Category Archives: Geography

Botanical Gardens

The children LOVED our trip to the Botanical Gardens! We  had perfect weather for exploring. The children were well behaved and enjoyed the day’s activities; they got to have a go at ‘pond dipping’ and ‘minibeast hunting’. Check out the photos and videos to see what we got up to.

Another Busy Week!

Puffins have enjoyed art this week. They have been drawing pictures of pirates in the style of ‘Howard Pyle’.
The children have also loved using clay to create a coronation plaque. They got to use lots of different techniques and resources to make their masterpieces using cutters, rolling pins and their hands to create the perfect shapes.
In History the children have been introduced to their new topic PIRATES! Puffins watched a clip all about pirates then as a class we brainstormed some of the facts we found interesting.
Following on from our story ‘The magic porridge pot’ the children got to hotseat a character. The children came up with some questions to ask the old lady.
Puffins have finally completed their walk of the local area which was cancelled in the autumn term! They spotted lots of ‘Human’ and ‘Physical’ features.
In Science this week, the children have been experimenting with lots of different resources to see which are transparent,  translucent or opaque.
Puffins have also had lots of fun during their PE lesson!
In maths the children have been learning about measuring. They have been working with their partners to measure a variety of pictures in centimetres.

Super Scientists!

This week Puffins have recapped their learning from one of our previous units; looking at ‘Human’ and ‘Physical’ features. The children worked together in their groups to sort out the features.
In Science our Puffins have really enjoyed learning about different materials. The children got to experiment with each object to see if they can bend, twist, bounce, squash or if it would soak up water. They then recorded their findings.

 

During our PSHE lesson we have looked at the NSPCC PANTS scheme. With the help of their friendly dinosaur Pantosaurus, we discussed PANTS in a simple conversation to help keep  children safe. We listened to the ‘Pantosaurus’ song which the children thought was great. This is the link if you want to give it a listen at home.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lL07JOGU5o

This afternoon Puffins have been busy cutting wooden dowel for their DT project. Some of the puffins had the opportunity to finish making their paper cars. Check out the pictures to see how they got on.
The children played Snakes and Ladders as part of their learning this week!
Once again they also enjoyed Flashlight Friday!

Exploring our World

In Geography Puffins have enjoyed learning all about the 7 Continents. To begin our learning the children watched a video. They loved it! So here is the link if you would like to have a listen at home.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzqdDdxr9VI
 As a class we went through some continent facts and a few children blew us away with what they already new. Beaux said “Asia is the biggest continent, there are 48 countries in it”. Matt said “The River Nile goes through,” and Ollie serenaded us with the continents song throughout the lesson!
Puffins have loved painting this week in their art lesson. They have been learning all about the colour wheel and what primary colours. They then mixed them to create secondary colours.
During ERIC the children enjoyed Flashlight Friday!!

Week Commencing 4th January

Geography – This week in geography the children have been learning all about the weather. We have been looking at the 4 seasons and how the weather changes in each. The children watched a short clip and then had to draw and label the different seasons. Finally, the children got to predict what the weather will be like next week. We can’t wait to see if our predictions are correct!!!
Art – During art this week the children were given the task of drawing a toy from the past.
 Mrs Husbands demonstrated how to draw a still life picture and how to colour it using different techniques to create different shades.
History – This week in History the children have been introduced to toys from the past. They got to look and play with each toy. A few children commented on how there was no batteries, buttons, or remotes.
ERIC –  This week in ERIC the children have enjoyed using the torches for flashlight Wednesday. We turned off all of the lights and the children paired off. They could sit anywhere they liked, so many of them decided to crawl underneath the tables.

Weeks Commencing 7th and 14th November

Puffins have been looking at nursery rhymes in their English lessons and rhyming words. They were set the challenge of sorting and matching rhyming words. The children have enjoyed hot seating a nursery rhyme character and creating their own nursery rhymes.

During Computing, the children have been practicing creating algorithms on Purple Mash. They have also enjoyed playing ‘typing jets’.

In our DT lessons the children are making photo frames. They have been very busy designing their frames and writing lists of tools and materials they would need.

During ERIC the children were set the challenge to find and read a book with a different friend.

During Geography the children have been looking at a compass and the points. The children have looked at how a compass works also learning the mnemonic ‘Never Eat Shredded Wheat’.  We have also been looking at our local area and school and learning about human and physical features.

In maths we have focused on addition and subtraction using a part whole model. The children have also been introduced to the terms First, Then and Now for subtraction.

Puffins have watched a short clip showing how people sometimes behave online. They then took part in a game where they drew a happy or sad face to show they understood whether the  behaviour was kind or unkind. We then talked about how we can be kind online. The children completed an activity where they coloured kind and unkind behaviours. We have also been discussing how actions can affect how we and others feel. We went through who can help us at home and in school and listened to the song ‘Calling Out’ by Andy and the Odd Socks.

Week Commencing 31st October

In science the children have been learning all about animals and what they need in order to survive. The children got to design and create their own posters on how to look after animals.
During English this week the children have been looking at Nursery Rhymes. We have been singing along and doing actions. The children have also been working in pairs to read and place rhymes back into order.
Puffins have been moving and a grooving to the music this week. Check out the children in the videos to see their moves.
During computing this week the children have been looking at algorithms. The children have logged into Purple Mash using the Wonde pupil login. Working in pairs, the children then had a go at completing the challenges.
In geography Puffins have been looking at the map of the UK. We looked at Google Earth and then zoomed in onto the UK looking at the countries and capital cities. As a class we then labelled a map.

