Year 5 & 6: Exploring Media, Science and Storytelling

It has been a wonderfully creative and curious week for Year 5 and 6!

In ICT, pupils have been learning about creating media through photography. This week’s focus was on camera techniques — including close-ups, wide shots, and experimenting with different camera angles such as high, low, and eye-level. Using the colours and textures of autumn as their inspiration, pupils had great fun capturing a series of striking seasonal images that demonstrated their growing technical skill and artistic eye.

In Science, our new topic on Forces began with an investigation into gravity. Pupils were challenged to design an experiment to test how weight affects the speed at which an object falls. Through careful planning, they explored variables and fair testing, quickly discovering that—despite their predictions—objects of different weights can fall at the same speed! With just two pieces of paper, pupils uncovered the real secret behind falling speed: air resistance and the shape of the object.

In English, pupils have been developing their use of speech in fiction and exploring how dialogue can be used to convey emotion. Using the famous line from Sleeping Beauty — “I too, shall bestow a gift upon the child” — they experimented with tone, expression and body language to create different moods and atmospheres. What began as a line filled with menace and mystery became a tool for exploring empathy, excitement, and even humour, as pupils brought their interpretations to life through performance.

It’s been a week full of creativity, curiosity and discovery — a wonderful start to the term for Year 5 and 6!

Eco Committee: Exploring Green Careers 🌿

This week’s Eco meeting began with the team delving into the theme of Green Careers Week, exploring how their future ambitions might help protect and preserve our planet.

Pupils discussed the wide range of green jobs available today — from renewable energy engineers to conservation scientists, sustainable architects, and environmental journalists — learning how every career path can play a role in building a more sustainable world.

As part of the session, the team took part in the ‘Green Buzz Quiz’ from National Careers Week
, discovering which eco-friendly careers best matched their interests and skills. Lucia May’s example showed just how varied and inspiring these career options can be!

During assembly time, pupils also created posters celebrating Green Careers Week, showcasing their understanding of environmental issues and their enthusiasm for a greener future. Their work reflects a strong commitment to sustainability and the school’s ongoing efforts to encourage thoughtful, responsible citizenship.

Nursery News: Fizzy Fireworks Fun! 🎆

Our Nursery children had an exciting and spark-filled day of discovery as they created their very own fizzy fireworks! Using just a bottle of Coke and a few mints, the children carefully dropped the mints into the bottle and watched in amazement as the mixture erupted with bubbles and fizz, shooting upwards like a miniature firework display.

The activity was more than just fun — it was a brilliant way to combine science, storytelling, and safety learning. Together, we talked about Guy Fawkes and why people across the country celebrate Bonfire Night with fireworks and bonfires. This led to discussions about cause and effect, helping children make predictions about what they thought might happen before the mints were dropped in. There were lots of thoughtful guesses — and even more excited “oohs” and “wows” when the reaction began!

The experiment encouraged our young scientists to observe closely, use descriptive language to talk about what they could see, and practise safe handling during a simple but impressive demonstration.

After their science fun, the children moved on to a colourful art activity, inspired by the fireworks they had just seen. They loved exploring the bright paints, watching the colours mix and spread to form amazing patterns that looked just like fireworks bursting in the night sky. Together, we talked about big and small fireworks, the variety of colours and shapes, and how different techniques could make our artwork even more exciting.

It was a wonderful, creative way to celebrate Bonfire Night while strengthening fine motor control — and the results were truly spectacular!

The day was filled with curiosity, creativity, and awe — the perfect combination for a memorable learning experience in Nursery.

Year 3 & 4 — Investigating the Loch Ness Legend
Year 3 and 4 have been diving into mystery and folklore by researching the myth of the Loch Ness Monster. They looked at historical accounts, newspaper reports and photographic “evidence” to consider how myths develop and why some stories capture the public imagination for generations. A fantastic mix of critical thinking, curiosity and storytelling.

Year 2 Computing — Digital Art with Rangoli Patterns

In Computing, Year 2 pupils learned how to download Rangoli patterns and import them into Sumopaint. Once imported, they explored digital tools to add vibrant colour and intricate designs. The results were stunning — a creative blend of technology and cultural art.