Year 3 GULP Project-Final Recap and Results
The Year 3 children have completed their final session of the GULP (Give Up Loving Pop) project! This initiative, delivered in partnership with the Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, has been a fantastic journey for our young "Sugar Detectives." Throughout the program, the children have developed vital "Label Literacy" skills, learning how to decode nutritional information and calculate total sugar content in various bottle sizes. Converting grams into physical sugar cubes, allowing the pupils to truly visualise the hidden sugars in their favourite fizzy drinks and juices. We finished with a "Sugar Detective Quiz" to assess their knowledge, and it was wonderful to see how much they remembered about making healthier drink choices. The program has already made a visible impact, with many children now opting for water over high-sugar alternatives, which is also saving on plastic too! We would like to extend a huge thank you to Nathan for his time and expertise.
Year 5 -Rotakids
Today, Julia from Darwen Rotary Club visited the class to discuss our next project. We have decided to collect Teddy Bears to give to children around the world who do not have their own. We have made posters and comic strips to promote the endeavour and we will be asking everyone in the school to donate a Teddy Bear in good condition that they would be willing to part with.
Year 4 - Science: Air Pollution
The Year 4 super scientists undertook some fieldwork this week. They will be comparing the level of air pollution in 4 areas within our locality and so they suggested some areas to test and off we went to place our test cards. One side of each card was covered with a thin layer of Vaseline with the idea that some particles released from vehicles and machinery will stick to the cards and we can observe and discuss the level of pollution in each area. We also took a reading of the noise level in each area using a decibel meter so that we could determine whether there is a link between noise level and pollution level.
Year 3- P.E-Sugar Detectives: Our GULP Project
Today, our pupils became "Sugar Detectives" as part of the GULP (Give Up Loving Pop) project. The children investigated a variety of popular drinks to uncover the hidden sugars they contain. Using their mathematical skills, they completed a comparison table detailing the total volume of each drink and the specific sugar content. The highlight of the lesson was converting grams of sugar into the actual number of sugar cubes to create a visual representation of what we are consuming. A key takeaway for our detectives was the importance of reading labels carefully; they discovered that while some bottles are 500ml, the nutritional information is often only listed for 100ml, requiring them to calculate the total amount for the whole bottle.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Today is known as Blue Monday, but our Reception class decided to rename it "Happy Monday" by participating in the five steps to wellbeing. The children focused on being active and taking notice of our special world. During their walk, they were mesmerised by the fog and gave thanks for the birds, insects, dogs, and trees. They returned to school excited to share what they had observed with their peers during "snack and chat." If you are feeling a bit low today, we encourage you to try going for a walk and taking a moment to appreciate the world around you.
Year 4 Geography - Rainforest Layers
In our Geography lesson we have been looking at the layers of a rainforest. The children identified the four layers as the forest floor, the understory, the canopy and emergent layer at the very top. Using their enquiry skills they researched the climate, plant and animal life and height of the trees at each layer.
Reception Rockpools
The Reception class had a wonderful time exploring rockpools in their outdoor play area. After learning about creatures like crabs, shrimps and prawns who live in rockpools, the children used their imaginations to turn the tray into a coastal habitat. They acted as scientists looking at sea creatures who live in this small habitat and asked lots of questions to understand more about it. This hands-on activity helped the children learn new vocabulary and understand how to care for nature and God's creatures.
Year 3-Oral Health & Physical Activity
Today, Nathan delivered the second GULP (Give up loving pop) session, focusing on the importance of oral hygiene and making healthy drink choices. The session was split into active and classroom-based learning: Physical Activity: The children participated in 30 minutes of high-energy exercise, playing a game where they had to "run away from plaque" and earn points for "cleaning" their teeth. Classroom Learning: We explored the impact of sugary drinks on health and discussed practical ways to avoid them. To see the effects of sugar and acid firsthand, the children carried out an egg experiment, which provided a great visual representation of how tooth enamel can be damaged. Practical Skills: Every child received a toothbrush and toothpaste to encourage consistent dental care at home. The children were fully engaged and absolutely loved the session.
Year 6 - Geography
Today in Geography, the children began the lesson with a diagnostic question exploring why people might choose to live in London. Using talk tokens, they practised their oracy skills by sharing ideas, listening carefully to one another and building on responses within their groups. This supported thoughtful discussion and helped pupils justify their opinions. The lesson then moved on to exploring how human activity has shaped and changed the landscape. The children examined key concepts such as urbanisation, agriculture and erosion management, considering both the positive and negative impacts humans can have on the environment. They used examples to deepen their understanding and made links to real-life locations, developing their geographical vocabulary and critical thinking skills throughout the session.
Year 3 Welcome Blackburn Rovers for GULP Project
We are delighted to welcome Blackburn Rovers to Year 3 for a four-week programme. They are delivering the GULP (Give Up Loving Pop) campaign, a fantastic initiative by Food Active, to help our students understand the health risks associated with sugary drinks. Today, the children kicked things off by learning all about what’s really inside their favourite sodas and how to make healthier choices.
Reception: Snow Much Fun
Reception class have really enjoyed our Winter Wonderland. They loved making snow angels, collecting snow to create sculptures and investigating the ice too. It was a great way to introduce our learning all about the season of Winter.
Year 3 visit the Rose Garden
It was a lovely morning as Year 3 followed the church service with a walk to the rose garden. The children took great pride in spotting their own artwork and their siblings' pieces.
Year 3, Living Life to its Fullness- Whitehall Park
After viewing the artwork in the Rose Garden, Year 3 received a surprise treat: a visit to Whitehall Park. Joined by Year 4, the children made the most of the fresh air and sunshine before heading back to the classroom. It was a beautiful reminder of the importance of living life to its fullness, finding joy in creativity, friendship, and the world around us.
Year 6 - National Parks of the United Kingdom
Today, Year 6 used an atlas to explore the national parks of the UK. The children investigated where the national parks are located and discussed why tourism is such a big industry in these areas. The children also explored how the UK benefits from tourism, including job opportunities, support for local communities and the protection of natural environments.
Year 5 - Geography
In Geography we have explored the physical aspects of mountains including how they are formed and their unique climate. Now we are moving onto the human aspects, studying the lives of people who live on them. We found out about the harsh lives of farmers who live near Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Everest, and how they have to supplement their income through tourism while dealing with the challenges of their isolated rural existence.
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Year 6 - Coastlines and Islands
Today, the children used DigiMaps to locate, explore and compare a range of coastlines across the United Kingdom. The children investigated how the shapes of different coastlines vary and identified key geographical features such as bays, headlands, cliffs and beaches. The children also examined the UK’s surrounding islands, using the zoom tools to study their position, size and distance from the mainland. They showed great curiosity as they navigated the digital maps, asked thoughtful questions and discussed why these coastal landscapes might look the way they do.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Reception class really enjoyed their Muddy Monday walk to Jacks Key reservoir today. There were lots of muddy puddles to splash in which was great fun. The children had to jump over a stream which they all enjoyed and loved talking to each other along the way.
Forest School Christmas Party
We concluded our final Forest School session of the year with a Forest School Christmas Party! We made music using materials around us, enjoyed the beautiful full moon and played some fun games. It’s been a pleasure to share our Forest School Club with your enthusiastic and amazing children! We hope to continue the club in the new year. Thank you for embracing nature, getting muddy and learning how to look after our shared spaces.
