We had a look at some already made climate change word clouds and we looked into the vocabulary within each picking out suitable ones for us. We then extended our vocabulary by using a thesaurus to gather our own words, which could either be up levelled or ones which were more child friendly. The children then listened and watched me model how to create our own and what the purpose of a word cloud was and I couldn’t have been anymore proud of them! They did an amazing job all on their own and the final ones are just beautiful!
Immersing our classroom and learning new art techniques…bonus! Pressure blends, white blends and scraffito. The children then applied these new skills to colour in a polar bears paw print, using inspiration from the northern lights! Here they are at work and some final pieces!
This Term children in Year 1 will be doing PE on Mondays. This is due to it being our turn for Mini Kixx Football skills! The children will be doing their PE session’s outdoors on the 3G pitch with their class teacher and a coach from the Mini Kixx team. Please can all children bring an outdoor PE kit suitable for the days weather. A warm tracksuit or joggers and a hoodie/jumper would be ideal. Children will also need a pair of trainers (no football boots with studs please for safety reasons).
On Tuesday’s children will also be doing XP Outdoors with Mr Kershaw. Again children will need clothing suitable for the weather and a change of shoes as they are likely to get muddy in the outdoor area and will need to remove their muddy shoes once indoors. Wellies or boots would be ideal and a a carrier bag to put muddy shoes into. If the weather is cold then hat/scarf/gloves may be needed too. Please ensure your children are prepared for the days weather conditions.
Another brick in the wall: Beautiful Work from XP Gateshead
In Autumn 2023, students in Year 9 studied a joint HUMAN and STEAM expedition called ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ where students had to answer the guiding question: ‘How are structures important in helping us to explain our world?’
For the final product, students used plaster to create sculptures in the brutalist aesthetic. The Presentation of Learning (PoL) was an unveiling of an installation to the community and dedicated to the people of Gateshead, who have suffered due to the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis; both examples of failings of societal structures. Experts, including architects from SOS-UK and Ryder Architecture, whom the students had worked alongside throughout the learning expedition, came along to speak at the PoL at the Farrell Centre, Newcastle University.
The work will be on display there for the foreseeable future!
We Are Artists at Plover
Mel from the XP Trust Comms Crew visited Plover as an Expert Artist – showing Year 5 how to draw trains and teach them about perspective and the vanishing point. The children enjoyed seeing her amazing drawings and made a great start on having a go at their own drawings.
Carcroft’s Fabulous Foyer!
Whilst making an impromptu visit to Carcroft Primary in December, we noticed this! We simply had to get the phone out and take some photos of the wonderful displays on show in the Carcroft foyer area. The array of work exhibited was interesting, engaging and of high quality; and was curated impeccably by the staff – beautiful work!
This morning we explored different techniques for separating mixtures. By carrying out two investigations, we found out more about filtration and evaporation. Before carrying out the investigation, the children were mystified as to how salt could be recovered from water once it had dissolved and become a solution. They have now solved the mystery!
Crew Knowles had the best time swimming today! I was so so proud of how brave they all were pushing themselves out of their comfort zone! It’s safe to say they can’t wait for next week!
