The Roundup - Edition 52

Monte (Nursery) had an exciting and engaging week full of outdoor adventures and hands-on learning! Despite the cold weather, the children kept warm with games, climbing, swinging, and skipping. They also tried their hand at making bubble blowers from willow, though the bubble mix wasn’t quite successful – a challenge they’re keen to revisit next week. 

On Thursday, the children enjoyed a special visit to James at the animal centre as part of their topic, What is out in the darkness? The children learned about nocturnal and diurnal animals, meeting chinchillas and sugar gliders and discovering how their large pupils help them see in the dark. They also had the chance to feed rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, and alpacas, and even visited the ducks! Discussions about other nocturnal animals, like owls and badgers, rounded off a wonderful experience that combined curiosity with care for the animals.

K Group (Reception) delved into maths with the story A Beach for Albert, exploring capacity using containers filled with water to understand concepts like empty, half full, and full. The children discovered it took 24 containers to fill halfway and 72 to reach the top – a messy but fun way to learn!

In phonics, students focused on spelling patterns in tricky words, noting how many ended with “e.” The week also included creative activities inspired by Little Red Riding Hood, such as making wanted posters for the Big Bad Wolf and crafting jam sandwiches for Grandma – complete with washing up afterwards!

J Group (Year 1) had a lively week of Forest School, moving their session to the orchard to avoid muddy terrain. They practised rhythm and listening with clapping sticks, made wassail shakers for next week’s ceremony, and climbed trees. The children also demonstrated wonderful progress in social skills, resolving turn-taking and sharing challenges independently.

Excitement is building for the Big School Birdwatch, with Luka’s binoculars inspiring plans for more bird-spotting next week.

This week, H Group enjoyed a listening and drawing activity inspired by Mr Magnolia. The children listened closely to descriptions and created some wonderful drawings that brought their imaginations to life!  In RSHE, we discussed what makes a happy family, sharing our favourite activities and celebrating the unique traditions that each family has.

In Forest School students had a creative time making willow crowns for the Wassailing Ceremony, working in pairs to master the weaving technique. Decorating their crowns with hedgerow materials provided an excellent opportunity to hone their dexterity and teamwork skills. They also enjoyed an unexpected visit from the school’s alpacas, who were busy “mowing” the grass nearby!

G Group (Year 3) had a busy week, diving into their space-themed English unit while practising conjunctions and exploring addition and carrying in maths. In science, they investigated how marbles move on different surfaces, combining fun with learning.

In Forest School, they prepared for the Wassailing Ceremony by weaving willow crowns and demonstrating fantastic teamwork and tenacity. The children even created crowns for toys and pets, showing their creative flair.

Computing lessons added a sweet touch, with plans to research and film a dessert-themed programme tied to their Europe topic.

F Group (Year 4) tackled new responsibilities during PSHE, discussing scenarios that require good judgment and exploring the importance of trusted adults.

They practised counting in threes in maths and learned a clever trick to identify multiples of three.

In Forest School, the children stayed active with tree gyms, den building, and crown weaving for the Wassailing Ceremony.

A highlight of last week was their Tag Rugby fixture against Sherrardswood School – a victorious effort that showcased their teamwork and determination.

E Group (Year 5) embraced their creativity and curiosity this week. On Thursday, they began crafting Greek pots in art and composed original music pieces in small groups during music.

In science, they planned an investigation into parachute effectiveness, learning to control variables such as material type and passenger weight.

Friday saw a literary twist as they drafted their own Midsummer Night’s Dream play scripts – a fitting end to a week full of imagination and exploration.