As part of our history enquiry, we have enjoyed working as historians researching information about Samuel Pepys and why he is a significant person.

Using a range of sources, including the internet, books and extracts from his diary, we considered how we know about the past, how sources of information help us and how we know if they are factual and can help us. We thought about how Samuel Pepys’ Diary helps us understand what happened during the Great Fire of London and why his diary is an important historical source.

After this, we enjoyed a hot seating activity in which we asked questions and answered in role as Samuel Pepys.

To start off their new history topic, Year 2 enjoyed a drama re-enactment of the Great Fire of London.

They were transported back in time to Sunday 2nd September 1666 and to London where they had the challenge of putting out the fire. However, by the time they had got water from the River Thames the fire had spread!

They had great fun learning why the fire started and how hard it was to stop it spreading.  They also considered the problems that people faced at the time.

Year 2 have made a wonderful start to the new school year.

They have been working very hard and look forward to sharing their learning with you.  Keep a look out here for photos and information about the exciting learning adventures that they have had!

Mrs Thomas and Mrs Williams

Year 5 visited the Sikh Gurdwara in Manchester. They enjoyed learning about the Sikh faith, listening to Sikh music and hearing a reading from the Sikh holy book- The Guru Granth Sahib.

As part of our learning on why the church is such a special place, Year 2 enjoyed a recent visit to St Mary’s Church.
We were very grateful to Mother Beck for showing us round and explaining the different furniture, artefacts, vestments and services.

We enjoyed a sensory exploration of the church, carefully reflecting on what we could see as we took in the interesting details in features such as the stained glass and carvings in the pulpit and lectern.

Following this, we considered connections between the furniture and objects in the church to familiar bible stories.

Year 2 have had a great time investigating  different types puppets from all around the world. They watched video clips of puppets being used as a ventriloquist act or in a TV show and then looked at pictures and some real life puppets, carefully exploring each one. They considered what type of puppet is was and how it is made.  This helped them gather ideas for designing their own puppets and they now can’t wait to make them and see their finished products come to life!

As part of their learning on why the church is a special place for Christians and  peaceful places to talk to God, Year 2 enjoyed writing their own prayers and special messages to God in their very own tabernacle! They ensured that the lamp kept burning throughout the day as a symbol of the presence of God.      

Year 2 enjoyed a wonderful and calming Circle Time today led by Father Paul and Mother Beck.  We considered how God ‘holds us’ in the light of Jesus and no matter what we are going though or what tough times we face, God is always with us, through the good times and the bad.

Lots of dancing and games were enjoyed. 

What fun we had!

Here Ye! Here Ye! Bethlehem is about to get rather busy!

Year 1 and 2 really enjoyed performing their nativity story ‘Bethlehem B&B’, a story that is one that you will know all too… well, sort of!

Year 2 had great fun taking part in a workshop. They explored the lives, times and achievements of Christopher Columbus and Neil Armstrong, and learnt about the similarities between these two significant explorers and the ways in which they have made a global difference.  They considered the significance and consequences of their voyages.

They became time travellers, taking imaginary journeys back to the 15^th Century and then to the 20^th Century, embarking on a voyage heading west across the ocean ,and also launched into Space on board Apollo 11.  They thought about the qualities that the two explorers would have been needed and agreed that they would have been brave, clever, strong, imaginative, adventurous and determined.

They also enjoyed discovering these two explorers and their significant voyages on our large school timeline!

Dear Parents/Carers, Please find the below spellings for Year Three:

Article by Harriet Cook, Year 6…ORANGUTANS FACE EXTINCTION

Year 4 had a fantastic time at Castleshaw learning about the Romans in our local area. We looked at different Roman artefacts, learnt about the Roman army and tried out some different formations and also explored the Roman fort.

As part of their learning on Judaism, Year 3 visited the Manchester Jewish Museum. During the workshop, they enjoyed the opportunity to look around and learn lots about the different parts of a synagogue.  They also enjoyed a detective themed scavenger hunt around the museum and handled many interesting artefacts to help them learn about the Sabbath, the Torah and the Ten Commandments.

Year 3 had lots of fun on their trip to the Bolton Museum this week.  A great opportunity to revise their learning  in our Ancient Egyptian topic and they loved being able to see so many artefacts first hand.  A real life mummy being one of their favourite!  After the workshop, they enjoyed exploring the rest of the museum and aquarium, and even enjoyed  a spot of reading in the library. What a great day they had!

Today we had lots of fun learning about the archaeologist Howard Cater and recreating his discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. After reading his diary extracts, we took turns to explore the tomb and observe the many wondrous artefacts.  Taking in as much detail as possible, in a limited time due to the build-up of poisonous gasses over thousands of years, we described our finds to our expedition team members and then sketched these into our log books. Following this, we took a virtual tour of a Tutankhamun exhibition to see the artefacts in a real life context and generated questions to help us answer the next question in our enquiry, ‘Who was Tutankhamen and how did he die?’

Working as historians, we reflected on our understanding that our knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources, and that people in the past represent events or ideas in a way that persuades others. We also discussed the reliability of photos, accounts and stories and explored the idea that there can be different accounts of history.

’

Year 3 loved completing some fieldwork to help identify the features of a local river. A great hook to start us off our new geography topic.

We explored how rivers are formed, where they begin, where they end, what effect they have and how we use them. We also had great fun exploring and identifying the different organisms that live in a local river.

Year 3 enjoying developing their disciplinary knowledge by using different sources of information, including interactive timelines, to  understand where and when the earliest civilizations appeared, and explain their achievements.  Also great to see one of our pupils, who came dressed as Neil Armstrong for World Book Day, finding themselves on our new timeline!

As part of their PE unit, Year 3 have enjoyed performing a dance about life by the River Nile. You can enjoy watching our video by clicking HERE

As part of their RE topic ‘Called by God’, Year 3 took part in a

Mock Christian Wedding Service  at St Mary’s Church.

This wonderful experience helped the children understand the

promises that a couple make when they marry and how making

these promises to each other and to God  can help a Christian couple

in their married life.

Spring Term Spellings

Year 3 had lots of fun in a history workshop, revising their learning about the Stone Age to the Iron Age. They enjoyed lots of hands on practical learning, including dating and sketching artefacts, revising chronology skills with timelines (including a toilet roll one), re-enacting the day of a Hunter Gatherer and considering the main changes that occurred in Britain during this period.

This term we have been learning to balance in gymnastics, using the apparatus.  Also, we have created a dance routine, turning darkness into light, as part of our R.E unit.  The children performed emotional routines and were very creative with their holds.

In our Science lessons, we have been learning about electricity.  As part of our D.T lessons the children have designed and created Christmas cards containing an electric circuit.  Here are their wonderful creations!