Inventors

Today, we focused on the work of Rosa Bonheur. We looked at The Horse Fair by Rosa Bonheur. We noticed how she created a 3D effect on the horses using tone and shading as well as showing a shadow. Then we drew our own animal adding tone, shading and shadow to make it look 3D. 

Good morning parents,

Today, you will receive a letter from me to give you an overview of what to expected while your child is in the Inventors class. I have also added one to our blog.

Thanks,

Mrs Walsh

In school we are focusing on developing healthy minds through lots of wonderful picture books. Our assemblies and lessons for the first two weeks will focus on these books which will help us to think about our thoughts, our busy minds, our feelings and how to deal with our emotions when we are feeling worried, sad, cross or anxious! As you do not have the books at home we have shared the links below so you can listen as someone reads it to you. Listen carefully to the words in the book and enjoy the lovely illustrations. When you do come back to school you will be able to see all the books on the display in the school hall with lots of things to help you to think about the messages the books are giving us!

Hello Inventors,

Welcome back! I hope you all had a lovely summer. Mrs Powell and I are looking forward to welcoming you into our classroom. We have been working hard to get the classroom ready for your return (I have added some photos on the blog for you to get a sneak peek). The first two weeks we will be keeping busy by doing lots of activities based around new books that Mrs Hunter has chosen.

I am excited to meet the new children to the Inventors, as well as seeing the familiar faces of the year 5 children. We have two new children starting (1 in each year group) and I cannot wait for us all to get to know them.

School will look a little different at the moment due to the building work that has started. Don’t worry, we are in the same classroom and will still get to enjoy our dinner in the hall.

I know you have been away from school for a considerable amount of time but be assured that we are here for you all and cannot wait to get started again!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs Walsh

Hey Inventors!

You all understand how important it is to know your Times Tables. Well, check out this amazing website ( https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/category/585/HTML5). There are lots of free games to play on your tablet or computer and will get you learning your Times Tables whilst having fun . 

I have particularly enjoyed playing 'Super Maths Bowling' and you can play against somebody else . Can you beat them?

Hello,

It's me again! Well here we are, the last week of the school year. It has been very different to any other year we have experienced before. But you have all remained resilient, positive and have shown amazing character. 

It has been a pleasure to teach you this year! Although our time together was cut short, the experiences we had with stay with me forever. I am lucky enough to still have the year 4 children next year and I am looking forward to making up for lost time. 

I have added a summer grid onto the blog. It has fun activities to complete before we return to school in September. I have also added a video to introduce myself to the year 3 children- soon to be year 4- coming up to Inventors. 

I am looking forward to seeing you all very soon. Have a lovely summer with your family and friends.

Mrs Walsh 

Hi Inventors,

Thank you to the children who continue to send me pictures of their home learning. I have been amazed by your creativity!

A message to the year 5 children. Please can you complete your buddy letter and return it to school by the 10th of July. If you need guidance, please scroll down on our blog and you will find a template to help you. Thank you Isabella, I have received yours. 

Can you believe it is almost the summer holidays already? I certainly can't. We will be working hard to get the school ready for your return in September. I am looking forward to seeing you all again soon. But for now, keep safe and keep smiling. 

Mrs Walsh

Hello Year 5, 

You have all been contacted in regards to writing a letter to your new buddy. Your buddy will be a new reception child, so it is important they have someone they can look up to. We will deliver the letters this summer therefore need them back as soon as possible. 

I have upload a template for you to look at so you can guide your way through and have some ideas of what to write. You can make it personal by including your likes and interests. Please write your letter on lined paper and remember to write in your best handwriting. You could do a draft copy first, check your spellings and edit it, then write it again. If you need anything to complete the task please ask us. 

At this stage, please write your letter to 'Buddy' and when you return we will tell you and introduce you to your new buddy. We have a tray outside the school gates for you to return your letter to us.

Thank you year 5. Remember if you have any questions or need any help, please ring the school office and we will help you. 

