Four children, one from Year 5 and 3 from Year 6 represented Bill Quay in a Maths Challenge at the Centre for Life. Together with seven other schools they participated in practical activities based around shape, symmetry and probability. Dr Maths (the Evening Chronicle columnist) entertained the children with magic tricks based on maths- something which the children particularly enjoyed.
Year 6 spent a very interesting afternoon at Monkwearmouth Station Museum on Tuesday. They found out about rationing, looked at some wartime artefacts and followed eleven year Roy's experience of evacuation. The children then turned detectives to discover the identity of the owners of various wartime baggage items.
Year 5 and Year 6 were involved in a visit to Ryton Comprehensive School to see a Royal Shakespeare Company performance of Hamlet. The children have been acting out various scenes from the play in class and were thrilled to be able to see these scenes acted out by the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
On Tuesday year 6 and year 5 took part in a session ran by a member of the Red Cross about how to deal with an unconscious person. They watched a demonstration and listened very carefully before practising the recovery position with a partner. The children had great fun but also understood the importance of following the correct sequence of events if ever they came across someone who was unconscious .
Year 6 pupils had three fabulous days at Robin Wood Activity Centre near Alston. They faced lots of exciting challenges including braving the Piranha Pool and the giant swing. The pupils were split into two teams and had to use all of their problem solving, listening and communication skills to rise to the team challenge.
Everyone took part in the activities at a level they were comfortable with and they left Robin Wood reluctantly but with memories of an amazing fun filled three days.
Year 6 had a fantastic day out on Tuesday when they visited the City Learning Centre. The session built upon the skills they had learned during visits to the City Learning Centre earlier in the year. The children used programmes such as Primary Design and Junior Control Insight. They were able to build fairground rides using wood and then use a laser to carve their own names into their models.
Everyone agreed that the visit was very interesting.
Mrs Lees class received a warm welcome when they arrived at the Discovery Museum on Tuesday. They were then shown around the museum to look at the different bridges that have played a part in the history of Newcastle. The children found this very interesting and also enjoyed finding out about hydro technology.
The children were each given a clipboard and had to answer questions about the museum before they went off for lunch. The class were then able to spend some time in the science maze, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all before going to visit the gift shop to buy some very interesting souvenirs.
The children all return to school with a smile on their face after a really enjoyable day.
Year 6 had a fantastic day out on Friday when they visited the CLC at Heworth to further develop their understanding and skill in control technology. Mr Jeeves began the morning session with an introduction to control technology using Junior Control Insight software. Using the latest touch screen computers the children had hands-on experience of controlling both on-screen simulations and physical models such as clowns and traffic lights. Later, the children were challenged to complete other tasks with simulations of a 'dream bedroom'. They had great fun in the afternoon when they were shown how to use Photoshop software and the distortion tools to create comical versions of their very own photograph.
Year 2 also visited the CLC and went 'Fishing for Treasure' during their visit. They used 3D Amazing Interactive to draw and create stories. They programmed Beebots to follow paths and instructions to find the treasure.
Year 6 went to Felling Cricket Club on Thursday to participate in the Kwik Cricket Festival.
It was a wonderful day and all of the children took part.
Some excellent skills were shown by all the pupils.
Unfortunately they were unable to win the tournament but gained valuable team work and cricketing skills.
On 11th November Richard from the Heritage Centre visited Year 5 and Year 6.
Richard talked to Year 5 children all about Victorian toys and games. He showed them different items from a Victorian household and then different games and toys that the children of Victorian times would play with. The children really enjoyed this experience and found the different games fascinating and fun.
Richard talked to Year 6 all about World War 2.
He told us what an Air Raid Precautions (ARP) warden would be used for in the war or a dangerous situation. Richard also explained to us how a mother and an evacuee used equipment to survive in the war. The ARP wardens were commonly women, if not they would be men who were not allowed to participate in the war for medical reasons.
By
Femi Year 6
Year 6 had a fantastic day out on Friday, when they visited a Hindu temple. They took part in a workshop lead by Kirtida, a Hindu Priest, where they learnt all about Hindu culture and Philosophy. This included, artefacts, music, audience participation, anecdotal stories and a question and answer session. As well as the opportunity to dress up in Indian costumes, watch a demonstration of the traditional arati ceremony worship, as practiced by Hindus and experience first hand, an authentic Hindu shrine. They also enjoyed a traditionally cooked and served, delicious vegetarian lunch called Prashad.
Children enjoying playing Indian musical instruments.
Children dressing up in Indian costumes and face painting activity.
Children enjoying a traditionally cooked Prashad lunch.
Every week for the past 7 weeks, eight boys chosen from year 5/6 have taken part in the Dilley Line Project and have worked alongside a graphic designer, Dan Civicco. They also worked alongside Colgate School.
With him, they learned about graphic design culminating in the design for the Soul Soup Project. The boys worked very hard to come up with an original idea to front this product. They learnt about the importance of strap lines when trying to promote something new and exciting.
Once the children had designed a suitable logo, they were very lucky and had the opportunity to go to Northern Print to actually screen print the logo onto T-shirts. They also designed the logo for the bag for the ingredients. The boys visited Dan's studio so they could see where he actually worked on a day to day basis. They visited designers based in the Ouseburn Valley and learnt a little about where designers took their ideas from and then how to use them.
On the last trip, the boys had the opportunity to visit Potts the Printers in Cramlington to see their hard work being printed.
The boys have thoroughly enjoyed this project and have worked extremely hard on a very worthwhile and exciting cause.
Year 6 had great fun celebrating the end of SATs week with Mrs Messenger and Mr Collinson. They all went off to play Ten Pin Bowling at the Metro Centre!
