Category: Home

It’s Lovely Outside

Scott Grason-Taylor

So much discovery and learning goes on  outside. We have so many different little corners and open spaces to explore. The apple tree is dropping apples and they have been used to fly through some pipe pieces. Others have explored the floating and sinking of natural materials-apples,leaves and sand mainly. The big building materials are always popular and the Pioneers have been creating homes and towers and some complex slides. Turn taking and following rules are always useful skills to work on and a big group sorted out there own game of searching for hidden items. This was beautiful to watch. Digging continues in one small corner and I am told that it does wonders for upper body strength and developing muscles and flexibility in the wrists and arms-all good for developing writing…and it makes a mess.

Happy Learning

School Art Days (September 2019)

Scott Grason-Taylor

As part of our new topic ‘This Green and Pleasant Land’ the children painted part of the beautiful view from the school playground.

Over two days the children enjoyed learning lots of new skills including: colour mixing, sketching, collage, brush strokes and using different textures and tones.

They also looked at the work of three landscape artists: David Hockney, Catherine Stephenson and John Constable.

Leaders Leading Learning

Scott Grason-Taylor

Wow Leaders, what a start!  During PE this week Leaders have been using their skills to set up a range of activities for Learners to take part in.  The children devised and set up all the activities to practice basic skills before leading small groups of Learners through it, supporting and encouraging them along the way.  

Mrs Walker and Mrs Brown witnessed some fantastic teamwork and leadership skills in Leaders and some fantastic feedback from Learners about their favourite activities.  Well done everyone!

Stay and Play

Scott Grason-Taylor

Every Monday after school ,families are invited to stay and play and get to know what goes on in Pioneer Class. Each week different activities will be set out. This week we tried a bit of painting and played around with Numicon. The Russian Dolls are a big hit. It was very lovely to have time to chat and play together.

Happy Learning

Our Green and Pleasant Land

Scott Grason-Taylor

To l.aunch our new topic, we started with art. What a fantastic day. All the children have used pastels and danced on paper to “I like to move it,move it” Mark making was a full body work out. We went to the forest and collected a selection of green things. On our return to the classroom we printed with plungers and mashers,whisks and cogs. It was clear that everyone was focussed and had a plan. Please pop in to see more photographs of the process.

Who’s That Trip Trapping Over My Bridge?

Scott Grason-Taylor

As well as wolves,Trolls have held the attention of the Pioneers. We have been dressing up,making bridges and investigating food chains. Goats eat grass. Trolls eat goats. They also mixed paint and painted themselves as Trolls. We told the story,acted it out then wrote our own versions. We wrote descriptions of Trolls too.

The role play was exquisite with some turning into trolls when they put on the suit and the hat. 

A Request from the Wolf

Scott Grason-Taylor

Each child received a letter from the wolf. It was a request for help. After reading The Last Wolf by Mini Grey we found out that habitats and food chains are precious and need to be looked after. Every species is vital and we can play a part in looking after our planet. 

The wolf asked us to feed the birds,pick up litter and to plant more trees. He left us a parcel of conkers along with the letters.

One child suggested that we reply to the wolf and when these letters were written my heart was so big I thought that it might burst. The letters were so wonderful and I hope that the Pioneers will look after their trees and plant some seeds this summer.

The wolf has inspired us to make footprints in sand,to build dens in the forest and in the classroom,to learn about food chains and animal classification. We now know that wolves do not have feathers.

His final message is,”Please look after our planet.”

Very Happy Learning

Tracking the Wolf

Scott Grason-Taylor

When tracking wild animals it is important to have as much information about them as possible. We have now found out quite a lot about wolves and their needs and habits. The Pioneers have been very interested in poo. Today we did some research into different types of poo,what animals eat and how we can classify animals. They are now able to use the words carnivore,herbivore and species. We discussed different poo and why different animals left behind different droppings. Mr Grason joined us to help with this work and he really enjoyed it. This work was fascinating.

Perhaps we will go looking for wolf poo in the forest. Please feel free to pop in and have a look at our samples in the morning…

Very happy learning.