Minstead day 2 3W

An early start today with 3 courses for breakfast and a special song for Ellis. We have been lucky with the weather, the autumnal sun was glorious and apart from a power cut in the middle of the night (setting off an alarm which saw all the adults in their PJs manically ensuring everything was reset before waking up the children!) we saw no effects of the storm. 

We made 3 new friends today in Barbara, Benjamin and Betty. They enjoyed eating the crab apples and ivy leaves we found them for snacks and loved the massages so much Barbara even danced! No, we hadn’t met new centre staff, just the sheep! We then learned about how sheep helped humans and how to tell if the sheep were healthy (poo is the key) then used some sheep wool to make a felt planet to bring home. Later in the day we made ‘compost cake’ mixing soil, crispy crunchy leaves and leftover peelings to turn into compost. Working hard in teams, the children had to use gardening tools and wheelbarrows to get their ‘ingredients ‘ up the hill to where the compost was to be ‘cooked’. 

Tea was scrumptious again and having spent all day outside even the cabbage was demolished! Our final evening has been magical with a story in the roundhouse lit only by the light of the children’s homemade lanterns. A night walk up the hill in the dark with a procession of lanterns saw us gathering around the campfire to sing songs and enjoy a biscuit before walking back down the hill to the bunkhouse to get ready for bed. 

The children are very tired after a long day in the fresh air and many are already on their way to the land of nod. They are hoping to earn the coveted golden bead tonight  that only a good night’s sleep can bring...watch this space!

3W Day 1 at Minstead

3W have had a great first day at Minstead in the beautiful New Forest. Our first adventure was a long walk through the forest, through the 'ditch of doom' and along winding paths. The trees were stunning in shades of yellows, oranges and reds and many leaves were collected on our journey!

We learnt about animals, plants and trees that are native to this area and everyone has been given a new Latin name...anyone know what 'cervus ' is?


Our new name is now worn on a necklace and as we complete activities about the environment and the world we live in, we will collect beads. The children are very excited that these will be coming home with them!



After a scrumptious tea (which EVERYONE devoured) we learned a bit more about our new Latin name then ventured off into the dark night in search of the fire. Stories were told and songs sung in the dark roundhouse with just the fire to light the evening. 





It is now just before 9pm and having had a hot chocolate and story before bedtime, half the children are already asleep ready for more adventures tomorrow.

Day 3 6R Wales

The latest just in from Miss Ray:

6R have had another fantastic day in the Welsh hills.  We supported and encouraged each other over the rough ground and enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment when we reached our goals.

Everbody has really pushed themselves and given everything a really good go.   They are all well although now getting tired and are looking forward to the excitement of new challenges tomorrow.

6R in Wales

Evening all,



If we do not post a blog or a picture please rest assured it is not because anything is wrong but simply that the adults are busy looking after the children or do not have a signal.  To be able to send a picture, you have to walk to the top of a farm track which doesn't have any lighting!

This is a short post but I can tell you that I have had a text from Miss Ray and all is well.  The children are relishing the activities and are really throwing themselves into the way of life up there.  I am unable to post any pictures at the moment, but if I receive any then I will add them in. 
Mrs Nash

BBC 2 Gardeners' World

On Tuesday 23rd May Wicor hosted the film and sound crews from BBC Gardeners' World along with Flo, their presenter.  The director had visited the school a few months ago after putting out an advert to anyone who felt they had grounds worthy of sharing with a national audience.  After walking around the grounds it was immediately felt that we certainly had something special to share and the date was booked. 

The agenda for the day, along with the script, was carefully planned as they certainly knew what they wanted to see and hear.  The focus was simply to showcase what we do as a school to get children to understand horticulture and the world around them.  They were also interested in talking to our community volunteers, without whom we would struggle to care for our large grounds.  The focus for the latter was how we encourage the intergenerational gap to pass down their knowledge leading to more mutual respect between the groups.

The day was a long one starting at 8.30am and ending at 7.15pm.  The areas filmed were the allotments and polytunnels where children planted and discussed the tomatoes growing this year.  A new Mediterranean bed had been dug over and made ready by RNS Collingwood the previous week and this was then planted up with flowers that like hot dry weather.  Year 3 took part in this as they had been learning about the different types of compost and now to encourage growth, so they brought their learning to the plot.  Volunteers were interviewed as was Mr Wildman and the day ended with pizzas all round by the clay oven which was being attended to by Mrs Pattison and Mrs Parker. 

Prepping 40 pizzas for the clay oven!

Once everyone was off site at about 5pm, the crew then carried on filming backdrops both of our grounds and also of the sounds around Wicor - luckily the birds put on a tremendous chorus

A great day was had by all and everyone learnt how difficult it is being a presenter and director of a TV show as there were many, many takes making sure everything was perfect.  A day's filming will be translated into a 7 minute slot on June 2nd at 8pm BBC 2 Gardeners' World.

