Class 3 had a wonderful afternoon in the woods learning all about invertebrates and their importance. We all enjoyed a mindfulness activity, lying on the forest floor and looking at the trees and sky above. We went on a minibeast hunt and discussed habitats and the importance of looking after our world.
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!
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!
To start the year, Class 2 have been learning all about different materials in science. We have been exploring what objects are made from and thinking carefully about their properties.
Over the past two weeks, we have begun investigating the different properties of materials. Last week, we carried out an exciting experiment to find out which objects would sink and which would float!
Before testing each object, we made predictions and discussed our ideas. We talked about whether the material it was made from might affect what happened in the water. The children were fantastic at explaining their thinking and using scientific vocabulary.
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 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.
Class 3 had a fantastic time in science learning all about sound. We learnt about how different musical instruments create sounds and identified the vibrations. We looked at how sound travels to the ear and what happens inside the ear. We also conducted experiments testing to see which material would be best for soundproofing a room. We concluded our topic by making string telephones to help us learn about how sound travels.
A huge thank you to Beth and Kelly from Crossbank Dental Care who came to visit the children in Nursery and Reception yesterday. They taught us all about which foods keep our teeth happy, which make them sad and how to brush them properly. We enjoyed some practical activities, games and even took home our own special goody bags including toothbrushes, toothpaste and timers to make sure we are brushing our teeth for long enough!
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.
Last week we went into the community garden to identify living and non living things!
Our topic for this half term has been plants. This has been a great opportunity to carry out lots of experiments, making prediction, setting up fair tests and then recording our findings. We loved finding out about the function of the stem and testing to see what a seed needs for healthy growth.