Year 5 - RotaKids
Darwen Rotary Club visited us again to inspire us for our next project in the new year. We talked about how our shoebox collections helped refugees in Darwen and further ideas on how to support our school and international communities. The children were inspired by the principles and ideals of the Rotary Club and are already full of ideas for the future. We also received badges and certificates confirming our role as RotaKids.
Reception - Electricity and Safety
This week as part of our Understanding of the World, we have been looking at objects in the home that use electricity. We talked about the power of electricity and what jobs it helps us to do, but also the importance of how we can be safe around electricity, as it can be very dangerous if not used by a grown up or used carefully. The children enjoyed spotting electrical items around the classroom and the ways we use electricity to improve our learning. We also thought of ways we can save electricity by making sure electrical devices are turned off when they aren't being used.
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Year 5 Carbon Monoxide Workshop
On Tuesday, Year 5 had their carbon monoxide workshop. During this workshop, the children watched videos and took part in group/drama activities to help them learn: what carbon monoxide is and that it is known as CO; that you cannot see, smell, hear, taste or touch it; the effects carbon monoxide can have on our bodies and also how we can keep ourselves and our homes safe. The children received and brought home packs containing helpful information regarding CO.
Forest school club- Planting Trees
We have had a brilliant Forest School club tonight. We have been planting trees from the National Trust around the perimeter of school. Each child planted their own tree and then created their own name label for it containing the year the tree was planted and the class they are currently in.
Whole School Worship - The Importance of Trees
This week is National Tree Week and Mrs Ham introduced an exciting new tree-planting project that we will be undertaking as a school. Following on from Switch Off Fortnight, we will continue our Planet Protectors mission by planting trees on our school grounds and, of course, our fantastic children will be involved. To kick start the project, we had a discussion about why trees are amazing. The children gave some very thoughtful answers, such as “they give us oxygen”, “they take harmful carbon dioxide out of the air”, “they provide protection for animals”, “we love playing in the trees”, “we use trees to make things”. Mrs Ham also told us the story, The Man Who Planted Trees. It was about a shepherd who saw the barren land and wanted to improve it, so he started planting trees. He planted over 1000 acorns, and after many years, the landscape was filled with lush, green trees, rivers flowed and a town was built. We learned from this 100-year-old story that one person’s small act can make a huge difference. Just like in the Parable of the Talents, we learned that it’s important for us all to use what we’ve been given to make a positive impact on the world. We can’t wait to use the trees that have been donated to us by the National Trust to make a positive impact on our community.
Year 6 - Geography
In Geography today, Year 6 explored DigiMaps to develop their mapping and geographical skills. Using digital maps, the children navigated towns and cities across the UK, locating and identifying key places. The children compared their human and physical features with those of Darwen, exploring how different environments are shaped by people and nature. The children showed great curiosity and teamwork as they discovered the similarities and differences between urban and rural areas across the country.
Reception- R.E- Making a Harvest for the Birds
In our R.E sessions we have been learning all about harvest. Today we spoke about the wildlife and how hard it could be for birds, squirrels and other wildlife to find food in the winter. We decided it would be a good idea to create our own harvest for the wildlife by making bird feeders. We thought about ways we could thank God as we made them.
Year 3’s Adventure at Nightingale Farm
This morning, Year 3 had a fantastic visit to Nightingale Farm. The children saw chicks, Theo the goat, sheep, guinea pigs, and Ram the boy sheep. They even had the exciting opportunity to feel an egg that a chick had just laid! We learned how to care for farm animals and how to tell when chicks aren’t well, for example, if they are inactive, not eating, or if their comb is pale or shrivelled. The children were absolutely amazing throughout the visit. They were curious, kind, and respectful to all the animals, asking thoughtful questions and showing great care when feeding Theo and the pigs, who happily munched on the bread they were given. We also explored nutrition and the importance of looking after animals properly. This trip also helped us understand more about animals and humans, linking to what we are currently learning in science. Throughout the walk, Year 3 took time to appreciate God’s creation, noticing the beautiful colours of the trees, leaves, flowers, and surroundings, and they even paused to rest by the bus shelter, enjoying the fresh air and peaceful environment. As a special treat, Steph the farmer kindly gifted each child a little stationery pack, which made the day even more memorable! Along the way, the children received lots of encouragement from passersby, with horns honking and cheers of “Keep going!” Their energy, enthusiasm, and positive attitudes made the trip extra special. After visiting the farm, we continued our adventure at Blacksnape Park, exploring nature and enjoying life to its fullest. It was a truly wonderful day, full of learning, fun, and appreciation for the world around us.
Year 3 Explores Blacksnape Park
After visiting Nightingale Farm, Year 3 spent some time at Blacksnape Park. The children ran, played, and discovered different areas of the park, showing great curiosity and energy. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to appreciate God’s creation and enjoy life to its fullest in a safe, outdoor environment.
Year 5 - Class worship- Climate Change
In class worship, we considered the current United Nations Climate Change Conference. We discussed how leaders from around the world are meeting to discuss ways to reduce pollution and save forests. The children highlighted how deforestation can lead to habitat loss and species extinction. We then read how the Bible encourages us to be responsible for God’s creation.
Reception- Trekking Tuesday- Remembrance
Today we had our Trekking Tuesday forest school session and for the first part of the session we were thinking all about Remembrance Day and we created some lovely natural poppies. We then went on to have some free choice and exploration on this very muddy Tuesday. The children loved jumping in the muddy puddles, creating with sticks and hiding in natural dens.
Whole School Worship - Power for Good
Our theme in today’s collective worship was “Power for Good”. Continuing our focus on Anti-Bullying Week, Mrs Ham shared some of the fantastic answers the children gave on Monday about standing up to bullying. These included saying stop, being assertive, asking why, and telling a trusted adult. We learned of how Jesus was a power for good, even when others turned against him, and we reflected on the ways in which we can also be a power for good by being a good friend and spotting when someone needs our help. The WOW Group also shared how they are being a power for good, by protecting our planet and leading our school’s Switch Off Fortnight campaign. They shared posters recommending ways to save energy around school, including turning off lights and computer monitors when they are not in use, and they explained that they will be checking how well each class is doing at saving energy every break time and lunchtime during the campaign.
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Wellbeing Warriors Wow Challenge - October
In our Wellbeing Warriors meeting today, the children identified who had done enough walks or park and strides and to gain their October badges. We are thrilled to see that so many children are trying so hard to make their journey to school a healthier one. The girls went through each class highlighting names and then collecting the right amount of badges which they will give out in Worship tomorrow. Another great achievement is that St Barnabas have managed to come third place in the Blackburn with Darwen Top Ten Leader Board for Autumn 2025 which shows that our engagement rate is outstanding!
Year 3- Geography- Identifying lines of Latitude and Climate Zones
This afternoon, our amazing geographers have been exploring the concept of lines of latitude, the imaginary lines that run horizontally around the Earth. Using these key lines, the children identified different climate zones across the globe, from the tropical heat near the Equator to the icy cold near the poles. We focused on the extreme environments defined by these lines, learning about the Arctic Circle and Antarctica, and explored the fascinating animals that live there, too.
Year 5 - Science
Our new topic in science is properties of materials. We started by defining what the terms transparency, magnetism, thermal and electrical conductivity meant before carrying out a range of experiments to determine the properties of fabric, glass, iron, copper, clay, wood and plastic. The children worked like real scientists, collaborating together and debating their observations and conclusions.
