using a structured framework to support their understanding.
Whole School Worship - Refugee Week
In Collective Worship today, we continued looking in detail at the Lord’s Prayer. This week we are focusing on ‘give us today our daily bread’. We had lots of ideas about what Jesus meant when He said these words. Of course, food and nutrition was mentioned, but the children said that this can also mean other things we need daily in order to live life in all its fullness, such as love, kindness, a safe place to live, clothing, education, fun and freedom. Mrs Ham then introduced Refugee Week and we looked through our spirituality opening to learn more about it. We were surprised to learn that some well-known people in Britain came as refugees, like Rita Ora and Mo Farrah and we also discussed how Jesus was a refugee when Mary and Joseph had to flee with him to Egypt. We also spent some time celebrating our work with D.A.R.E (Darwen Asylum and Refugee Enterprise) . As a school, we have collected toys, books, Easter eggs, tinned foods and toiletries to help out our local refugees. Some of our Year 3 children will be taking part in a special Refugee Week Tea Party tomorrow at the United Reformed Church and will be meeting a number of refugees and will learn more about what has led them to come to Darwen. Hamza told everyone how he was a refugee from Kenya when he was only 3 and he was given a warm welcome at St Barnabas. Lana shared how her Grandma was a refugee from Palestine. We then reflected on how we can continue to support refugees and give them a warm welcome into our community, just as Jesus wanted us to love our neighbours as ourselves. We watched a video celebrating 80 years of the Moomins and learnt that the Moomin House became a refuge for all different animals who had to leave their homes. We reflected on how we want St Barnabas to be like the Moomin house where everyone feels welcome, accepted and loved.