If you had a mind to take a peak into our playground recently you would, perchance, see a game of footy underway, young athletes enjoying an Autumnal PE lesson or maybe a science observation or two. These would be just some of the activities that would be set before you. Fighting, even in play, is most definitely not usually on the agenda. However, there was a special dispensation from on high to allow a mini invasion of our football pitch this week. No need to call the constabulary folks, it was purely educational and saw an invading Roman army pit its considerable military might against some marauding Celts.

Year Four was determined to put their sensational shields to good use and try out the famous Roman battle formation, the 'Testudo' or tortoise formation, which sees the soldiers encase themselves in a shell of shields to ward off opponents. Britain was a tough nut to crack for the Romans, and it took them three attempts to win our sceptred isle and add it to their ever expanding Empire. Year Four is enjoying fantastic learning on the Roman invaders and life in Roman Britain. We promise no children were hurt in the onslaught but their splendid homemade shields did take a little battering.

Finally, we visit our Year Four children in the Art Studio, where they have been making some stunning mobiles out of a load of old rubbish! Recycling is the name of the artisitic game, and they have been following in the footsteps of the sculptor Alexander Calder, who was known for his innovative mobiles. Relying totally on recycled plastic bags as their material of choice, the Year Four sculptors had to calculate the centre of balance for their creations, so they would not become lopsided and used a hot iron and laminator to get the desired effect. All under the watchful eye of our wonderful art teacher Mrs Moodie. We think you will agree, they achieved quite a balancing act!