All Around the Houses and All Around the World!

Welcome back after the half term break! We wasted no time at all in getting straight back to work this week, and we are excited to share what we have been learning.

In English, our focus was on the features and techniques used by writers of persuasive texts. We were filled with the fervour of longing for a spot of sunshine and warmer weather, engaged in researching ideal holiday destinations. We not only examined these enticing places but also crafted persuasive pieces encouraging each other to explore these holiday spots. To connect with our Frozen Kingdoms topic, we turned our attention to Iceland—an enchanting land of fire and ice. We eagerly collected facts about its stunning natural features and the plethora of activities on offer, which allowed us to practise our persuasive writing skills.

In maths, we shifted gears to explore the relationships between fractions, decimals, and percentages. We explored fractions as divisions, using place value counters and bar models, among other representations, to prove our calculations. We certainly grew in confidence as we tackled these maths concepts and used the different representations.

This week in PSHE, our discussions revolved around the principles of democracy. We learned that democracy means ‘rule by the people’ and delved into who has the right to vote in our country and the processes governing elections. We thoughtfully considered the qualities we believe politicians should possess before embarking on the task of composing our own manifestos. We shared their top three priorities, articulating what we would do for our country if elected. The scope of ideas ranged from improving the economy and strengthening relations with European nations to investing in our healthcare system and armed forces. Their insights sparked a lively discussion on the tough choices faced by any government. We took a virtual tour of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. It was amusing to discover that many years ago, the Speaker of the House could not leave the chamber and would pull a curtain around for privacy when nature called—while other politicians would resort to waving their papers about to mask any noises! To solidify our understanding, we also enjoyed a fast-paced game of ‘Around the Houses’, which provided an engaging insight into the workings of both Houses.

We remain committed to keeping our reading skills in fine form. We are thoroughly enjoying our whole class text, ‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar. We’ve reached a pivotal moment in the story where the narrative explores the racial tensions in the town of Green Lake. Our engagement was palpable as we were on the edge of our seats, grappling with the fate of Sam, the onion seller, and Miss Katherine, the schoolteacher.

This week in our Science lessons, we embarked on an exciting investigation into the complexities of blood flow. We used straws of various diameters to model how the size of a blood vessel can influence circulation. As we examined this concept, we discovered that narrower arteries can significantly restrict blood flow, much like how plaque buildup can lead to serious health issues such as heart attacks and strokes. This hands-on activity not only reinforced our understanding of the cardiovascular system but also highlighted the importance of maintaining healthy habits to support our own heart health.

Remember, next Thursday is World Book Day so it’s time to plan your ‘Dress as a word’ costume. We can’t wait to see your creativity shine in our ‘Vocabulary on Parade’ event.

Have a lovely weekend and enjoy the start of Spring!

Back in time- chanting for change

This week in Beech Class, we have been busy exploring a range of exciting topics across our subjects.

In our RE lesson, the Year 2 children have been exploring the topic of commitment. We talked about what commitment means and discussed how people show commitment to fitness and staying healthy. To bring this to life, the children designed their own set of five exercises and set themselves a challenge – to practice them every day for a week! Through this activity, they are learning about perseverance, setting personal goals, and the importance of sticking to their promises.

This half-term in Music, we will be exploring different musical styles and genres. This week, we have been learning about classical music. We listened to Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King and discovered how the music starts slowly and quietly, then gradually gets faster and louder, creating a dramatic effect. We also learned about the orchestra, exploring the different family groups of instruments and their names, as well as how they are arranged in an orchestra’s formation. To deepen their understanding of the music, the children moved their bodies to reflect the mood and tempo of the piece – starting with slow movements and building up to energetic, fast-paced actions!

In History, our Year 1 and Year 2 children have been learning about Annie Kenney, an important figure in the women’s suffrage movement. The children were shocked to learn that women were not allowed to vote, could not have their own bank account and although they could attend university they couldn’t earn a degree. They were fascinated by Annie Kenney’s role in fighting for women’s rights. To bring history to life, the children created their own ‘Votes for Women’ posters and even held their very own protest, marching around the playground chanting for change! To accompany our learning, we also learned the famous song Sister Suffragette from Mary Poppins—a fun and powerful way to connect with the past.

