This week, we teamed up with Class 5 and enjoyed an exciting trip to the Literature Festival. We took part in a fantastic interactive workshop with author Sharna Jackson, where we helped to create our own mystery story. The tale featured a mysterious murder in the Scottish Highlands, with a cast of unusual suspects including Jude Bellingham and Gordon Ramsay, and possible murder weapons ranging from a frozen fish finger to a shin pad! The children's creativity and ideas had everyone laughing.

We also enjoyed a wonderful storytelling session with Richard O'Neill, and spent some time reading and discussing chapters from our class texts.  It was a fantastic day celebrating books, stories and imagination. A huge thank you to our PTA for generously funding the transport and making this opportunity possible.

Back at school on Tuesday and Wednesday, more fun was in store for us with iSing Pop.  We not only learned the songs ready for our performance, we also learned about the songs and their messages.

This week has been another busy week.  On Monday, we walked into Cirencester to perform a recital of 'The Tyger' by William Blake, to an audience of people living with dementia, their carers and volunteers.  Following our poem, we all made tiger bookmarks and took part in a tiger themed quiz.  Did you know that William Blake also wrote the famous song, Jerusalem?  And, did you know that tigers have webbed paws to help them swim?  The children and adults alike enjoyed the afternoon and we were super proud of how well the children represented themselves and our school, being courteous and respectful.  

Tuesday held another fun afternoon - we had Olympic athletes in school to talk to us in assembly and run a couple of PE lessons for us.  Not only did we have a lot of fun, we also learned about perseverance and trying to be our best selves whatever we do.

We also squeezed in a few lessons around these additional activities!  In science, we learned about the characteristics of different plants and made plant collages in jars.  In RE, we found out about some Christians who believe in both Creation and Science, like one of our Open the Book and Reading volunteers.  In writing, we have finished our scaffolded lessons based on the film Varmints and we're looking forward to getting started with our own story narratives.  

It was so lovely to finish the week with our final poetry recital.  Thanks to all the parents who were able to join us.  I think that you will agree that the children have done well to learn this poem and they were proud to present it to you.

Forest School was again, a great way to start the week. We have been looking at classifying living things, just like we have been doing in our science lessons. Tuesday, however, was the highlight.  Daisy Lucker came in and inspired us with her tales of courage, cycling around the world.  We took on our own cycling challenge and kept Mrs Grace's exercise bike moving all day.  At break time we then raised money for Daisy's favourite charity that she discovered on her travels through India - Future Hope.  We raised a fantastic £165 by pedalling chef Mel's smoothie bike and making smoothies for the whole school.  We even sold smoothies after school and got some parents on the bike too!  

Week 4

This week, we started learning our class poem 'The Tyger' by William Blake.  We spent time looking at the words and considering the meanings.  We then set about learning the poem, through the use of pictures.  We plan on giving our first performance of this poem in a couple of weeks at the Memory Cafe.  This week, Joy who runs the group, came to talk to us about what the Memory Cafe is and about the people we will meet who are living with dementia.  We're now really looking forward to our visit.

We were thrilled to start this week with one of our favourite activities - Forest School! This week, we also enjoyed taking part in a Geometry workshop.  We learned about some amazing mathematicians who really persevered in their lives.  We then used our own perseverance to have a go at lots of different puzzles.  Working with our partners, we helped each other succeed!  The real highlight this week was finally meeting our new Class R buddies!  We have already been helping them to find their way around, learn the school routines and make friends.

The highlight of this week was attending our House Meetings.  Many of the children put themselves forward for the opportunity to become House Captains.  They prepared their own speeches and delivered them in front of all of the other children and adults in their houses.  What a fantastic job they all did, conquering their nerves and speaking so clearly and from the heart. 

What a great start to Class 6!  We got started with some fun lessons in science, learning about different microbes and trying to grow some on bread ... we're all definitely going to be washing our hands a lot more!  We also watched a Greta Thunberg speech that she gave when she was only 12.  We have now been inspired to stand up for what's right and we are writing to persuade people to make a difference.  Our favourite thing this week has been the introduction to our class book, 'The Final Year' by Matt Goodfellow.  We're all hooked and can't wait to find out what happens.