Levens School

Genes for Genes Week: Investigating DNA

 in Class Four / Science by

This week, as part of Genes for Genes Week, Class 4 have been learning about genetic conditions that affect people through our whole-school worship. We explored the important role of DNA, which can be thought of as the set of instructions used to build all living things.

To help us understand this idea, we used a LEGO model analogy. Just as a small change in a set of building instructions can result in a very different final model, small differences in DNA can lead to significant changes in how living things develop and function.

Although DNA is far too small to be seen with the naked eye, it is present in every cell of our bodies. make this more real, we aimed to extract DNA from strawberry cells. Wearing appropriate eye protection, we carefully used a range of simple chemicals to break down the cells. As DNA is such a long molecule, it then clumps together into small white lumps so that we could see and extract it for ourselves. It was exciting to observe something that is normally invisible!

Alongside our scientific learning, we focused on developing our measuring skills. We practised using a variety of scientific measuring equipment accurately, including syringes, pipettes, measuring cups and flasks. We quickly discovered that precision is vital in science: the more carefully we measured each ingredient, the more successful our DNA extraction was.

Take a look at our gallery below. It’s not easy to see in a photograph, but the small white lines in the picture of the cup are lumps of pure strawberry DNA!!

County Show Display

 in Whole School by

This year’s county show display is looking fabulous and can be seen in the Learning for Life tent!  Celebrating all the work we did in the summer term about caring for our environment!  It includes some incredible writing from our current year 4 and 5 pupils; some wonderful art work from across school including portraits of Sir David Attenboro; and our Environmental Pledge coordinated by our committed Eco-Team that everyone in school has agreed to follow!

Well done everyone and thank you for your contributions!

Did you notice the two very helpful volunteers who are helping in the Learning for LIfe tent over the next two days!

Bastille Day

 in Class Four / Class Three / Languages - French by

Key Stage Two had a fantastic day celebrating Bastille Day.

Class 3 recapped on why Bastille Day is significant before moving on to look at famous French landmarks.  They were then challenged to make their own models of these. In the afternoon, they looked at the work of Claude Monet and the impressionist movement. We then took our learning outside and did our own impressionist paintings.

 

Class 4 spent the morning learning about the 1886 ‘Exposition Universelle’ in France, where inventors, engineers and artists from across the world gathered in France to show off their latest creations. The event was marked by the building of a very famous building by Gustave Eiffel – a temporary tower to mark the grand entrance to the exhibition. That temporary structure still stands today as the Eiffel tower!

In the afternoon, we spent some time trying to build an Eiffel tower of our own from spaghetti and marshmallows, learning about the material properties of compression and tension along the way!

Levens Park river visit

 in Class Three / Geography by

The children have loved learning about rivers so on Friday we went on a fieldtrip to Levens Park to apply our knowledge. The sun was shining as we walked down to the park and we enjoyed seeing a variety of wildlife on our walk. The children quickly identified meanders, erosion, deposition, tributaries, a confluence and the river channel. They also produced some great field sketches. Well done Class Three, it was fantastic to see how much you have learnt. Thank you to our volunteers who accompanied us.

Switches!

 in Class Three / Science by

Class Three have continued to learn about electricity and circuits. The children learnt about switches and looked for examples in the classroom. Following this, they discussed how switches can break and also connect circuits. Using this knowledge, they worked in groups to build circuits and switches.

Erosion and deposition

 in Class Three / Geography by

Class 3 have continued their topic on rivers and learnt some new vocabulary along the way. Today, we looked at meanders and learnt how they were formed, looking at erosion and deposition. We then had a good look at the maps, identifying the source of the River Kent and followed its route to the estuary.

 

 

3-D river basins

 in Class Three / Geography by

Class 3 have been learning about river basins as part of our topic on rivers and comparing the Amazon River to UK rivers. We learnt the terminology of rivers and made and labelled out own 3-D river basins.

Trio Trip

 in Class Two by

Class 2 have had a lovely day at the Lakeland Motor Museum, on the steam train and on the ferry to Bowness! This has started our history topic on transport from the past!

Heaves Farm Visit

 in Class Three / Science by

Class 3 enjoyed a fantastic visit to Heaves Farm last week. They learnt about where food comes from, lifecycles and even had a chance to learn about dry stone walling. They loved seeing all the animals and learning about how farmers look after them, including a shearing demonstration. Thank you to the Mason Family and Westmorland County Show for a wonderful day.

 

Class 4 Waterwise

 in Class Four / Sport by

Class 4 had a lovely day out at Fell Foot recently. In the morning, we all took part in open-water swimming lessons led by Jacqui from WaterWise Cumbria. Following on from our assembly about what to do if you end up in difficulty in water, it was a great opportunity to practise the skills that could save a life. Remember: float to live!

The afternoon was spent orienteering for year 5 students, while year 6 got the paddleboards out to have a play on the lake! Did you know that you can fit all of year 6 on a single paddleboard? (Just!)