RHS Chelsea

Morning muffins after our
 arrival at Victoria Station

On Monday 22nd May Ruby and Eva from Years 3 and 2 respectively made their way to visit RHS Chelsea along with Mrs Nash and Miss Moreton.  They were there as they had helped to support Miracle-Gro and Young Minds with their garden to ease the senses.  The ideas for the design for the garden arose after two representatives had visited Wicor and loved Faelin, our wonderful fairy garden.  A national competition had then been held by Miracle-Gro for fairy house designs and the winning entries were given to Year 2 to make.  At this point Miss Hurst and Miss Madden stepped in with their artistic eyes and produced some of the most fantastic houses you could imagine, along with the Year 2 children.  In addition to this, Y3 supported Miracle-Gro by taking part in their growing competition by germinating and nurturing calendula 'Snow Queen'.  These were also then collected by the Miracle-Gro representatives for display within the Chelsea garden.

The visit was an exciting event as it was press day so members of the public were not allowed in.  The two girls were excellent ambassadors for the school, promoting, discussing and explaining their involvement to members of the press from national newspapers, gardening magazines and other interested journalists from all over the world including China and Finland. 



Inside the tree house

Lunchtime allowed us to have a wonder around the gardens and the different artisan displays.  We loved one particular garden which had metal structures in reminding Ruby of the work she had recently undertaken with the University of Southampton where they had investigated how atoms joined together to make crystals.  Eva enjoyed the hanging chairs and both girls thought the tree house was phenomenal. 

After lunch it was back on duty explaining their involvement with the garden - something they continued to do with aplomb even though they had 'been at work' since the 7.15 am train and it was roasting in the grand pavilion. 

Eventually, however, it was time to take a slow walk back to Victoria and catch the train home.  Tiredness caught up with us all and a little nap was needed but they were soon awake again and keeping us amused.

The two girls were extra-ordinary during a long day showing themselves to be fantastic representatives for Wicor Primary School.  Well done!

Swinging chairs

Where the wild things are.

Explaining the fairy houses to visitors



Exploring the water feature

Lunch!

More swinging chairs - can
we have one please mum?



Structures similar to how atoms join to make chrystals.

A selection of our lovely fairy houses

Chemistry and reading week 6NB

Well what a 3 weeks that has been!  First our SATS, and then headlong into chemistry and reading week.  We have had a fantastic time and enjoyed some inspiring scientific and reading/writing workshops.   First up was the Bubble Pop, where we enjoyed watching bubbles filled with smoke, bubbles on top of heads, and people put into bubbles.

Later on in the second week we hosted Stewart Ross who is a writer of many children's books.  We had prepared with him a writing workshop where by the end of the day the children had each drafted a chapter of our new book which, when we get the polished versions to him, he will publish on line.  How exciting is that!  We now have to polish and polish that work after half term.  The book and chapters will be about WW2 from The Phoney War, Total War, Technology of War, The Blitz and The Bombing of Portsmouth.  Stewart showed the children how to plan their writing properly, and craft their sentences.  He also reiterated how important it is to learn to spell and to use their grammar correctly!

The University of Southampton chemistry department came in the middle here and gave a fabulous assembly using gas and explosions, dry ice and flying pigs (stunt pig only you will be relieved to hear).  They linked all of these demonstrations with the science around us and particularly with climate change, showing the children how just a little acid is changing the temperature of the seas around us to the detriment of all the wildlife in it.  They finished showing what happens when airships (balloons filled with hydrogen) come into contact with a flame.  Boom!

At the end of the second week Kev McNamara came and worked with us again, this time focusing on explosions.  We all learnt about chemical reactions and watched as he made a rocket fly.  We revised our knowledge of what happens when gases mix and our understanding of sublimation. 

There were two dress up days, one where we came dressed as a scientist and a second where we were dressed as our element.  Everyone had been given an element badge at the beginning of the fortnight and these were much loved by everyone - including the staff. 

Finally, came the chemistry fayre where everyone showcased their learning.  For Y6 it was the flying cups using dry ice mixed with water which released carbon dioxide and fairly fired the cups into orbit.  We also challenged people to balance a tin can on its edge using only a little water!

Lennon being given the bubble treatment.

And now it is Mr Knight's turn.

Lili inside a bubble and blowing a hole in the side!



How to make the kettle whistle using dry ice.

Shooting cups with the carbon dioxide being released.



Changing the pH value of water.



Showing what happens when you a balloon filled with hydrogen is set alight.

 





Exploding capsules by mixing Vit C tabs with water and holding the lid on!

Bursting balloons to check our understanding of compressed air

Understanding vapours