Year 4 - English: Publishing
The children finished their Roman soldier diaries on Monday, and this week, we have been typing them up using the Chromebooks. There are a number of skills involved in this process. It really forces the children to think about their punctuation, word choices, and spelling.
Year 3- PSHE- Making Smart Choices Online
Today in PSHE, we learned how to be smart online detectives! The children worked in groups to identify which statements were true or false about the trustworthiness of websites. We also discussed the importance of checking if information on websites is reliable. We learned to use tools like fact-checking, website checkups, looking for multiple sources, and asking adults for help. We also listed some of the websites we know, like YouTube, BBC News, Instagram, Snapchat and Roblox, and discussed how some websites are more trustworthy than others. Just like we wouldn't believe everything we read in a book, we should be careful about the information we find online.
Year 3- D.T- Finishing touches
The Year 3 Elves are nearing the end of their Christmas-themed pouch project. They've worked hard on techniques like running stitch, fabric joining, and knot-tying. Now, they're helping each other and considering the overall look of their pouches.
KS2 After School Club
During this week’s after-school club, the children focused on improving their movement off the ball. They played an engaging game of bench ball, enhanced with various conditions to challenge them tactically and help develop their football skills. It was a fantastic session filled with teamwork, strategy, and enthusiasm!
Year 5 - Dance
Today, Year 5 enjoyed their final dance session, showcasing creativity and energy as they flipped on bounce mats, perfected their movements, and crafted dynamic routines. The children explored a variety of sequences, combining skills they’ve developed throughout the term, including balance and coordination. They worked well to create engaging performances, demonstrating teamwork and enthusiasm. It was a fantastic way to wrap up their dance unit.
Reception: Year of Prayer
As part of the Diocese of Blackburn's Year of Prayer, this week's focus was on alphabet prayers. Reception class thought about what brings them joy. Evie said her star on her Christmas tree, Max said playing his memory game, Beau said her family and Mikey said visiting the dinosaur museum. It was wonderful to see the children reflecting and listening carefully to one another. At the end of our prayer we thanked God and said Amen.
Year 6 - Exploring osmosis and diffusion
Today, Year 6 explored how our bodies get the water and nutrients they need through the process of osmosis and diffusion. To highlight these processes, we soaked gummy bears in 3 different liquids (Coca Cola, water and salty water) for 24 hours. We discovered that the gummy bear in the water grew in size because the water molecules moved from a higher concentration (water), to a lower concentration (gummy bear) which is exactly what happens in our bodies. The water in our blood would move into our cells in order to keep us hydrated. However, the gummy bear in the salt shrank. This tells us that if there is too much salt in our blood stream, the water will actually move away from our cells, where it is needed, and back into the blood to restore balance. As a result, we can become dehydrated and our cells become less efficient.
Year 5 - Online Safety Awareness
Today, Year 5 analysed this week's online safety poster, which focused on the app Snapchat. The children engaged in thoughtful discussions about the potential risks associated with the app, such as artificial intelligence misuse, online predators, scams, screen addiction, exposure to inappropriate content, and online pressures. They reflected on how these risks could impact not only personal safety but also mental health, including feelings of anxiety or low self-esteem caused by social comparison or cyberbullying. Following this, the class worked collaboratively to devise advice for safe usage of the platform. They suggested practical measures such as utilising parental controls, regularly reviewing privacy settings, and ensuring only trusted individuals are added as friends. They emphasised the importance of blocking and reporting harmful content or interactions and encouraged open, honest discussions with trusted adults about any concerns. The session concluded with the children considering how to raise awareness about online safety in their community. They brainstormed ideas such as creating posters or videos to share what they’ve learned, reinforcing the need for responsible online behaviour and the value of making informed choices in the digital world. The activity not only enhanced their awareness of online risks but also empowered them to become proactive digital citizens.
Reception: Nativity Crafts
The children in Reception have been getting very creative. They have made stables using different materials and drew the scene explaining who each person and animal was. The children have also made angels using paper plates.
Year 3- P.E-Showcasing Our Dance Skills
Year 3 showcased their best bridges, handstands, and cartwheels for their final dance lesson with Rothwell Dance. Arabelle and Bobby Ray were our stars of the day and were recognised for their dedication and outstanding performance.
Collective Worship: Peace at Advent
Our school is starting to get ready for Christmas and has been decorated. There was one final job to do- our youngest child, Annie placed the star on our Christmas tree. This week we started our worship by looking at the Year of Prayer, which we will be taking part in along with lots of other schools from across our Diocese. Our WOW group explained what we would be focusing on this week in classes. All classes will have a go at alphabet prayers. The children will all think about something that brings joy to them. We then looked at our whole school focus which was on the value of peace. Mrs Wilkinson led the children in prayer. Mrs Wilkinson recapped what Christians focus on in the first week of advent: hope. She lit the first Advent candle. We then looked at what we would be focussing on this week which was peace. The children watched a video all about peace. Leonora said that if we experience conflict in school, we could walk away or not argue with our friends and remain at peace. Matthew said smiling brings us joy and peace. We all reflected on what the world would be like if it was always at peace. The children discussed how loving everyone can bring peace. We ended our worship by singing 'We Three Kings' and 'Ding Dong'.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Today, every child in school helped to decorate our real Christmas tree in the hall. They have been busy decorating their classrooms too so it really is beginning to look and feel like Christmas! On Monday, as part of our St Barnabas tradition, the youngest child in our school will place the star on top of the tree in Worship.