The ICT suite was transformed by Year 6 into a buzzing newsroom as they took the challenge of reporting the day’s exciting events. Pupils were split into small teams, with each person playing a vital role in the process of creating a newspaper report. In Year 3 they continued to demonstrate their commitment to sport by completing even more PE throughout the day as well as spending some time researching where the money raised from Sport Relief would go towards.   Year 4 also became journalists for the day, conducting interviews with staff and pupils on their experiences during the day. In year 5 the sporting theme continued with even more PE in the afternoon and also spent time learning about the projects that Sport Relief supports both here in the UK and around the world.

[View with PicLens]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

123►

Next we made our way to a more rocky area, just as the tide had gone out, to search for organisms and beach wildlife such as mussels, limpets, crabs and different types of seaweed in the rock pools. Year 3 also studied the different beach zone in more depth, examining what could be found in each area. We were extra lucky to have caught the tide perfectly and were able to walk where only an hour before the sea had covered the mid and low zones.

Year 3 had a super scientific morning and are now more knowledgeable about our local environment.

[View with PicLens]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We hope you enjoy our factual reports and that our weird, wonderful and sometimes whacky creatures don’t give you nightmares!

Please click here for Class 1 reports.

Please click here for Class 2 reports.

Year 3 started off the morning by testing our science knowledge against other children around the world on the World Science Day website.

We also used our science skills to make great observations as we went on a habitat hunt around the school. It’s amazing what creatures live right on our doorstep! We found evidence of rabbits (holes and droppings), and found worms, woodlice, bees, ants and lots more! We then drew sketches of the habitats that they lived in and thought about why this was a good place for the organisms to live.

Year 4

Whose hand is it?? That was the question echoing around Year 4 on World Science Day as a particularly gruesome discovery was discovered in the staffroom freezer! Luckily, minds were put to rest once the children realised that it was in fact an ice hand with food colouring created to help them understand the changes in state between solids and liquids. The whole day centred around using investigative skills to identify the differences between solids and liquids and how they behave. This allowed plenty of opportunity for hands-on learning using a variety of solids and liquids, including ones that often cause confusion such as sponges, sand and honey! We also enjoyed the chance to show off our scientific knowledge through online quizzes against children from around the world.

Year 5

Who can construct the highest, most stable tower?

A question that Year 5 have endeavoured to answer today through group investigation, experimentation and perspiration!!!!
Having only a few select items to use we challenged ourselves to see which group would succeed. After one attempt (and rigorous testing including the fatal ‘wind test!’) we examined the structures that were left standing and thought to ourselves…WHY?

Reflecting on successes and difficulties and using what we had learnt, we then repeated the challenge- with interesting (and far more successful) results!!

Great learning Year 5!

Year 6

Year 6 ’launched’ the day with a bang, building and setting off water rockets. The excitement was palpable as we increased the air pressure inside the bottles (which were about a quarter full of water) using bike pumps. When the pressure rose to the point of overcoming the force of friction which held the cork in place, we had lift off! We had a number of scientific checks and adjustments to make as not every launch was successful at first. However, we persisted and had an immense amount of fun, launching our rockets high into the sky and often getting soaked in the process. Not only did we witness Isaac Newton’s law of ‘Every action has an equal and opposite reaction’ happening in front of our very eyes but for once, the seagulls chose to stay well away!

Next was onto bridge building! After looking at the different types of bridges from around the world and a ‘tester’ investigation into the strongest types of shapes we were challenged to build a bridge using only straws, paper, sellotape and string! Another unexpected twist was when we learned that each team had a budget of £100 and all the materials would have to be from our budget!

Finally, we learned about thrust and designed and built balloon rockets that we raced across the class room! The experiment required a lot of resilience and perseverance, but our patience and hard work paid off and we built some pretty effective rockets!

Check out the year 6 frog pages for pictures and videos from the day!

[View with PicLens]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12►

Amazing Mazes!

World Maths Day saw Year 3 embarking on a day of practical maths, learning about measuring, decision-making, shape and space and problem solving among many other key life skills. Our aim of the day was to design and make mazes which will link to our habitats learning as they are going to be decorated as an animal’s incredible home.

Firstly, we had to design our mazes ensuring that all measurements were precise and that the maze was achievable but challenging. It was important to use a ruler and measure in cms with absolute accuracy. Once on paper Year 3′s needed to transfer their designs to 3D wooden batons by measuring lengths and sawing them so they fitted perfectly with their plans. Some incredible carpentry skills were displayed and fantastic concentration and understanding of shape and space.

Finally, each cut section was glued to the original maze plan ready to be decorated. It was a brilliant day where everyone has learnt important skills for life…shelf building at home next!!

Year 4

Year 4 had a multitude of mathematical mastermind questions to solve on their maths trails on World Maths Day. All did amazingly well on the tough trail, set by Miss Clare and Mr Luke, to follow and answer questions around the classroom. A variety of mathematical areas were included, such as time, measurement, area, multiplication and subtraction. Not only that but they subsequently wrote their own maths trails based on things they could see outside! Again many areas of maths were included in the children’s questioning, putting not only their mathematical skills and observation skills to the test but also their questioning skills. The fun did not stop there – in the afternoon we discussed all our  favourite maths games that we love to play, and then made our own! Some were innovated old favourites and some were ingenious new creations. Well done Year 4!

