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Year 3 Join the Great Big Live Assembly for Black History Month
Today, Year 3 took part in the Great Big Live Assembly for Black History Month 2025, hosted by Chris Kanday, Jeriah, and Gemma Hunt. The assembly explored the theme of “Standing Firm in Power and Pride”, celebrating the achievements and courage of Black individuals throughout history and today. Pupils learned about Rosa Parks and how one small, brave act helped spark huge social change. The presenters also discussed the St. George’s Cross, explaining how symbols can carry different meanings and how important it is that everyone in our communities feels welcome, valued, and respected. Through videos, discussions, and messages from inspiring guests, children reflected on how they can show kindness, courage, and fairness in their own lives. The children were thrilled, and a little surprised, when their class appeared on the big screen during the live broadcast! It was an exciting moment that made the experience even more memorable. They were inspired to speak up against injustice, celebrate diversity, and remember that even small acts of bravery and kindness can make a big difference.
Harvest Appeal
This morning we launched our Harvest Appeal for this year by hearing from Bishop Philip about his Pedalathon on 17th October where he will be cycling to visit and pray at a school or church in all 14 deaneries across the Diocese. We will be supporting Bishop Philip's Harvest Appeal for Christians in South Africa by joining in with his pedalathon over the next few weeks, including half term. We are encouraging our school family to cycle on bikes or scooters just like we did for the Big Lent Walk and we would love for you to send your photos in and the distance. Donations can be made on parent pay shortly. Our RotaKids are also supporting Darwen Asylum and Refugee Enterprise (DARE) and Darwen Rotary this Harvest by creating Winter Warmer boxes filled with toiletries, packets or tins of food and warm clothing for DARE families, the elderly, isolated, poor and vulnerable people in our community . They are also collecting winter coats for the homeless and poor through Darwen Rotary club. Please send in any donations and thank you in advance for your generosity. We then sang some of our Harvest songs for our Church Harvest Festival this Sunday 12th October at 11.00am- all welcome and our school Harvest Festival on Thursday 23rd October led by our WOW group and Reception, Years 1 and 2. All welcome.
Foodie Friends club- Yummy Shape Biscuits
At our after-school foodie club, we made some absolutely delicious buttery biscuits. It took lots of teamwork to get the right dough, the amazing bakers spent time weighing sugar and flour, cracking eggs, and mixing .We then used a variety of different shape cutters to make our biscuits. The end result was a lot of fun, and a lot of tasty treats!
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Year 3- Science- Forming shadows
In our science lesson, our young scientists learned some fundamental principles of physics. They discovered that light travels in a straight line, which is why a shadow is formed when an object blocks that path. By moving the light source, they learned how the position of light affects the size and shape of a shadow. They saw firsthand that an object's shadow changes depending on the light's angle and how far away it is. This hands-on exploration taught them that a shadow is simply the absence of light, a concept that forms the basis for everything from understanding eclipses to how our eyes see. We became experts at forming shadows using artificial light sources, like torches. It was great to see everyone working in pairs, acting as our own little research team.
Year 3- Science- Learning About UV Light and Sun Protection
Today, the Year 3 students became scientists as they carried out an investigation exploring the light that comes from the sun and how to stay safe in it. They tested the effect of sunlight on ultraviolet beads using different sun creams: SPF 15, SPF 30, SPF 50, and no sun cream at all. Our buzzing scientists made predictions about what might happen to happen to the beads coated in sun cream and without. The investigation used ultraviolet (UV) beads, which are special beads that change colour when exposed to ultraviolet light. This makes them a great tool for demonstrating the effects of UV radiation, the type of light that can cause sunburn and skin damage. Sun cream contains chemicals that absorb or reflect UV radiation, preventing it from reaching the skin. The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) number indicates how well the sun cream protects against UVB rays, the primary cause of sunburn. A higher SPF means greater protection. They then carefully recorded their observations, and thought scientifically about the results. They finally wrote conclusions explaining why it is important to use sun cream with a high SPF value to protect our skin. The higher the SPF value of the sun cream, the more effectively it blocks UV radiation. This visual and hands-on demonstration reinforces the importance of using sun cream with a high SPF to protect our skin from the harmful effects of the sun. The experiment serves as a powerful reminder that UV rays are always present in sunlight and that protection is essential, even on cloudy days
Year 3- Class Meeting- How to end each day feeling calm and happy?
During a class meeting organised by the Smart School Council, Year 3 students, led by Eva with notes taken by Maggie, discussed how to end each day feeling calm and happy. They considered four options: sharing something good about their day, listening to a calming story or song, doing a group exercise, or suggesting "something else." After a group discussion , the majority of the class voted to end their day by listening to a calming story or song.
Whole School Worship - Agent Ananias
We learned about a very special mission given by God this week in worship. God directed Ananias, a disciple in Damascus, to heal Saul of his blindness and baptise him. Despite Ananias's fear due to Saul's reputation as a persecutor of Christians, he obeyed the Lord's assurance that Saul was a "chosen instrument". Ananias laid hands on Saul, restoring his sight, and then baptised him, marking his dramatic conversion from persecutor to the apostle Paul, a key figure in spreading Christianity. We reflected on what we learned from the story and the children shared their thoughts, including that we should trust God’s choices, and that everyone has the ability to change.