In Science, the Year 2 children have been investigating germs and how to properly wash our hands. They conducted an experiment using blue paint to represent germs. First, they washed their hands with cold water and no soap, then with warm water and soap, and observed the differences. This hands-on experiment helped them understand the importance of proper handwashing in keeping germs away.

Meanwhile, the Year 1 children have been learning about animals, specifically grouping familiar and unfamiliar animals based on their characteristics. They sorted animals into different categories such as mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, and amphibians, discussing what makes each group unique. The children enjoyed learning new facts about some animals they had never seen before!

It has been a fantastic week of learning in Beech Class, and we can’t wait to see what next week brings!

The start of a new h-aarrrrr-f term!

What a wonderful first week back we have had, following a well deserved rest over half term! The children have been really excited to read our new core text, The Night Pirates by Peter Harris. We worked together to create a new display for the classroom, thinking about the choppy seas that the pirates would have had to travel across to find treasure! We designed our own sailing contraptions and did a great job writing captions for our boats. It has been lovely to see Ash class using their digraphs more confidently, such as the ‘ai’ in ‘sailing’ and the ‘oa’ in ‘boat’. As a backdrop for our boats, the children loved getting messy with bubble painting, likening it to the sea foam that gathers with big, crashing waves!

We carried on thinking about the sea in P4C, specifically about what we find in the sea. There were lots of suggestions from boats and shells, to turtles, whales and sharks. Though, we noticed that there were also some different items too, such as plastic cups and shopping bags. This then lead to a discussion about whether or not it was ok for plastic to be in the sea and what we could do about it. Here are some of the excellent thoughts and suggestions from the children…

Plastic shouldn’t be in the sea. It might hurt the sea creatures and it’s bad for the environment.

The plastic is hurting all the animals. Plastic is bad for the environment and it can get stuck in their throats.

We could get a fishing rod and fish it out. We could get the shark to pick the rubbish up and throw it in to the net to help the children get it in to the bin.

It is wonderful to hear the children building their confidence as we progress through the year in P4C. We have noticed that more children like to contribute verbally now, and use sentence stems such as ‘I agree/disagree’ to link their ideas to a friend’s. This also indicates that they have been listening hard during the discussions and are more able to follow a conversational thread. Perhaps it’s all the lovely listening practice in yoga that’s giving them their super powers!

This week, we learnt three new poses to add to our movement sequence. The favourite of these was ‘lion’s pose’, or ‘lion’s breath’, which ended up resulting in quite a collective roar!

In maths, we have been working on counting and estimating. We decided to vote on which story we wanted to read at home time. We each had a counter and put it in the jar of our choosing, to indicate our story choice. Once we had all voted, we identified which jar was the fullest, estimated how many counters there might be inside, and checked by counting them out using tens frames. The winning story ended up having 16 votes, meaning we had to use two tens frames to count them all out!

We have also been thinking about the seasons and how each one is different, whilst we patiently wait for Spring to arrive with warmer days! The children enjoyed sorting pictures into the correct seasons and some chose to create some beautiful cherry blossom pictures.

British Science Week 2025 – Calling All STEM Enthusiasts!

British Science Week 2025 – Can You Help Inspire Our Children?

British Science Week is celebrating over 30 years of sparking curiosity and innovation! Running from 7th to 16th March, this year’s theme, ‘Change and Adapt’, encourages us to explore the incredible ways the world around us evolves.

At [School Name], we’re embracing this exciting theme with workshops, hands-on activities, and a special STEM assembly—and we’d love your help!

We’re looking for parents, family members, or friends with a background in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) to lead an inspiring assembly for our children. Whether you work in engineering, healthcare, environmental science, computing, or any STEM-related field, your insights could help bring this year’s theme to life.