Week Beginning 28th March

This week in English the children got to imagine they were the character ‘Handa’ from ‘Handa’s Surprise’. We went outside to recount Handa’s journey, role playing each part as it was told.

After, the children completed an activity sheet, discussing each event in the correct order and picture planning it. Later in the week the children got to write a recount.

Puffins have enjoyed listening to the Story ‘The sweetest song’ from The story Tree.

This week in R.E we have been discussing what makes a good friend. We took it in turns to describe a good friend and a bad friend. We looked at different scenarios where we had to decide what a good and a bad friend would do. We then watched the film ‘Being loyal and steadfast’ which is a short clip based on the Easter Story. It features Mary and Peter. Mary visits the cave after the crucifixion to find Jesus’ body gone. Peter sees the empty shroud and both believe that Jesus is alive. Their emotions are explored around the empty cave as they come to terms with the resurrection.  We briefly told the story of Peter denying Jesus. We discussed with our talk partners what we thought Peter should have done.

In maths Puffins have been learning how to counts in 2s, 5s and 10s! We had lots of fun playing a variety of IWB games and doing paired work at our tables. We have also looked at  length and height. We have completed lots of practical activities this week using rulers, measuring tapes and metre sticks.

In Geography  Puffins have been exploring and comparing the weather in the UK and Africa. The children watched ‘Go Jetters – series 1:4. The Sahara Desert’. We discussed the weather and the seasons in the UK and asked our talk partners what we thought the weather was like in Africa. We then looked at pictures to compare this.

This week in Art we have been looking at African masks! We watched BBC Two – Bitesize Primary, Art and Design 1, African Art, African masks and we discussed what colours, shapes and textures we could see. We were given the challenge to create our own design. We modelled using colouring pencils, reminding the children to slant the pencil grip and to choose appropriate colours encouraged them to use light and dark shades by changing how hard they press down with their pencil.

This week in Science we have Introduced the children to objects that are transparent, translucent and opaque. We discussed each one reminding the children of the meaning of each word. Mrs. MC modelled filling in the investigation sheet to introduce the children to the idea of fair testing. The children were then sent off to take it in turns with the torch to work in pairs to investigate objects that are transparent, translucent and opaque. They then had their own investigation sheet to fill out.

The children loved our trip on Wednesday the 30th. We were all very excited to go to the Botanical Gardens! The children were all very well behaved and enjoyed the days activities. Check out the photos to see what we got up to. Kaiden  said “ I loved everything apart from the fish, they were scary!”  Aria said “ It was so good!! I liked it when we were allowed to play on the hill!”

Week Beginning 14th March

This week in Puffins we have introduce Exclamation Marks and Alliteration to the children. We watched a BBC bitesize clip which explained and gave us some funny examples. The children then wrote their own sentences for the story Handa’s Surprise.

Puffins have worked very hard during Maths. This week we have been counting in tens and learning about place value to 50. We have completed lots of practical activities using dienes, part whole models, tens frames and number lines.

In Computing Puffins have enjoyed using the website ‘Code for Life’.  We went through the process of building an algorithm. The children were then partnered up and were sent to login and access it using a laptop. The children then worked through the levels building up algorithms creating movement on the screen with their partners.

In R.E Puffins listened to the story ‘The Prophet Mohammed’. We looked at the key words freedom, beliefs, proud and courage. Children then worked in pairs to think of times when they felt proud or might have been in a difficult situation and had to stand up for themselves or someone else.

This week in Geography Puffins have been looking at AFRICA! As a class we looked at where Africa is. We located it on a globe, map and Google Earth. The children loved looking at our huge floor map of the world which they then explored, labelling the 7 continents. The children then labelled a map in their books.

We also looked at pictures using Google Earth using the vocabulary of physical and human features from last term. The children where then set a challenge to sort pictures into the correct categories in their table groups.

This week during our Art lessons we have been using watercolours to create an African sunset. We discussed how to make colours lighter, darker and brighter using the paints. The children then went to their tables to make their own sunset pictures. While they dried they cut out an African animal silhouette and stuck it onto their sunset. We then had a look at how to create light and dark tones with a pencil and how to shade by using the slanted position with our hands. The children then had a go at drawing their favourite African animals. We think they are all amazing! Well done Puffins!

Also this week during art we have been looking at the colour wheel which the children then got to paint using water colours.

In PSHE the children have enjoyed listening to the book ‘Super Duper You’. The children then discussed how differences can make us special and how no-one is good at everything but everyone is good at something. To wrap up our lesson the children shared why they are so special as a circle time.

 On Friday it was Red Nose day and WOW!!! You all looked FANTASTIC! We would like to say a huge “Thankyou!!” for your generosity.

Local Area Walk

During our Geography lesson this week we went on a walk around our local area. The children worked in pairs to complete a map and list physical and human features that they could find.

The children loved taking part in the Reindeer Run this week to raise money for St Marys Hospice. The children all wore their antlers as they ran – even though the wind tried to blow them away. They were very proud of the stickers that they all received at the end. Well done Puffins!!! We would like to say a huge “THANK YOU” to everybody who raised or donated.

Puffins have really enjoyed their P.E lesson with Mr Gill and our new coach! They all got to try some great activities. They particularly liked to crawl and climb on the apparatus. Check out the photos to see some super action shots!