Five Minute Mindfulness

21st April 2020S Robson

Joe Wicks PE lessons have been so popular with our pupils, and with pupils all over the world. We know that keeping active is especially important at the moment, and maintaining physical health keeps our body healthy, as well as giving the ‘feel good factor’.

Mental wellbeing is as important to us as our physical health, particularly in recent times. So try taking 5 minutes out of a busy, or tiring day to practise 5 minutes of mindfulness – focusing on the present moment. Mindfulness can relax your body and mind, creating a feeling of calm.

Have a go with Tai chi – you can practise outdoors or indoors.

You’ll soon pick it up, and it could become as much a part of your daily routine as… brushing your teeth! Our pupils thoroughly enjoyed it when Ilona, a local Tai chi instructor, gave us lessons during Health and Wellbeing Week.

Follow the NHS Mindfulness link for further advice.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mindfulness/

 

Music at Harton

1st April 2020ajennings

Hi everyone, 

I hope you are all keeping well. Just an update on the Musical activities that the children have been undertaking at Harton so far this year.

Each Year group has access to new music software called ‘Charanga’.  There are hundreds of modern songs and each scheme enables children to use musical instruments to accompany their compositions.

In Year 3, the children have been learning how to play the Djembe drums. They have learned how to follow patterns, understand the connection between ‘tempo’ and ‘pulse’ and maintain a steady beat. They have been doing so well!

In Year 4, Mr Bird has been teaching the children how to play the keyboard. They have learned basic key notation and how to play some simple melodies. It is sounding great!

Year 5 children have been working with a teacher from South Tyneside’s Music Hub called Rhys. Two classes in Year 5 so far have been using the Ipads to create music on an app called ‘GarageBand’. The children are shown how to compose a simple beat pattern and then add in other instruments. They explore a different range of tempo and sequences and create a ‘layered’ piece of music that even the best DJ artists would be proud of! 

Here are some examples of the music the children in Year 5 composed, using the app ‘GarageBand’

A selection of Year 6 children have had the opportunity to learn a brass instrument with Mr. Storey in a small group setting. They have learned basic notation, some more complex pieces of music and are beginning to learn how to read music. 

Every Year group has Singing with Mr. Richardson where they practise songs for a concert which is performed for all parents. These sessions are vital for children to learn the correct pitch, tempo and harmonies required in each song. 

We hope this gives an insight into all the wonderful music which is taking place as we continue to promote the Arts here at Harton.

 

Art and Design in Years 4, 5 and 6

31st March 2020S Robson

French artist Henri Matisse inspired us to ‘paint with scissors’ in Year 4. Year 6 were also creating their own version of Matisse’s ‘Beasts of the Sea’. We also looked at a ‘real’ painting copied from one of his earlier works ‘ Woman Reading’ 1920. Year 5 used their knowledge of The Ancient Greeks from their English and History lessons, to design a Greek pot calendar, and then made a pot from clay. The Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani had a particular style, and we replicated his style in our self portraits in Year 6. We have lots of talented artists too!

Year 5 Trip to OpenZone@the Word

2nd March 2020L Forster

On 2nd March, 5F spent the day with OpenZone at The Word.

They prepared for their trip by rehearsing scripts that they delivered in the TV studio in front of a green screen. The topic of their video was ‘Amazing Space’ – with each group covering a different aspect of space, from planets to early rockets to the future of space travel.

Here is the final product:

When not recording in front of the green screen, the children made animations using coding on Scratch3.

To end the afternoon, they worked in pairs to solve a digital escape room – solving lots of puzzles, many of which involved maths and reasoning.

Visit from French speaking Theatre Company – 24.02.20

2nd March 2020M Noble

Children in Years 3, 4 and 5 were treated to a performance of a play in French by the company Onatti Productions on Monday 24th February. The play, Ecris-moi, told the story of two pen-pals meeting up for the weekend in France, with some confusion ensuing about each other’s identity. There were lots of laughs, as well as some excellent audience participation when children were asked to give the meaning of certain French words or phrases, or to suggest a French word that could be used. Children had a lot of fun whilst reinforcing their knowledge of French greetings and vocabulary around such topics as money, clothing and food. It was also a great way to hear native French speakers in a really fun setting. The children were beautifully behaved throughout, as ever.