Ms. Lynne

In our Wellbeing lessons, we have been working hard to control our breath to help us calm down and self regulate.

Benefits of Deep Breathing for Kids

Calming breathing exercises for children don’t just bring them back from intense emotions—they also provide undeniable mind-body benefits, including the following:

• Reduced anxiety and depression

• Increased energy levels

• Enhanced immunity

• Lowered blood pressure

• Decreased feelings of stress

Deep breathing engages the parasympathetic nervous system, eliciting the body’s relaxation response and enabling a child to counter stress. It is also great fun.

Deep Breathing Exercises for Kids

13 Deep Breathing Exercises for Kids

Breathing Exercises for Kids 😮‍💨 | Cosmic Kids Breathing Adventure!

Belly Breathing: Mindfulness for Children

Ms. Elise & Ms. Tuğba: Preschool 1 

Bonjour d’automne

Ants have been cheerfully exploring the Autumn; sorting leave and colours in and outdoors. They can now recognize their names without a photo on a sheet. They beautifully trace them as well. They enjoy stories and can talk about similarities and differences between their parent’s childhood photos and theirs. They are already showing interest in different occupations. Playing with the sand; water and running the animals race were our funniest activities this month. Ants are taking a break soon; maybe the Winter is near!

Stay tuned

Proudly; Ants

Ms. Ogomoditse & Ms. Özge: Preschool 2

It’s been a great first term in the butterflies’ class. Everyone is almost if not settled in and made one or two friends. We talked about ourselves and our beautiful families. Compare our baby pictures and our parents to see the similarities. We read Lost and found and discussed the various emotions and what makes us feel the way we do sometimes. We are still working on different ways that help us recognise our names. In math we matched the buttons and number shapes. We explored indoor and outdoor sounds, slow and fast music, and environmental sounds in phonics. 

Ms. Lauren & Ms. Melike: Reception

This term the Dragonflies have been busy perfecting how to write their name, sharing information about their families and talking about people who help us.  We have been learning about the emergency services and also thinking about what we might want to be when we grow up!

We have been practising being a teacher and writing letters and sounds. 

We have done a scavenger hunt and we have learnt to draw a flower and made hedgehogs in Owl School.

We continue to have fun every day in EYFS!

Mr. Khan & Ms. Sena: 1K

1K Jellyfish have been working on following the 6 P’s of the school - Polite, Prepared, Punctual, Proud, Prompt and Productive (for which they have been racking up house points and Star of the Week certificates for!)

In Art we have been exploring the concept of portrait and self-portraits - for this we studied Frida Kahlo’s life and art. We enjoyed learning about her animals and how art helped to express her feelings. We also created a sculpture of our face, using different techniques and resources as well.

In Literacy we have been exploring labels in both fiction and non-fiction books, while identifying the differences between these two genres. We have also studied rhymes in short poems and have been working on identifying rhyming pairs. During every lesson we have highlighted the importance of sentence structure - starting with capital letters, using finger spaces and ending with full stops.

In Maths, we have been working on descriptors for 2D and 3D shapes, the notion of whole and halves, exploring the vocabulary of length and using informal units of measurement. We have continued rehearsing skip counting by two and counting forward and backwards within 20.

It has been a busy but wonderful few weeks, and I look forward to seeing you all again after a restful half term break!

Ms. Belen & Ms. Sena: 1G

1G Whales have been working really hard on following classroom essential agreements and showing that we can contribute positively to the school’s culture. 

In Art we have been exploring the concept of portrait and self-portraits, for this we studied Frida Kahlo’s life and art. We enjoyed learning about her animals and how art helped to express her feelings. We created a sculpture of our face, using different techniques as well.

In Literacy we have been exploring labels in both fiction and non-fiction books, while identifying the differences between these two genres. We have also studied rhymes in short poems and have been working on identifying rhyming pairs. During every lesson we have highlighted the importance of sentence structure, starting with capital letters and finalising with full stop.

In Maths, we have been working on descriptors for 2D and 3D shapes, the notion of whole and halves, exploring the vocabulary of length and using informal units of measurement. We have kept rehearsing skip counting by two and counting forward and backwards to 20.

It has been a great few weeks with lots of learning and new challenges! We are looking forward to all the new experiences that we will share after half term break!

