Jurassic Class

Jurassic Class Conquers Sports Day!

Jurassic Class had an absolutely roaring good time at Sports Day! They tackled an indoor inflatable assault course and bounced with delight on a bouncy castle with a slide. Out on the field, their skills were put to the test with archery and hurdles, plus exciting goal practice and basketball. What a fantastic day of fun and active challenges for everyone!

The children in Jurassic Class have been diving deep into the fascinating world of water and its vital role on our planet!

As part of our PSPD topic, "Things That Change," we've been exploring the incredible water cycle. We even became scientists and created our own mini water cycles in bags using colored water! The children did a fantastic job putting the four stages—evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection—in the correct order.

Sticking to our topic of "Sharing the Planet" and our central idea "A Healthy Planet Supports Life," we also thought about children in other countries and their access to clean water. We used the Zones of Regulation to discuss how it would make us feel if we didn't have easy access to this essential resource. It was a thought-provoking discussion that helped us appreciate how lucky we are!

Jurassic Class Spreading Joy at the Local Care Home!

Jurassic Class has continued their wonderful weekly visits to our local care home this term! It's been a fantastic way to take our classroom learning into the community. Each week, we either get creative with a craft activity or whip up some delicious treats with the residents.

After our activities, the children are brilliant at helping out. They tidy up, sweep the floor, and clean the tables, getting the lounge ready for lunch.

This term, we've had a special helper join us: Betty, one of our therapy dogs! Betty has brought so many smiles, not only to our faces but to the residents' too. Her gentle presence makes these visits even more special for everyone involved.

We've jumped straight into learning this module, exploring the fascinating world of numbers and getting to grips with 'more,' 'less,' and 'equal.' Our PE sessions have been a blast, with everyone having a go at archery, boccia, and even curling! To top it all off, we had some adorable puppies visit us, bringing smiles to everyone's faces. It's been a fantastic start to the term! 

Jurassic Class has embarked on an exciting new adventure this week, starting our weekly work experience at a local care home! This morning was filled with fun and connection as we teamed up with the residents to create delicious fruit kebabs, sharing stories and chatting about our favorite fruits (and maybe a few we weren't so keen on!). Following this, one of our students thoughtfully read a lovely story about fruits to the residents. After the story, everyone pitched in to tidy up, wiping down tables and sweeping the floors – teamwork makes the dream work! We then enjoyed a refreshing movement break in the lovely grounds before settling down together for a shared lunch. Take a look at the pictures below to see all the wonderful things we got up to! 

This week, we've been learning about children around the world and their faiths, including the Five Pillars of Islam (which we ordered using ordinal numbers in maths!). We've also started exploring non-renewable resources and comparing their use in different countries. In maths, we've been mastering 'more' and 'less'. We ended the week with a sunny outdoor lunch under the canopies! 

A Wonderful End to the Term!

What a fantastic end to the term we've had! We've been deeply engrossed in our Sharing the Planet theme, which has led to some truly engaging experiences. Our weekly work experience at the care home has been a huge success, offering valuable learning opportunities for the children.

We've also explored the fascinating journey of where our food comes from, culminating in a delicious homemade carrot cake to celebrate the end of term. Our exploration of sharing the planet extended to the animal kingdom, as we considered the challenges animals face when resources become scarce. To help our feathered friends, we spent time at the care home making bird feeders and fat balls following a recipe, which we then hung with care in the grounds. It's been a busy and rewarding term for everyone!

Roar into learning with Jurassic Class as we embark on a brand new module! We've had a fantastic time recapping the magical journey of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," revisiting the Pevensie children's adventures through the mysterious wardrobe. To bring the story to life, we've unleashed our creativity and constructed an incredible diorama of the wardrobe, peering into the enchanting world of Narnia. Using a variety of materials, we've crafted snowy landscapes, hidden pathways, and glimpses of the White Witch's domain. Get ready for more exciting adventures as we delve deeper into learning this term! 

World Book Day: A Week of Chocolatey Wonders!

This week, our classroom transformed into a world of pure imagination as we celebrated World Book Day with the delightful story of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"! We've had a truly scrumptious time diving into Roald Dahl's classic tale.

We started by listening to the captivating story, letting our imaginations run wild with the wonders of Willy Wonka's factory. We then compared and contrasted the magic of the original film and the more recent adaptation, spotting the differences and celebrating what made each version special.

Our learning didn't stop there! We even turned maths into a golden opportunity, playing exciting games and competing for our very own golden tickets. Of course, no "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" experience would be complete without a taste test! We indulged in some delicious chocolate, exploring different flavours and textures.