Mrs Walsh

Hi Inventors,

I hope you're all well and keeping yourself busy at home. It seems like a long time ago since we were all in class together.

We had a good week in school learning about civil rights and equality and the key worker children created some brilliant work. The display we made over the week is on the newsletter- check it out. 

We hope you enjoyed the quiz we did for you all last week. I'm sure most of you beat your adults and siblings .

Remember you are all doing a fantastic job and when we can return to school safely we will do so. We will all be here waiting for your return. In the meantime, keep up with completing the activities and keep smiling.

Mrs Walsh x

BIG NEWS!

I am very excited to share this news with you today. JK Rowling has written a new book called 'The Ickabog' which she is releasing day by day until mid July. This means we get to read a chapter or two every day until then. I cannot wait to get reading and I want you to join me on this reading journey. If Harry Potter is anything to go by this will be a big hit. The first two chapters have been released and are on the website- https://www.theickabog.com/home/.

Also for you artistic children, there is an illustration competition going along at the same time.

Enjoy Inventors! 

Hi Inventors,

Thanks again for the lovely pictures to show me how hard you are working at home. I know several of you enjoyed the science experiments, therefore I have added another one to our blog. The added notes will help you understand the science behind it. 

Remember to continue with your reading! I have been reading lots and I have found it helps to take your mind away from everything else. It allows you to be creative and almost enter another world. Lots of you are completing your TTrockstars challenge- well done! I discovered this website this week- https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/harry-potter-at-home- it has lots of fun activities for you to complete. 

Finally, keep learning the lyrics to the song 'Looking to the rainbow'. We will record it in September- it's going to sound great! 

Have a lovely bank holiday   

Mrs Walsh x

Hello Inventors!

It is me again . This week is Mental Health awareness week and the theme they have decided on this year is Kindness. The Mental Health Foundation stated that, 'One thing that we have seen all over the world is that kindness is prevailing in uncertain times.  We have learnt that amid the fear, there is also community, support and hope. The added benefit of helping others is that it is good for our own mental health and well-being. It can help reduce stress and improve your emotional well-being'. 

As we know our mental health is just as important as our physical health. By showing kindness to others, not only are we helping with their mental health, we are improving our own. The feeling you get from showing kindness to others can not be underestimated. Therefore, I have based a couple of this weeks activities around this concept. There is a Mental Health awareness pack on our blog which has lots of ideas on how to show kindness to others.  I look forward to seeing how you have achieved this throughout the week. Please remember to send your pictures to our office email. 

Finally, please find the song and lyrics (on our blog) to 'Looking to the rainbow'. In September, as a school, we will record this song. I am learning the song and look forward to hearing it come together when we arrive back at school. 

Keep smiling, singing and surprising us. You're all amazing. 

Mrs Walsh 

Hi Inventors,

I hope you are all well and keeping busy. Did you celebrate VE day? I was in school last week and we had lots of fun. We made VE medals with clay, painted union jacks, decorated biscuits and made slime. We spoke about the importance of remembering those who fought so we could live today. 

Last week I also celebrated my 30th birthday . It was a strange one, not being able to see family and friends, but I had a lovely day and ate lots of cake!

Well done for continuing with your home learning, you're doing a great job. I have added an extra resource to our blog this week. Have a go at it and remember to complete your TTrockstars as normal. 

I hope to see you all soon, 

Mrs Walsh 

Click the link to access daily family prayer and worship activities. 

https://engageworship.org/engage-at-home-daily-family-prayer-and-worship-activities

Hello Inventors!

I hope you and your families are well and you are keeping busy doing lots of fun activities. Thank you for sending in your pictures. I love seeing what you are all doing at home. Keep them coming! Remember to try and have some routine to your day, I have found it really helps. 

I did it! Yesterday I ran 13.1 miles (half marathon) with my Mum. We got up early to do it because we knew it would be too hot later on. I am really proud of myself and have found running gives me an extra focus at this unusual time. 

