Food Technology: leek and potato soup!
Last week, Year 3 made leek and potato soup! We worked in small groups to prepare the ingredients and then cook them, ready for blending.
We made sure that we washed our hands and wore our aprons for hygiene reasons.
We used the bridge cutting method to cut the onion and potatoes into small chunks.
We also used the claw cutting method to cut up the leeks after we’d washed them. These methods are the safest way to cut food as they help us from hurting ourselves!
We then fried the onion and leeks together and added the potatoes and stock. We left it to boil for 20 minutes.
We used a hand blender to purée the soup and added black pepper for flavour.
Everyone tried to soup but we had some mixed reviews:
“I loved the leek smell and taste.”
“I didn’t like the sloppy texture.”
“I liked the flavour.”
Year 3 did a fantastic job and the soup tasted great!
Help at home by having your child show you the bridge and claw cutting methods.
Virtual author visit with James Mayhew
On Thursday, Year 2 had a very exciting virtual visit with the author James Mayhew. We know him from his series of books based on his sister Katie.
James shared with us how he begun to draw and paint as a child and this developed into writing. As we watched, James cleverly illustrated a picture whilst telling us a story. James allowed us to ask questions and we were impressed by the fact that he has had over 70 books published! He also writes around 2 books a year!
Over the next few weeks, we will be reading some of James’ books in school. So far, we have enjoyed reading ‘Katie and the Mona Lisa’ which links with our Art topic.
We went to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park!
What an action-packed day we had on Tuesday!
Y5 and Y6 went on an amazing trip to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park to support our Art learning for this half term.
Before we went, we had a look at the website and previewed the art which made it very exciting when we actually saw them up close!
We took our Arty Ideas books and did a lot of amazing sketches.
It was great to see both abstract and figurative sculptures – just like we’ve been learning about in school.
Spot the difference: Moortown vs Network by Thomas J Price edition.
Zodiac Heads was definitely a fan favourite.
The texture and scale of the sculptures was sometimes mind boggling!
We did a lot of walking – luckily, the scenery was stunning. Can you spot Henry Moore’s Reclining Figure: Arch Leg in the distance?
In the afternoon, we took part in a workshop with a real artist!
We investigated patterns, colours and shape in Three Stones for Three Trees by David Nash.
And did some artwork without looking at the page – it was quite spiritual in a way.
Another great moment was seeing Barbara Hepworth’s Family of Man in real life! We had a tour of the sculptures and learnt all about the story of what they represent.
Lastly, inspired by the sculptures we’d seen, we made our own out of clay, just like Henry Moore would have done. He used a maquette made out of plaster.
Help at home by asking your child about their review of the trip which we’re doing in writing!
Anti-Bullying Day!
Monday was national anti-bullying day and the beginning of anti-bullying week. Lots of children wore odd socks to create an awareness of this important day and to celebrate how we are all unique and different We also centred our learning around this too.
We read our school’s anti-bullying Policy which outlines what bullying is and what we can do if we or someone we know is being bullied.
“Bullying is when you hurt someone, physically or emotionally (including online), several times on purpose.”
We define it by using two STOP acronyms:
- Several Times On Purpose
- Start Telling Other People
One’s a definition of bullying and the other’s a solution.
Our school definition helped us understand the different types of bullying – physical (hurting our body), emotional (hurting our feelings) or cyber bullying (online).
We used our weekly circle time to think about the role we all have to STOP bullying and discussed how we can share our feelings.
We know that we can go to these people or places for help:
- Safeguarding team – Mrs Weekes, Mr Wilks and Mrs Russell
- Any other members of staff
- A trusted adult
- Someone in your family
- Friends
- Childline (0800 1111)
- Write a worry slip and put it in your Living and Learning box or the whole school worry box (outside the school office)
- Email stayingsafe@spherefederation.org
Help at home: discuss our school definition of bullying with your child. Do they know the difference between falling out and bullying, and between a one-off situation and something that’s happened more than once?
Guided Reading Week 2
Here are the target pages for this week’s guided reading. These need to be read by Friday 25th November.
The Boy and the Tiger: up to chapter 8/page 75.
Extra Time: up to chapter 17/page 75.
Flood and Fang: up to chapter 5/page 72.
Dirty Bertie: up to page 67.
Kensuke’s Kingdom: up to chapter 5/page 69.
Autumn 2: Week 2
This week, we celebrated Nursery Rhyme Week. In Literacy, we read Each Peach, Pear Plum by Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg. When reading the story, we played ‘I Spy’. We used prepositional language to describe where the characters were hiding, for example, Baby Bunting is under the bridge.
After reading the book, we looked for nursery rhyme characters hiding around our classroom. We drew a picture of one of the characters and wrote a sentence. For example, I spy Humpty Dumpty.
This week’s chilli challenges were all linked to nursery rhymes. Take a look at some in action…
We helped build a wall for Humpty Dumpty.
We played Busy Bus in the maths area.
The playdough area spelt delicious! Lots of bakers making cakes and cupcakes.
We used our fine motor skills to catch and order the numbered fish.
We had fun making up our own number stories with the 5 Little Speckled Frogs.
How many frogs are sat on the logs?
How many are in the pond?
How many altogether?
We used pastels to draw twinkling stars.
