Big Pedal
- We’ve had 179 journeys recorded by bike or scooter so far.
- Wednesday 25 April was our highest participation rate with 28% of children taking part.
We’d love to improve these figures for this week.
Our new class novel
Today we started our new class novel – Ottoline and the Yellow Cat.
It was so exciting to have a copy in front of us! The artwork is incredible and we can’t wait to get stuck into the adventures of puzzle-solver Ottoline and her hairy sidekick creature, Mr Munroe.
You can find out more information about the series on the author’s website.
(Challenge your child: why is there an apostrophe in “author’s”?)
An electrifying afternoon!
This afternoon, we learnt a little more about electricity. We discussed what the symbols in a diagram of a circuit mean and what the circuit needs to work.
We used the scientific equipment to test in which circuits a bulb would light, explaining why they would or they would not. For example:
“In circuit A, the bulb would not light because the switch is open.” – Phoebe
Next, we investigated different materials to find conductors and insulators of electricity. Can your child remember their definitions? Here’s a hint: we found metal was the best conductor and plastic and rubber were insulators.
We found our circuits could be completed by a Kara- what a shocker!
Living and Learning homework: I can recognise emotions in myself and others.
“I can recognise emotions in myself and others.”
Netball
Well done to our Year 5/6 netball team who took part in the Leeds North East High 5 netball competition at Allerton Grange today.
There was some great netball skills and teamwork from the children in all their matches. The team were proud to be complimented on their play by one of the umpires.
If you’d like to improve your netball skills, our after-school club starts next Tuesday and there are a few places available.
Living and Learning – Emotions
This week, we’ve been exploring and discussing our own feelings and emotions and those of others. We discussed that we need to be able to recognise, name and manage our own feelings.
Emotions are a natural, important and healthy part of being human. The children named lots of varying emotions and the effect they can have on our bodies. We thought about some strategies to help us to learn how to manage the effects of strong feelings such as anger, sadness or loss.
I was really impressed that some children wanted to ask their peers for advice on how to deal with certain emotions.
- “I’d like some advice on how to stay calm.”
- “Have you tried going to a quiet place or counting to help calm you down?”
- “I’d like some advice on how to stop getting upset so easily.”
- “Maybe think whether or not it’s worth getting upset about. Talk to a friend or take deep breaths if you feel yourself getting upset.”
DON’T BOTTLE IT UP!
Following this lesson, we thought about colours and how they can represent mood and emotion. Using a colour chart, the children thought of an emotion and then had to find synonyms for it. It was amazing how many new words we found. “I’ve learnt the word livid today.”
After that, we thought about making some shades of the same colour to represent our chosen emotion. Using a bottle as a base, the children began to shade lightly and then, as they got higher up the bottle, the colour of the chosen emotion intensified.
At the end of our lesson we discussed the phrase ‘Don’t bottle things up.’
This was our definition – To contain or hold feelings in, especially emotions, and not express or reveal them: If you keep bottling up what you’re thinking, we’ll never be able to help you. I was angry, but I bottled my feelings up.
Stay and play session
Today, we had our creative stay and play session. Thank you to everyone who came – we hope you had fun!
The expressive arts and design early learning goals are:
Exploring and using media and materials
– Children sing songs, make music and dance and experiment with ways of changing them.
– They safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.
Being imaginative
– Children use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about uses and purposes.
– They represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role play and stories.
Not just this morning, but everyday, the children in Reception continue to surprise us with their wonderful imagination and different ways of expressing their ideas!
Here are some photos from our fantastic session this morning…
Why not get creative at home? Make use of any recycling to build a junk model or use an old sponge to do a sponge painting. The possibilities are endless!
Great spelling practice
In Year 6, we’ve been working on our ability to spell words when we haven’t had the week to learn them. We had a go at fifteen words each day (with Miss Rushbrooke reminding us about spelling patterns, sounding words out, pointing out trickier parts and all sorts of other hints and tips). Then we spent ten minutes practising any words we’d found difficult or got wrong.
We’ve really enjoyed our spelling practice and have been getting more creative every day, trying to make sure we’re thinking of ways to remember the spelling rather than just write it over and over.
Here’s an example you could use in your practice at home.
Do you need wheels for the Big Pedal?
Big Pedal Day 3
MORE PRIZES announced for The Big Pedal!