Further coding with Scratch
In the first part of the Summer term Year 4 spent some times finishing off their Scratch projects. The children created their own ‘Times Tables’ project in Scratch using ‘Variables’ and ‘Conditional Statements’. These projects consisted of a sprite asking some ‘Times Tables’ questions based on two given numbers (variables) and if the player answered the question correctly (conditional statement) the sprite would return a specific message, e.g. either “Well done” or “Try again”. Some children were able to extend their projects to ask other maths questions such as addition and subtraction sums.
Web design Using Sway
This term Year 4 pupils have been learning about Website design and how websites are a collection of pages linked together with interactive features. Pupils have been busy planning and designing their own websites in Microsoft Sway. They chose their own favourite topic and created web pages with interactive features such as hyperlinks, stackable images, videos and text. Year 4 have really enjoyed creating these and are very proud of their work!
Stop Motion Animation
Year 3 have also been exploring animation this term. They have been using a range of techniques to create a stop-frame animation using tablets. Before creating the animation; Year 3 were able to create a storyboard with details of movement, characters and background. Pupils were able to use tablets to carefully create stop-frame animations, paying attention to consistency. While creating their animations, the children were fantastic at making links to their History topic about the Roman Empire and its’ impact on Britain!
Comparison Cards Database
For the second part of the half term Year 3 have been learning about Databases. They were able to discuss what databases are and how we use these in our everyday lives, from simple class registers and records to online directories. Year 3 did a great job at explaining the pros and cons of both computer and paper-based databases. Having understood that Databases are made up records, fields and data and that they can be ordered and filtered; they were able to create their very own ‘Top-Trumps’ Cards.
Stop Motion Animation & Data Handling (International Space Station)
Year 2 have been learning all about animation. They have a good understanding that an animation is made up of a sequence of photographs. The pupils have been creating short stop motion animations using iPads and image cut outs. To do this – they took photographs of their cut-out images in front of their chosen backgrounds, while making small changes each time. Once they played all the photographs back in order, they could see that they created a short animation.
In the second half of the term we have been learning all about the International Space Station and how astronauts’ survival needs are met aboard the ISS. The year 2 were able to show a brilliant understanding on how space exploration can benefit life on Earth and while reading data to identify whether a planet might be habitable. Maybe we can live on Mars one day! We also discussed how sensors are used in the ISS to help make decisions and how they use ‘Conditional statements’ to output results. Year 2 then created their own If-Statements that could be used in their everyday lives!
Programming Bee-Bots
Year 1 kick started the summer term with some programming! They began by exploring virtual Bee-Bots on a website and programmed them to reach a given destination. They then moved onto the real Bee-Bots and their Maps. They learnt that you can programme a Bee-bot with some simple directions to make it travel to specific points on the floor maps. Year 1 learnt that when things go wrong you have to debug the code to solve the problem! To control the Bee Bots, the children programmed them using the buttons on top. Year 1 had a great time exploring the robots!
Data Handling
During the second half of the term we have been looking at Data! The children have been learning all about the different types of data and why it’s important to collect it. They have been able to represent animal-themed data in different ways, using objects such as counters and then do the same using technology (as pictograms).
This week, Year 2 have been using their bodies and getting physical, learning cricket skills on our Cricket Enrichment Day and dong yoga outside with Miss Bathgate.
See what we’ve been up to below!
Year 3 were lucky enough to have lots of visitors to our classroom last week. Even better, they helped us with our very own ‘Fraction Museum’ We then sang with Year 4 for our families with Mr Treloar. What a lovely afternoon it was!
Our Art topic last term focused on the technique of printing, through the artist Andy Warhol. We began by exploring who Andy Warhol was, what he was inspired by and why he made his artwork. We then examined key pieces of artwork of his and discussed what made it so unique. Once we were experts, we used our printing knowledge and Pop Art to create our own Mayan masks, in the style of Andy Warhol… take a look at our work!
Click on the images below to expand, and see our amazing artwork!
Last Wednesday, we had a lovely afternoon exploring the history of music. We looked at pop music through listening to the artist, Adele! We listened to her song ‘Skyfall’ and discussed what we liked/disliked, what instruments we could here and even described the music using musical vocabulary. We also loved that our parents came to join us… especially helping us with finding the names and dates of ways to listen to music throughout history! Some of us also helped out at the Open Afternoon’s French Café, practising their French and offering parents some delicious French cuisine!
Pirate Day was a roaring success! The children (and staff!) looked amazing and loved all the pirate-themed activities. These included: walking the plank; sharing treasure; making maps; making hats and parrots; singing sea shanties; taking part in scavenger hunts and much more.
Year 3 had their first lesson learning important skills for playing Rounders. Despite the heat, and lots of water and suntan spray, we had a lovely time and learned lots with Gordon.
