Dangers to animal habitats

This afternoon we looked at dangers to animal habitats. We discussed man made and environmental dangers and how they pose a threat to habitats. The children produced a poster based on a mind map we produced together. The two lucky winners are pictured below. Well done girls! 

Bio-blitz

Today we enjoyed a fun filled day at Wyre Estuary Country Park (Stannah). The day involved a carousel of nature and eco themed activities, everything from nature walks to examining owl pellets. It really was an informative, fun filled trip. 

Navigating obstacles

In PE today, Einstein class navigated an obstacle course. The course was tricky in places and involved the children using various skills, such as aiming and balancing, to navigate successfully. 

Melting moments

Our Science lesson took a tasty turn today. As a continuation of our learning about solids, liquids and gases we conducted an experiment to find out which type of chocolate melts the quickest. We tested milk, white and dark chocolate and discussed what was happening to the particles as the chocolate melted. White chocolate melted the quickest and if you want to know why, just ask any child in Einstein class and they will tell you why.

French - Carnival of the Animals

In French the children have listened to Carnival of the Animals, written by Saint Saens.  They have been thinking about how the music reflects the personality of particular animals.  To reinforce their learning they built 'human sentences'.  The challenge was to extend their sentences and use the correct plural language.

Royal Wedding Celebrations 

Einstein class joined in a whole school celebration today in aid of the Royal wedding. The children enjoyed an outdoor lunch in the form a picnic, complete with tiaras. It was a lovely occasion, as you see below. 

Hockey skills

Our PE lesson today focused on hockey skills. The children worked on dribbling around obstacles and through targets. Control was key and the children managed brilliantly.  

Fabulous non-fiction writing

This week sees the completion of our Ancient Egypt information books. The children have studied Egyptian Gods, the River Nile, Egyptian occupations and mummification. The booklets are presented as an information booklet, complete with contents page and glossary. 

Discovering more about Ancient Egypt...

Our exploration of Ancient Egypt has so far included the importance of the River Nile and the different jobs available to the Ancient Egyptians. This week our learning took a more squeamish turn as we looked at the mummification process. The children found this very interesting, particularly the removal of the brain through the nostrils using a sharp, pointy hook.  

Free the fizz

Our Science lesson this week involved an experiment based on our focus for this half term, states of matter. The aim was to measure the weight of carbon dioxide in a selection of fizzy drinks. To do this the children weighed each drink before leaving them overnight to go flat. We then weighed the drinks again to see if their weight had changed. It was hands on learning and the children were enthralled.    

What was it like to work in Ancient Egypt? 

In topic this week our focus is on the various jobs available in Ancient Egypt times. We are researching the different types of jobs and what they involved. 

Water art

Part of our main Science topic, States of Matter, involves looking at where water comes from and how we use it. This also links to Geography, particularly rivers and oceans. With this in mind, Einstein class have been painting pictures of well known rivers from around the world. The children mixed their own colours and experimented with sponges to create different textures. 

Writing poetry

This week we have writing our own poems. The two styles we have focused on so far are Limerick and Haiku. The poems are fantastic and I'm sure our Kenning poems will be just as fabulous. Watch this space. 

Science role play

Solids, liquids and gases are our Science focus for this half term. Yesterday the children began this topic by thinking about the properties of each state and how the particles are structured. Working in small groups, the children role played how the particles of each state of matter might behave. 

Poetry in motion

Our English focus for this half term is poetry. To begin our topic the children moved around the room in small groups and stopped at different tables where they shared thoughts and ideas about types of poems. The poem types we focused on were Haiku, Kenning and Limerick. 

Defending skills

In PE today, Einstein class were working on defence and attack tactics. The children discussed how such tactics are vital in many different games and the various techniques that they might use. The aim of the game in the pictures below was to outfox the defender and sneak into the score zone. 

Bouncy castle fun 

Einstein class enjoyed an extra special treat today, in the form of two fantastic bouncy castles! The bouncy castles were arranged by Mrs Kowalska as a thank-you to the children for their continuing impeccable behaviour and to celebrate our recent 'good' Ofsted report. It was amazing fun as you can see from the pictures below. 

