Science: Blog items
Year 4 - Conductors and insulators
Date: 11th May 2026 @ 9:02pm
Reception go on a minibeast hunt.
Date: 8th May 2026 @ 12:06pm
Following our exciting learning about the life cycle of a butterfly, our Reception children, have developed a growing interest in minibeasts and insects found in the natural world. Building on their curiosity, we explored the different creatures they might find in the garden during the spring season. The children eagerly shared their ideas, naming a variety of minibeasts such as snails, worms, caterpillars, millipedes, and ladybirds. Together, we discussed the features of these creatures, learning new vocabulary such as wings, legs, body, and antennae. The children were quick to notice similarities and differences, showing a keen interest in how each creature moves and lives. To bring this learning to life, the children worked in pairs to go on a bug hunt in the garden. Equipped with magnifying glasses and a sense of adventure, they searched carefully in different places, including under leaves, near plants, and along the soil. They were thrilled with what they discovered, finding a range of minibeasts and observing them closely in their natural habitats. This hands-on experience encouraged teamwork, observation skills, and respectful interaction with living things. The children discussed their findings with their partners and shared their excitement with the group. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm continue to grow, as they become more confident in identifying minibeasts and using new vocabulary to describe what they see.
Reception The Lifecycle of a Butterfly
Date: 8th May 2026 @ 11:58am
The Reception have been fascinated by learning about the life cycle of a caterpillar through real-life observation. Over the past few weeks, they have carefully watched tiny caterpillars grow bigger each day, noticing changes in size, shape, and movement. This hands-on experience has brought their learning to life in a meaningful and exciting way. Through engaging oracy sessions, the children have been introduced to new scientific vocabulary such as metamorphosis, transform, chrysalis, and cocoon. They have practised using these words confidently in discussions, helping to build both their language skills and understanding of the topic. The children asked thoughtful questions, such as “What is the catpillar eatingp?” and “What happens inside the cocoon?”, showing curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. The class worked together to make simple observations and recorded what they noticed over time. They also learnt to sequence the stages of the life cycle correctly: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly. Using this knowledge, each child created their own sentences to describe the different stages, demonstrating their growing confidence in both science and literacy. This topic has encouraged curiosity, careful observation, and thoughtful discussion. It has been wonderful to see the children so engaged in discovering how a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly—a truly magical example of nature in action.
Date: 7th May 2026 @ 11:20am
This week, our garden turned into a place of wonder as one of the children sparked a big interest in snails. Together, we became snail explorers, carefully looking under every plant, log and stone to see who might be hiding there. We were delighted to find snails of all sizes — some big and some tiny baby ones too!
The children watched closely as the snails slowly moved and explored their surroundings. Using natural materials, we worked together to make a beautiful, safe home where the snails could live comfortably. The children showed great care and kindness, making sure the snails had delicious leaves to eat and were handled gently.
It was a lovely opportunity to learn about living things, develop curiosity, and practise caring for nature — all through a simple garden adventure.
Date: 7th May 2026 @ 9:22am
Year 5 have been learning about the life cycles of living things, including plants. They have explored the two main ways plants reproduce: sexual reproduction through seeds and asexual reproduction through processes such as bulbs, cuttings, and runners.
In addition, pupils have studied and compared the life cycles of different groups of animals, including amphibians, birds, and mammals. They have learned how these life cycles differ, for example by examining stages such as egg, larva, and adult in amphibians, and how mammals give birth to live young. Through this learning, pupils have developed an understanding of how living things grow, develop, and reproduce in different ways.
Reception observing our classroom caterpillar
Date: 1st May 2026 @ 11:08am
Over the past few weeks, our classroom has been filled with excitement as we welcomed 5 tiny caterpillars into our learning environment. The children were fascinated from the moment they arrived, eagerly observing their movements and discussing what they might need to grow. As part of our learning, the children have been carefully watching the caterpillars each day, noticing how they have grown bigger and changed over time, The children have enjoyed recording their observations through drawings and simple descriptions, encouraging them to think about what they can see and how things change. They have used wonderful language to describe the caterpillars, noticing details such as size, colour, and movement. We have also had lots of discussions about what might happen next. The children are very excited and are hoping that, in the coming days, they will see the caterpillars form their cocoons. This anticipation has sparked curiosity and encouraged prediction skills, as they share their ideas about what the caterpillars will become. This hands-on experience has provided a valuable opportunity for the children to engage with nature in a meaningful way, fostering curiosity, observation, and a growing understanding of the world around them. We look forward to continuing this journey and sharing the next stage of our caterpillars’ transformation with you!
Date: 30th Apr 2026 @ 12:26pm
This week our preschool children enjoyed sharing the story Sam Plants a Sunflower. They listened carefully as Sam learned how to look after his tiny seed and watched it grow tall and strong. The story sparked lots of discussion about what plants need to grow, including soil, water and sunshine.
