On Thursday 29th November, 9 children from Year 3 participated in the Alternative Activities Festival at Norwich Arena. This involved a carousel of activities which involved various different skills. There was frisbee, bowling and yoga to name just a few!
The children particularly enjoyed the trampolining, where they had a small trampoline each and had to follow the instructors moves. It really warmed everyone up and got hearts and lungs working well.
Mrs Pawley was very impressed by the children’s self-belief in trying these exciting different sports. All of the children loved the day, trying the kayak machines and using the parachute for amazing games. They even managed to fit in a game of stuck-in-the-mud! Behaviour was exemplary throughout the day and everyone tried their best and had fun.
Reception children undertook activities linked to bonfire night at the beginning of November. Activities included discussing experiences of bonfire night, watching videos of the celebration, finding out about firework safety, and creating firework pictures.
During independent learning time, reception children have had the opportunity to find out about dinosaurs and explore the dinosaur bones.
Whilst playing with the small world play castle, some children were intrigued to learn about real castles.
Reception children learnt about Remembrance Day. They made their own poppies in class and had a class assembly where they observed a two minute silence. They watched a CBeebies video called ‘poppies’ which is a lovely video showing how the poppies grew in the field after all the grass had turned to mud.
Year 1
Year one children found out about extinct animals and also those that are endangered. They made a timeline to show when the animals became extinct.
Year 2
Norwich’s Past
Year 2 children have learnt about life in Norwich in the past. They studied the cathedral and castle in Norwich. Lessons included looking at artefacts relating to Norwich’s past, comparing old and new landmarks in Norwich, and finding out about castles and how they were defended.
See grid below to show understanding before and after the topic.
The children participated in a History Day- see special events tab for further details.
Year two also looked at the significant person William the Conqueror. They created a timeline for his life.
Night time
As part of our topic Night time the children have learnt about a significant person from the past, Guy Fawkes. The children wrote about who Guy Fawkes was and why he is an important historical person.
They picked some items that Guy Fawkes might have used in 1605 and described how he would have used them. They then explained the difference between objects that Guy Fawkes could have used, compared with what he might have used today.
Reception children have been very busy exploring their immediate environment, including talking about animals and plants in their outdoor area, which is known as ‘Ted’s Den’. They have also observed seasonal changes to the weather and the trees.
During independent learning time, Reception children have developed their sense of place by discussing the maps and leaflets in class.
Year one
Year one have been learning about animals and how they adapt to their region. This built on from work in reception when they studied the topic ‘Around the world’.
Year two
Year two children have been locating significant landmarks in Norwich and comparing old and new landmarks. Work included using google maps.
On Tuesday 14th November, a group of 16 girls from Years 4, 5 and 6 attended a football competition at GOALS in Norwich.
On competition day, the 8 girls who were part of the Year 4 team played really well together and showed great team spirit and enthusiasm. The girls reached the quarter finals which included an exciting penalty shoot-out. In total, the team scored 5 goals. Tia received the certificate for showing respect on the pitch, well done!
The 8 girls from Year 6 also played really well. They played 3 games in the morning and after being refuelled with lunch they played a further four games. These afternoon matches were all won and a total of 14 goals were scored! Millie received the certificate for showing respect on the pitch, well done!
The Toftwood team had a great day making Mrs Hodges, Mr Barnes and Mr Chapman very proud with their fantastic behaviour, great sporting attitude and for the respect shown both on and off the pitch. Well done everyone!
Remembrance Day was marked in an assembly at the Junior School. The children learnt about Armistice Day on the 11th November 1918. At 11 o’clock on that day, nations who were fighting laid down their weapons and this signalled the end of the war (known then as the “Great War”). Today, we know it as the First World War. Armistice is an agreement for peace.
One year later, the first two-minute silence was held. King George V had asked the people of Britain to pause and remember all those who had fought and died in the service of their country.
In in 1920, King George unveiled the nation’s new war memorial called the Cenotaph, where people go to remember the fallen.