Throughout the week children from Year 6 have had the opportunity to visit the CLC to take part in a variety of ICT workshops. During the workshops they have been using a software program called 'Comic Life' to write their own comic strips based on a Victorian story called Scrub. They have also been shown how to use a CADCAM program called Primary Design. The children had great fun using this program to design their own World Cup keyrings!!!! They will be cut out on the laser cutter and sent to school at a later date.
During Science week this term, children in Key Stage 2 got the opportunity to watch an amazing Science Magic Show. They were totally enthralled with this visual and interactive show which included lots of fantastic liquid nitrogen demonstrations as well as tricks using sodium polyacrylate to absorb water.
It was truly a learning experience for us all especially Mr Collinson!
Tanith, Lucy B, Julian, Michael, Phillippa, James, Femi and Mrs Welsh represented Bill Quay at the Science Showcase in the Metro Centre this term. The showcase included hands on activities, science fair projects and an inflatable planetarium, allowing the children the opportunity to see what fantastic science is taking place in North East schools.
Children enjoying the hands on activities!
Year 6 children visited the Theatre Royal Newcastle where they enjoyed a fun packed morning taking part in a Drama Workshop, based around the theme of Ancient Egypt, as well as a guided tour of the theatre.
Children taking part in the workshop.
Children enjoying the tour and the tales of the theatre.
Children from Year 4, 5 & 6 visited Dance City in Newcastle to watch Tees Valley Dance perform Kick Off. Using football as its inspiration Kick off was a light-hearted piece about exploring the games played by two friends. Injuries, arguments, winners, losers, rules and tactics were all incorporated within the dance performance. After the show the children took part in a workshop with the choreographer of the show and members of the dance group. They got the opportunity to perform dance routines from the show and ask lots of questions about the performance.
The children are really looking forward to working with Tees Valley Dance again when they visit school at the end of the month.
Pupils in Key Stage 2 took part in the Fab Food Funhouse Roadshow to raise awareness of healthy eating. The children were spit into teams and completed physical activity challenges, took part in various games and answered questions about healthy food choices to score points for their team.
A fun afternoon was had by all!!!
Year 4, 5 and 6 visited the Great North Museum to look closely at the Ancient Egyptian Exhibits housed within the museum. They studied the different art work and sketched the designs which they found interesting. These sketches were then used to create an Ancient Egyptian wall art.
Children sketching their designs.
Year 6 went to Bowes Museum to take part in an Art Workshop based around People in Action. They sketched each other in different poses and then took these as inspiration to create models. Using wire, pupils made a frame of their person then covered it in rolled strips of newspaper. Using Modroc, plaster of Paris bandage to finish their sculpture, giving them a hardened finish. Once back at school, children painted their sculptures to produce a person.
Children working hard creating their models.
Year 5 and Year 6 met with a fireman from the local Fire Station to learn about Fire Safety within the home. The fireman talked to the children about what to do if a fire broke out in their home, reminding the children of the does and don'ts to stay safe.
Year 6 children had a fun afternoon when they visited Gateshead Stadium to take part in a Hula Event. The children learnt a range of tricks with Miss Kellee from LA, who has set up a charity to combat childhood obesity, mainly through hula hop.
Year 6 children learning a range of tricks!
Year 6 children with Miss Kellee.
This week our pupils have been performing their Christmas Shows and they have all been a great success.
There are certainly some budding stars in the making!
Reception Class performed 'Jesus in a Manger' a traditional nativity play, their acting and singing was tremendous!
Year 1 and Year 2 performed 'A Creepy Crawly Christmas' a thoroughly entertaining show along with brilliant acting and singing from all of the children!
Year 3 performed 'A Tale of two Birthdays'. This tale had action, adventure, magical characters, lots of laughs along with a superb performance from all the children!
Year 4 & 5 performed 'Dick Whittington and his Cat' a popular and well-loved story about Dick, who was down on his luck and decided to head for the city of London to see if the streets were really paved with gold. The show had catchy songs, lots of laughs and of course a 'happy ever after' ending. Providing a great recipe for a thoroughly entertaining show along with fantastic acting and singing from all of the children.
Year 6 performed 'Hansel and Gretal an adaptation of the popular fairytale. Hansel was imprisoned while Gretal 'force fed' him in order to, as the old witch put it 'fatten him up for the Christmas pot! It was great fun to watch with its witty script, catchy songs and some real 'character acting' from the children.
Children rehearsing for their shows!
Every year Film Education organises a nationwide film festival called National Schools Film Week (NSFW) which takes place this year on 19th-23rd October. National Schools Film Week is the biggest event of its kind in the world for young people, it is a unique festival which provides schools across the UK with free trips to the cinema with the aim of exposing children to a wide range of films. This years theme is Creativity and Diversity and our Key Stage 2 children have had the opportunity to take part. They have visited Sunderland Empire Cinema and The Customs House, South Shields where they have enjoyed watching a film.
Yesterday, Year 6 children had the opportunity to visit Heworth CLC where they were shown how to use a software program called 'Movie Maker'. They learnt how Movie Maker can help them to build their own movie using videos, photos and music. They were also shown how to include titles and transitions to help make their movie fit together. Year 6 children had great fun trying out this new program which they will be using over the next few weeks during their ICT lessons, to create a movie all about Superheroes, linked to their Literacy topic.
Children working hard creating their movies.
On Thursday Year 6 visited Sunderland Empire to watch Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' performed by the Shakespeare 4 Kidz Theatre Company. Shakespeare 4 Kidz used the most famous lines from the original texts, weaved them into modern language, added some songs and dances into the mix, to tell the blood-soaked story of the murderous Scottish warrior. The children thoroughly enjoyed the performance brought to life in a vibrant fun filled way, by the Shakespeare Company.