Inspired by Sam, the children then planted their own sunflower seeds. They carefully filled pots with compost, gently pressed their seeds into the soil and gave them a drink of water. There was great excitement and pride as everyone took responsibility for their own plant.
This activity supported the children’s understanding of the world as they explored growth and change, and encouraged characteristics of effective learning such as active learning, following instructions and showing care. We are looking forward to watching our sunflowers grow together over the coming weeks! 🌻
Date: 30th Apr 2026 @ 9:21am
In this lesson we looked at how shadows change length amd size. Firstly, the children thought about how we could test this. We thought about how we could create a fair test, what our investigation question is and what equipment we would need. We hen tested this following our plan to see how shadows change depending on the distance from the light source.
Year 4 - Does the circuit work?
Date: 30th Apr 2026 @ 9:12am
Date: 30th Apr 2026 @ 7:53am
Year 4 Computing: Using micro:bits to Investigate Noise Levels
This week in Year 4 computing, pupils used BBC micro:bits to investigate a real‑life question: Which is the quietest classroom in Key Stage 2? The children programmed their micro:bits to work as noise meters, developing their understanding of inputs, data, and outputs.
As part of the challenge, pupils extended their programs so the micro:bit could record the maximum volume level it detected. They then coded the device to display this maximum reading as text on the LED screen when a button was pressed. This helped pupils think carefully about variables, accuracy, and how data can be stored and retrieved.
Once their programs were complete, pupils collected sound readings from different classrooms around KS2 and compared their results. The lesson encouraged teamwork, problem‑solving, and thoughtful discussion about fair testing.
Year 4 showed great enthusiasm and resilience, applying their coding skills to answer a meaningful enquiry question using technology.
Date: 24th Apr 2026 @ 11:42am
As part of our Space topic, the children developed their oracy skills by learning and confidently using new vocabulary. Key words introduced included:
moon, rocket, stars, planet, Earth, satellite, and space station. Children practiced saying these words in full sentences during discussions, circle time, and shared activities.
In Maths, children explored space-themed learning through counting, number recognition, and simple problem-solving. They used rockets and stars to count objects, compare quantities, and talk about size, shape, and position using early mathematical language such as more, less, tall, and next to.
In Creative Art, the children designed and created their own rockets, selecting materials independently and talking about their designs. This supported fine motor skills, creativity, and expressive language as children explained what their rockets needed to travel to space.
The children also watched informational videos to deepen their understanding of space. This included learning about the first moon landing and discussing recent space exploration such as NASA’s Artemis missions, which aim to return astronauts to the Moon. These discussions encouraged curiosity, questioning, and early understanding of the world beyond Earth.
Date: 23rd Apr 2026 @ 4:51pm
Year One had an absolutely fantastic trip to the zoo, and what a memorable day it was! From the moment we arrived, the children were full of excitement and curiosity as we explored the amazing world of animals together.
We were lucky enough to see a wide range of animals, including red pandas, gorillas, orangutans and elephants, as well as many more. One of the highlights was spotting some of the animals’ offspring. The children loved observing how the babies were similar to their parents, as well as noticing the differences too. These observations led to some brilliant discussions about how animals grow and change.
Throughout the day, we talked about the animals’ environments and thought carefully about what they need to survive, including the types of food they eat and how their habitats support them. The children asked thoughtful questions and made excellent links to their learning back in the classroom.
The children’s behaviour was exceptional, and they represented the school beautifully. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you — well done, Year One, and thank you for such a wonderful day to remember!
Nursery Explore Butterfly Symmetry
Date: 23rd Apr 2026 @ 4:25pm
Our Nursery class has been learning about symmetry by looking closely at butterfly wings. The children discovered that both sides of a butterfly’s wings look the same, which led to a fun and creative activity.
We painted one side of a butterfly wing, then carefully folded it in half to see the pattern transfer to the other side. When we opened them up, the children were amazed to see two matching wings!
This activity encouraged curiosity, creativity and careful observation, while helping the children to understand an early maths concept in a hands‑on way. The finished butterflies were bright, colourful and beautifully symmetrical! 🦋✨
Date: 23rd Apr 2026 @ 11:25am
Our Nursery class enjoyed a colourful experiment exploring colour mixing using coffee filters, food colouring and water. The children watched with excitement as the colours spread and blended, talking about what they could see and predicting what might happen next.
Once the filters were dry, we turned them into beautiful butterflies, each one unique. This fun activity supported the children’s curiosity, creativity and early scientific thinking — and our classroom was soon full of bright, fluttering colour!