We used our fine motor skills to catch spiders at the finger gym table.
We created our own our clocks for the mouse.
Help at home: Practise singing some nursery rhymes at home. You could send us a video of your favourite!
Poetry Picnic
This week, we decided to learn a new version of Row, row, row your boat. We had lots of fun thinking of our own actions!
Phonics
This week, we learnt four more graphemes: v, w, x, y. The children are really enjoying their daily phonics sessions and are becoming super readers!
Help at home: Practise reading these tricky words. You could play a tricky word hunt at home.
Writing process
In phonics, we’ve started to write captions, e.g. a red sock.
To help us with the process, we follow six simple steps.
Think about what we want to write.
Say it out loud.
Count the words.
Segment each word on our phoneme fingers.
Write each word.
Check our writing makes sense.
Help at home: Write a caption about this picture.
Maths
This week, we’ve been comparing the number of objects in two sets by matching them 1:1. When comparing, we noticed that some sets had more than, fewer than and an equal number. On Tuesday, the Three Bears needed our help to make sure they had packed an equal number of things for their picnic.
Help at home: Set the table. Do you have the right amount? Is it equal?
Stay and learn
Thank you to all of the parents and carers who attended to the maths stay & learn session on Wednesday. It was lovely to see so many of you! The next stay & learn is our a Phase 3 Phonics session in January.
Have a happy and healthy weekend.
We are artists!
This term in topic, we are artists.
Our two featured artists for this half term are Martha McDonald Napaltjarri and Wassily Kandinsky.
During our first lesson of this topic, we used an atlas to find where both of these artists were born.
Living and Learning: new school charity
Every year, we vote for a new school charity to support and this week is the start of the selection process.
Our new charity will replace our current school charity St Gemma’s Hospice. An amazing £1500 has been raised for this great, local cause.
Whole school homework this week is to consider the following shortlist of charities.
The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund
The main objective of the charity is to enhance the quality of care and support available to babies, young children and adult congenital cardiac patients, who are treated at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit, based at Leeds General Infirmary. https://www.chsf.org.uk
Zarach
We receive referrals through our network of schools. We deliver a bed bundle for every child in the household that requires it; this includes a brand-new Bed, Mattress, Duvet, Pillow, Bed Sheets, Pyjamas and Hygiene Kit. We work with local partners to include Food Parcels and, if needed, a school uniform. We can also mediate between families and their support services, as well as making referrals. https://zarach.org/
Leeds Hospitals Charity
To further any charitable purpose or purposes relating to the general or any specific purposes of Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust or the purposes of the National Health Service. https://www.leedshospitalscharity.org.uk
Simon on the Streets
Objectives are to: 1) prevent and relieve hardship and need and distress amongst those who are homeless and rootless by the provision of practical and emotional support, in particular but not exclusively to those who are sleeping rough or who are unwilling or unable to accept existing provision; 2) educate the public concerning the problems of social isolation and homelessness. https://simononthestreets.co.uk/
Trussell Trust
The Trussell Trust supports a nationwide network of food banks and together we provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK. www.trusselltrust.org
Mind (The National Association for Mental Health)
We provide information and support, campaign to improve policy and attitudes and, in partnership with independent local Minds, develop and provide local services. https://www.mind.org.uk/
The charities will be reviewed in class on Thursday 23 November. Each class will vote for one charity which will be brought to the Junior Leadership Team who will have the final vote on Friday 24 November.
We went to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park!
What an action-packed day we had on Tuesday!
Y5 and Y6 went on an amazing trip to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park to support our Art learning for this half term.
Before we went, we had a look at the website and previewed the art which made it very exciting when we actually saw them up close!
We took our Arty Ideas books and did a lot of amazing sketches.
It was great to see both abstract and figurative sculptures – just like we’ve been learning about in school.
Spot the difference: Moortown vs Network by Thomas J Price edition.
Zodiac Heads was definitely a fan favourite.
The texture and scale of the sculptures was sometimes mind boggling!
We did a lot of walking – luckily, the scenery was stunning. Can you spot Henry Moore’s Reclining Figure: Arch Leg in the distance?
In the afternoon, we took part in a workshop with a real artist!
We investigated patterns, colours and shape in Three Stones for Three Trees by David Nash.
And did some artwork without looking at the page – it was quite spiritual in a way.
Another great moment was seeing Barbara Hepworth’s Family of Man in real life! We had a tour of the sculptures and learnt all about the story of what they represent.
Lastly, inspired by the sculptures we’d seen, we made our own out of clay, just like Henry Moore would have done. He used a maquette made out of plaster.
Help at home by asking your child about their review of the trip which we’re doing in writing!
Author visit – James Mayhew
Today we were very lucky to have a zoom call with James Mayhew. He is author and illustrator of the Katie books, where Katie goes on magical adventures through art galleries. He spoke passionately about he love of drawing, art and writing and explained to us how he became an author. It all started with a trip to the museums in London!
He then told us all about the process of creating a book and how much time, effort and editing goes into the process. He also told us some stories whilst drawing and colouring the pictures, it was very impressive and the children were enthralled.
We got the chance James some questions and learn more about his favourite artists, favourite books and how long it takes to complete a book!
Help at home by talking to your child about the visit and looking out for any books by James Mayhew in the library or at home!