J1

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A very snowy day!!

In celebration of the FIFA World Cup, we are learning all sorts of things about the countries taking part, South Africa itself and the beautiful game of football!

We have carried out research on different countries, composed and performed our own football songs, studied figure drawing through football poses, created South African paintings and designed and made our own South African fruit smoothies!  In Science, we have tested the effectiveness of sports clothing and in PSE we have considered what life may be like for poorer families and children in South Africa.

We have recently had an Islamic Day where we learnt about the Muslim religion with particular focus on the five pillars of Islam.  We tried some new foods and cooked chapattis and falafel.  We had some traditional clothes to dress up in and perform role plays and we carried out our own research using books and the internet.

We have been working within a mini-topic called 'Shaping Up'.  We have looked closely at shape and pattern and our studies  included symmetry, symmetrical patterns, a close look at Islamic tiles (including making our own) and shape poems.  In Science we have been investigating how things move with a particular emphasis on air. 

We went on a trip to Techniquest to take part in a workshop about FORCES.  We had a great time exploring the activities...

TAG RUGBY

A big thank you to parents Mr Evans and Mr Hollifield who recently took the class for a tag rugby session.  If your child enjoyed the taster session and would like to join LLANDAFF NORTH UNDER 9s next season then training begins in August 2010.  Contact Darren (20657350) or Marc (20623364) for more details.

We had a fantastic time - thanks again for the training session!

 'FOOD FOR LIFE'

We considered where our food comes from, which foods are good for us and the role of farming.  We looked at the importance of food in different religions.  In history lessons we returned to our World War 2 studies and learnt about rationing.

We used a wartime recipe book to make some carrot cookies.  People were able to grow a lot of vegetables themselves during the war and carrots were often grown in gardens.  The cookies were delicious!!

Can you guess who we are?

Here is the poem we wrote as a class...

Our School Trip

We caught the train at Coryton Station

Josie felt a bit shaky because the train was bumpy

Holly felt a bit scared because it felt as if she was going to fall off the edge

When she looked out of the train window

There were houses and gardens far below.

When we were on the train we waved at a purple lady

She waved back, we said “Hello purple monster”

it was a good thing

Adam felt hungry because he hadn’t had his breakfast!

We arrived at Cardiff Station and we walked to the museum

The weather was cold but dry

The museum looked big from the outside

There were lots and lots of steps, about twenty!

When we arrived we were too early so we had to sit on the steps and have a snack

When it opened we went inside

The first thing we saw was the reception desk

At first it seemed dark but it really wasn’t

The museum is made of marble

The big room looks pink because the marble looks pink

When you look up, it’s really high, a bit scary

It looks like a big round jelly!

We went to look at some rocks and volcanoes

Then we went to look at dinosaurs and mammoths in the museum

Some of the dinosaurs looked a bit new, much too young to be buried.

We had fun.

By J1 and Jenny Sullivan

World Book Day

Click here to go to the website 

Our first topic of the New Year was 'Song of the Earth'.  We focused our learning around the four elements of the earth - Earth, Fire, Water and Air.  Much of our work was Geography and Science based comparing different environments and habitats and understanding how to be global citizens.  We also be carryied out a lot of creative work and prepared for our Class Assembly.

We looked very closely at rocks under a microscope and described what we saw.  We matched rocks to pictures and drew ones we particularly liked!

We are visited the National Museum of Wales to learn about the evolution of the planet and also to take part in a volcano workshop.

To find out what events are on at the Museum, click here.

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/cardiff/

We are also lucky enough to have a parent in our class who is an Environmental Geologist.  Eleri's Dad, Mr Holmes visited our class to give a fantastic workshop on rocks and fossils.

Here are some pictures of us in Forest School.  Mrs Evans takes a group of 8 children each term to learn about building shelters, natural art and crafts and outdoor cooking.

Through our studies of WATER we have been looking at rivers and seas in and around Wales with particular focus on the River Taff, our local river.  We then compared how we use our local River with how people rely on the Amazon in the Rainforest.

  Click here to learn more about water problems and solutions around the world.

http://kids.mongabay.com/  This website contains lots of information on Rainforests.

To get us thinking about how we use water compared with children in developing countries, we took part in a water obstacle course.  This made us think about how difficult it is for some children who have to collect their own water and carry it to their homes.

We managed to drop a lot of the water and realised that it was hard to keep the water clean.

We experimented with paint to look at the effects of adding water to 'merge' the colours.  Then we chose different types of paint, brushed it onto paper and put the paper out in the rain to create a truly natural water picture!  It was also a lot of fun!

Eye-catching design!

Mind your thumb!

Investigating wheels

Testing our wooden wheels

Click here for ideas to make your own water wheel at home.

St Fagans Museum has a working water wheel at the Millhouse.  Why not go and visit?

Getting wet!

Do you like our Guatemalan kites?  We used colour, pattern and texture to create them.

One of our topics in the Autumn Term was called 'It's Good to Talk!'  We learnt how to listen more carefully and to respect the views of others.  We also learnt about fairytales and wrote our own stories.  Then we made a backdrop and stick puppets and filmed our tales.

We have loved learning about the Art Deco artist and potter, Clarice Cliff. We designed our own pottery then made plates, cups, saucers and jugs from clay.

http://www.claricecliff.co.uk/

http://www.claricecliff.com/about/clarice/index.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/homes/design/period_artdeco.shtml

We learnt all about trees as part of a mini topic.  We studied different trees looking at their leaves, flowers and fruit.  Then we made some beautiful tree collages, went outside and drew parts of trees and completed some enjoyable activities in the classroom.

Then we made shadow puppets and performed our own stories.

              Barzy carefully cuts his puppet

We have just been on a trip to Swansea to find out about life in the 1940s.  We were able to answer lots of questions about the Blitz so we must have been listening carefully in lessons!!  We had great fun trying on clothes and uniforms and playing in the Anderson Shelters and trucks. Here are some pictures...

Here's a picture of our own work completed on The Blitz. Can you see our Anderson Shelters?

The children have shown an enormous amount of enthusiasm for our WW2 topic.  If you would like to find out more, these websites are recommended.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/history/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/world_war2/

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/homefront/default.htm

http://www.show.me.uk/hosted/pro/act.htmhttp://www.iwm.org.uk/upload/package/20/lifeinww2/index.htm

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/Britain.html

http://www.iwm.org.uk/upload/package/20/lifeinww2/index.htm

SCIENCE

In Science lessons we experimented with circuit components to try to light up a bulb.

PSHE / HEALTHY EATING

We were lucky enough to have a visit from the Food Standards Agency.  We watched a really funny pantomime and then took part in a workshop about the choices we make about what we eat.

We recently had an all day workshop on FORCES with J2.  We had to make vehicles out of Knex that would travel without being pushed or pulled by hand.  We had to design cars that would move by magnetic force or by blowing.  When the cars had been made and road tested, we had a race to see who's would travel the fastest!