Reception: Muddy Monday
The children in Reception went to Jacks Key for their Muddy Monday session. They found lots of natural resources to build bonfires in preparation for Bonfire night on Wednesday. The children then went on a rainy walk and showed great perseverance and resilience. The children all worked well together and it is lovely to see them continuing to develop during these sessions.
Whole School-Harvest Festival at the Church – Living Life in All Its Fullness
This morning, our school community came together at our church to celebrate our Harvest Festival, a joyful morning filled with song, prayer, and thanksgiving. The service began as Naomi and Martha signed The Trinity, followed by everyone joining in a rendition of our Harvest Samba song. We also heard about Bishop Philip’s inspiring challenge, pedalling to raise money for those in need, reminding us that even small acts of kindness can have a big impact. As part of the Bishop of Blackburn’s Harvest Appeal, we have been encouraging everyone to ‘Pedal Along’ and raise money for Christians in South Africa. Olivia shared a thoughtful talk, and Darcy reminded us to keep in our prayers families and countries around the world who are suffering. We also gave thanks for the work of DARE and reflected on people using their time and energy to support good causes. The reception and Year 2 class delighted everyone with their Harvest songs. Year 1 shared Thank You for Our Favourite Food, helping us reflect on gratitude. Lilly and Sofia led us in a thoughtful final prayer. We also said goodbye and good luck to Miss Norton, April, and Eve, and shared our thanks to Mrs Araujo, Mrs Ham, and our dedicated WOW Group for helping make this service so meaningful. Our Harvest celebration at the church was a wonderful reminder of our school vision, living life in all its fullness, through thankfulness, compassion, and community. Wishing all our families a restful and joy-filled half-term break!
Rotakids Harvest Collection
A huge thank you from our RotaKids to everyone who has donated shoe boxes filled with toiletries and warm clothing for DARE - Darwen Asylum and Refugee Enterprise over the last few weeks. They are still collecting warm coats, hats and scarfs for Darwen Rotary to help those who are homeless or are in need. Perhaps you could sort through any old coats during the holidays. Thanks for your generosity!
Year 5 - History
We finished our history topic by considering the reasons why the Maya abandoned their cities during the post classic decline starting around 900AD. The children thought like historians, researching the evidence for and against possible explanations before deciding which theory they felt was the most plausible. The children discussed the relative impact of war, drought, deforestation and lack of water.
Reception Autumn Activities
This week has been all things Autumn in Reception! We have been looking at seasonal change and how the environment around us is starting to look and feel different. We created hedgehog collages, counted Autumn treasures, finger painted Autumn leaves and used Autumnal colours to create patterns on leaves.
Year 6 - Road Safety
Today, Year 6 took part in an informative Fire Safety talk that focused on the importance of road safety. The session helped the children understand how to keep themselves and others safe when walking, cycling or travelling near roads. They discussed the importance of wearing bright clothing, using crossings correctly and staying alert around traffic. The children also learned how the emergency services respond to road incidents and why it’s important to make sensible choices to prevent accidents. Everyone came away with valuable knowledge about how to stay safe both at school and in the wider community.
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Cidari Earth Conference
Seven Year 4 children represented our school family brilliantly at the Cidari Earth conference at Blackburn Cathedral. They participated in activities addressing environmental challenges like plastic pollution, war and conflict, and global warming. The children made new friends by working in groups with students from other schools in the Trust. Rev Ben led an opening worship about God's creation and our responsibility to care for it. After activities, they admired the "Gaia" Earth installation and listened to Bible stories like David & Goliath and Jesus calms the storm, which emphasised faith and courage in tackling these "insurmountable giants." Each group also created prayer stations, which will be displayed in The Temple Gallery at the Cathedral over half term. Families are encouraged to visit and see the Earth installation, photographs, and prayer stations. Some of the children said “It’s been the best day ever!” A huge thank you to Mrs Araujo for planning and leading one of the activities
Whole School Worship - Preparing for Harvest Time
This week in worship it has been a time of reflection. We thought about some of the many injustices around the world with the aid of picture and video prompts. The children explored what they saw in the video and explained the injustice of each situation. Mrs Ham then talked about the causes we are supporting this Harvest and we celebrated the charitable efforts made so far by members of our school family. Then it was over to the children as they taught the teachers how to sing a Harvest song in Zulu. We’re all in for a treat at the Harvest service next Thursday.
Year 1 RE: God as a Creator
This afternoon, we started our new topic about Creation. The children had 5 minutes to create anything they could choose, either drawing something or building something. They then thought about how they felt when they are creative, whether they found easy or tricky and if they had an idea straight away or if their idea changed whilst they were making something. Then we learnt about the Creation story in the Bible. It took God 7 days to make our earth and all of the living things. We then sequenced the story to solidify our understanding.
Reception: Muddy Monday
For our Monday Monday this week the children in Reception have been finding Autumn treasures. They loved finding and exploring why the leaves have changed colour and saw a variety of different Autumnal leaves. The children also learnt what deciduous and evergreen trees were. We also found conkers and acorns. Mrs Wilkinson and Mrs Thompson were really impressed with the children's walking as they walked all the way to Whitehall Park. Well done!
St Barnabas Family Harvest Service
Thank you to all who attended our St. Barnabas Harvest family service. The children sang beautifully, and it was wonderful to see so many of them participate. We appreciate your efforts in bringing them. A special thank you to Rev Ben for inviting us, Mrs. Govan for helping to lead and to Mrs. Araujo for her support. Enjoy a beautiful Sunday, Mrs Wilkinson
Bishop Philip’s Harvest Pedal Along
Mrs Ham and her husband took on a cycling challenge today to pedal along with Bishop Philip for this year’s Bishop’s Harvest Appeal. They cycled 30 miles from Fleetwood to Lytham and back. We would love to see our school family pedalling along on bikes or scooters throughout October to raise money for Christians in South Africa. Donations can be made on Parent Pay. How about getting family and friends to sponsor you £1.00 per mile! Please send in photos and distances to Mrs Ham or Mrs Wilkinson. Happy pedalling! ???? ????
Reception: Muddy Monday
Wow! On Monday the children in Reception blew Mrs Wilkinson's and Mrs Thompson's socks off! They walked over 2km around Jacks Key. The children listened to sounds they could hear, looked at what they could see under a bridge and used their imaginations chanting trip trap and the bear hunt story. The children had lots of fun!
Harvest Appeal
This morning we launched our Harvest Appeal for this year by hearing from Bishop Philip about his Pedalathon on 17th October where he will be cycling to visit and pray at a school or church in all 14 deaneries across the Diocese. We will be supporting Bishop Philip's Harvest Appeal for Christians in South Africa by joining in with his pedalathon over the next few weeks, including half term. We are encouraging our school family to cycle on bikes or scooters just like we did for the Big Lent Walk and we would love for you to send your photos in and the distance. Donations can be made on parent pay shortly. Our RotaKids are also supporting Darwen Asylum and Refugee Enterprise (DARE) and Darwen Rotary this Harvest by creating Winter Warmer boxes filled with toiletries, packets or tins of food and warm clothing for DARE families, the elderly, isolated, poor and vulnerable people in our community . They are also collecting winter coats for the homeless and poor through Darwen Rotary club. Please send in any donations and thank you in advance for your generosity. We then sang some of our Harvest songs for our Church Harvest Festival this Sunday 12th October at 11.00am- all welcome and our school Harvest Festival on Thursday 23rd October led by our WOW group and Reception, Years 1 and 2. All welcome.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Our Reception class took part in a Muddy Monday session in our school grounds this morning. They climbed trees, made mud soup and collected resources to build bonfires and dens. The children used their gross motor skills and imagination brilliantly today. Well done!
