Blog archive
This autumn term the Fossey class has been looking into the controversial and colourful life of animal conservationist Dian Fossey.
Pupils enjoyed learning about Dian’s work and turned the classroom into a rain forest base camp. They have also debated the murder of Dian Fossey and argued for and against in finding out who the murderer was!
The pupils have also had a go at being a forensic detective for the day, looking for ways to gather evidence by either fuming for fingerprints or casting teeth to match dental records.
Lamarr have been studying data-handling and how important this can be in the world we live in.
Pupils have been learning how to extract information from different types of charts, including bar charts and scatter graphs.
They have used Excel to create their own spreadsheet, based around the takings and expenditure from our recent coffee morning in order to work out the profit margin.
They have also practiced answering questions around data and used these questions to produce a comparative bar chart.
Last half-term, Class Curie read a booked called ‘Holes’. We looked at the setting and compared Camp Green Lake to 'then' and 'now'.
We used adjectives to describe the setting and we also drew the differences - which the children thoroughly enjoyed.
Class Curie also looked at the characters throughout the story and we described their physical appearance and traits. The children also enjoyed watching the film and verbally compared the differences between the 'book' and the 'film'.
Hubble group have been busy this half term – we have been learning all about Edwin Hubble and the Space Telescope. We used this idea as our contribution to the school’s scarecrow which was entered in the Tameside Scarecrow Festival held in Hyde Park on Sunday 8th October. Luke and his mum came to join in the fun on the event day.
We made our contribution to the Macmillan Coffee morning through Caleb’s Café – making the most delicious Bacon Butties- we sold out in record time!! Caleb has been busy working out how to maximize his profits.
We had a very busy half term in Logie Baird group: we learned all about who our group was named after - John Logie Baird (who is credited with designing the technology behind television).
We did lots of 'getting to know you' activities as we are a new group. We studied Roald Dahl and read 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' as well as watching the films and comparing them.
We've started to build up our art skills too.
We have also enjoyed learning all about Electricity in Science - wiring plugs, and making buzzers work and all sorts!!!
Daniel, Josh, Karl, Kian, Owen,Teejay and Tyler have spent this half term learning about Harry Ferguson. In 1917 he invented the modern tractor known as the Little Grey Fergie. We found Harry’s birthplace – Growell, County Down, Northern Ireland on a map.
The children had great fun practising speaking and listening skills to direct each other in manoeuvring the model tractors. They also designed their own inventions to make our lives easier!
This term we have welcomed Harley to our class. We have had a lovely half term getting to know him.
For our topic we have been learning all about ‘People Who Help Us’. We had visits from two Police Officers, a Fire Fighting crew, a GP and two Paramedics.
The children enjoyed learning all about their jobs and how they help us. They had the opportunity to look at, and sit in, the Emergency vehicles and handle some of their equipment.
The children had plenty of questions for our visitors and thoroughly enjoyed their visits.
Using Art to ‘Bridge the Gap’ ( Dementia Awareness week):
Well, it's been a VERY busy time here in Strummer…
Sunshine on a Rainy Day.
Our Topic this half term has been the Water Cycle. We have learnt that 80% of the earth is covered in water and that we are drinking the same water that the Dinosaurs drank!
We have also looked at the three stages of a river and made a 3D model which Theo and Daniel showed to the rest of the school during Assembly.
The Summer Term has been a busy one for Presley Group. We have grown in size and welcomed 4 new pupils- Thane, Ellie, Luke and Lewis . These pupils were already attending Thomas Ashton, but have been relocated for the Summer Term into our group.
It has been an exciting time, with our trips to Diggerland, Manor Park and Raft Building at the Roman Lakes in Marple.
We all had an amazing time at Diggerland, the sun was shining for us and it was awesome. We spent the day driving diggers and riding the Spin Dizzy.
This half term, Marley class have been working on their social skills. Marley class have been for ice creams in the park and played with each other and also other children whilst in the park. One day, we met up with Van Zant class and had a game of man hunt, which was awesome!