Date: 23rd Apr 2026 @ 9:17am
Redwoods Space Theme – A Blast Off into Learning! 🚀🌌
This week in Redwoods class, we launched our exciting space theme for the half term! 🌍✨ The children began by learning about the Artemis 2 Mission 🚀, focusing on how the spacecraft re‑entered the Earth’s atmosphere 🔥. We explored what this experience might have been like for the astronauts and discussed the emotions they may have felt, including excitement 😄, nervousness 😬 and relief 😌.
During Lego Therapy 🧱, the children used their creativity and teamwork skills to imagine what the surface of a Lego planet 🪐 might look like. They shared ideas 💬, built together 🤝 and explained their thinking, developing both communication and problem‑solving skills 🧠.
To finish the week, the children designed their own astronaut badges 🎨🧑🚀, carefully choosing symbols and colours to represent themselves as space explorers ⭐. The results were fantastic and showed great imagination!
We are really looking forward to continuing our space journey over the coming weeks! 🌠🚀
Year 4 - Measuring Sound with BBC micro:bits
Date: 23rd Apr 2026 @ 8:56am
Year 4 Computing: Measuring Sound with BBC micro:bits
This week in Year 4 computing, pupils became real digital investigators as they programmed BBC micro:bits to create their own noise meters. Using simple coding, the children learned how to program the micro:bits to measure and display sound levels, developing their understanding of inputs, outputs, and algorithms.
Once their programs were working, pupils explored different areas around the school to collect sound readings. They worked collaboratively and responsibly, taking measurements in classrooms, corridors, and quieter spaces. The data they gathered helped them answer a key enquiry question: “What is the quietest part of the school?”
This practical lesson encouraged pupils to apply their computing skills in a real‑world context while also developing teamwork, problem‑solving, and evaluation skills. Pupils were challenged to think carefully about accuracy, repetition, and fairness when collecting their data.
The lesson generated plenty of excitement and thoughtful discussion, and pupils were proud to see their coding skills having a real purpose. Year 4 showed fantastic curiosity and resilience as they explored how technology can be used to investigate and answer meaningful questions.
Date: 15th Apr 2026 @ 4:30pm
In this lesson we investigated how shadows are made. Firstly, we used a discussion board to discuss the formation of shadows. We then sorted a range of objects into transparent, trnslucent and opaque. From this, we thought about what kind of objects cast a shadow. We went outside to investigate what shadows we could find and what had created them. After, we discussed how we could test how shadows are formed. We then tested this and recorded our results.
Reception The Lifecyle of a Frog
Date: 2nd Apr 2026 @ 10:31am
This week in Reception. the children have been exploring the world through an exciting hands on experiece at our school pond. We carefully colled some frogspawn to observe back in the classroom. After setting up a special observation tank, the childtren have been watching daily changes and learning new vocabulary such as frogspawwn, tadpole, froglet and lifecycle. Using books, magnifying glasses and videos, they've been discovering how frogspawn transforms from tiny eggs to tadpoles, then froglets and finally adult frogs, which we will return safely to the pond. This has encouraged curiosity, care for liviing thinfs,and scientific thinking, helping the children develop observational skills, languag, and understanding pf how living things grow and change.
Date: 2nd Apr 2026 @ 10:06am
Over the last few weeks the children have been learning about the season of spring. We went on a spring walk to spot the different signs of spring in the school grounds. We worked in pairs to tick of our spring checklist. Back in class we took part in our oracy sessions focusing on building sentences aboiut spring using the conjunctions 'and' and 'because' We also painted spring pictures, made a spring wreath and prodiced some lovely pictures of writing..
Date: 27th Mar 2026 @ 3:21pm
This week, Redwoods class have been busy becoming eco‑engineers! 🌍💡 The children designed and built their very own bug hotels using recyclable materials, helping us learn about sustainability while supporting the mini-beasts living in our school grounds. 🍃🪵
Working in teams, the children planned their designs carefully ✏️📐, thinking about what different insects might need to feel safe and cosy. They selected materials such as cardboard tubes, pinecones, sticks, plastic bottles and paper scraps ♻️📦, showing fantastic awareness of how everyday items can be reused instead of thrown away.
Throughout the project, Redwoods demonstrated wonderful teamwork, creativity, and communication 🤝🎨💬. They shared ideas, listened to one another, and worked together to bring their designs to life. It was brilliant to see everyone so engaged, focused and proud of their creations! 😄👏
Our finished bug hotels are now ready to be placed outdoors 🌳, and we can’t wait to see which creatures decide to check in! 🐛🐞🕷️
Year 2- Birch's Adventure to Blackpool Zoo!
Date: 27th Mar 2026 @ 11:23am
🌟 Year 2 Adventure to Blackpool Zoo! 🌟
What an exciting day our Year 2 children had on their fantastic trip to Blackpool Zoo! 🐾🌍 From the moment we arrived, the children’s faces lit up with curiosity and enthusiasm, ready to explore the wonderful world of animals.
