What a way to start a Monday morning! There was much excitement in class on Monday as we conducted a science investigation on DNA. The children were wondering just whose DNA we were going to extract, I think they were relieved when I said that we were using strawberries! The children worked carefully in groups to reduce the strawberries to a pulp and then to add salt, washing up liquid and water to the mixture. After that, the children filtered the liquid to produce a clear solution ready for the extraction to take place. It was like magic to see the strands of DNA rise up and form almost a candy floss layer. It was a wonderfully scientific and magical morning of learning. The children used all of the photos that they had taken to create their own photo collage. Wonderful combined learning.
We have continued to push the boundaries of our learning this week in all of our other subjects. In English, we have continued to read Skellig together and complete some tricky comprehension questions, In writing, the children have been writing in character of Romeo or Juliet and writing a diary entry of the balcony scene. I was blown away by the detail and the emotion that they have written with. Multiplication and division have been a continued focus this week. We have consolidated our understanding of short and long division and started to look more closely at factors, multiples and square numbers. This has led us nicely to BODMAS next week - my favourite part of maths! In RE and RHE, the children have started their new unit of work on Justice. I asked the children to think about where they want to be in 20 years from now and the legacy they want to have made. I will share their work with you next week. And finally in history, we looked at the rise and fall of Catherine of Aragon - the poor first wife of Henry VIII.
Online Safety
Each term we have an online safety day in school where it gives us a real opportunity to chat and discuss issues that are current with the children. This week we looked at the children’s digital footprint and how these will have changed this year because of lockdown and the need to use devices and the internet more. We also spoke about how other people can contribute to a person’s online footprint and we have to be careful about what we post online about each other. I contribute all the time by posting photographs of the children on my weekly blog. The main task of the day required the children to look at the digital footprints of a selection of candidates for a job. Based on the information they were given, they then had to decide who should be awarded. It was fascinating to hear the conversations between the children. Please share the homework that the children have to complete this week and continue the online safety conversation at home.
Innovative Learning
I have been looking at ways that the children can share more of the work that they do in school with you at home, whilst also preparing them for high school and the demands that they will meet there. For the next four weeks, I will be trialing an online platform called Showbie with the children.
Showbie is an online platform where the children can upload all sorts of pieces of work, create their own portfolios, add voice notes and I can feedback and mark them like I would do in class. It also provides parents with the tool so that you can track what your children is doing. I want to ensure that the children take photos of their work in class and upload it to their Showbie area so you can see their progress at home.
This is very much a trial and I will be learning alongside the children. For now, all I need you to do is either download the free Showbie app onto your tablets or if you prefer to use a laptop, find it and bookmark it on your browser. I will be creating user names with the children next week and adding them into my virtual classroom. I am really excited about this and it will be interesting to get the children’s feedback at the end of the trial period.
Celebrating Learning
It is nearly impossible to choose learners each week as each child is going above and beyond on a daily basis. This week I have chosen 3 leading learners. Well done to Elizabeth, Laura and Leo.
All three of these children are working the hardest that they could possibly work - I could not ask more from them. They all see effort as a way to achieve what they want and to get where they want to be. This week, they have all learnt from their mistakes and continued to challenge themselves - especially with writing and maths. Well done!
The children are busy planning the Santa dash for Friday 4th December, there is much excitement. It is hard to believe that the Christmas tree is arriving in school next week ready to start the Christmas celebrations. As we start to prepare for the arrival of Jesus, each house will be leading us in a reflection during the weeks of Advent. We look forward to sharing the miracle of Jesus’ birth with you.
On Tuesday 15th December, we will be holding a Christmas Danceathon. Although we will not be able to gather on the playground like we usually do, we will ensure that there is lots of dancing in classes and at breaktime. The children will need to wear their PE kits and it is a £1 donation towards our contribution to Stella Matutina.
Thursday 17th December - Christmas party day and Christmas dinner.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Mrs Gregan and Mrs Webster