I found this article (https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/50-fun-kids-activities-home-17975046) it has lots of great ideas and activities for you to do. Check it out and have some fun . 

I miss you all lots and look forward to the day we can be back in the classroom. For now, look after yourself and your loved ones. 

Mrs Walsh 

Parents! Please use the link below to access this fantastic resource. It provides lessons for all school year groups from Reception through to year 10 and will be taught via a new Government-backed online platform, the Oak National Academy. The scheme, which has been set up by teachers and funded by the Department of Education, is set to provide video lessons for students, with each lesson arriving with a quiz and worksheet to go with it.

https://www.thenational.academy/online-classroom 

Hi Inventors!

Hope you all had a lovely Easter. I certainly did. I have posted a picture below to show you a couple of things I have been up to, including my attempt at a cheesecake and a cute picture of my dog! 

I ran 11.5 miles today , it was very, very hard. However, I am now only 1.5 miles from my target of 13 miles (half a marathon). Believe it or not, my Mum runs with me. She is 53 and is smashing it!

Keep smiling and look after yourself.

See you soon,

Mrs Walsh

Hi Inventors!

Happy Easter to you and your families. Make the most of this precious time you have with your families.

It was lovely to speak to most of you this week. It sounded like you are all keeping very busy and enjoying the sun at the same time. I enjoyed my week in school. We had fun making structures to hold a cream egg, tallest one won (which wasn't my team). We also decorated boiled eggs, decorated Easter eggs, made Easter cards and played lots of sports, of course .

Thank you for the pictures (below), I love seeing what you have been up to. 

I look forward to seeing you all again. Keep safe and enjoy your Easter break.

Mrs Walsh 

Happy Easter Inventors! Over the next 2 weeks your home learning grid is based around fun Easter activities for you to choose from. Do still continue with the blue squares from previous grids but remember to give yourselves a break too as I'm sure you've been working very hard!

It is my turn to be in school this week. I am very much looking forward to it! I will post pictures on the school twitter and class blog to keep you updated with what we have been up to. Remember to send your pictures to the school email address so I can see what you have all been doing! The email address is on our blog, as is the time capsule activity link. 

Remember, keep safe and stay at home! 

Hi Inventors!

I hope you are all doing well during this unusual time. Remember to keep smiling and keep your body and mind active. 

Just a quick reminder to complete your TT Rockstars activity. I am still completing my weekly check. I am sure you are all completing your weekly tasks and having fun doing so. 

I have been working from home and whilst doing so have been completing my daily exercise by going for a run. My target is to complete a half marathon within the next two months. 

I miss you all and look forward to seeing you all back at school when we can. 

Stay safe.

Mrs Walsh

Here are some great home learning activities from white rose. Just click on the link below. Keep up the good work and stay safe!

https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/

What a treat!

To finish our D&T activities relating to the Greeks, we made Greek honey cake. The children all had a turn to measure and mix the ingredients. All the staff had a taste and the feedback was incredible. Well done star bakers. 

The final week of term has been an exciting one in the Inventors classroom. We completed an experiment to understand the process of the digestive system using items such as tights, crackers and orange juice. The children then used this knowledge to write a narrative from the perspective of a book, travelling through the digestive system. On the final day of term the children shared their amazing homework with one another before completing an Atlas scavenger hunt in Geography. Well done to the winning team: Koel, Harrison and Jacob.

Have a fantastic half term and I look forward to seeing you all again in a weeks time. 

Welcome back!

Mrs Walsh and Mrs Hill hope that you have had a fantastic summer holiday and are ready and raring for the school year ahead- we definitely are! We have an action- packed first term ahead of us full of interesting and new learning opportunities. We hope you enjoy your new learning but also take the opportunity to come out of your comfort zone, be creative and challenge yourself!

Our first topic this half term will be "Shell Shock" where we will be travelling back to 1914 and learning about World War One; from how it all began, the effects of the War across Europe, until how the War ended in 1918.

Don't forget to earn your raffle tickets to be in the prize draw every Friday!

We look forward to another great year at St. John's...