The children found out about the Royal British Legion and how it remembers the fallen by launching the Poppy Appeal, where members and volunteers sell millions of red paper poppies. In the weeks leading up to 11th November and on Remembrance Sunday, people are asked to wear a poppy as an act of remembrance.
The children listened respectfully and with interest.
On Wednesday 8th November, key stage one children were extremely lucky to be joined by the Mayor of Dereham. He talked to the children about why we wear poppies, the significance of the poppy and encouraged the children to join in with reciting a special passage to remember the soldiers who fought in the wars.
On the Friday the Infant School participated in class assemblies for Remembrance Day, including a two minute silence. Reception children also had the opportunity to make poppies.
Ian visited us to talk about the parable of The Good Shepherd. He talked about how different the sheep that he had brought in looked, and asked the children ‘did that matter?’ The children said no! When one of the sheep were lost, it didn’t matter that it was the little one. We would always treat everybody the same and it didn’t matter what they looked like or how they may be different.
On Thursday 9th November, ten children from KS1 took part in a Rugby Festival at Crusaders Rugby Club. The children rotated around seven activities, learning how to pass the ball, weave in and out, listen to their teammates and show good teamwork. These activities were run by year 9 and 10 students from Neatherd High School.
All the children received a certificate and two children were given a special certificate to celebrate their passion that they had shown on the day, normally one child gets this certificate but it was too close to choose between them. Some of the children had never tried Rugby before but all were very excited to learn and showed great determination and perseverance. They had a great time and all agreed it would be a sport they wouldn’t mind trying again! Mrs Morton and Mrs Hartley were so impressed by the behaviour of the children who attended the trip!
On Wednesday 11th November 16 children from Years 1-2 competed in the WNDSSP’s cross country competition. The theme for the event was honesty, with the children needing to demonstrate good sportsmanship. Albie from Year 2 won a special sticker for demonstrating this theme, after he lost his shoe during the race and had to run a portion of the race with only one!
We were so impressed with the children’s attitude and behaviour, as they were excellent role models for our Federation.
Year 3 enjoyed watching a video and researching the life of Mary Seacole, who was born in Jamaica over 200 years ago. She broke social rules and prejudices to travel the world, run businesses and help those in need – even in the most dangerous places. She was best known for her work as a nurse in the Crimean War and is remembered as an incredible woman and inspiring role model. They used their findings to engage in a discussion and debate about her achievements. In music, the children learned to sing a Ghanan folk song Tue Tue and to play it on the ocarina.
Year 4 have been ‘celebrating our sisters’ in relation to this year’s Black History month theme. We have learnt about Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman and the part which they played in the Civil Rights Movement. We discussed the important of equality throughout our school and what we can do to ensure we treat everyone with respect. Finally, we created some beautiful art work to celebrate our differences. In music, the children learned a Rap celebrating Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
Year 5 have been finding out about Harriet Tubman and her “underground Railway” where she devoted her life to secretly freeing slaves. We designed panels for a patchwork quilt, which has symbols to represent messages like, get your wagon ready or take the mountain path to find a safe house. The symbols were used, partly to remain secretive, but also because the slaves could not read or write.
Year 6
To celebrate and recognise black history month in Year 6, we researched influential women that have contributed to different industries such as sport, science and medicine, politics, entertainment and broadcasting, literature arts and music. We presented the information that we found in a variety of ways such as: posters, storyboards and drawings. We discussed the theme of this year’s black history month and that this is an opportunity to for everyone to learn about significant Black and Mixed Heritage people and their contributions to Britain and worldwide.
On Friday 20th October, 10 children from Year 3 participated in a Speed Stacking Festival at UEA. This involved a carousel of activities which involved variations of speed, numbers of cups, and sizes of the stacks being built.
The children played a range of team games that utilised important skills such as communication and listening to one another as the passionate sports leaders introduced the children to a sport they had never explored before.
Mrs Pawley was very impressed by the children’s determination to learn a challenging new skill. All of the children loved the day, enjoying and improving in every cup stacking challenge. “I’m having so much fun!” one of the children exclaimed half way through.
Super Job, Year 3!
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