Year 2 have started learning about the 7 continents in the world. We practiced locating these on our balloon “globes.” To help us do this, we first added the equator around the middle of the balloons to use as a reference point. A few balloons may have popped but the children all had fun learning about the geography of the world in a hands on way!
This morning, Year 5 and Year 6 took part in a Santa Dash which is a themed orienteering session. It involved using a map and solving clues. Everyone enjoyed taking part. Thank you to the Sports Leaders who organised the event.
Last week, Year 5 developed their orienteering skills by completing a new orienteering course. They worked hard to follow the map and solve the clues.
Year three ended our geography volcanoes topic with a BANG! We concluded our learning about volcanoes in geography by creating our own chemical reactions to mimic the eruption process. The children acted like real scientists, taking accurate measurements using syringes and measuring cups and they even had safety goggles to protect themselves! The children had lots of fun during this activity but also we tried to link this to what happens in a real eruption.
We know that sudden movement at the tectonic plates causes pressure to build under ground until the magma erupts through a crack in the earth’s crust in an eruption. The lava then cools solidifies into molten rock in cone-shaped layers. After each eruption, there is a new layer of solidified rock, forming a volcano.
Children at St.Alban’s have ditched their cars this week, instead choosing to walk/cycle/jog to school! Not only is this better for the environment but also brilliant for both our physical and mental health. Well done to house Jericho for organising the week and thank you to all children who took part.
Here are some pictures taken from some students’ journeys to school….
On Monday, Year 5 visited Wickersley Wood. We used compasses to find directions to move around the cleared area.
We can now use the eight points of a compass (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW) to find the points in between. (NNE etc) We have also developed rhymes to help us remember the four points. I know that my rhyme begins with Never, Ever,… although I sometimes use Never Eat Shredded Wheat to make sure I say North, East, South, West in a clockwise direction.
In school, we have used Digimap tools to find the area of the Wood and the distance tool to find the distance of our walk.
We now recognise many of the symbols on the map below.
Which symbols can you recognise? Why not use the key to help?
Today, we have found a little part of history within our school grounds!
This datestone was originally from the National school in Wickersley, which opened in 1855. The National School was located where the doctors is now.
We have been looking at old photographs, maps and reports to find out about life in the National school and how it compares with our school today.
We found out that life in the National School was very different. Attendance was really poor and so was the quality of education. Many parents chose to send their children to Whiston school instead! The school was overcrowded and did not even have running water.
This week in school is local history week. Year 3’s focus this week is looking at schools in Wickersley over the years.
Yesterday, we went on a short walk around the village. We plotted our route on maps of the area and jotted down any human/physical features that we saw.
Our walk included a stop off at the old Dame school. The story goes that the larger door was for the teacher and the smaller door for the children. When a child was too tall to enter through the small door, standing upright, then they were deemed ‘big enough’ for work.
We discussed whether we thought this was fair or not and thought about how schooling has changed in Wickersley.
Even the shortest children in Year 3 are too tall to pass through the small door. So parents, feel free to make your children work at home!
In geography, Year 3 have been learning the main cardinal points. We applied our knew knowledge by using compass directions to locate features on a variety of different maps. Finally, we practised using real compasses outside. Children had to follow written instructions using compass directions.
