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!
Our Big Topics begin…
We’ve had a busy few weeks with mini-topics and our themed week but our Big Topics will begin next week!
Our topics for this school year are:
Year 1 and 2
- Roll up! Roll up! Learning about the origins of the circus and how they have changed over time
- Treasure A new topic for 2012-2013, ‘Treasure’ will include lots of map-reading and adventure
- Ee Ie Ee Ie O! Learning about different types of farms and animals
Year 3 and 4
- All aboard! Learning about transport through the ages
- To infinity and beyond! A popular topic delving deep into space
- Food, glorious food! Another new topic for 2012-2013, ‘Food, glorious food’ will look at popular food in different cultures
Year 5 and 6
- Rich and poor Thinking about differences in lifestyle between rich and poor over time
- Theme parks Another new topic for this school year, ‘Theme parks’ is a roller-coaster ride which links all the key literacy learning the children have done in the past, from reports to recounts
- Chocolate A popular topic looking at aspects such as fair trade and how chocolate is made
Brain Week Four
Today we had a visit from brain specialist, Dr Dave Lewis. He talked to us about how we touch and feel. We looked at the brains of animals including small sections of real snail brains and real rats brains. We tested our brain speed and reactions and learnt about how many brain cells animals had.
(We learnt that fresh brains don’t actually smell like cheese, only old preserved ones!)
It was brain-tastic!
Brain Week Three
Year Six wrote poems yesterday about brains. They did this to combine thinking and learning about science (how the brain works) and literacy (the structure of the poem).
This activity allowed them to get all of their brain thinking and working. Here’s an example written by Lili.
- Billions of brain cells.
- Reptilian brain keeps you healthy.
- And alert- don’t let your brain get lazy!
- Intelligent machine.
- Neo-cortex loves a challenge.
- Inside, there are millions of connections being made…ZING!
- A big organ that floats in shock proof fluid.
- Cleverer than ever…It’s the brain!
Water Aid Assembly
We’ve a sponsored walk on Friday – Gary from Water Aid tells the school about what happens with our donations.
Brain Week Two
On Tuesday, Dave from d-side came to talk to the children about how drugs and alcohol can affect the brain.
Children were given the opportunity to try out special glasses that show the children how their eyes ‘see’ and brain ‘thinks’ when they are affected by alcohol. The ‘Beer Goggles’ certainly made the children gain an insight about how drugs including alcohol could affect their brain.
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.
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).
Brain Week One
Year Six have learnt some brilliant facts about the biology of the brain.
- If you tried to count all of your brain cells without resting or sleeping, it would take 3171 years to count every last one of them…Wow!
- The brain smells of cheese… Interesting!
- We are born with 100 billion brain cells…That’s a lot!
Our amazing brains – Brain Box week!
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.
Using iPads to extend learning
Year Six have been enjoying using the new IPads to extend their learning in Literacy and Maths.
This is what they said about using IPads:
“Learning is fun!”
“It helped me build some great sentences with adverbs.”
“Using the iPad helped me explain my Maths.”
