On Friday 12th January, the children in Year 3 were lucky enough to attend a trip to the British Museum based on our Ancient Egyptian topic. The children had a truly wonderful day exploring the mummies, canopic jars, Egyptian paintings and statues. We also had a talk on 'The Mummification Process' which the children were fascinated by. They saw a cat scan of a real life mummy as well as pictures from the 1900's when tombs were discovered. We had such an amazing day full of learning and fun. Well done Year 3! 

On Wednesday the 10th January, Adisa the Verbaliser paid us a visit and delivered a whole school assembly in the morning. For those who don't know Adisa from last year, he is performance poet and delivered a high-energy, interactive assembly based on his own poetry. Lots of laughs were had and the children thoroughly enjoyed conversing with him. 
In the afternoon, Adisa then worked with Year 5 to kick-start their poetry unit in writing. He delivered two workshops which helped to inspire the children's creativity in the world of words and I think some of the children were amazed at what they had produced by the end of the workshop. They learnt about using figurative language (similes, metaphors, alliteration, personification etc) and the effect it has on the reader. Lastly, they learnt that poetry doesn't have to be difficult to write, it can be fun! 
We hope that his visit has challenged if not changed some of the children's perspectives on poetry in general and that they are able to write more creatively.  

A huge congratulations to Mollie H in Finch class who competed in the British Ice Skating Britannia Cup with her synchro team at Nottingham Ice Rink on Sunday 14th January. Mollie came away with a silver medal - a fantastic achievement. We are very proud of you, Mollie!

We have had a really creative start to the new term this year and are excited to share some of the children's highlights.

In English, the children have been hard at work creating exceptional oral hygiene posters for the infant school- discussing ways to keep our teeth clean and healthy. The focus on fronted adverbials and possessive pronouns has allowed them to express themselves with precision and creativity. The posters are not just informative but also a testament to the awesome artisitc skills the children possess.

Art has been an inspiring journey into the world of Impressionism. The children have dedicated themselves to developing their brush strokes in line with the artists' styles. The results are impressive, reflecting both individual expression and an understanding of the artistic techniques involved.

In Music, our Year 4 musicians have been exploring the enchanting chords of Swing music. From mastering C, F, and A minor on the glockenspiel to singing Swing-style tunes, they've immersed themselves in the rhythmic and melodic elements of this genre. Be sure to check your child's Seesaw account for a delightful glimpse into their latest musical composition.

As we reflect on these achievements, we look forward to the exciting events on the horizon. Next week, we eagerly anticipate the visit from Al Sylvester (Everest Explorer!), promising an enriching experience for our students. Additionally, Safer Internet Day is approaching, providing an opportunity for important discussions about online safety.

Miss Keating-Bell  Y4 Team Leader

What a fantastic start Year 5 have had to the New Year! Everyone has come back raring to go and taken on new learning which has been fantastic! 

In maths, we have continued with fractions from last term and then moved onto formal written methods for multiplication and division. Those that are fluent with their times table knowledge and related division facts have enjoyed working in such a methodical way with larger numbers. 

In writing, we were incredibly lucky to have Adisa the verbaliser in to work with us to bring our poetry writing to life which has really inspired some of our children to write creatively on their own poems. Based on Adisa's own poem, 'Barbershop Blues' where he writes about having his haircut in a dramatic way, the children have had a go at writing their own dramatic poem based on a subject of their choosing and have used figurative language. At the end of the unit, the children will be performing their poems at the Year 5 poetry slam. We hope to capture some of these on video so we can show you via Seesaw. 

In other areas of the curriculum, the children have enjoyed art lessons where they have learnt about the work and lives of Stephen Wiltshire and Vincent Van Gogh. We hope to bring together their techniques to compose our own 'Cityscape Escapism'. 

Year 5 have also enjoyed music and used the glockenspiels to create a drone. 

We look forward to sharing more of the children's wonderful work with you at the end of the term.

Mrs Dean, Y5 Team Leader