Listen carefully

This week we have been experimenting with various materials to test how effectively they absorb sound. The children conducted the experiment independently using an i-pad for sound and a selection of materials ranging from cloth to bubble wrap. The children thought carefully about how to make it a fair test in terms of what variables could be changed and what must stay the same.   

Stations of The Cross

Einstein have been working on Stations of The Cross this week. We have Station VI, 'Veronica wipes the face of Jesus'  and Station XIV, 'Jesus is placed in the tomb'. We thought about how terrible and scary Jesus must have looked. He was battered and bruised, he had blood oozing from his wounds and he was covered in dust and dirt. Most people would have turned or ran away from such a frightening sight.Veronica didn’t look away. Veronica didn’t look at Jesus with her eyes though, she looked with her heart. Instead of seeing the horrible, scary things, Veronica looked with her heart and saw a person in need of help and kindness.

For our other station we thought about when Jesus was placed in the tomb and how it was a very sad, dark time for a lot of people. We thought about other people experiencing dark times in their lives and how we could ask Jesus to comfort them. Our station is decorated with the prayers we wrote, asking Jesus to help them through their darkness and help them find the light. 

French Easter craft

Our French lesson this week was Easter themed. The children learnt French words relating to Easter and then created a delightful, expanding Easter egg to display them.  As you can see from the pictures below, the children were extremely proud of their creations.  

Marshmallow and spaghetti challenge

Einstein class were joined by some parents this afternoon. We enjoyed a fun task which involved making structures out of marshmallows and spaghetti. The aim was to create a structure that resembled an Italian landmark. It was most definitely a challenge, requiring both the mind of a structural engineer and the patience of a saint! As usual, our wonderful children and their adult helpers did not disappoint! Take a look at the fun we had.

Pitch and tone

Our Science focus for this half term is all about how we hear sound. This afternoon we concentrated on listening to different pitches and tones using a our voices and a selection of musical instruments. This was an engaging lesson and the children enjoyed experimenting with the instruments and seeing what effect this had on the sounds they made. 

Dear diary...

Friday saw the completion of our recent extended writing piece, a diary extract as Willie from 'Goodnight Mister Tom'. The writing is of a very high standard both in terms of length and quality. The children have worked tirelessly to include all the necessary features such as embedded clauses, expanded noun phrases and fronted adverbials to name just a few. 

A musical extravaganza

Einstein class gave an outstanding musical performance at coffee afternoon today. The children played a selection of songs and sang along beautifully, despite only having had their instruments a few weeks. A huge well done to all of the children, they did themselves proud.  

Crafty creations

This half term Einstein class have completed a creative piece of homework based on our topic, 'What would it be like to live in Italy?'

The task was deliberately vague to encourage the children to use their imaginations as to how they could best create a feature of Italy. As you can see, the children have made some fantastic and novel creations. Well done to the children and thank-you to the adults who supported them in their efforts. The creations are still flooding in so watch this space for more pictures. 

Our special Lenten message 

Einstein class delivered a special Lenten message to the whole school in the form of an assembly this morning. The message was about waiting and being patient on the run up to Easter, just as Jesus did. The children delivered their message beautifully. Well done team Einstein! 

Mind mapping 

In preparation for writing our diary extract, as Willie from 'Goodnight Mister Tom', Einstein class had a mind mapping session. We looked at different parts of the story that we have covered so far and thought carefully about how Willie might be feeling and what might be going through his mind. Watch this space for our fabulous diary entries which will follow next week!

Ball control

The focus in PE this week was ball control. The children used a bat to guide and move the ball across the table to their partner in a controlled way.

World Book Day 

To celebrate World Book Day Einstein class were treated to a story  reading by some of our Year 6 children. The children read an extract from The 13 - Storey Tree House by Andy Griffiths. The class were completely hooked and this will hopefully encourage them to read more stories from this much loved series. A huge well done and a thank you to William, Harry and Shay who read and performed beautifully. 

Viva Italia

Einstein class continued their Italian learning journey today by making and sampling one of the most popular Italian foods, pizza. The children visited Pizza Hut where they were treated to a kitchen tour and a pizza making session. It really was a good time had by all! 