Adding to the fun, we baked our own gluten-free double chocolate chip cookies, filling the classroom with the irresistible aroma of warm chocolate. To top off our fantastic week, we held a spectacular hat parade in the glorious sunshine, showcasing our creative and wonderfully wacky headwear inspired by the story.

It's been a week filled with laughter, learning, and a whole lot of chocolate! We hope you enjoyed seeing snippets of our delicious adventure.

Science Week: Discovering Our Environmental Impact!

This Science Week, our students dove into the fascinating world of environmental science with our hands-on experiment, "Should I Flush It?" Connecting directly to our IB learning and the line of inquiry about environmental identity, we explored how our everyday choices impact the world around us.

We transformed our classroom into a mini-lab, filling four bottles with water and introducing different materials: toilet tissue, wet wipes, cotton buds, and cotton wool. With a dash of mathematical precision, we shook each bottle 15 times, observing the changes within. The big question? Could the material break down? If it did, it was flushable! If not, it belonged in the bin!

This engaging experiment highlighted the importance of making informed decisions to protect our environment. It was a fantastic way to learn about waste management and the impact of our actions. We're proud of our budding scientists and their commitment to a sustainable future!

Jurassic Class: Stepping Through the Wardrobe and into Spring!

Jurassic Class has been captivated by the magical world of Narnia! We've journeyed alongside the Pevensie siblings in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," witnessing the powerful Aslan lead them in their quest to find Edmund. We've experienced the dramatic shift from the White Witch's endless winter to the vibrant blossoming of spring, encountering a host of fantastical creatures along the way.

This enchanting transformation sparked our curiosity about the natural world around us. We explored how the changing seasons impact wildlife in our own environment, connecting beautifully with our line of inquiry into environmental identity. Inspired by the reawakening of Narnia, we decided to lend a helping hand to our local feathered friends. We put our creative skills to use, crafting bird feeders from recycled toilet rolls, sticky honey, and nutritious birdseed. We then proudly hung our creations in the school garden, providing a tasty treat for the birds and observing them closely.

Jurassic Class: Sunshine, Stories, and Sprouting Skills!

This week, Jurassic Class has truly embraced the beautiful sunshine! We ventured into the sensory garden, gathering a vibrant array of flowers that we'll be drying for some exciting craft activities next week. Inspired by our story, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," we even put our engineering skills to the test, attempting to build a dam just like Mr. and Mrs. Beaver! We had great fun testing our wooden block dams with plenty of water.

In Maths, we've been busy building Aslan's army using manipulatives and practicing our addition skills. We've also delved into the world of farming, learning about where and how our favourite fruits and vegetables grow. To top it all off, we made delicious guacamole, discovering that avocados and lemons grow on trees, while garlic grows underground. What a busy and fruitful week!

Roar! We're thrilled to unveil our magnificent artwork inspired by Aslan, the majestic lion from our class novel, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe! We've poured our creativity and teamwork into bringing this iconic character to life, and we're so proud to be entering it into the LAT's Visual Arts Competition.

Our Aslan is a vibrant mix of textures and techniques. We explored a range of materials, from teabags and wool to paint, crayons, and tissue paper, to capture the richness of his mane and fur. We even used brushes to practice making long, straight lines (linking to our maths lessons!), and experimented with cotton buds, wool, and even tinsel for added sparkle. Look closely and you'll see intricate patterns made from coloured paper squares – another connection to our maths learning!

Creating this masterpiece wasn't just about art; it was a journey of collaboration. We used our speaking and listening skills to share ideas and make decisions together, and practiced our turn-taking skills (just like we learn in PSHE!). Most importantly, we had a fantastic time bringing a beloved character from our class text to life. Wish us luck in the competition!

Just like the glistening snow in Narnia, our classroom is filled with excitement as we dive into the enchanting world of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. After reading the first three chapters, we have been inspired to create our own winter wonderland treats. Jurassic class spent a delightful afternoon making (gluten free) chocolate and coconut snowballs.

Game On! Learning Through Play - Exploring Cultural Influences

As part of our "Cultural Influences and Interconnectedness" line of inquiry, our class recently had a blast learning through play! We focused on developing our counting and addition skills by playing the classic game of Snakes and Ladders. This fun activity encouraged us to work together, take turns, and practice counting as we moved our game pieces around the board.

To further explore new experiences and learn about our emotions, we also tried our hand at "Blow Football" – a challenging game that required focus and coordination. We used the Zones of Regulation to help us share how this new and exciting experience made us feel.

Through these engaging activities, we not only strengthened our academic skills but also developed important social-emotional learning competencies like teamwork, turn-taking, and self-awareness.

Celebrating Britishness with Gluten-Free Scones!

As part of our "Personal and Environmental Identity" line of inquiry, our class recently embarked on a delicious journey into British culture by making traditional scones.

