The Chronicle

In our current DT topic, we have been practising our sewing skills. Linking to our history topic, we thought about who in Victorian society would be sewing regularly and what their sewing would be used for. We then set about creating our own sewing samplers showing off our various sewing patterns. Using our binka and embroidery thread, we used a running, cross and half cross stitch along with many other sewing styles. It was brilliant to see the children using all their focus and determination to master these patterns. These skills will be of great use to any children who are interested in becoming tailors or doctors. Well done, Junior 6!

Junior 5 continue to impress us with their growing maturity, responsibility and their excellent attitude towards learning. This week, they have continued to immerse themselves in our new history topic, The Aztecs, learning about Aztec religion and the many Gods and Goddesses that they worshipped. The children then enthusiastically created their own Aztec God or Goddess, using a self-made Pokemon card template. We had Gods of animals, geography, light and even a rather gruesome God of Death, all of whom had their own Aztec style name and appearance, such as Sotatoa and Bitzlepochtli! All of the children have been amazing and should be very proud of themselves.

Junior 4 have been learning about Mount Vesuvius as part of both our English and Geography work. So we decided to make our very own outdoor volcanoes. We dug deep into the soil and placed rocks and leaves around our volcanoes. By mixing together bicarbonate of soda and vinegar, and adding red food colouring, we created a frothy chemical reaction, which erupted and frothed, and we all watched with tremendous excitement!

As part of Road Safety Week, Junior 3 have been learning how to cross a road safely, and just what an important life skill it is! First we watched a video by the Warwickshire Road Safety Education team, showing us how to cross a road safely, particularly between parked cars and junctions, which can be especially dangerous. In particular, we found out that if a motorist waves us across a road, we must wave them on until the road is clear and it is safe to cross. Finally we worked in pairs, sorting pictures and behaviours about crossing roads into ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe’. It taught us some clear messages about how to THINK, STOP, LOOK and LISTEN and CROSS SAFELY.

Children in Junior 2 are excelling in rugby where they have demonstrated not only physical skills, but commendable grasp of teamwork and strategic thinking. As they navigate the sports field, these young athletes have showcased their ability to collaborate with their teammates, communicate effectively and make split second decisions which contribute to their success on the pitch. This is an essential skill as we prepare ourselves for KS2.

During English, they have been exploring the realm of poetry to help us with their creative skills and imagination, children have been exposed to a variety of poets and have shown an appreciation of the beauty in words.

They are also bursting with excitement as Mrs Rod and Mrs Olden have started our rehearsals for our upcoming nativity. It is so joyful to see the children learning their lines with such enthusiasm. The echoes of rehearsed songs really lifts our spirits during this festive period.

Junior 1 were very excited to receive some letters form Jack’s mum this week in English. She had been worried about where Jack had gone and Junior 1 wrote back to reassure her that Jack was quite safe, but up a beanstalk! In History we compared how the Victorians took a bath and how often, with our own experiences. There were a few who agreed that once a week would be enough but they didn’t like the idea of being the last in the bath with the cold water. Geography saw us look at how wheat in the field is used to feed us by being turned into flour and then made into food such as bread. This was a lovely link back to the Little Red Hen and everyone remembered all the steps of how flour is made. Lastly, in Maths we finished our topic of shape, creating repeating patterns and predicting what shape would come next.

This week Reception have been finding out about the celebration of Thanksgiving! We travelled to the USA on our maps and thought about how children’s lives there are similar or different to their own. We discovered the story of the First Thanksgiving and talked about how important it still is to be kind to people who are different to us and accept one another. The children wrote some simple sentences about what they are thankful for in their own lives.

This week the children have been learning the story of the Gingerbread Man. They have enjoyed using masks to retell the story outside, and chasing the gingerbread man around the playground. They all got a chance to bake and decorate their own delicious gingerbread men.

In RE this week the children have been learning how they can show love and care towards others. The children have been talking about what a kind friend looks like.

Dormice have been focusing on their Christmas crafts this week, ready to send home. They have also enjoyed joining Badgers and Hedgehogs, practising their nativity songs in the Hall with Mrs Olden. They have all embraced the outdoors and enjoyed clambering over our climbing frame!