Year 2 Science- Collecting Materials and Building a Microhabitat
Today in Science, Year 2 took a trip to Whitehall Park to gather natural materials for building a microhabitat. The children collected a wide range of items, including pinecones, bark, twigs, logs, grass, leaves, moss, stones, and rocks. Back at school, we combined these with bricks and cardboard to carefully construct a microhabitat designed to attract a variety of minibeasts. We’re hoping to welcome creatures such as worms, ladybirds, slugs, snails, ants, spiders, beetles, woodlice, and earwigs. Just as we were finishing, we were excited to spot our very first visitor—a ladybird! A fantastic team effort, Year 2!
Year 3- Science- Learning About UV Light and Sun Protection
Today, the Year 3 students became scientists as they carried out an investigation exploring the light that comes from the sun and how to stay safe in it. They tested the effect of sunlight on ultraviolet beads using different sun creams: SPF 15, SPF 30, SPF 50, and no sun cream at all. Our buzzing scientists made predictions about what might happen to happen to the beads coated in sun cream and without. The investigation used ultraviolet (UV) beads, which are special beads that change colour when exposed to ultraviolet light. This makes them a great tool for demonstrating the effects of UV radiation, the type of light that can cause sunburn and skin damage. Sun cream contains chemicals that absorb or reflect UV radiation, preventing it from reaching the skin. The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) number indicates how well the sun cream protects against UVB rays, the primary cause of sunburn. A higher SPF means greater protection. They then carefully recorded their observations, and thought scientifically about the results. They finally wrote conclusions explaining why it is important to use sun cream with a high SPF value to protect our skin. The higher the SPF value of the sun cream, the more effectively it blocks UV radiation. This visual and hands-on demonstration reinforces the importance of using sun cream with a high SPF to protect our skin from the harmful effects of the sun. The experiment serves as a powerful reminder that UV rays are always present in sunlight and that protection is essential, even on cloudy days
Year 4 - Science: Researching Habitats
This week our Year 4 scientists were working scientifically by conducting research to answer questions about habitats. Each group was given a habitat and asked to use the National Geographic site to answer the following four questions: Which animals live there? Which plants live there? What is the climate like? What are the conditions? The children then used their group research to present their findings in their books.
Year 1 Geography: Signs of Autumn
Today we took a trip to Whitehall Park to spot some signs of Autumn. The children did a brilliant job at finding conkers, acorns, yellow and orange leaves, berries and empty branches. We tried to stay really quiet to spot a squirrel but we had no luck. The children loved collecting the conkers and acorns too!
Reception: Muddy Monday
The children in Reception class had a fabulous first Muddy Monday session. They built dens, created bug houses and enjoyed making potions together. They showed super team work skills and their imaginations were running wild. Well done Reception!
Year 3- Science- Exploring materials which are reflective
Year 3 worked scientifically to explore which materials are good reflectors of light, using a variety of materials. Through their investigation, the scientist discovered that several materials are excellent reflectors. They learned that mirrors are highly reflective due to their smooth surface, which bounces light back in a predictable way. Metals like aluminum, copper, and silver were also identified as being highly reflective. They also looked at specialised materials like glass beads used in road markings and retroreflective materials found in safety gear, noting that these are designed to reflect light directly back to its source. They also discussed how some materials, like fluorescent materials and certain synthetic fabrics, are used to enhance visibility and safety, even if they reflect light differently. Overall, the children concluded that reflective materials have many benefits, from improving safety to creating interesting visual effects.
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Year 5 - Move and Learn Physical Activities
Brad from the Blackburn Rovers Community Team visited Year 5 to talk to the children about the importance of physical activity and a healthy diet. The children went into the hall and learned about staying healthy through physical activity. They played games such as dodgeball and rock-paper-scissor relay. All the children had fun participating during the day. Thank you Brad.
Year 1 RE- Trying Foods From Around The World
Today in our RE lesson, we focused on foods from around the world. We discussed that in the shops some food products may have been made in the UK whilst others come from around the world. We then tried some different foods from around the world: cheese crackers (UK), naan bread with mango chutney (India), tortilla chips (Mexico), vegetable pizza (Italy) and vegetable spring rolls (China). The children tried everything before deciding if they liked the food or not and we also discussed where the ingredients have come from. We then voted to see which foods we liked and the tortilla chips was the most popular! We then said a prayer to thank God for all the food and drink He provides for us.
Rev Ben's Worship: Creation
Today’s whole school worship was led by Rev Ben where we explored the story of creation. We thought about why and how God created our world, which is rich in variety and we are trusted to look after. As we look around our world and as we go through our day, Rev Ben reminded us to reflect on how we can show love, respect and generosity to others and our world.
Year 2- Minibeasts in Their Microhabitats
This afternoon in Science, Year 2 explored the definition of a microhabitat before heading out on a minibeast hunt around the school grounds. They were lucky enough to discover a wide variety of creatures! Under rocks and in the soil, they found woodlice, worms, slugs, snails, ants, and even a centipede. On tree bark, they spotted a caterpillar and some spiders, while in the flower beds they observed bees and ladybirds. Fantastic investigating, Year 2!
Year 6 - Life as a Journey
Today, Year 6 began their new RE topic exploring life as a journey. We started by watching a video of Bishop Philip preparing for his own journey, reflecting on the importance of preparation. The children then began their own symbolic journey through Jack’s Key, considering the variety of life decisions we all face and how these shape our future. Along the way, the children explored different symbols, such as a bridge representing the helping hands we receive, a gate symbolising Jesus, smooth and rough paths reflecting life’s challenges and short or long routes to the same destination showing how there are many ways to achieve our goals. This gave the class a powerful introduction to the idea that our journey through life is full of choices, challenges and support, all of which guide us toward our future.
Year 1 RE Harvest- Thank You Farmers
In RE, we started our Harvest unit by exploring how farmers harvest our food. We discussed what food we had for breakfast ‘cereal, yoghurt, toast, pancakes...’ and explored how this food comes from the farm to our plates. We looked at pictures of farming in the past and then looked at modern day technology to see how farmers harvest today. To show our appreciation to farmers for our food, we created thank you cards. We then prayed to God asking Him to help all farmers to be able to grow food and feed people.
Year 3- R.E- Why do communities celebrate Harvest?
This afternoon in R.E, Year 3 have started a new topic all about harvest celebrations. We're exploring why communities around the world, and Christians in particular, celebrate the harvest. The children have been reflecting on some big questions, such as: Why do communities celebrate the harvest? What exactly is being celebrated at this time of year? We've had some wonderful discussions about the children’s own experiences of harvest festivals, whether at church, school, or within their own communities. They've shared what they already know and have come up with some fantastic questions that we'll be exploring together in the coming lessons.