🦁 Amazing Animal Encounters
We enjoyed discovering a huge variety of animals—majestic lions, mischievous monkeys, towering giraffes, and many more! The children were full of brilliant questions and loved sharing what they’ve been learning in Science about animal groups and habitats. Their knowledge really shone through! ✨
🐧 A Day Filled with Learning and Wonder
As we moved around the zoo, the children had plenty of opportunities to make connections to their classroom learning. They impressed us with their observations, teamwork, and wonderful behaviour throughout the day. All the adults were incredibly proud! 😊
🔍 Spotting Braille Around the Zoo
One unexpected highlight was how many children excitedly noticed Braille signs around the zoo. 👀
This linked perfectly to our current History unit, where we’ve been learning all about significant people who changed the world—including Louis Braille.
The children loved being able to spot real-life examples of Braille and explained confidently how it helps people with visual impairments access information. What a fantastic way to deepen their understanding beyond the classroom! 🌈📚
🚌 A Brilliant Day Out
After a full day of exploring, learning, and lots of walking (and snacking! 😄), we headed back to school tired but happy. It was a day filled with memories, discovery, and excitement.
Thank you to all the staff who supported the trip—and to you, our parents and carers, for your continued support. ❤️
We can’t wait for our next adventure together!
Date: 27th Mar 2026 @ 10:50am
We are delighted to share that 15 saplings donated by the Woodland Trust have arrived at school. Over the next few weeks, these young trees will be planted around the school grounds to help create a greener, healthier environment for everyone.
Planting trees brings so many benefits. As the saplings grow, they will help reduce our carbon footprint, providing cool, clean air for pupils, staff, and wildlife. Trees also play an important role in helping to reduce flooding, as their roots absorb water and strengthen the soil.
Beyond the environmental impact, spending time around trees and nature can boost physical and mental well-being, helping children feel calmer, happier, and more connected to the world around them.
We’re excited to watch our new saplings grow and to involve the children in helping look after them—planting small trees today for a brighter, greener future tomorrow.
Date: 27th Mar 2026 @ 10:11am
Reception enjoyed a lovely Spring walk around school today. The children were excited to spot lots of signs that Spring has arrived. They noticed bright yellow daffodils, new buds growing on the trees, and tiny green shoots beginning to appear in the ground. The trees around school were filled with pink and white blossom, which the children were fascinated by.
At the pond, the class discovered frogspawn, and they talked about how it will grow and change over time. The children also explored under rocks, stones, and pieces of wood, where they found spiders, ants, and other small creatures hiding in the damp, dark spaces.
One of the most exciting discoveries was a bird’s nest tucked up in the roof near the door in the Key Stage 1 playground.
Each child carried a clipboard and pencil, carefully ticking off the signs of Spring they spotted during the walk. They were introduced to new vocabulary, including blossom, spring, daffodils, bird’s nest, and frogspawn.
All the children really enjoyed the activity and worked beautifully together, helping one another with their observations.
"I saw pink blossom on the tree" Max
"There was lots of frogspawn in the pond...it looked like jelly" Rubie- Louise
"I saw yellow daffodils" Cherry
"The trees had buds growing on them" Faith B
Date: 26th Mar 2026 @ 11:09am
In Science this week, Year 3 carried out an exciting investigation to find out which material would be the best for helping a school bag stay visible during the darker months. The children tested bubble wrap, tinfoil, a CD, cardboard and a jumper to see which reflected the most light. To keep it a fair test, we used a ruler to measure the exact distance between the torch and each material, making sure the light source stayed the same each time we changed the item.
After observing and recording our results, we discovered that the CD was the most reflective. This is because a CD has a very smooth, shiny surface, which allows light to bounce off clearly. This strong reflection is much brighter than the light scattered by rougher materials like cardboard or fabric.
The children loved exploring light, reflection and safety—great scientific thinking all round!
Date: 25th Mar 2026 @ 4:07pm
This week in Year 4, we have been continuing our work on blog writing—and this time, we teamed up! Pupils paired up for a shared write, helping each other plan, draft, and edit their ideas. Working collaboratively allowed them to discuss vocabulary choices, check each other’s punctuation, and think carefully about how to make their writing engaging for an online audience.
Throughout this half term, the children have been learning what makes an effective blog, from using a clear structure and interesting details to writing in a friendly, informative style. Last week, they applied these skills by writing about our exciting Science Day, capturing their favourite experiments, activities, and discoveries.
This week’s shared write gave pupils the chance to revisit that event and refine their blogs even further. They supported each other brilliantly and produced some fantastic pieces of writing.