Making the Most of Symmetry in the Sun!

Running for distance

As part of our athletics unit of work, Inventors were asked to design a running course that would test their stamina and endurance. The course had to last between 30 seconds and 1 minute, using a range of equipment to help them. At the end of the lesson, the children got the opportunity to test each other's designs out.

What a great afternoon of physical activity!

All of the Area

Children had to work in groups to investigate the area of different shapes, using different materials. They had 5 challenges to complete with a time limit of 10 minutes per challenge. There were lots of skills demonstrated during this lesson not only mathematical but also great examples of co-operation and team- work. Well done Inventors!

Bye, Bye Butterfly!

Thank you to Tomas for bringing in his butterflies that he has been rearing over the last few weeks. He showed Inventors the cocoons that they had evolved from and we discussed the complete metamorphosis that they go through from caterpillar to butterfly.

We then set them free in our old forest school area, where we hope they will flourish in their natural habitat.

Prayer Workshop with Bishop Mark

Inventors had a fantastic afternoon participating in a prayer workshop with Bishop Mark. The workshop showed children how they could pray in different ways by interacting with fun and interesting activities with a specific message and bible reading.

The afternoon ended with a pray and blessing led by the Bishop himself.

GO FOR IT MO!

Do you know what it takes to be a world famous athlete?

Who lives in a house like this?

During topic lessons we have been looking at different styles of houses and where people live. We have been learning new vocabulary linked to house and homes and have started to create an estate agent style advertisements whereby children are trying to sell their own houses. We have been using lots of persuasive language as well as floor plans and pictures.

Inventors win "Cakes and Shakes" for the second half term in a row!

Well done for gaining the most compliment slips Inventors and a big thank you to Miss Robertson for preparing such a delicious treat!

INVADERS,RAIDERS, TRADERS?

Take a look at some examples of our fantastic grid homework this half term. These are just a few pieces, there are lots more displayed in our classroom and the school's lobby area. 

How did the Vikings preserve their food, when travelling on long voyages?

As part of our science week Inventors have been researching ideas about how to preserve food. Children came up with several suggestions on how to preserve mackerel.

We then gathered our information and set up five experiments to see which out of the following food preservation methods would be more effective- salt, smoking, lemon and lime juice, honey and vinegar.

We look forward to seeing the results.

Inventors are reading "Alex Sparrow and the Really Big Stink" by Jennifer Killick with Mrs Purser.

They tweeted Jennifer to tell her how much that they were enjoying her book.

She sent them posters and a signed postcard.

Children have written thank you letters to her too.

A Kingly Debate

Inventors had to go back in time and take on the role of either King Alfred the Great or King Athelstan. They had to use their debating skills to prove which king was the best!

Aliens need our help!

Inventors were asked to create a food source for an alien life form. However, they added too much salt, which was detrimental to their health! Inventors had to think of a way of separating all of the materials again using different equipment so that the extra salt could be removed.

The Inventors successfully completed the task.

Well done comrades!

Solid or liquid?  You decide!

Inventors were set the challenge of creating their own cornflour slime. They were astonished at the results...did it turn out to be a solid or a liquid? It was hard to tell, as it seemed to have the properties of both. We had some great discussions around the children's ideas! It was a messy but fun afternoon to end the week.

Using the "mysterious" stimulus, children had to answer the 5 ws (who, what,when,where,why?) and create their own story maps.

We look forward to hearing the children's creative ideas.

Welcome back Inventors for another fun-filled half term! 

We have got so much to learn; from Anglo-Saxon and Viking invasions to watching our own chicks hatch and grow! 

Let's have a great six weeks learning together.

Please take a look at some examples of Inventors' grid homework from spring 1. You can see further examples in the school's lobby area.

Isn't it AMAZING?!

Our new topic in the first Spring half term is "Planet Earth" linking natural history and science together. Finding out about life cycles of animals and plants; habitats and all of the weird and wonderful things that we have on this planet.

If you had the opportunity- what would you ask Sir David Attenborough?