Possible topics include:

How cities and communities adapt to support a growing population
How animals and plants evolve to survive in changing environments
How technology has transformed to meet modern-day challenges
How stars and planets change over time

If you or someone you know would like to volunteer and inspire our young learners, please get in touch with the school office.

Together, let’s spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators!

Bamboo Part 2

LIME

The bamboo was fully discovered by Lime class today and they were using it for all sorts of creative and innovative purposes. One group were holding sticks in the air as cameras filming their every move, as they tried to survive 100 days in the forest. Every now and then they’d remind people to like and subscribe. Some very cool bases were made and built upon and a small team made some cookies to celebrate Girl Scout Cookie Day!

 

WILLOW

It was part 2 of the Red Robin pub buildathon and this week they began sticking the bamboo in the ground creating a fence area which they decided would be a perfect bar to order drinks and crisps from. They struggled to get the sticks in but then discovered that leaning all their weight on the sticks would drive them into the ground. Another fence was made using string tying several pieces of bamboo together and made an excellent barrier for the pub. An artist also worked and used muddy water to create masterpieces that were then sold for extortionate rates…

 

EYFS

The bamboo is still the talk of the town and 3 different dens were being made. The most popular one was turned into a ninja house where they split into 3 teams, one group had to find sticks and drag them carefully to the den, another group were piling sticks on, while a sort of ninja soup was being made by the third group! A 2nd den was being made by the climbing tree and they were mainly working on the roof and a third den was turned into a bedroom. A few games of hide and seek happened towards the end of the session too.

 

BEECH

Beech class were over the moon that they could climb the trees for the first time in a while and set about trying to avoid the bird poo and climb as high as they felt safe too. The ship that has been sailing for the last month was still enjoying a hearty voyage with the main blue sail flapping in the wind. A huge group were obsessed with building the bamboo den and making sure that the tarp on the roof was protecting them from any bad rain. The digging zone was always busy too, with some china pots parts being found and Bob the Builder being sang…

 

MAPLE

Maple were given the safety talk on how to work sensibly with the bamboo and were happy to get building. They were very impressed with how much the bamboo den had grown and a group claimed it as their own shop. The tree being available was welcome news for them too and there were a lot of people who wanted to have a climb. In the digging zone a team were scraping the mud off of the concrete slabs, trying to clean them all up, but their muddy wellies kept on making the job more difficult again! An upgraded game of hide and seek took place too!

Green Team Get Building: Bird Boxes for Our School!

Our Green Team had an exciting and hands-on afternoon working with our Chair of Governors, Mr Hutt, to build bird boxes for our school grounds. Armed with hammers and screwdrivers, the children eagerly took on the challenge, showing fantastic focus and teamwork. The rhythmic tapping of nails filled the air as they carefully constructed each box, knowing they were creating safe havens for birds to nest.

Mr Hutt shared his DIY expertise, guiding the children step by step and ensuring everyone had a role to play. It was wonderful to see their determination as they measured, hammered, and assembled each piece with care.

These beautifully crafted bird boxes will soon be placed around the school grounds—we’re excited to see our first feathered residents move in! A big thank you to Mr Hutt for his time, encouragement, and woodworking skills.

February begins!

This week in Lime Class has been an exciting and thought-provoking journey, filled with creativity, discovery, and reflection. With Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week at the heart of our learning, we explored the theme Know Yourself, Grow Yourself, encouraging our pupils to understand themselves better and develop strategies for positive well-being.

In English, our young poets took inspiration from our PHSE discussions to write insightful and deeply personal poems. They crafted two beautiful pieces: Who Am I? and What Makes Me Happy?, using rich vocabulary and powerful imagery to express their thoughts and emotions. It was wonderful to see their creativity flourish as they explored their identities and celebrated their uniqueness.

