Class Four

Epic Adventures enjoyed by Class 4 in Patterdale

 in Class Four / Sport / Whole School by

 

Class 4 have just returned from Patterdale: the most exhilarating three-day experience out of the classroom and the usual school week!  Thank you to all the children:  they showed incredible courage, determination and enthusiasm for every challenge and were so supportive of each other’s achievements.  Thanks also to all the adults accompanying the visit, who have done their utmost to ensure everyone felt safe, confident to step out of their comfort zones, and supported.

We have enjoyed every minute (well almost)!

Here’s just a few photographs from just one of our three cameras. There are more to follow:

 

Scrambling in the Gyhll……

Rock Climbing……

Crazy games on the canoes…..

Bushcraft and Baking…..

Levens X-Country Runners go for Gold!

 in Class Four / Class Three / Sport / Whole School by

What an afternoon of amazing resilience, determination and endless energy!  The Levens’ running reputation lives on with today’s incredible athletes pushing themselves to the finish line.  Not only did every runner complete their best ever run, they also cheered on the side lines supporting their team mates every step of the way.  It was wonderful to have such great support from parents and wider family members too!

We have returned with four medals: a gold in the year 5 girls race; a silver in the year 4 boys; a bronze in the year 6 boys and the year 6 girls too!

We are yet to hear our overall placing as a team, but couldn’t be more overjoyed with such enthusiasm, effort and endurance from everyone!

 

Still-life studies from Class 4

 in Art / Class Four by

Class 4 have been studying the work of Paul Cezanne using different types of pastels.

Cezanne used texture, colour and tone to create two dimensional studies of objects.  We were fascinated by how he used such expressive brush strokes and bold colours to bring life to his work.

Water Resistance in Class 4

 in Class Four / Science by

In science, our Year 5 and 6 pupils got hands-on (and a little wet!) in our investigation into water resistance. The classroom was transformed into a mini research lab as students explored how different shapes move through water and how streamlined designs can affect speed.

Before any clay touched the water, the children discussed the idea of a fair test. Together, they identified the variables that needed to stay the same throughout the experiment, such as:

  • The amount of modelling clay used (by weight)
  • The height from which the shape was dropped
  • The depth and temperature of the water
  • The type of container

The only variable they changed each time was the shape of the clay. This careful planning ensured that any difference in results was due to water resistance alone.

Each clay shape was dropped into a tall tank of water three times, and pupils recorded each time carefully using a stopwatch. By calculating the average time, they were able to produce more reliable results and spot inconsistencies.

As with all good science experiments, not everything went perfectly smoothly—some pieces of data stood out as obvious anomalies. Pupils discussed possible reasons for this: Was the shape released accidentally at an angle? Did an air bubble get trapped? Was the timer started a fraction too late? These conversations helped pupils think critically about how scientific data is collected and why accuracy matters.

One of the most interesting moments came from a shape everyone assumed would fall slowly: a large, flat clay design. Instead of drifting gently downward, it tipped onto its side and shot straight to the bottom of the tank. This surprising outcome sparked lots of discussion about the meaning behind the data we had gathered, and how we need to think critically about this.

Manchester Museum Mission

 in Class Four / History by

Year 5 and 6 pupils enjoyed an exciting and inspiring visit to Manchester Museum recently, where they took part in a fascinating workshop focused on Ancient Egypt.

Before we even stepped foot on the coach, the museum curator set the children an important mission: to find the most interesting artefact in the entire museum! This might be the most valuable, the most beautiful, the oldest, the one with the best story… the choice was ours.

To complete this challenge, pupils had the opportunity to handle a selection of real ancient Egyptian artefacts. They had to:

  • Look closely at each artefact, examining details and clues (did you know the average adult spends less than 10 seconds looking at an artefact in a museum?)
  • Make connections to their existing knowledge
  • Share their ideas and interpretations with the people around them
  • Wonder by asking thoughtful, curious questions that deepened their understanding

The children showed fantastic enthusiasm and imagination as they investigated everything from amulets and pottery to tools and statues. Their discussions were thoughtful, lively, and full of wonder—just as a museum mission should be!