Year 1 Class Worship- Picture News
Yesterday, during their class worship, Year 1 explored this week’s Picture News theme: What Makes Somewhere a Good Place to Live? We began with a story about a group of Australian scientists who discovered evidence that humans lived in high mountain regions over 20,000 years ago. This led us to reflect on how those early people made the most of the resources around them to survive. We then considered how a “good” place to live can look different for everyone—even today—and the importance of respecting other people's homes and needs. To end our worship, we gave thanks for our own loving and comforting homes, and offered prayers for those facing difficulties where they live, including those affected by war, flooding, or the lack of basic necessities such as clean water, gas, or electricity.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Our Reception class thoroughly enjoyed their Muddy Monday session! They had a fantastic time finding various bugs and enthusiastically creating homes for them. It was truly wonderful to observe their engagement and curiosity during these activities. It was also wonderful to see the children becoming braver, climbing higher up trees, and collaborating to create a camp fire. They also loved foraging for different natural materials to continue their imaginative role-playing games. Additionally, the children enjoyed closely observing the wildflowers and using them to create lovely summer scents, showcasing their creativity and sensory exploration.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Reception class looked for signs of summer during their Muddy Monday walk to Jacks Key. We found lots of minibeasts, flowers blossoming, butterflies and the sun was shining too!
Year 1 Science- Environmental Workshop
Yesterday, Year 1 had a fantastic time at an environmental workshop led by Georgina. She made learning about waste and recycling interactive and engaging, teaching them how to sort materials into the different coloured bins. The children left with some great new facts and shared these at the end of the workshop. Joey and Percy discovered that batteries should be placed in a carrier bag outside the bin to prevent fires. Callie learned that hard and soft plastics need to be separated, with hard plastics for recycling and soft plastics as waste. Olivia noted that hard plastics and metals go in the grey bin, Vienna shared that paper and cardboard belongs in the blue bin, and Haydn added that food waste should be put in the burgundy bin. All of our children received a recycling pack to take home which included a variety of follow-up activities, information for those at home, a certificate and a sticker.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Reception class have had a fabulous time at Whitehall park. The children found treasures, built dens and bug hotels, found minibeasts, balanced and climbed trees too! It was lovely to hear the children's excited voices amongst the trees and they really enjoyed getting muddy too! The rain certainly didn't spoil a fabulous afternoon of living life in all its fullness!
Reception- Muddy Monday
Today during our Muddy Monday session, we went minibeast exploring in Jack’s Key. The children used magnifying glasses and Petri dishes to take a closer look at the amazing minibeasts our local area has to offer. They were excited to discover a variety of tiny creatures, including worms, spiders, and woodlice, carefully observing their features and movements.
Reception- Muddy Monday
During our Muddy Monday session, the children also put up their shelter, using nearby trees to help anchor and support the structure. They worked together to stretch and secure the materials, thinking carefully about how to make it stable, while also looking for mini beasts.
Reception: Muddy Monday
For their Muddy Monday session, Reception walked to Whitehall park and looked for signs of spring. The children saw squirrels and heard lots of birds tweeting away which was lovely to see and hear. They saw more leaves on trees and also saw berries and blossom. The children then got to spend some time in a different section of Whitehall park. We role-played a camp fire and built a den too.
Year 4 - Linking Schools: Why Social Action?
As our Linking School project continues, the Year 4s have been considering things in their relationships, the school, the local area, the environment and the wider world that they care about. In today’s session, we listened to the Starfish Story and talked about how small, kind actions can have a big impact on others. We looked at the world around us and decided on some actions we could take to improve it. After sharing our ideas, we voted and decided that we would like to go on a class litter pick, and write to residents of a local care home. We will be carrying out our actions over the Summer Term.
Year 6 Visit to the Rose Garden
Year 6 enjoyed a peaceful visit to the beautiful Rose Garden at Whitehall Park to appreciate all of the wonderful Easter artwork that children have produced. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon and the children really enjoyed some time to reflect.
Year 4 - Big Lent Walk to the Rose Garden
Yesterday, the Year 4s took advantage of the lovely weather and completed a Big Lent Walk to the Rose Garden at Whitehall Park. Whilst there, we spent time exploring the selection of artwork and poetry shared by each class. We helped the Reception children read the poetry and completed challenges to find each part of the Easter story.
Year 1- Big Lent Walk
This morning, Year 1 walked 7.5km each, totalling a huge 225km as a collective. They did this by walking into Darwen Town Centre to take pictures of some of our well known landmarks in preparation for their art unit next half-term. This included India Mill, Darwen Post Office, Darwen Leisure Centre, Darwen Market Hall and Darwen Library. We extended our stay at Darwen Library by going inside to enjoy a lovely story. Finally, we came back to school to write a recount of our walk. We had to make sure that we were capitalising proper nouns (including the names of people, places and street names) as this is the grammar skill that we we have been working hard on over the last couple of weeks.
Reception: Muddy Monday
The children explored Jack Keys for their Muddy Monday session. They enjoyed a walk, built sculptures, built a den, balanced on natural materials and collectively walked 58km to add to our CAFOD Big Lent Walk. Well done!
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Year 2 - Big Lent Walk
Today, Year 2 embarked on their Big Lent Walk, exploring the scenic surroundings of Jack's Key. This provided a wonderful opportunity for the children to appreciate the natural beauty we are fortunate to have within our local area. During the walk, the children were encouraged to observe and identify signs of spring. They were delighted to spot daffodils, butterflies, and bees, whilst enjoying being outdoors in the glorious sunshine. The total distance covered by Year 2 will contribute 75km to our overall Big Lent Walk initiative. We are continuing to strive towards our fundraising goal and would be grateful for any donations, however small, to acknowledge and support the children’s efforts. Donations to Cafod can be made here: https://schools.walk.cafod.org.uk/fundraising/st-barnabas-ce-primary-academys-big-lent-walk
Year 3- The Big Lent Walk
This afternoon, Year 3 walked 2.7 miles, embracing the journey of living life in all its fullness. Along the way, we engaged with our spirituality windows, mirrors, and doors concept, gaining new perspectives, reflecting on our own experiences, and considering how we can make a difference. Through our actions, we not only contributed to a great cause but also felt a deep sense of achievement. We stopped by the graveyard to remember the lives lost, taking a moment to reflect and feel thankful.
Year 4 - Linking Schools: Social Action
Today, Year 4 began the scene phase of our Linking Schools project, looking at different types of social action and discussing issues that they are passionate about changing. Each group recorded ideas for problems to tackle on a leaf, ready to add to our class kindness tree. In the next session, we will talk about how we can bring about change and vote on one idea to implement. Watch this space…
Reception: Muddy Monday
Today our Reception children explored a different area of Whitehall Park. The children created bug houses and dens together. They also found some sticks and pretended to create fires and also used them as drum sticks. Some of the children tried to climb trees and it was lovely to see how brave they were all being whilst developing their fundamental skills. In addition, the children collectively walked 75km to contribute to our Lent Challenge. Well done!
Reception: Muddy Monday
The children in Reception walked 3.5km each this week to contribute further to our Big Lent Walk in aid of CAFOD. They walked to Whitehall Park and continued with their outdoor learning. This week the children found pine cones, climbed trees and found minibeasts. They also enjoyed creating dens and roleplaying around a camp fire!