Mental health was a key focus throughout the week. In PHSE, we discussed what mental health means and why it is important. As a class, we identified three key ways to keep our minds healthy: resting well, talking about our feelings, and doing small things that make us happy. These ideas sparked thoughtful conversations and helped the children reflect on their own well-being.

In maths, we tackled the tricky concept of equivalent fractions. Using number lines and bar models, we explored different representations to develop a deeper understanding. While challenging at first, our older pupils had a fantastic ‘lightbulb moment’ when they discovered they could use multiplication and division to find equivalence! Watching their confidence grow as they made connections in their learning was a joy to see.

Geography took us back to Italy as we delved into the fascinating world of volcanoes! We studied their locations on the map, discussing why they are found in certain areas, and then zoomed in on one of the most famous of all—Mount Vesuvius! The children were captivated by the story of its eruption in AD 79 and amazed by the power of these natural wonders.

Over in science, we transformed into investigators, exploring how shadows change as a light source moves. Through hands-on experiments, the children observed and recorded their findings using scientific drawings, carefully labelling and captioning their work. Their enthusiasm for testing and discovering was inspiring!

To end the week on a calm and mindful note, we took part in a yoga session, focusing on relaxation and sensory awareness. The children enjoyed stretching, breathing deeply, and grounding themselves in the present moment—a perfect way to unwind after a week of hard work and deep thinking.

It has been a truly enriching week, and we are so proud of all the learning and self-discovery that has taken place. We look forward to continuing our journey next week with more exciting challenges and explorations!

7.2.2025 “Know Yourself, Grow Yourself”

The start of February marks the beginning of Children’s Mental Health Week and this year’s theme is “Know Yourself, Grow Yourself.”

To celebrate, in PSHE, the children explored the idea of individuality by identifying five things that make them unique. They expressed their ideas through drawings or writing, celebrating the qualities that make them them! They also reflected on the fact that sometimes they may make the same choices as their friends, while at other times, they may choose differently—and that’s perfectly okay. Drawing inspiration from a theme park map, the children designed their very own theme parks. Each park included a variety of activities to ensure there was something for everyone, emphasising the importance of inclusivity and celebrating differences.

Building on this theme, during their Art lesson, they created their own trees with watercolours. They reflected on the roots of their identity-what defines them, what matters most to them and the key elements that help them thrive and grow. Drawing trees can be calming  because trees often symbolise life, growth and resilience. Each tree can represent a child’s unique personality—whether it’s sturdy and grounded, tall and reaching for the sky or adorned with vibrant leaves. The roots, though hidden, represent their families, the support and experiences that help them grow and thrive.

 

Linking with this theme of identity and growth, the children continued learning the vocabulary for family members in French. They explored how family forms an essential part of their roots—those who support them, nurture them and contribute to their ability to thrive and grow.

 

Continuing the theme of connection and growth, the children explored the power of giving and community in their English lessons. They wrote newspaper articles inspired by the Cadbury Christmas advert “Unwrap Joy” (2013), which showcased a neighbourhood filled with oversized, wrapped presents. Through this activity, the children reflected on how acts of kindness and shared experiences bring people together, fostering a sense of joy and support—key elements in helping individuals and communities thrive . Their writing highlighted the importance of generosity and the connections that make our roots stronger but also how we should always think of people in our community with different needs.

 

This week in gymnastics, children worked in groups to explore tucked, long, and wide body shapes. Using apparatus, they performed these shapes at high, medium, and low levels, focusing on control, balance, and precision.  The session encouraged creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving, helping to develop confidence and coordination. Each movement was carefully refined to improve quality and execution.

In our history session, we explored space exploration and the role of artificial satellites like the International Space Station (ISS) and the Hubble Space Telescope.  We looked at how astronauts have travelled beyond Earth and the research they have conducted, including studying climate change, weather patterns, and GPS technology.  Life in space was another key focus. We discussed how astronauts eat, sleep, and exercise in microgravity, as well as the challenges of living and working in space.

