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Year 3- Science- Forming shadows
In our science lesson, our young scientists learned some fundamental principles of physics. They discovered that light travels in a straight line, which is why a shadow is formed when an object blocks that path. By moving the light source, they learned how the position of light affects the size and shape of a shadow. They saw firsthand that an object's shadow changes depending on the light's angle and how far away it is. This hands-on exploration taught them that a shadow is simply the absence of light, a concept that forms the basis for everything from understanding eclipses to how our eyes see. We became experts at forming shadows using artificial light sources, like torches. It was great to see everyone working in pairs, acting as our own little research team.
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 3- Class Meeting- How to end each day feeling calm and happy?
During a class meeting organised by the Smart School Council, Year 3 students, led by Eva with notes taken by Maggie, discussed how to end each day feeling calm and happy. They considered four options: sharing something good about their day, listening to a calming story or song, doing a group exercise, or suggesting "something else." After a group discussion , the majority of the class voted to end their day by listening to a calming story or song.
Whole School Worship - Agent Ananias
We learned about a very special mission given by God this week in worship. God directed Ananias, a disciple in Damascus, to heal Saul of his blindness and baptise him. Despite Ananias's fear due to Saul's reputation as a persecutor of Christians, he obeyed the Lord's assurance that Saul was a "chosen instrument". Ananias laid hands on Saul, restoring his sight, and then baptised him, marking his dramatic conversion from persecutor to the apostle Paul, a key figure in spreading Christianity. We reflected on what we learned from the story and the children shared their thoughts, including that we should trust God’s choices, and that everyone has the ability to change.
Year 3- History-Exploring Ancient Egypt Through the River Nile
The Year 3 Historians investigated why the River Nile was so important in the lives and beliefs of the ancient Egyptians. They explored the interactive history timeline online and also looked at the timeline displayed in the school hall. They learned that the Nile was essential for many reasons: It provided water for drinking and washing. It supported farming, as the river flooded each year and left behind rich, fertile soil, perfect for growing crops such as wheat and barley. The children also discussed how the ancient name for Egypt, Kemet, meaning ‘black land’, referred to the dark, fertile soil along the Nile. They discovered that the Egyptians believed the yearly floods were a blessing from the god Hapi, whom they worshipped to ensure the river continued to bring life each year. They were fascinated to discover how the past could be presented in these different ways and worked brilliantly throughout the lesson.
After School Foodie Club- Choc Chip Cookies
Today at the After-School Club, Years 3 and 4 bakers made delicious chocolate chip cookies. They carefully weighed out the sugar and flour, and the children especially loved cracking the eggs, one of the highlights of the session. Apparently, one of the best cookies they've ever had!
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.
Friday Celebration Worship
This morning, we took a moment to reflect on what has been a busy and wonderful third week of school. Our week began with a focus on God’s Big Story in Whole School Worships, where we came together to deepen our understanding. Year 6 had a fantastic time creating artwork in the Darwen Town Centre, while Years 3, 4, and 6 took part in a Let’s Go Sing Choir workshop, which has inspired even more children to sign up for our school choir. Year 5 enjoyed a Move and Learn session with BwD, and our entire school embraced the excitement of the new clubs that started this week, including Foodie Friends, Football, Fred & Pearl Craft Club, Choir, Netball, and Forest Schools. We also took time to celebrate our individual value award winners, with a huge well done to Zachary and Hollie in KS1, and Eva, Emily, Jack, and Elsie in KS2, for their dedication across the curriculum, their embodiment of our Barney’s 4Bs and Christian Values, and for spreading joy throughout the school. In addition, we were pleased to award India Mill as our Value Award winners for the second consecutive week, and Year 6 as the winners in KS2 with 100% attendance, while Reception and Year 1 in EYFS and KS1 earned recognition with a fantastic 99.3% attendance. Next, we celebrated our out-of-school achievers, including Albie for earning his 5m and 10m swimming certificates, Evie for her bravery in attending Rainbows for the first time, Alice for being awarded Cheerleader of the Week, Peyton for winning Star of the Week at gymnastics, Grace for achieving a highly commended in her recent acro exam, Charlie for being named Student of the Week at Junior Dragons Martial Arts Club, Ava for being awarded Squirrel of the Week, Mason for being runner-up in a recent darts tournament, Lyla for receiving a certificate of excellence for her gymnastics and acro talent, and Annabel for being named Star of the Week at her dance school. Finally, we ended our worship with some heartfelt prayers from Mason, Ella, and Zachary, who prayed for those affected by war and conflict, for those suffering from illnesses, and for those who don’t have enough food—especially as Harvest approaches. We also sang “Our God is a Great Big God.” A quick reminder from Mrs. Ham: Next Friday, September 26th, we’ll be hosting the Macmillan Coffee Morning. All donations will be greatly appreciated.
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Year 3- R.E- How do people celebrate harvest around the world?
Today in R.E., Year 3 investigated how people around the world celebrate the harvest. We began with a class discussion to share our own experiences and understanding. Following this, the children wrote in their R.E. books, noting down some of the wonderful traditions we discovered. The children were particularly fascinated to learn about the different ways people show gratitude for the harvest. In the United States and Canada, Thanksgiving is a major national holiday celebrating the harvest and blessings of the past year. It is celebrated with a large family feast, which traditionally includes a roast turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. It is a time for people to gather and express gratitude for what they have. The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival, is one of the most important holidays in China. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, when the moon is at its fullest. Families gather to give thanks for a bountiful harvest and to pray for a good future. A key tradition is eating mooncakes and lighting colourful lanterns.
Year 3- Art- Drawing Like the Egyptians
Today in art, Year 3 Artists travelled back in time to ancient Egypt. Before drawing their egyptian patterns and shapes, they prepared their sketchbooks by creating interesting surfaces to work on. Just like the ancient Egyptians who drew on papyrus, they transformed their white paper using chalk pastels last week to give it that special, papyrus-like texture. With the surfaces ready, they put pencil to paper today to draw beautiful Egyptian patterns, all while listening to some traditional Egyptian music in the background. The children's drawings have turned out absolutely amazing and they should be very proud of the surfaces and patterns they created.
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Year 3 - Exploring Purple Mash
This morning, the children explored Purple Mash, a creative and interactive online learning space. They focused on grammar activities, practising suffixes and using them to create their own exciting sentences. Purple Mash offers opportunities for children to learn through discovery and creativity, which they find both enjoyable and engaging.
Year 3- Maths-Our First TTRockstars Session
In maths today, the children logged on to TTRockstars for the very first time, and they absolutely loved it! They had fun choosing their very own Rockstar names and avatars before getting started with the games. During the session, they practised a wide range of times tables through fun, fast-paced question games. The platform automatically adapts to each child’s learning needs, helping them to improve their recall and speed with multiplication. It was wonderful to see the children so engaged and motivated in their maths learning.