Welcome to Griffins 2024-2025!
Griffin Summer Blog
* Outdoor Pursuits Adventure *
The Griffin class were fortunate enough to explore a day in the great outdoors at Mendip Activity Centre as part of our personal development curriculum.
They took part in numerous activities and for most, tried things for the very first time. There were some very tired legs and arms at the end of day but lots and lots of smiles!
Autumn Term 2 – Natural Processes can be influenced
As we continued on our exciting journey through the Autumn term, I wanted to take a moment to share the wonderful learning experiences your children have been engaging in including the festive activities.
In our Science curriculum for year 3, we began delving into the fascinating world of light, investigating the science of shadows and their connection to light. We explored drawing our shadows by changing the distance and intensity of the light source.
We moved on to explore how natural processes can be influenced and measured over time, and learnt about volcanic activity, including a study of Pompeii, where children made discoveries about how life was affected by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Our lessons also covered the formation of volcanoes and the different layers of the Earth, along with the effects of earthquakes. The homework for both the first (river exploration) and second topics which included either volcanoes or shadows (Go Charlie!) have been embraced well. Thank you for your continual support and cooperation in inspiring your child’s curiosity and education.
We visited the Wessex Water Recycling Centre, giving the children the opportunity to discover the critical role water plays in our environment and the water cycle. We also visited The Synagogue and Bristol Museum, having the chance to learn about cultural history and having an introduction to the wider world including Egyptians (included in our next topic), and rocks and fossils to name a few.
As we approached the festive season, our focus shifted towards the much-anticipated Christmas play, “Are We Nearly There Yet?” The children enjoyed rehearsing and performing in the two performances showcasing their hard work and enthusiasm- a delightful experience for all and we felt so proud of the Griffins and Phoenix children.
In the spirit of Christmas, we enjoyed the Santa’s Grotto visit, our Christmas jumper day, the panto and of course, the delicious Christmas dinner. These events, along with others and our Christmas makes, encompassed the sense of community and joy as we celebrated the festive season together.
KS2 Nativity photos
Autumn 24-25 – Term 1- Exploring Movement in Our World
We have had a very busy Autumn term embarking on an exciting journey into the concept of movement, in our New Inquiry Curriculum! We explored the question, “How do people and things move?” This inquiry encouraged our children to think deeply about the world around them and the role teamwork plays in movement, beautifully illustrated through “The Enormous Turnip.” In this tale, everyone pulls together to shift that massive root vegetable, demonstrating the value of collaboration.
We also looked at “River Story” by Meredith Hooper, a lovely way to discuss how rivers flow and what might hinder their movement, enriching our Geography lessons. Plus, “Windows” by Jeannie Baker offered a chance to reflect on change over time, making connections to environmental progress—is all of it positive?
In Science, our young learners investigated skeletons, muscles, nutrition, and how dietary habits have evolved over the years. It’s fascinating to consider how our diets impact our health, including our teeth! Finally, we brought all these ideas together in Art through portraits and moving pictures, allowing our children to express what they have discovered creatively. Movement is all around us, and this inquiry is sure to spark curiosity in our children!
