Today, Year 1 had a wonderful visit from Fisher's Family Farm. We were very excited to meet lots of different animals and learn more about them.

The children enjoyed petting some of the animals, including goats, donkeys and rabbits. It was a fantastic hands-on experience, and everyone loved getting up close to the friendly animals. We also enjoyed looking at all the other animals and finding out interesting facts about them.

The visit was a fun and memorable experience for Year 1, and we would like to say a big thank you to Fisher's Family Farm for bringing their animals to our school. We had a wonderful day! 🐐🐴🐇

Year 4: A Visit from the Mobile Farm

Year 4 were delighted to welcome Mobile Farm to school on a sunny Wednesday morning. The children had a wonderful opportunity to meet and learn about a variety of farm animals up close.

During the visit, pupils met goats, sheep, a donkey, a dog, and a pig, along with several other friendly animals. The children listened carefully to interesting facts about the animals, including how they are cared for and the important role they play on a farm. Many pupils enjoyed asking questions and sharing their own knowledge and experiences.

The visit provided a fantastic hands-on learning experience, allowing pupils to observe the animals closely and appreciate the different characteristics of each one. It was lovely to see the excitement on their faces as they interacted with the animals in the sunshine.

The morning was both educational and memorable, and Year 4 demonstrated excellent behaviour, curiosity, and respect throughout the visit. A big thank you to Mobile Farm for bringing the farm to us and giving the children such a special experience!

This half term, Year 1 have been busy growing sunflower seeds and learning all about how plants grow. We carefully planted our seeds and observed them closely each week.

We were very excited to see the first roots begin to grow. Soon after, tiny green shoots appeared above the soil. We learned that plants need water, light, and warmth to help them grow strong and healthy.

As our sunflowers changed, we recorded our observations in a plant diary. We drew pictures and wrote about the changes we noticed, helping us to track the progress of our plants over time.

We also sequenced the stages of plant growth, learning how a seed develops into a young plant. This helped us understand the life cycle of a sunflower and the important stages it goes through as it grows.

Year 1 have thoroughly enjoyed being young gardeners and scientists, and we are proud of how well our sunflowers have grown! 🌻

Year 4 Science: Creating and Testing Switches

This week in Year 4 Science, pupils have been developing their practical skills by exploring how to create and use switches in simple electrical circuits. Using a range of everyday materials such as card, aluminium foil, paper fasteners, and paper clips, the children designed and built their own switches to control a circuit and light a bulb.

Pupils were encouraged to experiment with different types of switches, including those that push, slide, and turn. They then tested each design within a simple series circuit to see whether it successfully completed the circuit and allowed electricity to flow.

As they worked, pupils thought carefully about which designs were most effective and discussed why some switches worked better than others. This helped them develop their understanding of how circuits function and the importance of choosing the right materials.

The lesson promoted creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration, with pupils showing great curiosity and perseverance. It was fantastic to see them thinking like scientists—designing, testing, and improving their ideas to create working electrical switches!

🔬 Year 6 Science at Aspire: Investigating Separating Solutions! 🧪

This week, Year 6 had an exciting opportunity to take their learning beyond the classroom by visiting the Aspire science labs 🏫. The session focused on separating mixtures, and the children worked like real scientists as they followed a carefully structured experiment.

🧂 Step 1: Making a Solution

We began by creating a salt solution, mixing four spatulas of rock salt with 20 ml of water using a measuring cylinder. The pupils then used a glass rod 🥄 to stir the mixture until the salt dissolved as much as possible.

🧃 Step 2: Filtration

Next, we explored filtration by pouring the mixture through a funnel and filter paper 🔽 into an evaporating basin. This helped remove any undissolved particles, leaving us with a clearer solution.

🔥 Step 3: Heating and Evaporation

Now for the most exciting part! The evaporating basin was placed on top of a beaker of water, which sat on gauze over a Bunsen burner 🔥. Using a blue flame, the children carefully heated the solution until almost all the liquid had evaporated.

We learned the importance of careful observation 👀—if the mixture started to split, we knew to remove the Bunsen burner and turn it off immediately for safety.

🧠 What We Learned

By the end of the session, pupils could clearly see how water can evaporate, leaving the salt behind, demonstrating how substances can be separated and recovered from a solution.