Ms. Verralls & Ms. Neslihan: 2V

It has been a busy few weeks in 2V. In Literacy lessons the children enjoyed creating and performing their own poems about sounds in the environment. Their work has been proudly displayed in our classroom. We then continued on to look at non fiction and instructions. The children with the rest of KS1 baked some Halloween and autumn themed biscuits, following the instructions. They turned out very well! In maths the children have been focussing on 2d and 3d shapes. In science, we looked at different rock formations around the world and then investigated some rocks from Turkey and looked at their properties. We have just started our new topic about Oceania and are looking forward to continuing this topic through active learning, next term. Well done to all of 2V for all their hard work during the first term in Year 2. 

Ms. Smith & Ms. Neslihan: 2S

In 2s Class This Month!

This month in 2s class, we've been diving into the exciting world of non-fiction texts in English! We’ve been reading "Instructions" by Neil Gaiman and exploring the use of imperative verbs. The students have had a blast creatively writing their own lists of instructions!

In Maths, we’ve been tackling addition and subtraction, using various manipulatives to master these challenging concepts. We’ve also been exploring different shapes, which has sparked some great discussions!

For Art and Humanities, we’ve been journeying through the continent of Oceania, uncovering its unique cultures and landscapes. 

We have some thrilling activities coming up, including autumn baking, which ties perfectly into our literacy unit. Stay tuned for more fun and learning ahead!

Ms. Robbins & Ms. Neslihan: 3R

3R has been learning about different types of paint in Art.  For their lesson in Watercolour paint, they painted autumn leaves by experimenting with different techniques. They drew their leaves using oil based pastels to create a barrier for the water colours. They then applied wet paint to the dry paper and experimented with blending colours. They created the background of their painting by applying wet paint onto wet paper and allowed the paint to travel across the paper in beautiful designs. Lastly, they added some salt to parts of the background to add a magical effect! 

Mr. Bridgland & Ms. Neslihan: 3B

We’ve had an exciting month in 3B! 

Our students this month learned about the different components of a flowering plant (roots, flowers, etc.) and used this new knowledge to create models of plants using straws and string. Kids also finished some exciting art projects, including a cut-and-stick cubism self-portrait and a colourful piece involving oil pastels and paint. Lots of creativity on display this month and I’m very proud of what our kids came up with.

Ms. Caldwell & Ms. Ödül: 4C

4C has had another amazing month, with lots of fun activities to enhance their learning experiences.  

Sports day: They had a fun-filled sports day, where they practised their teamwork and communication skills.

English: In English, 4C created actions to a story map of Cinderella, then innovated their own story maps, changing the setting of the story, before boxing up their plans and writing their own rags to riches stories. 

We have just begun our non-fiction unit where we have been looking at the differences between fiction and non-fiction books. 

Maths: In maths, they have been developing their addition and subtraction skills, through a mixture of number problems and word problems. As well as looking at the generalisation of odd and even numbers. 

Science: They have just completed their Living Things unit where they explored the role of the skeleton, muscles, and medicine. Along with understanding the difference between vertebrates, and invertebrates. 

Humanities: 4C have just completed their topic on the Bosphorus, and to end the unit had a school trip, where they went on the Bosphorus.  They have enjoyed learning about how the Bosphorus got its name, features of the Bosphorus, and how humans have impacted the Bosphorus. 

Art: In art, they have been looking at the Scottish artists Steven Brown and Rob Hains and creating landscape paintings of the Bosphorus featuring a McCoo Cow. To build up our art techniques, we have looked at line, and colour theory building on our artistic knowledge of the staples of art. 

In the spirit of all things spooky, we have also been learning about Tim Burton and created Burtonesque self-portraits, as well as developing our painting skills and creating neon sugar skull images using the art technique called ‘Scraffito’.

Mrs. Deufel & Ms. Ödül: 4D

The highlight of October was our Year 4 field trip.  As part of our humanities unit on the Bosphorus, we took the school bus to Sariyer, filled with excitement. After snack and a run around  on the playground, we got the ferry across to Anadolu Kavağı on the Asian side. The students were all excited on the ferry, looking at the Bosphorus bridge, the fishermen and being on the look-out for dolphins. After a walk around the village, everyone enjoyed their ice cream and we took the ferry back across the strait. Packed lunch was enjoyed then we got the bus back to school. It was a great trip and so nice to experience the Bosphorus Strait from the ferry. 

