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



3M visit Portchester Castle

In March, class 3M visited Portchester Castle as part of our enquiry, How has Portchester Castle been used over time?  We spent time studying and learning about the features of Portchester Castle, the rooms and how it has been used since it was a Roman Fort.

We had such a lovely time at the castle, that we wanted to write our very own blogs about this day.

Portchester Castle visit

On Monday 27^th March 2017, 3M visited  Portchester Castle.  When we arrived, we were put into four groups to visit different parts of the castle. We went in the keep but we didn’t go to the top.

First, we went up the spiral stairs .We thought that it was very old, but very scary! We wrote notes about the inside of the castle and then we moved on.

Next, we went to King Richard the 2nd’s palace. We sketched what we thought the outside of the palace looked like.  We thought that there would  be fire places, hearths and windows.

Then, we went inside and sketched  what we saw inside. After that we went outside of the keep and labelled the bits of the castle.  We labelled latrine chutes, smoke holes and a big crack  right in the middle of the outside wall.

I really enjoyed myself and especially for my amazing partner, Caitlyn, who really made it such a fun expereince! I LOVE PORTCHESTER CASTLE!

By Mia.

Portchester Castle visit

On 27^th of March 2017, when we arrived we were sorted into groups and visited parts of the castle.

First of all we went into the inner bailey. We then went in the keep; we got to the third floor it was very interesting. When we saw the amount of fire places we thought it was amazing. As we got to the second floor there was writing on the walls from prisoners.

When we got back down we went to King Richard II’s palace. We went inside. We were very excited when we found out we were drawing what we thought the dining room and kitchen below looked like a hundred years ago. We were all allowed to draw the people in the picture and what we thought they would do! We discovered fire places, windows and doorways.

We had a sheet of King Richards’s palace and we had to draw in the doors and windows and choose what we thought the shapes could be. Once we had finished that we went out for a little break,  Once that had finished we went to look at the outside walls .The first thing we had to do was to label the different parts of the keep. After we labelled the outside of the keep we went back inside where we saw blue paint on the walls, a well, fire places and toilets.

We really didn’t want to go home when it was time to go.

By Caitlyn Gray

 

Wales finale

We have all now been home for a day and I have been working through the photos for the week.  I came across one photograph which I think exemplifies why we go.  This made me so proud.  Caving was probably the one activity which many of us were worried about and really had to push through some fears. Thank you to 6NB and our two additions from 6NA for an excellent week.