Term 4 Week 5
It has been a really busy week in Owls Class as we head towards the Easter holidays. You would think the children might be winding down, but if anything, they have stepped it up. There has been a real buzz in the classroom, with thoughtful discussions, strong contributions and lots of effort across the week.
Reading This Week
This week in reading, we explored a range of texts about Greta Thunberg, including Greta and the Giants, an extract from Greta’s Story and a Newsround article about her breakthrough year.
Many of the children had not heard of her before, which led to some really thoughtful discussions. They were particularly interested in how one young person was able to make such a big impact and raise awareness about climate change.
We also talked about the fact that Greta has autism. This opened up some important conversations about difference and how being unique can be a strength. The children recognised qualities such as determination, focus and a strong sense of justice.
Through these texts, pupils explored how individuals can create change, the importance of using your voice and the need to respect others’ experiences.
It was great to see the children so engaged, making links across the texts and sharing their ideas with confidence.
English - Persuasive Adverts
In English this week, we have been looking at the features of persuasive adverts. The children explored how adverts are designed to grab attention and influence the reader, including the use of catchy slogans, strong adjectives and rhetorical questions. We looked at how language is used to make something sound appealing and how layout and presentation play a role too. The children then begin to apply these features in their own writing, thinking carefully about how to persuade their audience effectively.
Science
In Science this week, we carried out a practical investigation using rulers to explore sound and vibrations. The children held a ruler at the edge of a table and tapped it to observe what they could hear, see and feel. They then changed different variables, such as how hard they tapped and how much of the ruler was hanging over the edge. This helped them to notice how vibrations create sound and how the length of the ruler affects the pitch. The children enjoyed the hands-on learning and were able to explain their observations using scientific vocabulary.
DT - Quiches
In DT this week, the children have been making quiches with Mrs O and Penny. As you can see from the photos, they were fully immersed in the process, from mixing and rolling to carefully preparing their ingredients. There was a real sense of enjoyment in the room, with smiles all around and children working brilliantly together. It was lovely to see them so engaged and hands-on in their learning. And of course, the end results looked absolutely scrumptious. Learning really is at its best when the children are enjoying it.
Art - Self Portraits
In Art week, the children have been creating self-portraits inspired by Tudor artist Hans Holbein. We focused on careful observation and practised a range of sketching techniques, including light sketching, shading and adding detail to create depth. We also explored the different sketching pencils and how they can be used to create lighter and darker tones.
To complement their portraits, the children created vibrant backgrounds using oil pastels. They experimented with colour, pattern and blending to make their work stand out. The contrast between the detailed pencil sketches and the bold, colourful backgrounds worked really well. It has been lovely to see the children taking their time, showing real care in their work and producing some fantastic final pieces.
We also held a mini art exhibition in the classroom, where we invited our Headteacher, Mrs Munday, to come and see the children’s work. The children proudly showcased their self-portraits and talked through their learning journey, explaining the techniques they had used and the decisions they had made. They also reflected on their work, sharing what went well and what they would improve next time. It was lovely to see the children speaking with such confidence and pride about their artwork.
Easter Egg Hunt
We ended the week with an Easter egg hunt, which the children thoroughly enjoyed. I was really proud of how they conducted themselves. They each took just one egg and showed real thought for the other children who were yet to take part later in the day.
Once they had found their egg, they carefully placed it into the beautiful little baskets that had been crocheted by Mrs Bell. Each child was given one, which made the experience feel even more special.
A big thank you to Mrs Bell, who always goes out of her way to add those extra touches and make things special for all the children in our school.