⭐ A Brilliant Experience

Throughout the lesson, Year 6 showed fantastic teamwork 🤝, responsibility ✅ and scientific curiosity 🔍. It was amazing to see them working in a real lab environment and applying their classroom learning in such a practical way.

Well done to our fantastic young scientists! 👏🧪

Year 4 Science: Using Classification Keys

In Year 4 Science, pupils have been exploring how scientists group and classify living things. In this lesson, children have developed their understanding of how different plants and animals can be identified based on their characteristics.

We began by identifying and naming a range of living things from both our local and wider environment. Pupils then discussed how these living things can be grouped according to features such as habitat, appearance, and physical characteristics.

The children were introduced to classification keys, learning how to use simple yes/no questions to identify unknown living things. They worked thoughtfully to follow the classification keys, helping them to sort organisms accurately.

This learning encouraged pupils to think carefully about similarities and differences, while developing important scientific skills such as observation, reasoning, and decision-making. Pupils showed great enthusiasm and collaboration when working through their classifications.

By the end of the lessons, pupils were able to confidently use classification keys to identify living things and explain how and why they had grouped them.

We are very proud of their developing scientific thinking!

Year 3 have made a wonderful start to their new Science topic all about Plants. The lesson was full of curiosity, discussion, and hands-on thinking as the children explored how plants grow and survive.

To begin, we revisited what we had already learned in Key Stage 1. The children impressed us with how much they remembered, confidently explaining that plants need water, sunlight, nutrients, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and space to grow. It was fantastic to see them building on their prior knowledge and making connections to their new learning.

We then introduced the process of photosynthesis, helping the children understand how plants make their own food. They learned that plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create the energy they need to grow. This sparked lots of great questions and showed how engaged the class were in discovering more about the natural world.

The highlight of the lesson was planning our very own scientific investigation. The children worked together to design an experiment where we will change the type of liquid given to a plant and measure how it affects its growth over time. They carefully thought about how to make the test fair and discussed what they expected might happen.

After lots of discussion, the class made a prediction that the plant given water will grow the best, showing a clear understanding of what plants need to survive.

We are very excited to carry out our experiment and observe what happens over the coming weeks.

In Year 2, we have been developing our understanding of plants by taking part in a hands-on planting activity 😊.

This week, the children each planted their own sunflower seeds 🌻. They carefully followed the steps, making sure their seeds were planted correctly and given the best start to grow.

Over the coming weeks, we will be watering our plants and observing how they change 🌱💧. The children will also be thinking about which environment helps their sunflower grow best, developing their scientific thinking and curiosity 🤔.

We are excited to watch our sunflowers grow and see whose will reach the tallest height! 🌟👏

🏛️ Year 6 Trip to Manchester Museum 🚌

Year 6 had an amazing day out visiting the Manchester Museum, packed full of exciting discoveries, hands-on learning and fascinating history. From ancient worlds to living creatures, there was something for everyone to enjoy – and it truly was a great day enjoyed by all! 😊

🐫 Ancient Egypt Adventure

One of the highlights of the trip was exploring the Ancient Egypt gallery. We saw real mummies, beautifully decorated coffins and artefacts that are thousands of years old! 🏺
Pupils were fascinated to learn about how the Egyptians lived, their beliefs about the afterlife, and how mummification worked. It felt like stepping back in time!

🌍 Discovering the Natural World

In the Natural World section, children explored exhibits all about habitats, animals, and our planet. 🌱🐾
They learned about biodiversity and how different species adapt to survive. There were lots of interactive displays which made learning fun and engaging!

🦖 Fossils and Dinosaurs

The fossils and dinosaurs gallery was a big hit! 🦕🦴
We saw enormous dinosaur skeletons and real fossils, giving us a glimpse into life millions of years ago. Pupils loved identifying different dinosaurs and imagining what the Earth was like in prehistoric times.

🏮 Chinese and Asian Culture

Another fascinating part of the museum focused on Chinese and wider Asian cultures. 🎎
We explored traditional clothing, art, and objects, learning about different customs and ways of life. It was a fantastic opportunity to understand and celebrate cultures from around the world.

🐸 A Visit to the Vivarium

The Vivarium was definitely one of the most exciting areas! 🦎🐍
We saw a variety of live animals, including frogs, lizards, and fish. Some were brightly coloured, while others were masters of camouflage. It was incredible to see these creatures up close!

