Making Percussion Instruments

Peregrines have been learning about the importance of percussion and rhythm in reggae music this term. Children have designed their own percussion instruments and each brought in a wide variety of recycled pots, bottles, tubes and boxes to make an instrument they can hit or shake to make a sound. The shakers were filled with a range of rattly materials, including bottle tops, popcorn seeds, rice and lentils. This week we covered our containers in glue and strips of newspaper, which dried to a hard shell overnight. Children then chose their own patterns and colours to paint their instruments with their design ideas. The instruments will feature in a performance for our class assembly after half term on Friday 28th February.

Making Tudor townhouses

Peregrines got busy in class this week, constructing models of Tudor townhouses which we will use in our reconstruction of the Great Fire of London. In Topic lessons we have been learning all about how the houses were built and why they were prone to catching fire easily. We began by joining together cardboard boxes, then painting them white. Pupils then painted and stuck on black oak beams, small paned windows and doors. The finishing touch was to cover the roof in straw like a thatched roof of 1666. Thankyou to the parents and grandparents who came in to help on Tuesday and made it such a successful and enjoyable morning for the children.

Peregrines visit to Stroud Fire Station

On Friday 7th February, an excited class set off to walk to the fire station. We were greeted by Josh, from White Watch, who began by telling us about the routines at the station and how emergency calls are responded to. We saw firefighters zooming down the poles, before splitting into three groups. First we all got to fire the hose, blasting traffic cones of a car. Then we raced to get dressed in firefighters safety equipment. Then finally, we climbed into the fire engines and learned about all the equipment the firefighters use in their call outs. Thankyou to White Watch for a fantastic visit!

The Tudor Buildings of London 1666

Peregrines are learning about The Great Fire of London in Topic lessons this term. This week we found out about Tudor houses: how they were built, and why they might catch fire easily. We looked at some examples of Tudor buildings, and discussed the materials used to build them. We talked about life in 17th Century London, with no running water, candles for light, open fires for heating, and how it might be different from today. Pupils then drew their own sketch of a Tudor building, and labelled the thatched roof, wattle and daub limewashed walls, and oak beams on their picture.

Mini beasts and their habitats

On Monday Peregrines were visited by Tamsin, from Stroud Valleys Wildlife Trust. Tamsin talked about the creatures that might be found around the school grounds, before heading out onto the field to hunt for habitats. The children used a spoon to coax minibeasts into plastic pots, and we then sorted creatures in to different categories, according to how many legs they had. Pupils found wood lice, snails, beetles, spiders, slugs and caterpillars. We discussed why they might prefer the different types of habitat around the school, before returning them all to where they had been found. Thankyou to Tamsin for a very interesting and enjoyable afternoon of Science.

Maths Passport Travellers!

Well done to these two Peregrines, who this week successfully completed all the targets in their Maths Passports within the five minute test time to be able to move up to the next continent and the challenge of a new set of maths recall targets. They were both also able to answer quick fire verbal questions from Mr. Payne after the written test. Fantastic work, both of you!