 

In Science, the Year 5 children explored shadows and how they are formed by a light source being blocked by an object. They investigated how moving the light source further away from an object makes the shadow smaller and fainter, while bringing it closer makes the shadow larger and sharper. They also learned about solar and lunar eclipses, which relate to shadows on a much larger scale. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon blocks the Sun’s light, casting a shadow on Earth, while a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon, causing the Moon to appear darkened.

This week, the children explored musical composition inspired by Hans Zimmer’s Earth, focusing on how music can represent our planet. They created their own three-note motifs and experimented with rhythm, dynamics, and pitch to evoke elements such as volcanoes, oceans, and mountains.

In R.E., the Year 5 children learned about the Sikh story of Guru Nanak and the Jasmine Flower, which teaches the importance of kindness, wisdom, and making space for goodness in our lives. The story tells of a bowl filled to the brim with milk, symbolising a place already full, leaving no room for anything else. Guru Nanak gently placed a jasmine flower on top, showing that goodness and wisdom can always find space without displacing what is already there. To represent this teaching, the children created their own pots, symbolising the bowl of milk from the story, reflecting on how they can bring kindness and positivity into their own lives.

‘Know yourself, Grow yourself’

This week, we delved into the realms of history, English, art, and mental health. We engaged in thought-provoking discussions and made creative explorations.

This week marked Children’s Mental Health Week, with the theme “Know Yourself, Grow Yourself.” To promote self-awareness and emotional understanding, we watched an insightful clip from Disney’s Inside Out 2, which explores a range of emotions. This prompted discussions on how understanding our feelings can empower us to face the world with confidence. In the film, one of the characters, Anxiety, says each of us is a complicated web of ‘sophisticated emotions’ and all of those emotions work together to help us navigate our experiences. Joy, the main character, tells us  we ‘can’t just bottle up our emotions.’ Connecting with our emotions throughout our life and prioritising the simplicity of joy, happiness, and even sadness is essential.  We responded with creativity, crafting powerful artwork that illustrated our strengths and emotions, further reinforcing the concepts of self-acceptance and personal growth. What super messages!

In our history lesson, we embarked on an intriguing exploration of Robert Falcon Scott’s Terra Nova expedition. Our key inquiry focused on whether the mission was ultimately thwarted by bad luck or by poor planning. To enhance our understanding of the various factors contributing to the expedition’s failure, we participated in a ‘diamond nine’ activity. We were able to identify and rank major issues related to the disastrous outcomes of the expedition. A hot topic of conversation was the decision of Scott’s team to take ponies along on the journey. Sadly, these animals were ill-suited to withstand the extreme cold conditions, leading to their untimely deaths.

As we dissected the elements of Scott’s decision-making, we weighed the significance of both luck and planning. For instance, many team members suffered from frostbite, yet some of us argued that they were aware of Antarctica’s harsh realities ahead of time. Could they not have reduced this risk through more effective preparation? We had fun debating the events of Scott’s mission and most of us agreed the expedition failed due to a combination of both bad luck and bad planning.

In English, we turned to Scott’s own writings, reading extracts from his poignant journal entries during the Terra Nova expedition. The accounts were deeply moving, particularly the mention of fellow explorer Titus Oates, who bravely walked out into a fierce blizzard, knowing he would not make it back. Oates’ poignant declaration, “I’m just going out and I may be some time,” resonated with us. We felt an enormous sense of admiration for Oates and we have attempted to better understand the emotions he experienced at such a critical juncture. Inspired by his sacrifice, we were challenged to draft our own diary entries as if we were Oates himself, capturing his final moments, as well as the crushing realisation of the Norwegian team’s arrival at the South Pole before the British. Here are a few extracts from our writing so far…

I know not what day it is but time no longer seems important. Although it is difficult to record my final thoughts, should this be found I wish for others to know I faced the challenges with bravery. (Luke)

The weight of despair presses heavily upon my chest. However, for my team, I must bow out of this adventure. (Dylan)

Today, as I write this in the biting cold, I find myself in a pessimistic state. Time feels as though it has stopped. (Mia)

I am drained of life, of hope. I find myself in a deep state of sadness and I cannot slow Scott and his team any more. As sad as it is, I choose to suffer no longer. (Thea)

As if that wasn’t enough, our artistic journey took an exciting turn when we collaborated with the National Portrait Gallery in London for a virtual workshop focused on the renowned artist Vincent van Gogh. Titled “The Yellow House,” the workshop introduced us to Van Gogh’s life in the South of France in 1888, where he found inspiration to create a series of mesmerising paintings.

