Volcano experiment

In 3B, we have been learning all about the parts of a volcano and how they have been formed. The class were very excited to have a go at creating their own mini volcanoes using sourdough to erupt. We then used dyed sourdough to place over the erupted “lava” replicate the building of layers of solidified lava (igneous rock) over time after each eruption.

Miss Brown

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3B are Geologists

3B have been learning all about different types of rocks to identify and compare different rocks and learnt all about the rock cycle. We have also been very lucky to have a special expert in the field to share their knowledge of rocks with the class which they all loved too.

Miss Brown

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Thank you, Andrew!

We have been visited by a real-life geologist! Andrew came to visit to speak to us about the rock cycle and how different types of rock are formed. He was fascinating and even taught us about the rock beneath our school!

He brought lots of samples of different rocks with him. Some had traces of silver in them! Looking at and exploring rocks with him has really helped us to build our background knowledge for this case study.

Thank you Andrew!

Mrs Haycock

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Year 5 Family Learning at Markham Main (Armthorpe)

Year 5 showed great determination on this afternoon’s hike from school to the historic Markham Main (Armthorpe) colliery pit top. We ventured through the woods and were pleased to find the now defunct spoil tips had been made into a beautiful nature reserve for the public of Doncaster to enjoy. We explored onward to the new housing estate where we discovered the monument and stones marking the two mine shafts, also being surprised to learn that the nearby street names were named after those who had lost their lives underground.

We spent some time to reflect on the miners’ of Doncaster hard work through the years, working on our sketching skills by drawing the monuments.

Next, we ventured up high to the very top of the area, resting around the cairn to complete some beautiful sketching of the panoramic views of the city.

It was a long walk and we were very impressed at the resilience and engagement shown from everyone.

A huge thank you, also, to the family members who attended to help make this a really special learning opportunity out in the field.

Well done everybody!

Year 5 Crew

Our Mining Expert

Today, Years 5 and 6 were visited by Rob, a local expert in mining with over forty years’ experience in the industry. We felt truly immersed in the life of a miner in Doncaster as he answered all the children’s brilliant questions and showed us through the range of artefacts he had gathered over his exciting career. It was great how he and the children made connections between our recent visit to Caphouse colliery and the vast number of coal mines in our home city of Doncaster.

This experience really helped to tee up our afternoon of family learning, keep an eye out for the next blog!

Human or Physical?

2P have been exploring the difference between human and physical geographical features. We then used what we had learnt about Amelia Earhart’s final flight around the world to match which of these features she might have seen in different parts of the world. We then went for a walk around the outside of the school to see which features were most common around the building. We discovered that there were mainly human features.

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We are crew!

Years 3 and 4 worked really hard in their crews last week to build their background knowledge of a variety of different survival techniques. When working with Mrs Haycock, they had two different challenges to complete. Firstly, they had to use the pipes to transport as much water as they could, as far as they could and without any leaks; and secondly, they were asked to consider what happens when there is a huge influx of water all at once!

I think it is clear to say that we had great fun despite getting a little wet, (perhaps soaked would be a better term). However, more importantly, we learnt that if there is a hole in the pipe work, the water will find it and leak through it. We also learnt that when there is a huge influx of water all at once, our river systems and drains simply cannot cope with the deluge and flooding takes place!

Well done everyone! Special shout out to Crew Vines who transported the water the furthest with out a single drip leaking out of the tubes!

Mrs Haycock

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Making Map Models

We revisited the route we took to get to the woods. We looked at photos and made a large model map of the walk we went on. We used directional words and positional language to describe the route. #LovePlover

Our local community

Today we have been for a walk around the perimeter of the school grounds. We learnt about different types of houses in our community, including; semi detached, terrace, flats and bungalows. We spoke about what things were the same/different to school and our houses. We then made a bar chart of the different types of housing we live in, and drew pictures of different types of houses.

Mrs Williams

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