“On my first day I felt excited and now I still feel the same happiness,” is one of the quotes from our new children talking about their new beginning at Moortown Primary School.
Author: Mrs Taylor
PE links with Allerton Grange
We work closely with Allerton Grange to arrange PE activities for each class.
We work closely with Allerton Grange to arrange PE activities for each class.
Throughout the year, Year 1 to Year 6 will be taking part in sessions led by the Sports and Dance leaders at Allerton Grange.
The visits take place during the school day and teachers will inform their class nearer to the time.
A day to remember
On Friday, Year 1 did lots of activities on developing memory skills and strategies.
We looked at:
- Visualising – using pictures
- An introduction to mnemonics eg said – Sally Ann is dancing
- Using stories – this was a popular memory strategy
- Making mind maps
- Using songs / chants
We played a version of Kim’s game where the children had to memorise lots of different small objects on a tray and then once an item was removed from the tray remember what was missing.
We also looked at some online memory games. Here is the website link if you want to have a go at home:
Did you watch Nina and the Neurons?
Over the weekend there was a very topical subject explained on the cbeebies programme, Nina and the Neurons. It was all about why people need sleep and that when people sleep the brain sorts out all the information taken in by your senses throughout the day.
If you missed it why not watch it on BBC iPlayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/cbeebies/episode/b01554dc/Nina_and_the_Neurons_Nina_and_the_Neurons_Brilliant_Bodies_Sleep/
There is also another episode you could watch about memory.
Hopefully it should help to reinforce your learning from Brain Box week.
Breakfast, lunch and water to fuel your brain
This week we’ve found out how a healthy, balanced diet and good hydration provides us with the energy our brain needs to function throughout the day.
This week we’ve found out how a healthy, balanced diet and good hydration provides us with the energy our brain needs to function throughout the day.
Nutritionists believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day but what children eat can be just as crucial. Breakfast cereals and foods rich in whole grains, fibre and protein and low in added sugar may boost attention span, concentration and memory and prevent children having a mid morning energy drop. http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_center/healthy_eating/breakfast.html
Fruit at playtime, provided free for Reception and Key Stage 1 and the only snack allowed at Key Stage 2 playtime, can provide an energy boost for the rest of the morning. Remember the weekly fruit tuckshop on Tuesdays is available to Key Stage 2 costing 20p per item.
A healthy, balanced lunch is also crucial to refuel the brain for the afternoon’s learning and this week children, who bring a packed lunch to school, have been given a copy of our Guide for Healthy Packed Lunches (https://www.moortown.leeds.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/packed-lunch-guidance.pdf). The guide was launched in September 2010 but may not have been seen by children new to the school or children who may have previously had school dinners.
The importance of hydration for the brain, to maximise learning, has been another focus of our Brain Box week. Children need to have a water bottle to keep in their classroom to allow regular water breaks throughout the day. This should be taken home weekly to be cleaned. Water is also provided at lunchtime for packed lunches and school dinners.
As well as regular exercise and opportunities for relaxation these factors all contribute to a healthy brain!
Better brains with more sleep
‘Your brain needs lots of sleep to repair itself and to organise and sort everything you have learnt’… One of the messages in the Good-night guide for children sent home today at the end of Brain Box week.
‘Your brain needs lots of sleep to repair itself and to organise and sort everything you have learnt’… One of the messages in the Good-night guide for children, published by The Sleep Council, sent home today, at the end of Brain Box week.
Research carried out by The Sleep Council revealed that lack of sleep among primary school children was having a devastating effect in schools with nine out of 10 teachers (92%) complaining that pupils were so tired they were unable to pay attention in class. More than a third (38%) said lack of sleep among youngsters is a daily problem for them.
This week, classes have been looking at The Sleep Council’s Better Brains with More Sleep initiative where children are encouraged to learn tips on getting their full sleep quota and the factors that can affect it.
Leeds Children’s Mayor Project 2012
Today, I have talked to the Year 6 class about this exciting project.
All of the class have been invited to take part in the competition, open to all schools in Leeds, to become Leeds Children’s Mayor. They must write a short manifesto saying how they would improve Leeds if they were the Children’s Mayor, based on one of the 12 Wishes for a more child friendly Leeds.
Entries should be brought to school by Tuesday 02 October and one entry will be selected to represent Moortown Primary. A panel including last year’s children’s mayor, Leeds youth councillors, city councillors and UK youth parliament members will shortlist all the entries down to a final ten. Everyone in the city is then asked to vote for their three favourite entries.
Our entry last year, by Bronwen Grainger, was selected as one of the ten finalists. Her idea was to link schools with local care homes / homes for the elderly and collect litter to improve the local community.
For more information and to hear from last year’s winner visit http://www.breezeleeds.org/pg/228/Leeds_Children’s_Mayor.
Good luck!
How do drugs affect the brain?
This was one of the questions Key Stage 2 children have been looking at today as part of their drug education sessions with d:side.
…This was one of the questions Key Stage 2 children have been looking at today as part of their drug education sessions with d:side.
Each class have been focussing on a different drug and its effects on the body:
- Year 3 – tobacco
- Year 4 – alcohol
- Year 5 – solvents
- Year 6 – cannabis
Both pupils and staff have given great feedback on the informative sessions and d:side also commented on our ‘very friendly and well behaved’ children.
If you have any questions please see a member of staff or contact Dave Hill, d:side Programme Manager, on 2225471.
For a comprehensive guide to this subject visit the Talk to Frank website (www.talktofrank.com).
Our amazing brains – Brain Box week!
This week, the first of our themed weeks this year, is dedicated to developing an awareness of learning and how the brain works.
This week is dedicated to developing an awareness of learning and how the brain works.
The importance of exercise, healthy food, sleep, hydration and emotional health, for a healthy brain, will be covered throughout the week alongside a main focus for each day:
Monday
Understanding your brain, brain cells and how to help your brain to learn.
Tuesday
How your brain learns best and learning styles.
Key Stage 2 classes will also have a visit from d:Side. As part of our drug education in school, representatives from d:Side, a drug and health programme, will be looking, in particular, at the effects of various drugs on the brain.
Staff from d:Side will be available after school, in the dining room, for parents / carers to ask any questions about these sessions.
Wednesday
Developing the understanding of multiple intelligences and that everyone has gifts and talents.
Dr Dave Lewis, Senior Lecturer of Neuroscience, from the University of Leeds will be visiting Key Stage 2 classes.
Thursday
Thinking about thinking and problem solving.
Friday
A day to remember – exploring a range of memory strategies.
The whole school Water Aid sponsored walk will take place during Friday.
Please check the website for further information and links to websites throughout the week.
New beginnings
As we start the new school year, our SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) theme focuses on New Beginnings.
As we start the new school year, our SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) theme focuses on New beginnings.
New beginnings allows children the opportunity to discuss and reflect on how they or others may feel in a new situation or setting. This SEAL theme offers children the opportunity to see themselves as valued individuals within a community, and to contribute to shaping a welcoming, safe and fair learning community for all.
The key areas of learning throughout this theme are empathy, self-awareness, social skills and motivation.
Through discrete SEAL lessons, circle times and across the curriculum, children will explore feelings of happiness and excitement, sadness, anxiety and fearfulness, while learning (and putting into practice) shared models for calming down and problem-solving.
New beginnings supports the development of a learning community in each classroom where all members feel that they belong. Class contracts, produced at the start of the year, allow children to contribute to how they feel they can achieve a safe and fair learning community.