Year 6 R.E - Jewish Passover
In R.E, year 6 have been looking at the Jewish Passover Seder meal and how it links to the Exodus story. The children watched a video which showed a real Jewish family celebrating Passover and preparing the Seder feast. During this lesson, the children learned what each food symbolised and which special customs Jewish people partake in during Passover. It was very interesting to watch and helped us to create some super writing!
St Barnabas celebrates Safer Internet Day 2025
Today, we will be celebrating Safer Internet Day. We began today by a worship led by Mrs Wilkinson. We discussed how to stay safe online, what might happen online and what a scam was. We discussed how we wouldn’t speak to strangers on the street so we should do the same online and only speak to people we know. If something doesn’t feel right or we get a little scared, we should always talk to a trusted adult. It was lovely to see the children discussing the importance of staying safe online and we had lots of meaningful discussion during our worship. This will continue in classes throughout the day.
Mad Science Assembly- Whole School
Today, the children were treated to a spectacular science show by Scientific Sarah from Mad Science. Sarah, a trained professional in handling chemicals and fire, emphasized safety throughout the engaging and interactive presentation. Throughout the show, children were encouraged to make predictions about what might happen next, fostering their scientific thinking skills. The children couldn't stop laughing, and there were so many "wow" moments throughout the presentation. The show featured three exciting experiments. First, the children were highly amused by "Egg Bert," a boiled egg that initially resisted entering a glass cylinder. After removing the shell (humorously referred to as his "clothing"), Sarah demonstrated how air pressure, a principle discovered by Jacques Charles, could be used to force the egg into the cylinder. Heating the air inside allowed the egg to slip in, and then, following Charles' suggestion, Sarah introduced cold air to pop the egg back out, to the children's great interest. The second experiment showcased red cabbage juice, a versatile pH indicator discovered by Robert Boyle in 1664. With the help of James, one of the school's science ambassadors, Sarah peeled and blended the cabbage. She explained how adding acid or alkaline substances to the juice would dramatically change its color, creating another captivating visual demonstration. Cassidy also assisted with this experiment. Finally, Sarah performed a "fire hands" experiment. Referencing Doctor Walter Snell's work on storing gas in tanks, she again stressed the importance of safety. Sarah then created three fire bubbles on her hand, a truly mesmerizing finale. Flyers are going home today with details about a new Mad Science After School Club starting next half term, on Monday, February 24th. Importantly, the topics covered in this club are different from those offered last year, so even if your child has participated before, they are guaranteed to learn something new! Registration letters, also going home today, contain full course details and information on how parents can register their children online. The deadline for registration is Friday, February 17th. Interested parents can register online on a first-come, first-served basis at https://northengland.madscience.org. The entire show was a memorable and educational experience for the children, and we're excited to offer this after-school opportunity.
Foodie Friends club- Valentine Biscuits
Our talented bakers created delightful Valentine’s biscuits in various heart-shaped sizes for our final Foodie Friends Club today. They measured flour and sugar, whisked eggs, rolled out the dough, and used food colouring to achieve a lovely shade of pink. The club has been a fantastic experience. Most children have enjoyed it so much that they’ve been recreating the easy bakes at home for their families.
Meet Our Science Ambassadors
We are thrilled to announce that we now have five Science Ambassadors at our school! This exciting role was open to KS2 students, who had to submit an application explaining why they wanted to apply and what made them a strong candidates. We received an incredible number of applications, making the selection process very challenging, but we have now chosen our final five. Our ambassadors are passionate about science, whether it's through experimenting, discovering how things work, or inspiring others to develop a love for the subject. As part of their role, they will support teachers during science lessons, assist their peers with investigations, help set up experiments, and promote a love of science throughout the school. They will also play a key part in science events and initiatives, encouraging curiosity and excitement for learning. We are so proud of them and look forward to Noah, Mathew, James, Cassidy and Naomi shining in their new role!
Worship with Rev. Ben
Today, we had worship with Rev. Ben, which began with a fun yet challenging relay-style game where we had to balance ping pong balls on a paper plate while moving carefully across the hall. Rev. Ben explained that, just like in the game, life can sometimes feel unsteady or difficult, especially when we are upset or facing challenges. To help us reflect on this, Rev. Ben showed a clip about what Jesus did when he was feeling deeply sad the night before his death. The video illustrated how Jesus turned to God in prayer, seeking strength and comfort during his time of sorrow. Rev. Ben explained that, just like Jesus, we can share our worries and struggles with God, knowing that He listens and understands, and can help us through even the toughest times. He reminded us that no matter how we feel, we are never alone—God is always there to support and guide us.
Year 6 Junior Jam - French
Year 6 really enjoyed their Junior Jam French lesson, this week! The children were learning French words and phrases to do with places in town and prepositions to describe position and direction. They had to use a town map and explain whether a description was true or false, then they played a game where someone had to guess the place being described by the rest of the class.
Year 6 Maths
In maths, year 6 have been working on converting units of measure. The children recapped length, mass and capacity and thought about the rules for converting from one to another. There was lots of maths discussion and peer-support, and also independent work on whiteboards.
Year 6 P.E - Gymnastics
In P.E, year 6 have been continuing to work on their gymnastics skills. They have focused on counter-balances to create a routine with their partner, adding in transitions. Some children have even used the apparatus to create interesting shapes and balances. This involve placing a lot of trust in your partner and all of the children’s routines are looking fantastic!
Year 6 Geography - Wind Energy
In geography, year 6 have been discussing the advantages and disadvantages of wind energy. We talked about how we use energy in our everyday lives, they types of energy we use and whether these are renewable or non-renewable, why wind energy is a good and sustainable energy source, but also why some people have concerns about its use. We used the key vocabulary from the lesson to produce some super writing.
3rd place at Yr 5/6 Sportshall Athletics Final
We are immensely proud of our Year 5/6 Sportshall Athletics team for their grit and determination, which resulted in them gaining 3rd place out of 27 schools across Blackburn with Darwen. A huge thank you to Mrs Gardner for her dedication to our squad through extra training after school. Thanks to Mr Bloomfield for his support today in organising the field events. We really appreciate the support of the parents who helped to transport the children. Mrs Gardner led the girls team and Mrs Ham led the boys team and we couldn’t be prouder of the whole squad for their effort in each event and their encouragement towards each other. We may be small, but we are mighty! All of the action photos can be found here: https://www.stbarnabasdarwen.co.uk/photo-galleries/yr-5-6-sportshall-athletics-final-feb-2025
Year 6 P.E - Netball Skills
Year 6 have been continuing to practise their netball skills. The focus has been on chest pass, throwing and catching with good hand-eye co-ordination. The children have also had to work well as a team, making sure to adjust their pass depending on the team member. All the children are making super progress!