To celebrate their hard work and curiosity, each pupil shared some information about their chosen artefact in celebration assembly. I was incredibly proud of the confidence and maturity shown by all the children.  A huge thank you to all the parents who attended the assembly and supported the children.

Beautiful Bags

 in Class Four / Design and Technology by

Class 4 worked hard just before half term to turn the classroom into a bag-making factory!

We started by taking a few different types of bags apart to see how they were made. We learned that they are actually quite simple – the simplest form of tote bag was just a folded rectangle of fabric with two handles!

We figured that if they were that simple, we could definitely make our own and maybe even improve on some of the designs! We thought about the different functions that our bags could serve (including shopping, trick-or-treating, storing bike parts or just as a fashion accessory!) and designed our own. We had to consider the size, shape, material and additions to our bag which would help it suit the purpose.

Designs complete, we produced some paper pattern-pieces. We could use these to mark up our fabric and ensure all parts were the right size and shape before cutting. We also had to make sure to leave enough room for the seam allowance so that our bags remained strong and our stitching did not slip out.

We used a simple running stitch to create our bags, making sure to sew them inside out (to hide the seams when done) and to leave the top open! Once this was complete, handles could be attached – definitely the hardest part of the project – and decorative items could be attached.

A selection of our creations can be seen below – what do you think?

Screen Savvy Kids!

 in Class Four / Computing by
Class 4 have been lucky enough to take part in a Digital Wellbeing Workshop recently as part of the Screen Savvy Kids campaign in Cumbria!
Friend of Levens School Sophie Martin led the workshop and taught us all about the ABCDS of digital wellbeing. We created logos and slogans to help spread the word about what we learned – some of these will be made into a banner for us to display in school!
 
A is for Affection. This is another word for kindness. It’s important to make sure that we are always kind to others online as there is a real person on the other side of the screen.
B is for Balance. It’s all too easy to get sucked into a world of screens and before we know it they take up all of our time! We learned about some of the things we can do to help us balance our time on and off-line.
C is for Compare. It can be very tempting to compare ourselves to other people we see online and this can lead to negative consequences for our wellbeing. Don’t be afraid to be you!
D is for Delay. Now more than ever, young people have access to tablets, phones and screens. We all took a moment to consider whether a smartphone or similar is a need or a want, and to think about delaying smartphone use to later in life.
S is for Sharing. Always take a minute to consider what we share online. Once something is on the internet, it is very hard to remove it. Would we still be happy with our post in 10 years time?
Check out the photos below of us working, and keep an eye out for our logos and slogans! If you need any more information you can visit the website for Happy Healthy Together who are running the campaign.

Buddies do lunch!

 in Class Four / Class One / Whole School by

Reception loved spending time with their buddies eating lunch today. Thank you Year 6 for supporting the children today!

Hoodwinked 2025

 in Class Four / Class Three / Whole School by

Coming to you from the lively forests of Sherwood, our talented students took to the stage in their production of Hoodwinked, a playful and creative take on the legendary tale of Robin Hood.

After months of hard work, rehearsals, and teamwork, the children delivered a truly unforgettable performance. From a dramatic tree felling that left the audience gasping, to the hilarious singing friars

and a touching solo from Maid Marian, every scene sparkled with energy, heart, and humour.

The production was a true showcase of the children’s dedication and creativity. They poured their time and effort into every line, song, and costume, and it certainly paid off – what a show!

A huge thank you goes to all the parents and carers for their incredible support throughout the rehearsal period – from helping with costumes and learning lines, to cheering from the audience. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Bravo to all involved – Hoodwinked will be remembered for a long time to come!

Bastille Day

 in Class Four / Class Three / Languages - French by

Key Stage Two had a brilliant day learning all about Bastille Day and the French Revolution. The children all came dressed as a French word; we were really impressed with the creativity of the outfits. Thank you to everyone who supported this at home! The children all had the opportunity to try items of food you would find in a petit dejeuner. We all had a great time practising our French speaking and learning about some of the customs and traditions in France.