Lower Prep THS

Lower Prep have greatly enjoyed the launch of their new topic, Let's Plant It,  and have taken every opportunity to explore the schools extensive grounds. Children identified key areas around the school, including the pond, the woods and the paddock as key areas in which they could explore and investigate the local plant life. Children have taken lots of photographs and sketches of the plant life available and begun a plant study considering the size of these plants and the shape of their leaves and seeds. Later, the children will look closely at their sketches and photographs in order to identify the plants they have studied.

Lower Prep have enjoyed making and decorating their own volcanoes as they finish their topic ‘Active Planet’.   They had to think carefully about the shape of the volcanoes and worked hard to include a cone shape and some detail on the side showing how the lava can form different ridges. Once completed, the children had great fun erupting them using a mixture of bicarbonate of soda, water, washing up liquid and vinegar.  We were excited to find that more bicarbonate of soda meant the eruptions felt more explosive, whereas more vinegar mean the eruptions were slower but lasted for longer.

 As part of our study of diverse places, Lower Prep embarked on a 'Journey to Antarctica.' Children read all about about Bransfield’s journey to Antarctica in 1819-1820, then completed a research task to find out exactly what he would have needed in terms of food, clothing and scientific equipment. Following this, the children identified the journey made from South America to Antarctica on a world map, where they were able to label all of the continents. Finally the children looked into the animal life that could be found in Antarctica and prepared fact files for anyone who may want to visit. A super day of work from all children, well done!

 Tuesday was all about BEES for Lower Prep.  The children started the day by watching some informative videos about how important bees are to the world.   Following this, the children made their own 'Bee Bombs' out of mud, flour, water and seeds. Super for growing flowers with lots of pollen for the bees to collect. After break, the children had a wonderful talk from a virtual visitor from Tees Bees, learning all about the different types of bees, hives and looking after Bees as a bee keeper. Great stuff! Later in the day the children were able to enjoy a forest school session, making fantastic bee hotels! A great day was had by all, and lots of facts learned about the bees!

 Today, Lower Prep pupils have been thinking carefully about how everybody around the world is different. We started the day by watching Mrs William's assembly about Autism and were able to identify some things that some people who are autistic do and feel. Next, we changed into our PE kit and went outside to play some games: Danish Rounders and Stuck in the Mud.  We tried out the games as we would usually play them, then we thought about how these games might be for children with visual, hearing or other physical disabilities. Some children wore glasses that limited their vision. Sidney thought that he could see really well at first, but then found that when he dropped the ball, he couldn't really see where it had gone. Some children used some tissue to block their ears and simulate a hearing impairment. Lots of children found that they could not always hear the teacher instructions and so they were unable to win the game. Especially if the teacher was facing in a different di