Year 5

Tantalising Tessellations!!!

Looking at a variety of artwork that has been produced using this repeating pattern technique, Year 5 were inspired to create their own pieces of art! A great deal of shape investigation had to take place first, before a final decision being made on a template design. Poly-tiles were then created, which were painted up and printed onto material. Hanging artwork at it’s most enjoyable!! We also had a 45 min break to take part in Mathletics on the World Maths Day website, in a bid to win precious points for our school! Come on SIJS!!

Year 6

World Maths Day for Year 6 was both exciting and a risky business! The children used their probability knowledge to solve many problems in the morning including; taking the ‘Smartie Challenge’ with Mr Allcock, going ‘Spintatsic’ with Mr Tudor and tackling ‘Take a chance on me’ with Miss Hart. Team work was key throughout the day and the children especially rose to the challenge when presented with difficult Sudoku puzzles. Like the rest of the school, year 6 had their chance to take part in Mathletics for one hour in the afternoon. The children competed with perseverance against other children around the World and thoroughly enjoyed the competitive side of the task. We look forward to World Maths Day next year!

[View with PicLens]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

123►

Class 1

Class 1 were on a quest to explore different quests of Tom and Elenna, and then, much to the excitement of the Beast experts, it was time to create our own beasts. We used our scientific knowledge of the classification of vertebrates to establish key features in terms of appearance, and think how aspects of diet and habitat affect what they look like. What a wide range of scary, and totally unique beast were created! How Tom and Elenna were about to defeat the monsters, on their quest to retrieve an object which will protect the land of Avantia from destruction, will remain a secret … until these young authors publish their sequels. Good luck class 1!

Class 2

Class 2 started the morning with a Roald Dahl treasure hunt with children looking for answers to a trail of questions, using loads of Roald Dahl books. We then invented our own chocolate bars!

After break the children created their own creature: choosing from a mammal, reptile, bird, amphibian or fish. They used some of the BFG’s language to help them make their creature name. Then we hot-seated different characters.

Straight after lunch we had a peach party, with story races, reading in a parachute peach and drawing consequences.

Well done year 3 for a super day, exploring the love of reading. Thank you!

Year 4

Year 4 had an exciting day for World Book Day! We started by sharing our varied costumes and practising our recent learning of forming questions by writing some for each other to answer in character. Although many thought it may be difficult to link books with maths, we enjoyed investigating which words and letters were used most frequently on a page of our books before presenting the data in bar charts. Many of us were inspired to try some new books and authors by our passionate presentations of our own favourite books. Finally, we used the ICT suite to explore the World Book Day website and also to research our own favourite authors. A great World Book Day was enjoyed by one and all!

Year 5

In Year 5 (dressed as a plethora of characters!!!), we immersed ourselves in the world of books. Visiting all three classes, we were drawing from all our imaginative juices to create new and original rainforest characters that we can go on to use in our innovated stories to come, we had an exciting exploration of the senses to develop descriptive settings and then had the opportunity to rave about our own favourite reads to each other and explain why we like them so much! A fantastic day celebrated by all!!

Year 6

In year 6, to celebrate world book day, pupils took part in the ‘Mega Library Challenge” which involved writing a story ONLY using lines from published books.  Limited to one line from any one book, we had to immerse ourselves in pages and pages of gripping tales, scouring text to find lines which would help develop our story.  You can see an example from each year 6 class here. Not content with that, all week students had been preparing and rehearsing giving a book review to camera: a daunting task!  You can click on some of the reviews below.

The red king and his queen were riding by the sea. (Jenny Nimmo Charlie bone and the castle of castle of the mirrors page xiii) The seas were running very strongly still, and the breakers were huge but distance now, for the spring tide had ebbed. (Dick King-Smith The water horse page 11-12.) Somewhere a bell rang. (Kathy Clark What if they find us pg53.) But there was more. (Michael Morpurgo alone on a wide wide sea pg180.) Something nagged at the back of my mind. Rick Riordan (pg 168 Percy Jackson and the sea of monsters.) More and more gulls circled above, calling to each other, forever spying. (The Travelling Restaurant Barbra Else 230.) Suddenly the king remembered that the General had given him something. (Nadia Aguiar secrets of tamarind page 160). Right there and then my shock and horror was overshadowed by the terrible danger. (Chris Mould Something Wickedly Weird the ice pirates.)

