During these unprecedented times we are concerned about children visiting lots of different sites to access curriculum based activities. Please be aware that there will be bogus sites out there that will ask your child to sign in. Encourage your child to access the sites that have been uploaded to the Home Learning  page or preferably monitor their internet access.

Please click on the link below for further guidance for parents/carers/children:      Thinkuknow

ThinkuKnow        Web site

It was with great excitement that we boarded the coach and joined Elton Primary School on the 11^th March to visit the Science Adventure Centre at Magna in Rotherham.

Class 2 have been learning all about forces in science lessons, so the visit was a great way to experience forces in action in a hands on and interactive way.

From the ‘oohs and arhs’ heard around the room it was apparent that everyone thoroughly enjoyed the Balloons and Rockets workshop in which we learned about the history of hot air balloons and how they work. Witnessing the mini-hot air balloons in action was particularly exciting as they soared upwards. We found out what makes a rocket move and investigated making one from everyday materials. Squeals of excitement could be heard all around as the children watched their mini rockets shoot upwards with considerable force.

The remainder of the visit was spent exploring the four pavilions – Earth, Air, Fire and Water.  In the Air Pavilion we learnt that moving air exerts a force and about the impact of moving air on structures – experiencing the power of the wind on a suspension bridge.  In the Fire Pavilion we viewed the spectacular fire tornado and learned about the heating and cooling of materials. The Earth Pavilion was a mining and quarrying interactive zone where we learned all about pulleys.  In the final pavilion – Water – as well as getting wet, we enjoyed experiencing the power of water and about how we use and move vast amounts of water on earth.

The walkways linking the four pavilions are extremely atmospheric as they draw you into the story of steel making.  Images and sounds of what it would have been like to experience at first hand the steel making industry in its prime, are projected all around as you walk across the steel platforms suspended high above the factory floor.

This was definitely a school trip that had a big impact and from listening to the children’s excited comments it was a great success.

“I had an exciting day because we did our own experiments and had opportunities to have hands on experiences.”

“A hands-on experience that was enjoyable, educational and safe and an overall amazing experience which I would definitely love to do again another day.”

“I loved the Earth Pavilion because I enjoyed discovering and exploring the pulleys.”

“I enjoyed the Water Pavilion because we had fun getting wet. I will definitely go again.”

Class 2 pupils have undertaken five weeks of music lessons with Rachel Wilkes from Music Partnership. The sessions culminated in a musical performance using voices and playing musical instruments. The lessons were based around the composer  John Adams and a piece of music called ‘Short Ride in a Fast Machine’ which was inspired by a ride Adams took in his brother’s new sports car!

During the sessions the pupils listened to orchestral music, invented their own musical motifs, performed an ensemble and learned musical language appropriate to the tasks.

Over the next five weeks Rachel Wilkes will be working with class 1 prior to the whole school working with Rachel in preparation for a musical performance at the end of the school year.

Derby County Community Trust are delivering a six week course ‘Understanding what resilience is’.  Each week the pupils in class 2 undertake activities to help them understand what resilience means and how to develop skills to becoming a more resilient person. They will learn that resilience is a key skill that will accompany them throughout their lives.

During the first session Rammie explained that it was important to create a safe and positive environment for everyone to learn and share their experiences, therefore some rules were created and written onto a Rammie poster for everyone to see. These rules included: Don’t tell lies; Be positive; Be kind; Listen; To persevere; Don’t be silly; To respect others; To share.

Each week they will undertake a different activity linked to Resilience: Bouncing back!; Helpful and unhelpful thoughts; Identifying positive behaviour; Thinking and perseverance, Exploring skills and strengths; Step coping plans and being part of a team. As part of the work they will complete their own pocket book to show their understanding of the programme.

Safer Internet day – Tuesday 11th February 2020

Class 1 revisited how to stay safe on line with ‘Smartie Penguin’ on Safer Internet Day.

The children loved learning about Smartie’s escapades on line and were very animated regarding their own experiences when using the range of electronic devices they each had. They particularly enjoyed singing Smartie’s song to help them remember what to do when something unexpectedly happens when they are on-line.

The children created new posters and images to review and refresh the safer internet display in their classroom which they were all very proud of.

On Tuesday 21st January, 4 year 4/5 pupils attended Ashbourne Leisure Center ‘C4L Champions Conference’ run by Rural Derbyshire School Sports Partnership. The conference is set up to train pupils how to become ‘Health Champions’ who will then act as catalysts, advocating and motivating their peers to make healthier options at meal times, and to take part in more frequent physical activity in and out of school.

Change4Life is a Government programme designed to help schools meet the Key Performance Indicators for  the Sport Premium Funding and meet the Chief Medical Officer guidelines of 30 active minutes per day. By taking part , the school is working towards retaining the Gold, Games Mark Award of which this programme is a fundamental requirement.

The session involved physical activity, problem solving and investigation. The pupils had to work collaboratively with pupils from other schools to undertake tasks which involved collecting then matching items. The games provided creative opportunities to promote an environment where all children participated regardless of ability, confidence and  life experience.

The final part of the session involved matching pictures of food with their sugar/fat content. Some of the children were very surprised at how much sugar a famous burger bun has in it. Surprisingly there is enough for it to be sold a cake!

All the children that took part thoroughly enjoyed the event and were eager to share their morning with friends during lunch.

On Friday 17th January the pupils took part in a Christingle service at St Giles Church. The worship included the lighting of the candle, hymns, prayers and readings. Then the children’s Christingles  were lit and a prayer read reminding us of the ‘Light shining into the darkness’.

The symbolic object represents the Children’s Society and money raised from the service helps to make a difference to children facing life’s hardest challenge and can protect vulnerable children at risk on the streets.

The Christingle is a symbolic object that means ‘Christ’s light’. It consists of an orange with a candle held in its centre and a red ribbon around it. The red ribbon goes all round the ‘world’ representing his love and reminding us Jesus died on the cross shedding his blood. Four sticks holding fruit and nuts or sweets are pierced into the orange and have two meanings; the four seasons or the four corners of the world. The sweets, fruit and nuts represent God’s creations that he blessed us with.

The children undertook follow up work to help them understand the impact the donations would make to a child’s life. In class 1 the children compared the impact to the christian value of Hope and made many perceptive suggestions of how the donations could be used.

One child said: “I know that some children might not be able to have a pet like me because it costs money to feed them, but it would be lovely if they could go to a ‘petting farm’ or zoo,  where they could feed and stroke cuddly animals. This would help them to feel happy and cared for.”