May we take this opportunity to wish all Inventors and their families a very happy and peaceful Christmas.

We look forward to seeing you all in the new year!

Merry Christmas or Wesołych Świąt!

Best wishes,

Mrs Browne & Miss Ireland

TASC Days

During the last week of school before the Christmas break, we have been busy researching Christmas traditions around the world. Inventors chose to investigate how Polish people celebrate Christmas to discover any similarities or differences that there maybe. We have found out lots of interesting facts out about Poland, as well as taking advice from our class member Jakub!

Following our research we designed and created our very own Christmas decoration inspired by our Polish research.

We cannot wait to share everything that we have been doing in our church service on the last day of term!

Science

As part of our science assessment this half term we had to work in a group to sell our ear defenders that we had produced and investigated- using a fair test. We had to include lots of persuasive and scientific language in order to prove that ours was the best. 

The children worked very well in their groups and it was a hard decision as to whose ear defenders were the most effective! 

Our reflection area for the coming weeks will be focusing on Advent and its true meaning.

The children will  have time for reflection and to write personal prayers based on hope, joy, faith and love.

These will then be shared in Lighthouse assemblies.

Forest School Session

5.12.18

Due to the weather, forest school had to take place indoors today. However, we were able to create some fantastic festive pieces using natural materials from our school grounds.

It was another great session!

Mindfulness

Every Thursday and Friday afternoon our children have the opportunity to participate in some mindfulness activities.

Today we did some meditation, where children had to find a comfortable position in order to listen to some relaxing music and a meditation clip. This encouraged children to relax their mind and become calm in order to be ready to learn after lunch time.

As you can see, some children were very calm and relaxed!

The children have been using talk for writing strategies to plan their re- telling of the chapter "Porta Ostiensis" from the book we are focusing on in English this half term "The Roman Quests- Escape from Rome" I can't wait to read their finished pieces of writing next week!

Welcome Back Inventors!

Mrs Browne and Miss Ireland hope that you have had a fantastic summer holiday and are ready and raring for the school year ahead- we definitely are! We have an action- packed first term ahead of us full of exciting and new learning opportunities, which we hope you enjoy but also take the opportunity to come out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself!

Our first topic this half term will be "The Empire Strikes Back" where we will be travelling back in time and learning about all things Roman; from how it all began, until the Empire was over thrown (not forgetting everything in between!)

Don't forget to earn your rewards from "The Bank of Browne" too!

We look forward to another great year at St. John's...

GOD & THE BIG BANG WORKSHOP – YEAR 5

Our Year 5 attended a God & The Big Bang Workshop Day at Manchester Cathedral on Tuesday which explored the interaction between Science & Faith. The children took part in an exciting day of hands-on activities, small group workshops, and had time for big questions with scientists of faith and were involved in interactive sessions throughout the day.

BANNER SERVICE – YEAR 4

Our Year 4 attended the annual Banner Service on Tuesday at St Michael’s Church, Bamford. As Headteacher of St. John’s (Thornham),Mrs Hunter belongs to RAF (Rochdale Anglican Federation) and once a year, pupils from the Anglican Schools in Rochdale attend a service, led by Bishop Mark. This service is known as “The Banner Service” as several years ago the Headteachers of RAF produced banners which tour around the Rochdale school. At the service all 4 banners are paraded as a symbol of unity for the Rochdale schools. This years’ theme was Friendship and all schools that attended created a “Friendship Wreath” containing their prayers which they presented at the service. The children all enjoyed a picnic in the sunshine at Queen’s Park after the Banner Service.

ROBINWOOD ACTIVITY CENTRE TRIP

The children from Years 5 & 6 enjoyed a wonderful time at the brand new Crosslanes Centre in Wrexham last week.

The took part in a range of exciting activities; The Giant Swing, Zipline, Piranha Pool, Caving, Archery, Trapeze, Rock Climbing and the Dungeon of Doom!!! The children were impeccably behaved and were a credit to our school.