Non-fiction writing

This week we are compiling an information leaflet about Italy. This links to our topic 'What would it be like to live in Italy?'. We researched our information last week and today we began writing our booklets, making sure that they contain all the features of non fiction texts.   

Precious water

This morning, Einstein class took part in a special workshop hosted by CAFOD. The aim of the session was to highlight the importance of water. The children learnt that whilst clean water is freely available here, it is not the case in some parts of the world. The children were given a bucket and split into teams. Their aim was to complete various challenges in order to be given water for essential needs such as drinking and cooking. It really was a thought provoking exercise.    

Discussing different sports in French

This weeks French lesson had a sporty theme. The children were talking about various sports and expressing opinions about them in French. 

Passport to Europe

To launch our new topic, A Passport to Europe, Einstein class have been using an atlas to label a blank map with all the countries that make up Europe. This is in preparation for when we focus on one particular European country which will be Italy. 

Le Juste Prix (The Price is Right)

To reinforce learning numbers to 39 today, Einstein class played The Price is Right.  In two teams they estimated the cost of toys and showed their guesses in digits.  They then shared their guess using the correct language.

Using the apparatus

PE this week was a real treat. The children were able to use the various apparatus in the hall to practise their swinging, climbing, balancing and jumping skills. The children had a fabulous lesson, as you can see below. 

Crafty creations

Things took a crafty turn in Einstein class this week. In our Topic lessons we are looking at the work of Jason Mecier, a famous artist who created masterpieces from things people throw away. In our Science lessons we are looking at what constitutes a healthy digestive system so, in a bid to link the two subjects, we have used old newspapers to create two giant pieces of fruit. We will paint them next week so watch this space for a creative update! 

Charismatic characters

In English this week we have been looking at character description. Our inspiration for this came from a character in 'The Fib' by George Layton, a class read which we are currently enjoying. The main character,  a school aged boy named Billy, resonated strongly with the children. 

Outdoor learning

To begin thinking about area, our new Maths focus, Einstein went out into the playground. We made different shapes and thought about the difference between area and perimeter.    

Disgusting digestion

Our Science focus this week focuses on the inner workings of the digestive system and the function each part plays in digestion. To enhance their learning, the children conducted an interesting and fun filled experiment to replicate the various organs involved. The children gained lots from the experiment as you can see below.

Ukulele lessons

Einstein have moved on from samba in their weekly music lesson and are now playing the ukulele. Today was our first lesson and the children showed real promise. 

Story telling magic

The children enjoyed a fabulous re-telling of Roald Dahl’s The BFG this afternoon. The story was told magically with amazing props and sound effects. The children were enthralled. There were lots of laughs! Here are some of our favourite moments; Zak particularly enjoyed the bit about the giants being trapped in the pit and Tia liked the part where Sophie was being rude to the BFG. Alfie enjoyed the sound effects and Miss Butler was particularly taken with the unusual prayer line ‘deliver us from weasels’.

Code cracking in Maths

Einstein have been looking at Roman Numerals in Maths today. The children were given various numbers written in Roman Numerals and were tasked with decoding them into our numerical equivalent. They then worked in pairs using laptops to check their answers were correct. It was an interesting task which the children found very enjoyable. 

Powerful, persuasive writing

Einstein class have been honing their persuasive writing skills this week. So far they have worked in partners to create and role play a persuasive advert for a brand of toothpaste designed exclusively by themselves. Today we have written our advert and have worked hard to include lots of persuasive writing techniques. 

The toothpaste designed by Alex has 'so many flavours it will blow your mind'. Demi's toothpaste has 'magenta magic foam that makes the germs fly away'. All of the writing was of a very high standard, well done children!    

Exploring the Bible

In RE this week we have been taking a closer look at the Bible. We have looked at how to locate certain stories according to the the verse and chapter number.  

Reading challenge

Einstein class are holding a reading challenge for this half term. The aim is to  see who can read the most books by the February half term. We have a chart on the wall so the children can chart their progress and there will be a special prize for the winner. Good luck children! 