During the session, we explored Van Gogh’s works, analysing the techniques and emotions conveyed through his art. Through observational sketching, we practised our artistic skills while learning to appreciate the beauty that surrounded Van Gogh. We used cutting and folding techniques to create our own version of an artist’s house, encapsulating the essence of creativity and expression that Van Gogh embodied.

Friday saw our first ‘Food Bank Friday’ collection at school! We were inspired to take action after listening to the beautifully written and illustrated story ‘The Invisible’ by Tom Percival and read to us by Sachin and Harrison. The book tells the poignant tale of Isabel, a young girl whose family struggles financially, forcing them to leave their beloved home. While they move to a new part of the city, Isabel notices the people around her who are often overlooked, those who feel invisible in society. Her decision to make a
difference transforms her community and reminds us all of an essential truth: we all belong.
Here at Little Hadham Primary, we reflected deeply on the themes of belonging and kindness. The School Council met to explore practical ways we can support those in need. As always, we shared thoughtful ideas and as a school have come up with a brilliant plan to support the food bank on a more regular basis – hence Food Bank Fridays! In Willow Class we chose to donate items for self care such as toothpaste, soap, shower gel, and deodorant. Thank you for supporting us with this endeavour. All donations will truly help make a difference in someone’s life.

Bamboozled!

LIME

Lime were full of beans this morning and it could have been the sun that had put them in such a good mood! A trio started a band by the climbing tree and were all drumming along to some famous rhythms, most notably the ‘can can’. Audiences gathered to hear the songs and the reviews were glowing! Another group started their own pizza restaurant which delivered all kinds of flavours and drinks to customers. In the digging zone, a few people made a safe and began to put lots of precious rocks inside.

 

WILLOW

Between the 2 sessions, a whole lot of bamboo had been chopped down and it was like Christmas morning for Willow class. They scrambled to pick up as much as they could for their next business venture…’The Red Robin Pub’! A wooden Robin mascot had been brought in from home especially for Forest! They used the bamboo to build more walls in the den, while others got making food items (mainly tacos and sandwiches). There were a few discrepancies about the prices, after someone’s bill came to £102 but it was mostly harmonious!

 

EYFS

The bamboo had doubled since Wednesday and you could hear the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from the little adventurers as the entered the forest. They decided to build some wonderful dens and practiced their best sharing and safest carrying of the sticks. Someone mentioned that there isn’t too much bamboo left for the panda’s so maybe we should send some over to China but then they realised they didn’t know how to do that. The session then finished with some more high energy games of hide and seek to keep the cold out!

 

BEECH

Beech class were equally as impressed by the bamboo and set to work making 4 dens. There was a bit of mis communication with whose sticks were whose but instead of that turning into a big argument, they decided to work together! One den was even fitted with a tarp over the top and they were very proud of their waterproof pub (they’d been speaking to Willow class!). The boat adventure was still taking place for one group and they used the bamboo to make the sails on their ship stronger. A Sainsbury’s was made too!

 

MAPLE

Maple class were very impressed with some of Beech class’ dens and they decided to build upon their great work using the bamboo. They turned one into a bamboo shop that not only sold bamboo but bamboo flavoured food and drink too! Another group founded a Panda Rescue Centre, where they rehabilitated and rehomed cute pandas.  The digging zone was very popular too, as people were scraping the floor with their shovels to clean it. Speaking of cleaning, someone found a piece of bamboo that looked like a broom and swept the whole forest!

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