This term the Bowie class has been taken over by zombies! We have been reading from a series of books by Darren Shan called ‘Zom-B’. Through this series of books, the class has learned about being an outsider in society and the stereotypes associated with being different. This ties in with the work we have been doing in PSHE, focusing on diversity and respect.
First of all, a huge welcome to Daniel, who joined us from Jackson class in May.
This half term we have been learning about World War 2. We know what it’s like to be an Evacuee, including why and how the children were evacuated from the cities during the war.
First of all, a huge Welcome to Owen, who joined Lennon class in February.
Walk like an Egyptian!
This half term we have been finding out about the Ancient Egyptians who lived around 5000 years ago. We have made our own Death Masks from gluing gold and blue paper onto our outlines. We also produced our very own Egyptians from clothes pegs, which we then ‘mummified’ by wrapping them in special bandages. Afterwards we placed them in their own Sarcophagus. Take a look at our creations
This term the Bowie class has been exploring Ancient Egypt. We have discovered what life was like for people in all sections of society; from Pharaohs, to slaves. We have also looked at and re-created 3D models of a pyramid and a cat sarcophagus.
In addition to this, we have worked on a technique called ‘image to text’, where we have taken an old picture of the river Irwell in Manchester and created poems based on the scenery and in particular the old bridge in the centre of the picture.
Jackson class have had a very busy half term! We have enjoyed learning all about Ancient Egypt and we even turned into Archaeologists, digging and dusting skeleton bones.
The children have learnt all sorts of interesting facts about the Ancient Egyptians, including why the very famous pyramids were built, how the Egyptians became so powerful and the importance of the Pharaohs at the time, including Tutankhamun.
The group has been reading the classic John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’. We have had various discussions on themes that are portrayed in the book such as racism, the role of women and friendship. Pupils have also watched the film. They have taken part in debating and have had some really good discussions, in fact fascinating discussions often sparked off by the most unlikely students, which have displayed a sound understanding of the book and the characters.
Well, it's been a fast and furious Ancient Egyptian themed five weeks in Strummer!
We've been busy learning all about Ancient Egypt, in particular, the story of how Howard Carter found Tutankhamun's tomb (well, to be precise, it was actually the water-boy!).
We have learned about how the Egyptians mummified the bodies of Pharoahs, and why - and we have made our own customised death-masks, necklaces and pottery.
As part of anti-bullying week the Van Zant group have discussed the bullying that exists in our world, and how this world has changed due to social media.
We have had a really busy half term learning about our topic on Space. We visited the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester where we could experience lots of different science experiments. We learned about forces, air transport and the age of steam and railways. While we were there we had a ride on the flight simulator and got to feel what it’s like to fly with the Red Arrows- very stomach churning we can tell you!
Fly me to the Moon!
As part of our Space topic, Lennon class have been busy researching our Solar System. We can recite the order of all the planets, and we produced a Powerpoint with lots of facts about each of the 8 planets.
Did you know our Moon is one of 96 Moons in the Solar system?
For Art we have entered our paintings of the Moon into a competition run by Tameside Museums and Galleries Service. We mixed white paint and flour and imprinted bottle tops to show the craters.
Over the last half-term, Marley class have been very busy preparing for the British Heart Foundation Coffee Morning. It has been our responsibility to organise this time round and we have really enjoyed it. We have spent time making bunting to decorate the hall and items to buy, and planned games to play. Every child in class has had a part to play in the coffee morning and we are extremely proud of all their hard work.
We raised a whopping £230.00.
This term the Bowie class has been reading ‘Stone Cold’ by Robert Swindells. Following events in the book, the pupils were asked to investigate a crime scene manufactured in class. The ‘Detectives’ gathered evidence, took crime scene photos and interviewed the suspect and witnesses, until in the end the culprit finally confessed!
We have also been converting our room into the International Space Station, with a view of the Earth, constellations and examples of differing objects you can see in space.
GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM!