2nd last month in the walk to school challenge
February’s WOW walk to school Top Ten challenge is finished! We are thrilled to have gained 2nd place on the leaderboard this month! Thank you to our parents and carers for encouraging their children to travel actively to school! This term’s #WOWTopTen schools in Blackburn with Darwen are:
Reception: Muddy Monday
Our Reception class went to Whitehall park for the first time for their Muddy Monday session. They found pine cones, climbed trees, looked for minibeasts and made dens. The children loved exploring the area for their forest schools session and we can't wait to visit again soon.
Reception: Muddy Monday
What a beautiful afternoon it was for our Reception class. The children enjoyed splashing in muddy puddles and loved the sunshine on their faces. The children are working hard to improve their walking stamina, we are slowly getting there and it is lovely to see how much progress they are making. The children enjoyed climbing today over the stile to get to the field. Some of the children were a little worried to do it but showed great perseverance and determination, well done!
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Reception: Muddy Monday
Today our Reception children braved the cold and went outside for an observational walk to Jack Keys. We focused on spirituality this week and really focussed on what we could see, hear and smell. We stopped and looked around at all of God's beautiful creations. It was lovely to take a moment to really focus on what is all around us. We had a wonderful afternoon and we were really impressed with the children's resilience with the weather and the amount of walking we did.
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Year 3- Class Worship- Is it our responsibility to protect local wildlife?
During our worship today, we learned about Birdwatch, a special event where people help scientists learn about birds. We talked about whether we have a duty to protect the animals around us. The Bible teaches us to appreciate all of God's amazing creations, and that every creature has a special place in God's plan. We then thanked God for the wonderful world He made and showed our gratitude to those who work hard to study and protect wildlife.
Year 6 - Road safety workshop
Today, year 6 visited DACA for a road safety workshop. The children listened attentively and explored the importance of minimising distractions when walking to school. In a world that is surrounded by technology, it is very easy to get distracted, but it is really important to take precautions when we are near roads.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Our Reception children braved the cold today and went in search of twigs and sticks to create our own Stick Men at Jack Keys. We will be focussing on this story throughout this week and we will be making our own Stick Men to help us retell the story.
Reception: Visiting our Spiritual Garden
Today we are celebrating outdoor classroom day. Reception class are always on the go but we had a wonderful time to sit and reflect in our spiritual garden during our collective worship time. This serene outdoor space was perfect for our children to contemplate love, gratitude, and remembrance. The children were encouraged to reflect on the people they love to foster empathy and connection. The children said that they loved their family, friends and teachers. They also expressed gratitude for God’s beautiful creation, a reminder of the wonders that surround us daily. Beau said that she loved God, Ralphi said he loved the planet, Evie said she could hear the trees blowing in the wind and Oliver said he could hear the birds singing during our moments of silence. We then remembered our poppies and why we were wearing them. Will told everybody it was to remember the soldiers in the war. The class took a moment to remember the soldiers as a sign of respect. As a symbolic gesture, the children used a bubble machine to release bubbles into the sky to heaven. The children really enjoyed this spiritual experience and we are looking forward to the next time we can visit the garden.
Year 1 Class Worship- Visiting the Spiritual Garden
Today, we took our worship outside for Outdoor Classroom Day. In the Spiritual Garden, we listened to and enjoyed each other’s beautiful remembrance prayers that we have each created in class. Percy said a prayer to thank soldiers for their bravery and keeping our country safe. Ida, Thomas and Mollie followed with a prayer to say thank you for our everyday heroes such as the NHS, paramedics and charity workers and Callie ended with a prayer about remembering those who lost their homes to the Great Fire of London and all the other refugees who are having to flee their homes. We ended our time in the spiritual garden by having a few moments to ourselves whilst we walked around and took in the sights and sounds of nature.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Today for Reception’s Muddy Monday session, the children walked to Jacks Key. To celebrate bonfire night, the children collected twigs, sticks and leaves to create their own bonfires. The children had to work together as a team and did a brilliant job.
Enjoying our Spiritual Garden
A huge thank you to our WOW (Worship Our Way) group, Mrs Araujo and Mr Fairbanks for planning and developing our Spiritual Garden. We are loving having time to reflect, admire God’s creations, be peaceful and connect with our friends in it at break and lunch times. Thank you to SACRE for the generous grant we received to create a spiritual garden made from mainly reclaimed and recycled materials.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Today, our Reception children went for a walk into our local environment. We went on a mile walk to Jack Keys reservoir. The children enjoyed looking at the reservoir, the fallen leaves and loved listening to the birds singing. The children really concentrated on what they could see and hear, exploring spirituality. It was a rainy walk and the children persevered and enjoyed splashing in the puddles too.
Year 4 - Science: Habitats at the Farm
We had a lovely walk up to Nightingales Farm on Monday to take part in some habitat activities. We recapped what we’d learned so far in science and then we learned about the many different habitats which can be found on the farm. We visited the sheep, pigs, goats and ducks and we talked about how the animals thrive in their habitats. We finished our trip by making bug houses using various natural materials. We will be adding these to our spiritual garden in order to encourage more wildlife to visit.
Walk Once a Week Challenge September Winners - Year 3
Congratulations to Year 3 for having the most children who either walked, park and strode or completed the 1K a day in the month of September. They received a whopping 29 badges in total and will now take their place on the WOW hall of Fame. A huge well done and thanks to all of the parents and carers who have encouraged their children to take part in the scheme. Don’t forget - if you can’t manage the walk or park amd stride, you can always do the 1K a day with your teacher in school so that you have the opportunity to gain your badge as well! The WOW ambassadors highlighted that October is National Walk to School month so it is really important to try and travel more actively to school either in the morning or after school has finished.
Year 2 - Microhabitat Hunt
We took our science lesson out into the woodlands of Jacks Key. We have been learning about habitats and that inside those larger habitats there are smaller microhabitats. We identified various microhabitats in the woodland such as under a log or rock, burrows and nests. It was great to go and find different living things that live in those microhabitats.
The WOW Group - Our Spiritual Garden
After a great deal of hard work and creativity on the part of Mr Fairbanks and the WOW Group, the new spiritual garden was launched in Tuesday’s worship. The WOW members presented the rest of the school with ideas for using the garden as intended and in a respectful manner. Unfortunately, the garden was a bit flooded due to the heavy downpour on Monday, but we are hopeful that it can be used towards the end of the week.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Reception class had their first Muddy Monday session and they walked up to our school field. The children stayed close to each other whilst walking and they all managed to get to the field safely. The children enjoyed rolling down the hill, racing and finding bugs in the grass. It was pouring down but the rain did not stop the,. They are looking forward to next week's Muddy Monday.
Year 4 - Science: Researching Habitats
This week, our super scientists in Year 4 headed to Whitehall Park to research an urban woodland habitat. We noted down any animals and plants we saw and commented on the climate and conditions. The children found various micro habitats too. They were able to identify the fundamental characteristics of a habitat and they used their knowledge to build micro habitats for insects.
The W.O.W. Group - Painting the Spiritual Garden
The W.O.W. group began the exciting task of decorating our new spiritual garden today. Crown Paints kindly donated lots of paint for our project, so we took full advantage of the sunshine and began painting the wooden punctuation symbols. Just the benches, bird tables and planters to go!
Reception: Muddy Monday
Wow! What a year we have had in Reception. The children have made so much progress during our forest schools sessions. They have improved in their stamina, risk taking, problem solving and imagination skills. We have loved seeing all of the children blossom and made the most of our last Muddy Monday session together!
