Class Four


Manchester Museum Mission

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

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!

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!

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


Hoodwinked 2025

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

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.


More learning outside the classroom for Class 4

Class 4 had an amazing day at Fell Foot this week!

During the morning we worked with ‘Waterwise’ to learn all about how to implement self-rescue and assess a situation before even stepping into the water.  The lake was deeper than usual at this time of year, and colder, but we persevered and our confidence grew during the session.

After a tasty picnic lunch, we enjoyed orienteering and paddle boarding! Not a pencil or pen used all day!

 


Junior Citizen 2025

Today our Year 6 pupils spent the morning at Kendal’s police and fire stations, taking part in the Junior Citizenship event—a special programme designed to help young people develop essential life skills and learn how to stay safe as they move on to secondary school.

Throughout the morning, students rotated through a variety of engaging and thought-provoking activity stations, each focusing on a different aspect of personal safety and responsible citizenship.

One station featured a virtual reality film, giving pupils an immersive look at how quickly a house fire can spread. The realism of the film helped them understand how important it is to spot fire hazards early, plan escape routes, and know what to do in an emergency.

Another hands-on activity involved using a “throw bag”—a piece of rescue equipment often found near lakes, rivers and reservoirs used to assist someone struggling in the water. Students practiced proper throwing techniques and learned how to call for help and guide a person to safety, reinforcing the importance of staying calm and acting quickly in emergency situations.

A talk on hate crime and anti-social behaviour encouraged thoughtful discussions around respecting others and recognising unacceptable behaviour. Officers explained how such actions can affect individuals and communities, and what young people can do if they witness or experience them.

In a final session on cybercrime and online safety, pupils were challenged to crack a fictional person’s password using clues gathered from their social media profile. This eye-opening activity demonstrated how seemingly innocent information—like pet names or birthdays—can be used to guess passwords, underlining the need to protect personal data and think carefully about what we share online.

All of our students found the day incredibly valuable. It not only taught them practical safety skills but also helped build their confidence in responding to real-life situations. Most importantly, it sparked important conversations about making smart, safe choices both in person and online.

We’re very grateful to Cumbria police & fire services for organising such a meaningful and memorable experience.


Class 3 and 4 visit the Jewish Museum in Manchester

Just before the half term break, Class 3 and Class 4 visited the Jewish Synagogue and Museum in Cheetham Hill, Manchester.

During the morning we toured the inside of the Synagogue, learning all about the symbols, artefacts and furniture surrounding us.  We heard about how Jewish settlers had travelled from different parts of Europe to this area of Manchester during the industrial revolution to trade and set up their lucrative businesses.  This Jewish community soon became a thriving, busy commercial hub where business boomed for many decades.

We also got the opportunity to handle a range of different artefacts, including: prayer shawls, a sedar plate, prayer scrolls and Jewish hats, known as Kippah. The museum upstairs had even more displays and objects to explore and sketch.

We have learnt so much more about the Jewish faith and heritage, both during this experience and in our focus on Judaism as part of Multi-faith week.


Water Way to Learn!

This week in Class 4, our young mathematicians have been busy exploring the fascinating world of capacity! The children have been learning how we measure liquids and have discovered some very handy facts along the way.

We learned that one litre of water is the exact amount that fits into a cube measuring 10cm by 10cm by 10cm. Even more interestingly, that litre of water weighs exactly one kilogram—making it easy to estimate weight and volume together!

Using this new knowledge, the children had a go at estimating the capacity of a variety of everyday containers—everything from water bottles to measuring jugs, and even lunchboxes! After making their predictions, they tested them by filling the containers with water (but not the lunchboxes!) and measuring the results.

There were plenty of thoughtful discussions as students compared their estimates with the real measurements. It was a fantastic hands-on way to develop their understanding of volume, estimation, and the metric system.

We’re so proud of how curious and enthusiastic Class 4 have been. Who knew that maths and science could be so refreshing?