Ms. Halabi & Ms. Hatice: 5H

This month, students in 5H brought in wonderful timelines showcasing their life events, which tied perfectly into our biography unit. They are currently writing a biography on Sir David Attenborough, a famous naturalist who has spent over 60 years educating the world about wildlife and conservation through his groundbreaking documentaries.

In Science, we explored the two parts of a solution: the solute and the solvent. The students conducted an experiment to observe how salt can be separated from saltwater using evaporation, demonstrating that this is a reversible process.

We also wrapped up our unit on Constantinople with an epic reenactment of the battle that led to its fall to the Ottomans. The performance in the botanical garden’s amphitheatre was a real highlight!

Ms. Gillett & Ms. Moss: 5G

This month, we have been diving into the fascinating history of the fall of Constantinople in 1453! Students participated in a fun and dynamic role-playing activity where they took on the roles of Byzantine citizens, Ottoman soldiers, and European traders. It was exciting to see them vividly express the emotions and challenges faced during this significant event in history. This hands-on experience not only deepened their understanding of the fall of Constantinople but also encouraged creativity and teamwork among classmates. What a great way to learn about our past! 

Ms. Jama & Mr. Furkan: 6W

Well, the sun shone, the music played and 6J ran and jumped and threw and played with smiles on their faces…and so did Mrs Jama!! In Science 6J have been making models of the respiratory system and conducting investigations about heart rate, so they were more than ready to put their learning into practice. I was most impressed with the collaborative and supportive elements of the event - the pirate ship, the water bucket event, Year 6 helping the younger students etc. However, I did notice the competitive edge creep in when racing against their teacher. Thank you to all those parents who were able to support us - either in person, or in spirit.

Mr. McCann & Mr. Furkan: 6M

In Science, the children have been learning about the respiratory system. In this activity, the children had to create a model to demonstrate how the respiratory system works. Can you work out from the pictures which parts of the body- rib cage, trachea (windpipe), lungs and diaphragm- are represented by the various parts of the model?

The class experienced a range of outcomes, ranging from thoroughly successful to whoops-there-goes-another-balloon!

Ms. Saed: KS1 ESL

October has been a bittersweet month for me. On the one hand, I had the joy of seeing two of my ESL “caterpillars” transform into butterflies, mastering English to the point where they no longer need my class. It’s incredible to see their growth, and I’m so proud of how far they’ve come. On the other hand, I’m a little sad knowing they won’t be with us in ESL anymore. Still, as long as they continue to thrive and “fly” in their English garden, I’ll be happy for them. 

October is my favourite month (and no, it’s not just because my birthday is on the 29th! ). There’s something truly magical about this time of year—the beautiful transition in nature, the colours, the crisp air, and all the autumn activities that inspire our lessons. In ESL, we’ve been linking these changes to our classroom activities, drawing inspiration from nature in a way that brings learning to life. 

In Reception, the kids are diving into games, colouring, and learning to write their names, while also practising using “please” and “thank you” in the classroom. They’re now more familiar with school life and ready to step into the ESL world, learning to speak English with their friends and teachers. In Elementary, we’re focusing on building strong foundations, making sure each concept is understood before moving forward. What makes ESL so special is how we celebrate our differences, and that makes learning fun for everyone. Meanwhile, our Year 2 intermediate students are true rockstars! While we’re diving deeper into grammar and new language skills, they still love games, competitions, riddles, and word searches. It’s all about balancing learning with fun!

Mrs. Gwilliam: KS2 ESL

A proud moment: Paul and Leo in year 5 graduated from the ESL programme. Congratulations!  In their last ESL lesson they made puzzles with their ESL classmates. They will be missed. 

Year 5 have been working on Fables. In ESL we did a picture plan and then wrote the story of The Fox and the Stork. They made their work into a concertina book for a display. 

Year 3 worked well together sequencing the Ice-cream story.  They were pleased when it was in order. Success! Then they told the story in the past and finally wrote it. Well done!

Ms. Hatice: Turkish

Merhabalar,

KS1 

In Turkish, KS1 students learned how to ask and answer questions in Turkish, such as 'Adın ne? Adım ...' (What is your name? My name is ...), 'Kaç yaşındasın? 6 yaşındayım.' (How old are you? I am 6 years old), and how to ask 'Kaç tane?' (How many?).