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Reception: Muddy Monday
Reception enjoyed our Muddy Monday session at Whitehall Park. After our growth mindset assembly today, we made sure we used our growth mindset instead of our fixed mindset to challenge ourselves and take risks. The children really engaged with this and it was wonderful to see how far they have come since they started with us. Well done!
Reception: Muddy Monday
Reception had a very busy forest school session today. They enjoyed exploring in the shaded area of Jacks Keys. They found a fox hole and enjoyed exploring and creating their own storylines. They made houses for different animals and roleplayed a story about a fox coming out during the night. Some of our children climbed trees and managed to climb higher than usual. We are so proud of the children and love seeing how far they have come. Super perseverance, challenge and determination was seen from them all!
Year 4 - Linking Schools: Courageous Advocacy
A few weeks ago, the Year 4 class discussed a number of ideas to improve our community and decided on one issue to focus on. After a vote, the children decided they would like to tackle vandalism in the area. This week, we walked to Whitehall Park to assess the damage and found much of the equipment to be unsafe to play on. We took pictures of the problem areas and the children have decided they want to write to their local MP to ask him to repair the park. We are really hoping for a reply!
W.O.W. Group - Spiritual Garden
The W.O.W. group began to see all their ideas and planning coming to fruition on Wednesday when they started work on our new spiritual garden. The area had kindly been dug out by Mr Ham and so W.O.W. got to work laying the membrane and spreading stones. They will be adding to this area each week, so keep a look out for their progress.
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Year 1 Science- Identifying a Variety of Common Wild and Garden Flowers
This afternoon, Year 1 went on a walk to identify a variety of common garden and wild plants. For the garden flowers, Year 1 found lavender, roses, pansies, marigolds and petunias. Roses were certainly the most popular garden flower that they found. They also spotted lots of wild flowers including buttercups, daisies, poppies, foxglove, dandelions, ivy, cow parsley, stinging nettles and forget me not. Well done Year 1 for super listening and identifying!
The W.O.W. Group - Planning for our Spiritual Garden
The W.O.W. Group have been working hard on planning for our new spiritual garden. We successfully secured some funding to be able to create a peaceful area with multi sensory features and an eco friendly environment in which children can spend time on calm activities. We hope to attract local birds and insects too. Look out for ways in which you can support us to create this new area over the coming weeks.
Year 1- Road Safety Visit
This afternoon in Year 1, we had visit from Road Safety Officer Katie. We learnt the Green Cross Code which is to only Cross the road when we have stopped, looked, listened and thought. Katie then talked to us about how we should put this into practice when we are making decisions concerning our roads. Katie then spoke to us about the dangers of having our shoe laces undone, being on an electronic device and wearing headphones whilst crossing the road as well as running across a road and following a ball or other object that has rolled into the road. We discussed these in depth and decided that anything that would result in us being distracted, not being able to hear properly or potentially resulting in us falling and being stranded in the middle of the road would be incredibly dangerous and we should take precautions so that they don’t happen . Katie then shared one of the most common ways for people getting hurt whilst crossing the road. This is when people cross the road between two parked cars. We learnt that by doing this, you can’t see the oncoming traffic properly and the oncoming traffic can’t see you. Therefore, Katie told us that we must cross the road in a safe place where you have full visibility of the road and the oncoming traffic has clear visibility of you. Late at night, this would mean that you would also need to wear fluorescent and reflective clothes and/or accessories. Katie gave us lots of these- thank you! Throughout the lesson, we took to the crossing and practised some of these road safety skills that we had learnt. To end the lesson, Katie talked to us about the importance of a seat belt. She told us that the seatbelt should sit positioned between our shoulder bone and hip bone and then securely fastened. Katie also told us that we needed to be a certain height in order for this seatbelt to fulfil its job of keeping us safe. All of us were measured and we all discovered that we need a booster seat to ensure that we are the appropriate height for the seatbelt to do it’s job. Thank you to Katie for a very informative session.
Year 2 - Science trip to the garden centre
This week for science we visited Four Seasons Garden Centre. This was a brilliant trip out for the class as we were able to build on our existing knowledge of plants. Sonia at the Garden Centre was amazing and shared her knowledge with the children. We looked for flowers that we had written in poems in English. It was lovely to see the children excited about seeing their learning in the real world.
Reception- Making bug houses
In class we have been looking at different types of minibeasts as part of our ‘amazing animals’ topic. We learnt a new word yesterday which was ‘invertebrate’ and we learnt that invertebrates do not have a backbone. We had a look at some minibeast habitats and went out to our forest school area and made some of our own houses for lots of different bugs.
Walk to School Summer Worship
As part of our new Walk to School initiative, we took part in a virtual worship this morning. It was to highlight events that will be taking place over the summer term. We also looked at how children travel to school in different countries and found that some children have to go to school in a boat and some children in China have to climb 2500 ft up a mountain side using a rope ladder! The schools that took part, shared why walking to school helped us and we said that it helps us to clear our mind, be with nature, how it helps to keeps us fit and de- stress. The events that are due to take place are Walk to School Week 20-24th May and the WOW Top Ten Challenge when schools try to increase their walks and gain a top ten place on the leader board which is 3-28th June. Our WOW ambassadors are looking forward to promoting these exciting events and will be planning something very exciting!
Year 4 - Big Lent Walk & Easter Trail
We had a great time clocking up a few miles between us on our walk to the Rose Garden this morning. Once we arrived we completed an Easter quiz and explored the lovely artwork created by our school friends. The children knew so much about the events of the Easter story and really understood the symbolism too. We finished our visit with a walking gallery, deciding on our favourite pieces of art.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Our reception children really enjoyed our Muddy Monday session today at Whitehall park. They climbed up trees, created a cafe, travelled on a ‘steam engine’ and created a bug hotel. Super imaginations!
The Big Lent Walk in Year 4
This afternoon, Year 4 went on their Big Lent Walk around our local area. We walked past both Mrs Gardner’s and Mrs Singleton's houses on our journey. The children loved being out in the fresh air and working together to add more km to our whole school total. We are so proud of them as we were also in our World Book Day outfits which included onesies, dresses and dressing gowns. Collectively we walked 92.8k - WELL DONE Year 4
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Year 5&6 Big Lent Walk
Today, Year 5&6 completed their big lent walk. The children walked through Jacks Key and around the local area and completed 4.5km each so that's 265.5km towards the school's 2000km target.
Year 2 - Big Lent Walk
This afternoon, Year 2 set off to Whitehall Park to do our bit for the Big Lent Walk. We added 2.5 kilometres to the school total.
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Year 3- Big Lent Walk
This afternoon, Year 3 went on the 'Big Lent Walk', covering a distance of 2.8 km. A small donation has been made to CAFOD to help fight poverty worldwide. We also had fun being Geologists exploring different kind of rocks.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Our Ducklings enjoyed our Muddy Monday session today at Whitehall park. They were super explorers! They found pine cones, natural resources for their dens and also different minibeasts.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Our Reception class really enjoyed our Muddy Monday session at Whitehall park. We looked at some habitats for different minibeasts that we found and also enjoyed creating dens and continued to take risks climbing trees. They walked 3.84km and enjoyed contributing to the Big Lent Walk!