By Joseph P, Kai M, Tamzyn C and Katie M (Class 8 )

One hot day towards the end of the summer term, in which she had her 16^th birthday, she got home from school to find dad already there, talking to a stranger. (Philip Pullman- the broken bridge pg. 3) He was a skinny, black-haired, bespectacled boy, who had the pinched, slightly unhealthy look of someone who had grown allot in a short space of time. (JK Rowling – harry potter: the order of the phoenix pg.7) A strange smell filled the air. (Chris Mould- something wickedly weird- the curse of the wolf PG.74) her father took a pace forward. (Brian Jacques – Martian the warrior pg. 126) he grabbed his nose and until his eyes watered. (Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell – the edge chronicles: beyond the deepwoods pg.88) then the car struck him and there was a sickening thud as he was thrown into the air, the gun spinning out of his hand. (Antony Horowitz- Alex rider: scorpia rising p. 101)  A thought flashed through her head, even faster than the ice could flash past her head. (Eoin Colfer- Artemis foul) Over the noise of the shouts and the struggle there came a sound like a trumpet and everyone fell still in fear. (Philip Pullman – the firework- maker’s daughter pg. 59) 7 minutes, maybe 8 minutes later  he wasn’t sure why he was hanging on anymore. ( Anthony horowitz- Alex rider : the crocodile tears pg.334) he opened his eyes… (Michael Morpurgo- private peaceful pg.175)

By Holly C, Felix MS, Georgia A, Berenice L, Owen O (Class 9)

It was almost spring in the frozen northland. (Pauline francis : White Fang p5) My nightmare started like this.(Rick Riordan: Percy Jackson p1) Illuminated in it was a tall, thin, undeniably commanding man, with a livid scar running down his smooth left cheek (Lyn Gardner: Into the Woods p15) He paused for a moment, thinking. (Robert swindells: Black Out p128) His whole body was racked with pain and blood pouring in his ears and behind his eyes. (Anthony Horowitz : Crocodile Tears p334) Then he said people had been destroyed for knowing such enormous secrets. (Lemony Snicket: The Grim Grotto p60). As a huge cloud of dust settled, he disappeared. (Lemony snicket: The Vile village p202) I heard whispers that said run away and hide. (Malonrie Blackman: Tell me no Lies p129) So that’s how I found myself a few minutes later sitting inside a house in a village. (Michael Morpurgo: Shadow p137) The single beam of searched light from the village circled the sky above me. (Michael Morpurgo: Friend or Foe p49) Then suddenly I woke in the light (Philip Reeve: No such thing as Dragons p124) Slowly I made my way down the stairs and out onto the runway, limping towards the flames that would never die. (Anthony Horowitz: Alex Rider Snakehead p416)

By Daisy-May, Madi, Kira, Ash & Luke (Class 10)

[View with PicLens]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YEAR 3 | YEAR 4 | YEAR 5 | YEAR 6

The first  ‘Historical Fun Friday’ was a great success as the children learnt about a wealth of different historical figures, from Pocahontas to Leonardo Da Vinci, via trekking across the extremes of Antarctica to name but three.  Each historical fun Friday pupils will be learning in mixed year groups and will each experience lessons with ten different historical figures helping to understand how the events of the past have shaped our world today.

**Update- Lots more pics from our third Historical Friday are now online.

[View with PicLens]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

123►

The Great Art Quest, the aim of which is to develop pupils’ understanding and responses to the works of art they see, is well and truly up and running.

The first stage of Year 6’s great art quest began with a visit to the Barbara Hepworth Museum, led by Craig Johnson our resident storyteller for the project. After learning about the atmospheric studio and building where Barbara Hepworth lived, worked and died, we were given the chance to become Hepworth experts ourselves. Exploring the garden and its sculptures, we were set the task of renaming the artworks with titles which had been inspired by our own experiences, thoughts and ideas. After sharing our mysterious and often humorous ideas, Craig led us to a group of sculptures which fired up our imagination enabling us to create a collection of weird and wonderful stories based on the sculptural forms before us.

Following  the museum visit each group embarked on a St Ives town trail which led us to the Malakoff, the church, the Guildhall and the library all of which hold the secret treasure of striking Hepworth sculptures. Accompanied by Vicky Wiltshire our artist for the project, we learned about Barbara’s techniques and her inspirations. We were able to touch the sculptures and feel for the very fingerprints that Hepworth left when sculpting her works of art. The Church held a poignant moment of reflection  as we learned of Hepworth’s loss of her son and how she made the stunning Mother and child sculpture in remembrance of him especially for the church in St Ives.

[View with PicLens]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12►

DAY 2

Day two saw us learning in school with Craig with this time a focus on poetry.  Drawing on our ideas from our previous day’s visit we generated words and phrases about particular Hepworth works and used them as a starting point for our poems.  We worked hard to give the sculptures a character with feelings, using our literacy skills to create what we hope are some striking verses.

[View with PicLens]

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAY 3

Who would have thought just cling film and cellotape could make such eye-catching sculptures? On day 3 we were visited by Vicky, who demonstrated how to wrap any interestingly shaped object with clingfilm and then cellotape to create Hepworth inspired  sculptures. We had fun cellotaping barbies, roller skates, bottles, bananas……and the challenge was stepped up by attempting to introduce inverted shapes into our works of art. Those that used Barabara Hepworth’s ideas along with their own imagination produced some striking results and the magnificant end products were captured in a sculpture photo shoot to be shown at the Tate.

[View with PicLens]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12►