On Friday 3rd February 2017 we investigated the local area near our school, St Oswald’s Road. We were all able to describe what we could see and use some simple vocabulary, such as house, street and fields. We also recorded what we had seen straight onto a map. When we got back to class we shared what we had seen. Later today we produced our own maps in our books. Some of us even produced a key.
Today Year 5 has taken part in a ‘Campus Explorers’ event run by Newcastle University. Pupils a had the chance to explore the University through a virtual campus map, taking part in university subject specific games and activities along the way. We’ve had a fantastic time with our visitors and this has definitely encouraged Year 5 to aspire towards and think positively about their future learning and consider the possibilities which higher education could bring.
Mr Usher and Mrs Thornton took our winner and runners up from the Blue Monday Joke Competition.
to a special awards ceremony at The Word
Children were awarded their certificates by the Mayor and got the
opportunity to read their jokes out to the audience.
A special mention was made to Lilly (Year Five)who won a voucher for her winning entry.
Welcome Joe, the new addition to the Ogden family born on Thursday 12th January.
Here is big sister Erin looking so happy to meet her baby brother in hospital for the first time.
Congratulations to the Ogden family from everyone at St Oswald’s.
We spent our Curriculum Day delving into Victorian times with the help of Mrs Laidler; a special visitor from the past who had taught at a nineteenth century school. To start the day, we experienced a Victorian lesson – a shock to most of us! We used slates and slate pencils whilst learning our three R’s. Miss Laidler was exceptionally strict but luckily we were too well behaved for the cane to be brought out!
Throughout the day, we used historical sources, such as census documents and artefacts to gather information about life during Victorian times. In particular, we discussed child labour and employment during the Industrial Revolution and developed our understanding of how life changed for children. Our day concluded with some design work, creating Victorian toys- windmills and thaumatropes. A fantastic day of learning which will form a great basis for our topic work going forwards.
On Tuesday 10th January, Year 4 visited Kirkley Hall Zoological Gardens. They got the opportunity to see a range of animals from around the world and learn about their habitats and how these animals have adapted over thousands of years to live in these environments. There was an opportunity to get up close to some of the animals and even go on a nature walk through the forest to see animals that have adapted to our local environment.
On Tuesday 15th November, Year Five have been to visit the centre for LIFE where we participated in workshops linked to our science learning topic – Earth and Space. We’ve learnt many fascinating things about astronauts, the International Space Station and our Solar System. The planetarium show was particularly impressive as we were able to observe the night skies above us and compare the planets. In the lab, we carried out an experiment to find out how large astronauts’ Maximum Absorbency Garments would need to be to absorb the nearly two litres of urine that an average adult produces in a day. (Apparently astronauts wear nappies in their space suits!) Much to our delight, we also got to try using a robotic arms to carry out manoeuvres as they would do (in much harsher conditions) at the International Space Station.
Year 2 had a fantastic first day back learning all about the value of money. We talked about where money comes from and the importance of money. We looked at the things that we really need to buy with money and the things that we want to buy with money.
This weekend at home Freddie wanted to show everyone what he has made all by himself, he is a Boxtroll called Fish.
This has taken him three hours of cutting the holes out for his head and arms, using a lot of sellotape and drawing a picture of a fish and he is now walking round the house and wants to be called fish while he is in the box.
Very proud of his creative side!
