Learning … with added sparkle!
At Riverside, we believe that learning should go further than just the National Curriculum. Yes, we have a statutory duty to teach the content prescribed by the government in 2014, but we also know that what makes school special, particularly at primary, is the added extras…the memorable trips and experiences…the cherries on the cake if you like, that send the children home buzzing ready to bend families ears off with how much they enjoyed their day!
With that in mind, when planning the content of our teaching, we challenged our teachers to come up with added ‘Sparkle’ to help enrich and deepen the children’s experiences in their learning. See below for some of the ideas they came up with (and if you want to know what’s coming up for your child, speak to their teacher or check out the termly planners here).
Roman Day!
A whole school experience, our children got a taste of life in Roman times! Encouraged to dress up and look the part, the morning started with a screening of Horrible Histories: the Rotten Romans at the Hebden Bridge Picture House, then they returned famished after all of that (PG rated) bloodshed to feast on a specially prepared Roman banquet by Cheryl for lunch.
In the afternoon, teachers laid on workshops creating mosaics, shields and learning how to move as a military unit.
Heart Investigation in Year 6
Learning in Science about the circulatory system in Year 6 is a fascinating topic. They make their own version of blood to understand the components, they measure their own heartbeat and see how they change after exercise…BUT…the most exciting learning is the hands on lesson dissecting an actual heart!
Ok, a lamb’s heart, kindly donated by Maskill’s Butchers for free.
Hands on science is a thrilling experience, and you truly understand that a heart is a powerful muscle when you hold it in your hand and squeeze!
Flood defence work at Hardcastle Crags!
Living in Calder Valley the threat of flooding is always in the back of our minds, so learning about the causes of this environmental issue in Year 5 is vital to our Year 5 children so that they can help look after the environment they live in as they grow up.
Part of that is seeing the work Slow the Flow carry out in the surrounding valley and especially in helping them maintain and build natural flood defenses to prevent further damage to our homes and school…also, a chance to get our wellies on and get stuck in!