The Big Lent Walk
During Lent, our school are currently fundraising for CAFOD. We are taking part in the big Lent walk where we are collectively trying to walk 200km. Please help us to raise as much money as possible by sponsoring our whole school family. If you have been on a walk, please either sponsor and leave a message with how many km you have walked or send me a message and I can update our page. We will also be walking during the school day in our classes to achieve our target so any sponsorship will be greatly appreciated. Your sponsorship can change lives. Every £1 raised through the Big Lent Walk will help fight poverty globally in countries like Afghanistan, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. This year, CAFOD’s Lent Appeal is helping fishing communities feed their families in Liberia, and SCIAF’s Wee Box Appeal is focused on women and girls in Rwanda facing gender-based violence. Also in Ethiopia, CAFOD and SCIAF are working together to respond to the devastating food crisis there. Years of drought caused by the climate crisis means families are no longer able to cope, but your support means we are working with people right now, providing them with water, emergency food and healthcare. With your hard work and sponsorship this Lent, we can change families’ lives for good and tell poverty to take a hike. Please access our page here where you can sponsor your child: https://schools.walk.cafod.org.uk/fundraising/st-barnabas-big-lent-walk Thank you for your kindness, Mrs Wilkinson
Reception: Muddy Monday
Our Ducklings enjoyed exploring the forest schools area in Whitehall park. Their imaginations were really flowing. We found dinosaur shaped claw leaves, eggs, some of our children created a roleplay restaurant and we had squirrels climbing up the trees!
Reception: Muddy Monday
Our Ducklings enjoyed exploring a different forest schools area of Whitehall park. They created dens, roleplayed in a restaurant, searched for hedgehogs and loved climbing trees.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Our Ducklings visited the forest schools area of Whitehall Park today for the first time. They enjoyed exploring and also had a go at making camp fires and bug houses.
Year 2 - Microhabitat Walk
During science today, we went on a walk to find different microhabitats in our local area. We explored grassland and woodland areas looking for logs, rocks and streams where animals could live. We identified a variety of insects such as woodlice, snails, spiders and millipedes. We took clipboards so we could record our findings in a table. When we arrived back at school, we wrote up our findings and wrote a short summary of our investigation.
Reception: Muddy Monday
We had a very busy Muddy Monday session today! We started the session with Mrs Ham. We discussed signs of Autumn and enjoyed singing Autumnal songs. We then went to a woodland area with Mrs Wilkinson and collected sticks to make some bonfire pictures this week. We enjoyed playing in the mud and the stream and even had a go at climbing trees!
Year 4 - Exploring Habitats
We loved getting out and exploring an urban woodland habitat in science this week. Our Year 4 scientists investigated the plants, animals, climate and conditions in the area. Unfortunately , we didn't see many animals but we could use our prior knowledge to say which animals we would expect to find there.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Today the children showed lots of courage and perseverance as they enjoyed a very wet Muddy Monday adventure walk. They splashed their way through puddles and really enjoyed walking in the rain. It was our last session and the children said it was one that they will never forget!
Year 4 - Linking Schools Litter Pick
The final part of our Linking Schools project was to make a pledge to take part in social action. Year 4 chose to do a community litter pick. The council supplied the equipment and off we went, cleaning up Knowlesly Road, Watery Lane and Whitehall Park. We filled 3 bin bags and 2 recycling bags - a super effort, class!
Reception: Muddy Monday
We continued our learning by comparing two local environments, Knowsley Road and Jack Keys reservoir. Seb said there are lots of animal habitats at Jack Keys. Albie said there are lots of trees at Jack Keys. Fletcher said it is much quieter at Jack Keys. Piper-Jo said there are more children at Knowsley Road. Heidi said there are more cars at Knowsley Road. Super comparison. We finished exploring by enjoying a short forest schools session.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Today the children went on a Muddy Monday adventure. The children walked 2.5km and walked up steep hills, along the reservoir, around the woods and back to school. We started to explore the differences between Jack Keys and the main road.
Year 1 Geography and Science Walk
Year 1 have been learning about their local area and have been making key observations about where they live ready to create a map of the local area after the half term. We have been learning about different types of plants in science and spotting different deciduous and evergreen trees as well as wild flowers. There has also been lots of opportunities to discuss the changes from Winter to Spring and to think about the changes that will be happening soon as we move from Spring to Summer.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Reception enjoyed their forest schools session today. We created a den and the children enjoyed role playing inside it. The children also found a variety of minibeasts and enjoyed climbing trees too.
Reception: Muddy Monday
The children in Reception visited Whitehall park for their Muddy Monday session. They climbed trees, built bug houses, found creatures and discussed their habitats and created their own games. The children enjoyed looking under logs to discover minibeasts. They have all been super explorers.
Year 5- Food Technology- Visiting the Herb Garden at Whitehall Park
We visited the herb garden at Whitehall Park to give us some inspiration for our salad. The children were amazed by the variety of seeds planted. Some of The things the children saw were spuds, garlic, ginger, spring onions, fenugreek, mint, strawberries, and spring onions and garlic.
Reception- Habitats
Today, Reception have been learning all about habitats of different animals. They said that rabbits live in hutches, chickens live in a coop and badgers live in a sett. The children then went outside to build some mini beast and hedgehog habitats. They gathered materials such as leaves, twigs, sticks and rocks to create their own habitats.
Year 4 - Easter Artwork Walk
Our Year 4 class, loved visiting the Rose Garden at Whitehall Park yesterday. And what lovely weather we’ve had for it. The children really enjoyed viewing the Easter art created in school, saying prayers and singing songs with the children from Reception class. They even came back to the classroom to write some Easter scavenger hunt clues for the other classes. We hope you and your families have a chance to visit too.
Year 1- Garden Centre Visit
On Tuesday morning we walked down to ‘Four Seasons Garden Centre’ in preparation for our next science topic about plants. We found out lots of information about plants and the seasons they grow in. At the end of our tour around the garden centre we purchased some seeds to bring back to school to watch them grow.
Year 1: Garden Centre Visit Thank you!
We would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone at “Four Seasons Garden Centre” for making us all feel welcome. Sonia said she was really pleased with how we respected the garden centre and how well they represented our school. Sonia gave us some free gifts to bring back to school (Planters, soil and flowers) we can’t wait to plant these.
Year 5-The Mind Walk- Mental Health Awareness Week
This afternoon, the Year 5 class stepped out of their classroom to appreciate God's wonderful nature around school. The children took this time to clear their minds, talk to their friends, giggle and just really enjoy being out. It was lovely to see everyone just enjoying themselves.
Year 2 - Exploring Microhabitats within the school grounds.
Year 2 have been exploring microhabitats within the school grounds. They found many interesting insects and have loved exploring their habitats.
Year 2 - Investigating local animal habitats.
Year 2 investigating local habitats. We have started our science unit on animals and their habitats. We explored and found many local insects and animals and discussed where they lived.
Rainforest Habitat Diorama- D.T-Year 5
Today the children in Year 5 have been busy making their 3D structures of the Rainforest. They have first used water-based paint to paint the inside of the box to create a rainforest background. They also made some ferns, philodendrons, trees, butterflies and rainforest animals using plain paper or crepe paper whilst waiting for the paint to dry. Tightly twisted strips of green crepe paper to make jungle vines. To add that extra detail they used - small rocks, twigs, dried leaves, and other materials from nature to add texture to their diorama.