Y3

Y3 students learned to say the days, months, and seasons in Turkish. They also mastered numbers from 1 to 50 and practiced how to ask and answer 'Kaç tane?' (How many?)."

Y4

In October, Y4 students learned how to introduce themselves in Turkish and created exciting projects about their home countries. They also mastered identifying and naming 10 body parts in Turkish. It was a fun and creative month in class!

Y5

In October, Y5 students explored the world of nouns by learning about singular and plural forms. They discovered the different parts of a house and identified common household objects in Turkish. 

Y6

In October, Y6 students focused on identifying and recognizing personal pronouns in Turkish. They also refreshed their knowledge of family members and possessive pronouns, while diving into the world of adjectives. 

Hatice Girgin Gül

Mr. Vincent: French

Bonjour à toutes et à tous!

In French, Y3s have been working on months of the year, days of the week, colours and numbers.

Y4s, are working on animals, and will cover wild animals, plural forms and opinions. They will complete a survey in the French classroom.

Y5s and Y6s completed the end of unit assessment on physical description (Y5s) and sports, opinions and the use of Faire ( To do) and Jouer (To play) (Y6s).

Au revoir et à bientôt.

Bonnes vacances.

Monsieur Vincent 

Ms. Ana: Spanish

¡Hola amigos y amigas!

In Y6, students have focused on a sports poster adding their opinions, likes and dislikes as well as their favourite sport. 

In Y5, students have been studying the physical features as well as personality adjectives. They have also worked on describing themselves using the new vocabulary learnt. 

In Y4, students are learning animal descriptions along with the colours. They have also focused on spelling activities as well as learning the theme song so that they can remember the animals. 

In Y3, students have focused on the months of the year by learning the theme song, carrying out writing activities as well as speaking exercises where they ask about their birthdays in Spanish. 

¡Buen fin de semana!

Ms. Lincoln

It has been another beautiful autumn month in Our Outdoor Woodland Learning lessons, with so much going on. Year 6 have been making models of coastlines, testing the strength of their headlands and bays. Year 5 have been busy building rafts. Year 4 have also been getting wet with dam building. Year 3 are making amazing Wattle and Daub mud huts. Year 2 have studied millipedes, Year 1 have been creating their own natural landmarks. Whilst EYFS have enjoyed many autumn activities especially the mud kitchen. Looking forward to another month of activities with Primary students! 

Ms. Rebecca: EYFS Music & KS1 Drama

In EYFS Music this past month, students have been learning song about Spiders! The songs are ‘Eensy Weensy Spider’ and ‘Spider on the Floor.’ The learners have engaged in learning to clap fast and slow beats, as well as being able to identify whether the music is slow or quick!

Last week KS1 Drama students had their first dress rehearsal show of the year for KS2 and have since then been preparing for our show this Wednesday the 23rd of October. As part of our month of Spooky fun, the students have been playing their favourite drama activities Wink Murder and Zombie Freeze!

Mr. Dennison: Y1-Y6 Music

This month was very exciting in Music class. In Years 3 and 4, we were busy getting ready for our assembly and it was a great success–some of us even had to take breaks occasionally, haha. The Year 6 classes were hard at work refreshing their skills on the ukulele. They can play through so many songs already. Great job, Young Musicians! 

Mr. Hassan

Mrs. Bartola, Ms. Jess and Ms. Can

Art and Craft Ideas to Do at Home with Your Family

Doing arts and crafts with your family is a great way to build important skills like attention, focus, and fine motor control.

What Are Fine Motor Skills?

Fine motor skills use the small muscles in the hands and fingers, helping children with tasks such as writing, cutting, and picking up small objects. These skills are essential for activities like holding a pencil correctly and using scissors. Art and craft projects like cutting, threading beads, or working with clay help develop these muscles. 

How Art Supports Attention and Focus

Craft activities often involve steps or tasks that require children to stay focused. Whether it’s painting details on a rock or making a mosaic, children need to concentrate to ensure the design turns out right. 

Sample Art and Craft Activities to Try at Home

• Paper mosaics: Cut small pieces of colourful paper and arrange them into designs, improving motor skills and focus.

• Clay modelling: Sculpt figures with clay to build hand strength and attention to detail.

• Pasta jewellery: Thread pasta onto string to work on coordination and concentration.

Enjoy creating and learning with these fun crafts!

The Learning Support Department, ZEK Forest Campus, Primary