Year 3- History-Exploring Ancient Egypt Through the River Nile
The Year 3 Historians investigated why the River Nile was so important in the lives and beliefs of the ancient Egyptians. They explored the interactive history timeline online and also looked at the timeline displayed in the school hall. They learned that the Nile was essential for many reasons: It provided water for drinking and washing. It supported farming, as the river flooded each year and left behind rich, fertile soil, perfect for growing crops such as wheat and barley. The children also discussed how the ancient name for Egypt, Kemet, meaning ‘black land’, referred to the dark, fertile soil along the Nile. They discovered that the Egyptians believed the yearly floods were a blessing from the god Hapi, whom they worshipped to ensure the river continued to bring life each year. They were fascinated to discover how the past could be presented in these different ways and worked brilliantly throughout the lesson.
After School Foodie Club- Choc Chip Cookies
Today at the After-School Club, Years 3 and 4 bakers made delicious chocolate chip cookies. They carefully weighed out the sugar and flour, and the children especially loved cracking the eggs, one of the highlights of the session. Apparently, one of the best cookies they've ever had!
Year 3- Science- Exploring materials which are reflective
Year 3 worked scientifically to explore which materials are good reflectors of light, using a variety of materials. Through their investigation, the scientist discovered that several materials are excellent reflectors. They learned that mirrors are highly reflective due to their smooth surface, which bounces light back in a predictable way. Metals like aluminum, copper, and silver were also identified as being highly reflective. They also looked at specialised materials like glass beads used in road markings and retroreflective materials found in safety gear, noting that these are designed to reflect light directly back to its source. They also discussed how some materials, like fluorescent materials and certain synthetic fabrics, are used to enhance visibility and safety, even if they reflect light differently. Overall, the children concluded that reflective materials have many benefits, from improving safety to creating interesting visual effects.
Friday Celebration Worship
This morning, we took a moment to reflect on what has been a busy and wonderful third week of school. Our week began with a focus on God’s Big Story in Whole School Worships, where we came together to deepen our understanding. Year 6 had a fantastic time creating artwork in the Darwen Town Centre, while Years 3, 4, and 6 took part in a Let’s Go Sing Choir workshop, which has inspired even more children to sign up for our school choir. Year 5 enjoyed a Move and Learn session with BwD, and our entire school embraced the excitement of the new clubs that started this week, including Foodie Friends, Football, Fred & Pearl Craft Club, Choir, Netball, and Forest Schools. We also took time to celebrate our individual value award winners, with a huge well done to Zachary and Hollie in KS1, and Eva, Emily, Jack, and Elsie in KS2, for their dedication across the curriculum, their embodiment of our Barney’s 4Bs and Christian Values, and for spreading joy throughout the school. In addition, we were pleased to award India Mill as our Value Award winners for the second consecutive week, and Year 6 as the winners in KS2 with 100% attendance, while Reception and Year 1 in EYFS and KS1 earned recognition with a fantastic 99.3% attendance. Next, we celebrated our out-of-school achievers, including Albie for earning his 5m and 10m swimming certificates, Evie for her bravery in attending Rainbows for the first time, Alice for being awarded Cheerleader of the Week, Peyton for winning Star of the Week at gymnastics, Grace for achieving a highly commended in her recent acro exam, Charlie for being named Student of the Week at Junior Dragons Martial Arts Club, Ava for being awarded Squirrel of the Week, Mason for being runner-up in a recent darts tournament, Lyla for receiving a certificate of excellence for her gymnastics and acro talent, and Annabel for being named Star of the Week at her dance school. Finally, we ended our worship with some heartfelt prayers from Mason, Ella, and Zachary, who prayed for those affected by war and conflict, for those suffering from illnesses, and for those who don’t have enough food—especially as Harvest approaches. We also sang “Our God is a Great Big God.” A quick reminder from Mrs. Ham: Next Friday, September 26th, we’ll be hosting the Macmillan Coffee Morning. All donations will be greatly appreciated.
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Year 3- R.E- How do people celebrate harvest around the world?
Today in R.E., Year 3 investigated how people around the world celebrate the harvest. We began with a class discussion to share our own experiences and understanding. Following this, the children wrote in their R.E. books, noting down some of the wonderful traditions we discovered. The children were particularly fascinated to learn about the different ways people show gratitude for the harvest. In the United States and Canada, Thanksgiving is a major national holiday celebrating the harvest and blessings of the past year. It is celebrated with a large family feast, which traditionally includes a roast turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. It is a time for people to gather and express gratitude for what they have. The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival, is one of the most important holidays in China. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, when the moon is at its fullest. Families gather to give thanks for a bountiful harvest and to pray for a good future. A key tradition is eating mooncakes and lighting colourful lanterns.