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/

 

Nature up close – Springtime activities

21st April 2020S Robson

Spring is a great season to see growth happening in nature. Whether it’s spent in the garden, yard, planting in a window box, or watching from an open window. It’s all around!

It’s a fact that gardening, or being out in fresh air surrounded by bird song, flowers and trees, can make us feel uplifted and brighter, as well as providing other health benefits.

Checkout the video for some great activities you can do at home. You might learn a new skill like gardening – great exercise! Or grow some vegetables or flowers from seed. You may like to grow something to plant in our allotment, and observe it’s growth from time to time. Have fun!

There is more info on the growveg website:

https://www.growveg.co.uk/guides/fun-garden-activities-for-kids-during-lockdown/

 

Flashback Friday- Y1M Visit The Word!

3rd April 2020P Mullea

On Monday 16th March, Y1M visited The Word. The children were very excited to explore the library because they just LOVE reading!

When we arrived, we got to go into the story room. Jolene our Librarian read us a brilliant story called “Silly Billy” by Anthony Browne.

This story is about a little boy has so many worries he can’t sleep at night. At first he feels really silly for being worried but when he talks to his Grandmother she makes him feel better. She tells Billy that everyone has worries and gives him some worry dolls to share his worries with. Telling the worry dolls his worries helps Billy to sleep at night.

After reading the story the class designed and named their own worry dolls and thought about any worries they might have.

Before leaving the library we also had a chance to explore the shelves… we loved looking at all the new books and some of the children became members, borrowing books to take home.

 

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!