Environmental Detectives

Class 3 enjoyed a fabulous day as environmental detectives at Harlow Carr Gardens. 

We started our visit with a walk through the gardens to find the best view for our sketching. 

The children used their viewfinders to frame their landscapes. We looked carefully at how the lines of the paths changed as they stretched into the distance. 

Standing in the fairy ring we made our wishes. We can't tell you what they were - or they won't come true!

After lunch we had time to explore the treehouse and burn off some energy. 

The education centre was our next stop. Elizabeth led our workshop and taught us all about food chains. Did you know all food chains start with a producer? 

Elizabeth then took us out into the gardens to explore different habitats. The pond dipping was amazing. We identified so many wonderful creatures including newts, tadpoles and water-boatmen. 

We used the identification key diagram to help us name the creatures. 

The next habitat we explored was the meadow. We used huge nets to sweep the air for flying bugs. 

Our collecting showed us just how many living things are in each environment. We will use what we have learnt back in the classroom to help us with out Habitats topic. 

Bolton Abbey Yorkshire Adventure ~ Year 2

On Thursday this week the children in Year 2 had a lovely day out at Bolton Abbey for their Yorkshire Adventure.

 

 

On arrival we found a quiet spot to enjoy a piece of fruit before setting off on our walk.

 

 

We listened to some safety instructions from Mrs Wraighte about staying away from the river, keeping up with the group and taking care when we walk near the road watching out for cars and bikes.  We put on our sun cream and were ready for the off!

 

 

At the first drinks stop we looked a monument that had a fountain in the middle. We used our detective skills and found out that it was built to remember a man called Charles Frederick Cavendish.

 

 

We could see the dates that he was born and the dates he dies engraved on the monument but they were written in letters rather then numbers and we realised that they were Roman numerals .

 

 

We used our mathematical and thinking skills to decode the dates.

 

 

It was quite a challenge but we concentrated and stayed focused and managed to work it out in the end.

 

 

We walked round to the Abbey and Mrs Gregson told us why some of the Abbey is in ruins.

 

 

We knew this grave stone must be for an important person and we took a closer look to find out more about it.

 

 

We walked around the ruins of the Abbey looking for clues to work out what the Abbey would have look like in the past. We looked for evidence of where walls would have been, door ways and windows.

 

There was then time for a well earned lunch stop. We found a lovely shaded spot under the trees near the river.

 

 

Mrs Wraighte showed us how to play a game called rabbits and hawks. We used mirrors to get the same perspective of the world as rabbit and a hawk! It was great fun and the in the end the hawks chased the rabbits in a attempt to catch their prey.

 

 

The next big challenge was the stepping stones. We only went a short way across because near the middle the river runs quite fast and is much deeper.

 

 

It wasn't too much of a challenge for tall children with long legs as they could easily stride between the stones however....

 

 

it was more of a challenge for children with smaller legs. Well done Guran we knew you could do it!

 

 

Further on there was a small hole in the bottom of the wall that the children had to crawl through, guess who went first this time?

 

 

 

 

We had to get right down on the ground and pull ourselves through, there must be an easier way than this!

 

 

ah well done Elsa, very sensible!

 

 

 

 

A Parliament of Owls ~ Class 2

As part of our topic on owls the children in class 2 have made a small felt owl toy using their fantastic sewing skills.

 

 

 

Some children used a running stich and others used a blanket stich and we added stuffing to give them shape.

 

 

 

 

 

You have done a brilliant job Class 2, your owls look fabulous!

 

 

Skipping School

100 word blog - written by Niamh Rae

Class 3 skipped their way to near perfection on Monday. Despite nerves they were brilliant and came a close second. They pushed themselves in the individual skills and skipped to success in the team skills. 

In the Skip Dance they had thirty-two great skills that equalled thirty-two points. Harewood came second with 852 points, sadly missing first place by fifteen points.  

They achieved brilliant bronzes and superb silvers as well as holds in Speed Bounce, Butterfly and Keep the Pot Boiling. 

It was the most amazing day and they all did really well. 

Glazed Over

Key Stage Two have been adding the final glaze to their tiles. This is the second day they have worked with Sam the Potter. Today he brought in a range of authentic Victorian glazes for the children to choose from. 

The children took great care with their tiles. Sam will now take the tiles and fire them in the kiln. We hope to have the finished pieces on permanent display in school sometime soon. 

Meet the Owls ~ Class 2

 

On Friday morning Class 2 walked down to the Bird Garden at Harewood House to meet the owls. It was a lovely way to end the half term.

 

We looked at two species of owls, the snowy owl and the burrowing owl.

 

 

We were able to ask questions about all the different birds we saw and found out about

their natural habitats and their feeding habits.

 

 

Some of the birds were very noisy and seemed pleased to welcome us to the garden!

 

 

 

It was a wonderful opportunity to get out of the classroom and to get some first hand experience of all the science work we have done this this term...

 

 

....and to see the birds up close and personal!

Thank you to all the parents that volunteered to join us, we had a most enjoyable morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to the Future

Class 3 are embracing the new curriculum with due diligence at Armley Mills today.