With the learning objective of mastering basic baking techniques like measuring, mixing, and rolling dough, we followed a special gluten-free recipe to ensure everyone could participate in this tasty tradition.

We learned about the importance of accurate measurements and the satisfaction of creating something delicious from scratch. Most importantly, we had a wonderful time celebrating Britishness together!

Learning Objectives:

• I will be supported to follow a recipe to make traditional British scones.

• I will learn basic baking techniques, including measuring, mixing, and rolling dough.

In Module 2, we continue our exploration of how self-expression is shaped by culture and history. Building on our previous focus on the Seven Wonders of the World, we will now turn our attention to places. We'll delve into how people make places special, how culture is reflected in the spaces we inhabit, and the significant role that places play in shaping our identities.

To kick off the module, we've embarked on a journey with Amelia Earhart. We’re exploring her life, her achievements, and her enduring legacy. By examining her story, we'll gain insights into the power of individual expression, the impact of historical events, and the significance of place.

In Science, we're embarking on a sonic adventure, exploring the fascinating world of sound. We have listened to it, feel its vibrations, and even seen its waves.

This week, Jurassic class took a prehistoric twist on Nursery Rhyme Week! We worked in groups to choose a nursery rhyme and, with a little help from AI, transformed it into a thrilling newspaper report. We then used a list of descriptive words to inspire AI to create unique illustrations for our stories. It was a truly creative and exciting experience!

Jurassic class have enjoyed various physical activities such as football in PE, listening to and following directions and using different ball skills.  We have also enjoyed swimming sessions at our local pool with an instructor, helping us to use different swimming techniques. 

This week we have explored China and one of the seven wonders of the world; The Great Wall of China.  We have investigated the use of the Great Wall, how the Chinese culture reflects back to us and special symbols such as the Chinese Dragon.

This week we have visited Italy and the Colosseum.  We have used our mathematical skills to look at the size and shape of the Colosseum and tried to build our own with various materials, counting how many bricks we used.

This week during our 'Arts' lessons, we have experimented with primary colours, we have built a bridge for the three billy goats gruff to 'trip trap' over as well as expressing ourselves to music using instruments of our choice.

This week in Science, we have learnt about the heart, how it sounds and even listened to our own using a stethoscope!

This week we have visited Mexico and Chichen Itza. We have built our own version using lego.  We have also concentrated on more or less in Maths. 

This week we have been learning about the Taj Mahal.  We mad our own elephants to represent the 1000 that helped to build it.  We also learned that the Taj Mahal was built out of love and represent this by making our own henna designs.

This week we have visited the last wonder of the modern world; Petra.  We have used our literacy skills to complete a fact file about Petra using colourful semantics.  

Jurassic class have also tried to create their own earthquake as we learnt this wiped out the Nabatean Tribe in Petra, Jordan.  We made our own (gluten free) playdough and jelly and used these as foundations.  We then built a structure using cocktail sticks and fruit.  The next step was to shake each building to see which was the strongest and also watch what happened to a building during an earthquake.  After, it was great fun eating the jelly and fruit!

We have also read our book, 'There's a Rangtan in my Bedroom' for the last time and written our own individual book review using colourful semantics to help us.  Some of us liked the story and some of us said it was boring!

Jurassic Class: Festive Fun and Enterprise

Get ready for some festive fun and entrepreneurial learning! Our Jurassic class is diving into the world of enterprise as we prepare for the Phase 3 Christmas Market.

We've been busy creating beautiful pom pom Christmas wreaths. The children have found the process of making pom poms incredibly relaxing, and here we are sharing a sneak peak at the results!

Jurassic Class: Celebrating Christmas with Inquiry

This week, our Jurassic Class explorers have been delving deeper into our Lines of Inquiry: How Culture is Reflected Back to Us and How People Make Places Special. We've embraced the festive spirit by creating our own unique Christmas cards, expressing our creativity and cultural understanding.

We've also indulged in some delicious, homemade gluten-free gingerbread! By applying our math and science skills to precise measurements and baking techniques, and our literacy skills to follow the recipe, we've transformed simple ingredients into festive treats.

Jurassic Class Shines at the Christmas Market! Today marked the grand finale of our learning journey as we participated in the Phase 3 Christmas Market. Our class's stall, nestled on Christmas Tree Close, offered a delightful array of handmade Christmas cards, pom pom wreaths, fudge, and peppermint creams. This festive event provided a tangible link to our inquiries into what makes places special and how culture is reflected back to us.

Our pupils displayed exceptional bravery and resilience as they engaged with customers and showcased their skills. From crafting to selling, they embraced the experience with enthusiasm.

Stallholders were rewarded with a yummy hotdog and delicious hot chocolate!