Guardians of Ancora

Einstein class are participating in the Guardians of Ancora program which is being ran by Emmanuel Church, Fleetwood. The program is an exciting, interactive game in which the children can explore different Bible stories using IPads. Ancora club is taking place at lunchtimes and the children have really enjoyed their first session. 

Practical Science

To begin our exploration of the digestive system Einstein class are focusing on teeth and the role that teeth play in helping us digest food. The children began by brushing their teeth and then using a disclosing tablet to show any plaque left on areas that they may have missed. It was a real eye opener for the children and highlighted the importance of thorough brushing. It was also really good fun, as you can see from the pictures below! 

Tasty toothpaste

Data handling is our Maths focus for this week and the children began by conducting a survey to determine which toothpaste flavour is most popular amongst our Key Stage 2 children. The children were invited to sample the toothpaste and choose their favourite. Einstein then recorded the data in a tally chart which we will  represent in various charts over the next few days. The toothpaste theme links nicely to our topic for this half term which is The Digestive System. 

Christmas craft

Things have taken a crafty turn in Einstein. We've channeled all our creative energy into making a Christmas card for our loved ones. They are a work of art which we're sure will be well received.  

Christmas carol service

Einstein class joined the rest of the Key Stage 2 children at our annual carol service last night. The service began with a candle lit procession around church to the hymn of 'Silent Night'. It was breathtaking. The children sang, read and performed spectacularly.

Science experiment

Our Science focus on muscles and how they work meant a very active experiment for Einstein class this week. We predicted which muscles we used for running and then conducted a running experiment to see if our predictions were correct. It was fun, energetic, practical learning.  

Team teach

As our Science topic progresses, the children worked in teams to research the next areas we are going to explore. Using the lap tops and I-pads, the children worked together to answer various questions about different skeleton types. The children displayed fantastic team work and really enjoyed teaching one another. 

Brilliant bodies

Our Science this week is the human skeleton. The children labelled a skeleton, and each other, before researching the role of various muscles using laptops. 

Character description 

Character description has been our focus in English this week. The children have gathered adjectives to turn into expanded noun phrases, synonyms to improve their vocabulary and similes and metaphors to make their writing more powerful. 

Bethlehem news

In RE this week, Einstein class have been applying all the wonderful writing techniques that they have been learning. The children wrote a newspaper article describing the nativity story, entitled 'Bethlehem News'. Once again, the writing is of an amazing standard and the children are immensely proud of their efforts.  

Geography posters

Following on from our ICT fact finding mission earlier in the week, the children designed a poster to showcase all the information they had found. Choosing winners was tough as all the posters were of a high standard. As you can see the children were proud of their efforts.   

Using ICT to help our learning

To gather facts about our new topic, Einstein class used the laptops and I pads. Our fact finding mission was focused on the environment and how we can look after it. The children loved sharing the facts they found. For example, did you know that the UK produces more than one hundred million tonnes of waste every year? This fact was discovered by Mia. 

Our wonderful writing

The wonderful writing just keeps on coming from Einstein class. Our latest pieces are poems about The Great Plague. The children have really pulled out all the stops and the poems are packed with superb writing features. We've included some extracts for you to read below.  

Awesome art

Einstein class have been harnessing their painting skills this week. The children experimented with different types of paints to create some unique skull designs. 

Read all about it!

There is a very journalistic feel to Einstein class this week as the newspaper articles that we have been working so hard on are finally finished. The articles are based on our visit to the dungeons and they are packed with superb writing features such as similes, alliteration, expanded noun phrases, subordinate clauses and much more! As you can see from the picture below, the children are so proud of their wonderful work.   

Fitness fun

Einstein class were invited to join in a special fitness session this week. The session was organised by our Year 3 children as part of their topic and it proved to be great fun. 

Anti-bullying week

Einstein class have enjoyed lots of activities in recognition of anti-bullying week. We have made bookmarks and a blue paper chain which we decorated with anti-bullying messages. We also had a poster competition in class and the 4 lucky winners were rewarded with ten dojos! Have a look at our proud winners! As if all this wasn't enough, we also donated one pound each to an anti-bullying charity and the whole class received a blue wristband. 

