Class 3 have been very busy learning about the Amazon Rainforest. We have learnt all about the climate, animals and zones of the rainforest. The children were then challenged to make their own rainforest in a shoebox. I think you will agree they are fantastic.
This week, our pupils have enjoyed a range of rich and varied activities, designed to deepen their understanding across the curriculum and inspire curiosity beyond the classroom.
A highlight of the week was our visit to a local secondary school science laboratory. Pupils had the opportunity to work in an authentic laboratory environment, using microscopes to carefully observe onion cells. This hands-on experience allowed them to apply their prior knowledge of living things and develop their scientific enquiry skills. Pupils also investigated how different chemicals affect the colour of a Bunsen burner flame, sparking excitement and thoughtful discussion about chemical reactions.
We were also delighted to welcome a visitor from SCARF, who led an engaging and informative session on the risks associated with both legal and illegal drugs. Through clear, age-appropriate discussion, pupils developed their understanding of making safe and informed choices, supporting the PSHE curriculum. The session was made even more memorable with a visit from Harold the Talking Giraffe, who helped to reinforce key messages (and give us stickers!)
Later in the week, pupils visited Park End Wetlands, where they took part in a fieldwork investigation to assess water quality. Developing their scientific sampling techniques, they measured both the number and variety of invertebrate species present. This is an activity completed by Levens pupils in the past, so it was a great opportunity to measure the health of the wetlands over time. Mrs Mason who supported on the trip was even there when the wetlands were first developed and planted by the community!
The week concluded with a special assembly, where pupils had the opportunity to share their learning with parents and carers. As part of this, they developed their oracy skills, preparing short presentations about an aspect of the week that had particularly interested them. Pupils worked hard to speak confidently without relying on a script, focusing on maintaining eye contact and using a clear, expressive voice.
I am incredibly proud of the pupils’ enthusiasm, curiosity and independence. It has been a fantastic way to end the term and get outside the classroom walls following the hard work our year 6 pupils put in throughout SATS week.
Check out a selection of photos from the week below!
This term, our geography learning has taken us on an exciting journey into the world of maps and mountains. We have been studying contour lines and learning how they are used to show elevation and height on maps.
To begin with, we explored contour maps of familiar local places, including Patterdale Hall and Levens village. Looking at areas we know well helped us to understand how contour lines work in real life. We noticed that:
By comparing the maps with what we know of these locations, we were able to see how hills, valleys and flatter areas are represented on Ordnance Survey maps.
To bring our learning to life, we then designed and built our own mountains using thick card. Each layer of card represented a different contour line, stacked carefully to show increasing height. This helped us visualise how a flat map can represent a three‑dimensional landscape.
Each mountain was unique. Some had:
Once our individual mountains were complete, we combined them into one large imaginary mountain range, creating an exciting landscape with a variety of elevation features. Some students also noticed that this is how features like rivers and lakes are formed in nature, so we added some of those too.
Despite the quick changing weather we have had over the past few weeks, Class One have enjoyed exploring all the variations! They have learnt about how wind can be useful and how we can tell if it is a windy day, despite not being able to see the actual wind itself, only its effects. Clouds were next on the list for exploring and the children enjoyed an afternoon cloud spotting outside and noticing the different colours and shapes of them and learning that the more grey and dark a cloud is, the more likely it is to rain! Finally, the children learnt how rainbows were created and enjoyed some rainbow art with Bob, exploring how colours can be mixed to create new ones and made their own, whole class rainbow!
Class 2 went on a walk around the village as part of their geography this term. We focused on looking for human and physical features, mapping skills and using a compass!
Class Three had a fantastic day at White Scar Cave and the park at Ingleton. The children learnt all about limestone rock formations and fossils on the tour of the cave and really enjoyed looking at the stalagmites and stalactites. A picnic followed and then a play in the park at Ingleton.
This half term the children have been learning all about orienteering and team work. This has included a blindfold obstacle course and various challenges on the field. The children have used photographs to locate orienteering stations and have been learning the orienteering symbols. We have all had great fun doing this.
The sun was shining for Class Three’s trip to Bowness-on-Windermere. The children had a fantastic day carrying out practical fieldwork and gathering their own data on tourism. This included pedestrian and car counts at different locations in Bowness-on-Windermere. Mapping land use and producing a detailed field sketch. The children also interviewed some visitors to discover why they were visiting the Lake District. The children worked incredibly hard and are now going to use their data to draw some conclusions about the advantages and disadvantages of tourism.
We experienced a wonderful, action packed day on Wednesday, when we visited Martin Mere Wetland Centre in Lancashire. This supported our learning from the autumn term about migration and Chris, our guide for the day, taught us all about the migration of swans to the UK. We were able to see the swans up close during feeding time and even learned a flamingo dance! The highlight of our day however was a visit to see the otters!
A huge thank you to everyone who sent a postcard to school over the summer. We now have a wonderful display showing a variety of places visited in the UK and the wider world. If you are going away over half term please send a postcard so we can add more destinations.
