Year 1 Construction Area: building a boat
This week in the Construction Area, the children have been trying to build a boat for the penguin and the boy to sail to the South Pole. The different ideas have been amazing. We have had some smaller sailboats and some huge yachts. Well done Year 1!
Years 3 and 4-Foodie Friends After School Club -Wholemeal Pitta Pizzas
Our After-School Foodie Friends Club returned today for its first session of the year, and the chefs had a fantastic time making wholemeal pitta pizzas. They worked together to prepare fresh ingredients, including basil, sweetcorn, tomatoes, and peppers. Some children chose to add tuna, while others kept it simple with tomato sauce and cheese. In addition to being fun and creative, the session provided the children with an opportunity to learn essential cooking skills, including preparation, teamwork, and making healthy food choices, valuable skills they can carry with them for life.
Craft Club Session 1
We had our first Craft Club session of the year today! The children from Year 1 to 6 designed and made felt banners. I was really impressed with their designs, but also how they took their time and persisted when they found it difficult. Well done everyone!
Year 5 - Food Technology
Today, the children created their own Spaghetti Bolognese sauce, applying all the cooking skills they have developed so far. They worked with ingredients such as onions, mushrooms, garlic and carrots, seasoning their sauces to taste. After cooking, they completed a written evaluation, gave their dish a personal score and suggested ways they could improve it next time.
Year 1 D&T- Wacky Windmills
This afternoon, Year 1 proudly completed their Wacky Windmills as part of their Design & Technology unit. They carefully attached the sails to their structures and added colourful decorations to finish their creation.
Year 3- Exploring Design Technology Through Castle Construction
Over the past few weeks, the Budding designers have been learning the skills needed to design and build their own castles. They explored the features of castles, practised using tools for cutting, shaping, and joining materials, and sketched detailed designs of what they wanted to create. Today, our young designers finally brought their ideas to life. After watching the Pupil video Constructing a Castle for guidance, they began building their structures. Using shoeboxes from home as sturdy bases, the designers constructed turrets from cardboard tube rolls, battlements from sugar paper, and added flags made from straws and coloured card. Each castle was unique, reflecting the creativity and planning of its maker. The children selected from a variety of tools and materials, using them carefully and with purpose. Many included features such as drawbridges, windows, and gatehouses, and some even furnished the interiors of their castles with handmade items. In the next lesson, the children will evaluate their finished structures, considering what went well, what could be improved, and how effectively their design ideas were brought to life.
Year 3- D.T-Creating Nets for Castle Construction
In today's D.T. lesson, the children began constructing the pieces for their castles by creating nets to form 3D shapes. They used these shapes as the building blocks for their castle structures, following guidance from the pupil video, Nets and Structures.
Year 3- Design Technology-Features of a Castle
Today, our young designers started their final D.T. unit on structures by learning about castles. They explored the different features of a castle, such as turrets, battlements, moats, and drawbridges. We discussed why castles needed to be strong and stable, and linked this to stories and real-life examples of castles and how they were built to protect the people inside. The children then sketched their castles using 2D shapes, carefully labelling key parts. This helped them develop the skills and understanding they’ll need to build their 3D castles using boxes and cardboard tubes later in the unit. They showed fantastic creativity and a growing understanding of how structures are designed for strength and purpose.
Year 4 - Linking Schools Visit to St Matthew’s
Our Linking Schools project reached its final part on Monday with Year 4 visiting St Matthew’s C of E Primary in Blackburn. We had a fantastic day designing “together towns”, creating poetry about living well together and even joining an assembly with local author, Dan Worsley. We have thoroughly enjoyed learning about our new friends and sharing work throughout this year; it has helped us to realise our similarities and celebrate differences.
Year 1 Design and Technology- Exploring Structures
This afternoon in Year 1, we explored the different parts of a windmill, including the structure, rotor, and rotor blades (or sails). We then discussed what makes a successful structure, agreeing that it should be able to stand on its own—like buildings, tables, chairs, bridges, and windmills. We looked more closely at windmills and noticed that they are often made from strong materials such as metal or concrete to help them remain sturdy and durable. Next, we investigated stability by experimenting with a paper cup. We thought about whether it would be more stable in its usual upright position, upside down, or on its side. We decided it was most stable when upside down, as the wider base helped it stand more firmly. We also explored ways to make the cup even more stable. Phoebe and Vienna suggested attaching wood inside the cup, Haydn thought we could use two cups together, and Callie suggested adding Blu Tack to the inside. In the end, we chose to double up the cups and use Blu Tack for extra weight. We’re looking forward to continuing our work and adding to our structures in the next lesson!
Year 4 Biscuit Creations Group 1
In our final food technology session we made our lovely biscuit creations. We have planned these for several weeks from looking at package design, taste testing, budgeting and then mixing and baking. What a fantastic end result for Group 1!
Year 4 Biscuit Creations Group 2
In our final food technology session we made our lovely biscuit creations. We have planned these for several weeks from looking at package design, taste testing, budgeting and then mixing and baking. What a fantastic end result for Group 2!