Yoga

In PE this week Einstein are finding their inner calm with a spot of yoga. Some of the positions are really tricky but the children make it look easy as you can see below.  

Our Blackpool Tower Dungeon Trip

To introduce our 'Great Plague' topic for this term, Einstein class enjoyed a visit to the Blackpool Tower Dungeon this week. We started our experience by exploring the idea of crime and punishment in the Medievil era through drama and role play. The children were given different parts to play such as judge, villain, torturer or jailer and they really embraced their roles, as you can see from the pictures below. The second part of our experience involved meeting a 'plague doctor'. The children were treated to a gruesome and enthralling first hand account of what is was like to live through and treat the plague. The children were gripped and learnt lots to kick start their topic. 

What time is it Mr Wolf?

Our Maths focus this week is telling the time. We're working really hard to tell the time on both analogue and digital clocks and we will apply our skills to solving time based word problems as the week progresses. 

Parent afternoon

As a delightful end to the half term, Einstein class invited parents and carers in to share all of the wonderful learning that has been going on in the classroom. This took the form of a mini parents evening, where the children posed as a teacher and talked through their books, as well as a photo story showing all that has been achieved over the past half term. Many thanks to the adults who attended. It was lovely to see so many of you and to read the comments you left. 

Science with Lego 

Today we took part in a Lego workshop.  We built our own Lego city which included a working circuit.  We worked so well as part of a team and we even got to make a car move.  We put into practice all the wonderful things we have learnt in science this half term.  We really enjoyed it! Have a look at our amazing creations!

Look at our wonderful writing

Einstein class have done some wonderful writing this week. We've been trying hard to include all our non-negotiables such as joined handwriting, correct punctuation and the all important steps on our success criteria. Have a look at some of our writing to see how well we're doing! 

Science stars

Einstein class held a poster competition this week. The posters had to be packed with scientific information and facts relating to our Electricity topic and presented beautifully. Judging the competition wasn't easy but eventually two winners were chosen. Just look at their proud faces!  

Christmas craft

It's never too early for a spot of Christmas craft! Einstein have been making lanterns for the Christmas Lantern Parade this week and, if their fabulous creations are anything to go by, the parade is sure to be amazing! We can't wait. 

Switch hunt

In Science this week we are looking at different types of switches. To consolidate our learning, Einstein went on a switch hunt to see how many different types of switches they could identify. As you can see from the pictures below, we found quite a few!  

A visit from children's author Dan Worsley

This week our Key Stage two children enjoyed a visit from Dan Worsley. Dan chatted about his work as an author and discussed the various stages involved in writing his books. The children were then treated to a story telling session from Dan's first book, Impossible Tales. The children were enthralled! 

Einstein are buzzing, literally! 

There's a definite buzz about Einstein class this week. As our understanding of electricity deepens, the children are working with more complex components. This weeks focus is using a buzzer in a circuit and, as an extra challenge for budding electricians, including a bulb to see if both can work in a circuit at the same time! 

Ball skills

Einstein have been perfecting their ball skills this week in PE. We have played football and netball to apply what we've learnt.  

Creative writing 

This week Einstein class have been developing their creative writing techniques. Our focus is fantasy stories and the children enjoyed an English lesson in which they began collecting ideas in preparation for a longer of writing. This involved a carousel of activities in which the children used I pads and thesauras' to collect interesting and creative sentence starters, synonyms, alliteration and noun phrases to launch their writing. Our fantasy focus has an under the ocean theme so the children loved diving into our underwater world and handling related objects to inspire them. 

Sparks might fly 

Our Science topic for this term is electricity. To begin the topic the children brainstormed ideas and thoughts about electricity. We then explored some of the electrical equipment we will be using over the next few weeks. 

Sporting stars

PE is most definitely Einstein's favourite lesson. Check out our PE pictures to see us in action.

Samba

Einstein began their samba lessons this week. We talked about the various instruments that will make up our class samba band and their origins. To finish the session the children were able to play and practise the instrument they will be playing over the coming weeks.