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2019/20

Accio Artists!

This learning experience will begin with a visit the Warner Bros Studios to gain an insight into the world of Harry Potter! In class we will be studying the Chamber of Secrets and the artwork for our experience will be based around this book. To begin, we will analyse the work of Jim Kay, who has created the illustrated versions of Harry Potter. We will then experiment with different sketching pencils and learn basic sketching skills such as how to create: edges, outlines, shading and creating texture. We will then begin to experiment with coloured pencil. Next, we will look how to create a specific mood within our pictures and how to create movement. Once we have learnt all of these techniques, children will make a decision about which section of the book they would like to illustrate. Using the drawing and feedback skills which they have learnt they will work on a final design!

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Incredible Insides

This term, we will be learning all about the human body! We will begin by learning about the function of each of the organs and create a non-chronological report. Following this, we will look at the circulatory system and the function of the heart. Using lamb hearts, we will learn the different parts of the heart and how these fit into the cardiovascular system. Next, we will look at how our digestive system works and the main organs which are involved in this process. This will involve us understanding the journey of our food when we eat and how our body uses the nutrients which we need. Finally, we will look at the impact which diet, exercise and lifestyle has on our bodies.

Click on the link below to find out which curriculum objectives we will be covering throughout this learning experience:

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We dissected lamb hearts and identified the parts of the heart

Extreme Earth!

During this experience, children will gain an understanding into each of the layers of the Earth and how these impact our lives. Firstly, the children will look at what the five layers of the Earth are and the key facts associated with them.They will then find out how the Earth is divided into tectonic plates and how these create natural disasters, such as earthquakes and volcanoes. Using their knowledge of tectonic plates, children will learn how earthquakes are created and the key parts of a volcano. We will use specific examples of recent eruptions and earthquakes to gain an understanding of the impacts these disasters have on a community. Using this knowledge, children will create videos using pictures and models to support their explanations

Extreme Earth!.pdf

To begin this experience, we looked at the layers of the Earth: the crust, the mantle, the outer core and the inner core. We were fascinated by how much is under our feet!

Next, we looked at how the Earth's crust is made of a number of tectonic plates. These fit together like a giant jigsaw puzzle that covers the entire Earth! At the boundaries of these plates, certain landforms are created, volcanoes are formed and earthquakes occur!

Following this, we looked at one of the main natural disasters that hits the Earth: earthquakes. We looked at the key parts of an earthquake, as well as how they are formed.

To help us further our understanding of earthquakes, we looked at a case study of one: the Haiti earthquake of 2010. We looked at the causes, impacts and response to the earthquake to see how they affect the Earth and the communities around it.

Following on from our work on earthquakes, we looked at another natural disaster: volcanoes. First, we looked at the key parts of a volcano and how they occur.

Next, we looked at the different types of volcano: composite volcanoes, shield volcanoes and cinder cone volcanoes.

Outstanding Orienteering!

The experience will begin by studying the UK and being able to locate each country, major cities and counties. Children will use atlases and maps to hone their map-work skills and gain an understanding into ordnance survey symbols and grid references. Using this knowledge, they will gain confidence in identifying points on a map and answering questions about it. After this, we will learn the eight key points of the compass and understand how to use a compass. Using a compass, children will gain increased confidence in following instructions. Once we have gained these key skills, children will have the opportunity to got orienteering at Bedgebury Pinetum! Finally, they will be creating their own course around school!

Outstanding Orienteering Overview.pdf

To begin the experience, we sharpened up our locational knowledge of the United Kingdom by locating cities and understanding which countries comprise the United Kingdom.

Next, we learnt about Ordnance Survey maps, including: their purpose, who uses them, the signs and symbols associated with them and - perhaps most impressively - had a go at making our own! What do you think?

Following this, we looked at grid references and how they help us read maps to locate where certain places are. We looked at four figure and six figure references to prepare us for using them ourselves when we go to Bedgbury Pinetum!

To end our experience, we tested our new orienteering skills at Bedgbury Pinetum - one of our groups nearly broke a record for how quickly they went round! After we had finished the course, we spent the afternoon building dens in the woods!

Magnificent Maya Masks!

Throughout this experience, the children will be exposed to a range of activities associated with the famous ancient civilisation of the Maya. To begin the experience, children will be immersed in the Mayan culture through a practical workshop, which will
give them base knowledge of Mayan life and customs. Following this, the children will explore these concepts in greater detail to create non-chronological reports on Mayan daily life. After this, children will look at Mayan masks and the traditions associated with
them; this will then form the basis of their remaining learning, where they will be creating their own Mayan masks, using the materials and techniques similar to those used at the time.

Magnificent Mayan Masks Overview.pdf

Maya Hot Tasks!

Finally, we were able to use all of the knowledge we had gained to create our Hot Tasks - I'm sure you will agree, they look amazing!

Maya Food Tasting!

In order to fully immerse ourselves in the Maya culture, we tried foods that would have existed at the time. As you can see, some of us enjoyed them more than others!

To show our learning on the Maya, we created detailed non-chronological reports on the entire civilisation, including: food, traditions, gods and the writing system. Did you know the Maya practised human sacrifices, and were one of the first civilisations to have their own writing system?

In order to understand the purpose of Maya masks and gain an understanding of how they were created, we analysed some of the masks from the Maya period. We looked at their design, their purpose, their composition and their impact on people who saw them!

Using our geographical skills, we found out where the Maya civilisation existed, and what some of their key settlements were. Many of these still exist today, including the Chichen Itza, one of the largest pyramids in the world!

We looked at the chronology of the Maya to understand when their civilisation existed and when the key events in the Maya timeline occurred.

Hands on History Workshop!

We were incredibly lucky to have Paula and Nick from Hands on History come in to give us a workshop all about the Maya! We learnt about the gods, their clothing and their customs and even played a deadly game of Maya handball: Poc-a-Toc!