Class 3 have been studying stone circles and have produced some amazing paintings using watercolours and ink. We experimented with different techniques using the paints, using different brushes and wet and dry paper. We looked closely at examples of painting and used this as inspiration for our own pictures. We practised drawing stone circles, focusing on perspective and also adding ink details to the paint.
The finished results were fabulous.
Class Three had a fabulous day in the sunshine learning lots of new forest skills. We played trust games in pairs, leading our blindfolded partner to a tree. When the blindfold was removed we had to find the specific tree. Lots of communication and cooperation were needed.
Following this we made campfires, collecting twigs and using flint and steels to create fires, we then made popcorn which we all enjoyed.
Next we needed resilience and endurance to make skipping ropes. We had lots of fun skipping in the forest.
Finally we made leaf pattern bunting, choosing our leaves carefully, pacing them in the material and tapping gently to reveal the leaf shapes.
We all had a wonderful day. Thank you to Woodmatters and our amazing adult helpers.
In early years, developing strength in our core is essential for our gross and fine motor development. When our new brushes arrived this week, it was a fun opportunity to get painting in our outdoor area. The children extended the activity by using their feet and hands; as well as other materials that they found in our garden to make different marks.
Just in case you missed our display in the Learning for Life tent at the Westmorland County Show, here it is!
Last year, every child in school was involved in creating a clay tile inspired by God’s creation. They are now mounted together in a huge frieze on the wall of our school hall. They look incredible. This was a project in collaboration with local potter, Nigel Edmondson, who invited pupils to his Levens’ studio to learn some techniques and explore the inspirations for his work. He was also kind enough to make enough clay tiles for every child to work with and then fired them in his kiln.
Pupils in year five and six also explored the work of Libby Edmondson as part of their project on Lakeland landscapes by local artists. Students were really inspired by Libby’s bold use of colour in her work and like her, we used acrylics in our own creations.
We are all very grateful to Nigel for working so closely with us over the last twelve months on these wonderful projects and to Ted’s (in Nursery) grandpa for taking a day out of his very busy schedule to create our installation.
Class 2 have enjoyed starting their first maths topic of the year covering place value. We have looked at different numbers and what they are made up of. We have also done lots of counting forwards and backwards!
Class 3 have had a fantastic start to the school year and have been busy learning all about pneumatics. The challenge was to make a pneumatic toy! We explored pneumatics using syringes and balloons and then utilised this knowledge in our own designs. The children learnt about thumbnail sketches and exploded diagrams. We followed our exploded diagram designs when making our final product. I think you will agree they have done an amazing job!
Class 3 enjoyed two music workshops last week enhancing our music curriculum. Cumbria Music hub provided a fantastic session using percussion instruments and we also had a wonderful singing workshop with Cumbria Opera Group. The children had an amazing time learning about the pitch and pulse of music.
What a lovely sunny afternoon! The perfect day to get outside and enjoy the nature around us 🙂
Today, Georgina from the CDEC visited us to teach us about nature journaling. The first thing we needed to do was look very closely at the world around us. What kinds of biodiversity (different types of plants and animals) could we find?
We started with plants, finding all sorts of wildflowers and grasses in the green spaces near us – the community garden, the play park and the field. Then we had a look for living things – a wonderful variety of bugs, spiders and minibeasts.
Our task was to then look as closely as we could. What did we notice about their looks? Their smells? How they moved? We recorded these observations through drawing and writing, creating pages filled with our observations.
I certainly enjoyed myself – try it in a green space near you and see what you can find!
Class 3 have enjoyed looking at the landscape work of artist Lloyd Hopkinson. We examined the techniques he uses then used these in our own landscape paintings of the Lake District hills and mountains. Don’t they look fantastic!
As the school year draws to a close, Class 4 have managed to sneak one final trip in! This time, the Lancashire Police and Crime Museum. This outing was not just a break from routine but a fitting conclusion to our in-depth exploration of crime and punishment throughout history. The museum visit provided a tangible connection to our studies, making the concepts we had discussed in the classroom come alive.
Set in the former prison of Lancaster Castle, the building itself, steeped in history, set the tone for the day. Walking through its doors felt like stepping back in time, as we were greeted by exhibits showcasing the evolution of crime and law enforcement since the establishment of the Lancashire Constabulary. The museum’s extensive collection included everything from Victorian truncheons to more modern policing equipment, giving us a comprehensive view of how crime, punishment and policing have evolved.
A particularly engaging aspect of the museum was its focus on local developments in policing and crime. The museum highlighted significant events and figures in Lancashire’s law enforcement history: we explored exhibits detailing the region’s notorious criminals and landmark cases from the local area.
And of course, we loved dressing up in some police equipment ourselves!