🌟 A Day to Remember

The trip to Manchester Museum was a wonderful experience for everyone. Pupils were curious, enthusiastic, and eager to learn throughout the day.

We returned to school with lots of new knowledge, great memories, and plenty to talk about. A huge thank you to the staff and helpers who made this trip possible!

👏 Well done Year 6 – what a fantastic day! 🌟

The Eco Club at Boundary School has been actively working to improve biodiversity across the school grounds while promoting healthy lifestyles and environmental awareness among students.

As part of our gardening initiative, pupils have been preparing the outdoor spaces for the summer growing season. This has involved planting a variety of seeds and plants, including sunflowers, potatoes, and colourful bedding plants. These activities not only support hands-on learning but also help students understand where food comes from and how plants grow.

A key focus of the project is to create a welcoming habitat for pollinators and wildlife. By carefully selecting plants that attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, students are helping to support local ecosystems. The garden areas are being developed into vibrant, nature-friendly spaces that will continue to flourish throughout the warmer months.

In addition to environmental benefits, the gardening club plays an important role in supporting student wellbeing. Spending time outdoors, getting active, and working together as a team all contribute to improved mental and physical health.

Overall, the Eco Club is making a positive impact by transforming the school grounds into a thriving, sustainable environment while inspiring students to care for nature and take pride in their surroundings.

❤️ Year 6 Blog: Learning About the Heart and Circulatory System 🫀

This term in Year 6, we have been learning all about the heart and the circulatory system—and it has been really interesting! 🔍✨

We started by discovering what the heart does. We learned that the heart is a strong muscle 💪 that pumps blood around our body. The circulatory system includes the heart 🫀, blood 🩸, and blood vessels 🧬, and it is responsible for carrying important things like oxygen 🌬️ and nutrients 🍎 to every part of our body.

We found out that blood travels through arteries, veins, and capillaries. The arteries carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart ➡️🫀, while the veins bring blood back to the heart 🔄. It was amazing to learn how the body keeps everything moving without us even thinking about it! 🤯

Next, we explored how exercise 🏃‍♀️ affects our heart rate 💓. We learned that when we exercise, our muscles need more oxygen to work harder. To help with this, our heart beats faster to pump more oxygen-rich blood around the body. This is why our heart rate increases when we run, jump, or play sports! ⚽🏀

To investigate this further, we carried out our own experiment 🧪. We measured our resting heart rate 🛑💓 and then tested how it changed after different types of exercise. Some of the activities we tried included:

• Jogging on the spot 🏃
• Arm circles ⭐
•  

We carefully measured our heart rates after each activity and recorded our results 📊. Then, we compared them to see which type of exercise increased our heart rate the most.

From our investigation, we discovered that more intense exercises 🔥, such as fast running, increased our heart rates much more than slower activities like arm circles. This helped us understand that the harder our muscles work 💪, the more oxygen they need 🌬️, and the faster our heart has to beat 🫀💨.

Overall, this topic has helped us understand how important the heart is ❤️ and why exercise is good for our bodies. We now know that keeping active helps keep our heart healthy and strong! 🌟

We have really enjoyed being scientists 👩‍🔬👨‍🔬 and investigating how our bodies work!

Year 4 Computing: Collecting and Analysing Data with Micro:bits

This week in Year 4 computing, pupils worked as young data scientists, planning and carrying out their own investigations to answer questions such as “How does the classroom temperature change throughout the day?”

Pupils began by deciding what data they wanted to collect and how they would do it fairly. They then programmed BBC micro:bits to collect and record data, using built-in sensors to measure factors such as sound, light, and temperature. This helped develop their understanding of coding, data logging, and real‑world applications of technology.

After collecting their data, pupils reconnected their micro:bits to laptops to download and analyse their results. They explored how data can be presented as tables and graphs, making it easier to spot patterns and draw conclusions.

Through discussion, pupils used their findings to answer key questions. We discovered that:

• Laurel was louder than Maple overall during the morning session
• Year 1 was cooler than Year 2 overall during the morning session
• Key Stage 1 was louder than Key Stage 2 at break time
• Maple was brighter than Fern during the morning session

This engaging lesson developed pupils’ computing, teamwork, and analytical skills, while showing how technology can help us investigate the world around us.