Using zero pairs

Within our maths unit looking at Place Value, the year 6 children have been building their confidence calculating with negative numbers.  As well as using number lines which continue past zero to help them - we introduced the children to the idea of zero pairs.

We used double sided counters to help them visualise positive and negative numbers - and they could easily see that +1 + -1 = 0.  They used this idea to spot zero pairs (where positive and negative counters cancelled each other out) and find out the answer to number sentences such as 'What is 6 less than 4?'

The children enjoyed using the counters to consolidate their learning and were able to use visual representations in their books to help them solve more complex problems.

Friday 11th October

Some of this week’s learning in Foundation class:

The foundation children have worked so hard this week, and we have seen some lovely wow moments!

In English we have started to explore poems, and we have started with the poem The Owl and the Pussy Cat. The children have been learning a part of the poem and have started role playing and thinking of actions to help them learn it. They have been exploring rhyming words that they can hear in the poem.

In Phonics we have learnt to recognize, read and write letters h/b/f and l. Each day in phonics the children practice their oral blending skills to read words and this week they have amazed the adults at how well they are beginning to read words that include the phonemes they know!

The children have also been practicing their name writing, using mirrors to explore their faces and then draw self-portraits, decorating handprints with the things they love the most, they have been exploring autumnal natural resources in the playground and so much more!

The children continue to progress so well and have progressed so much already!

Have a lovely weekend

The Foundation Team 

As part of their learning about the circulatory system, Class 3 have been dissecting pig hearts, so they can identify the chambers in the heart and the veins and arteries running into and out of the heart. 

Marks Ark

Today Year 1 were very excited to have Marks Ark and his animals visit. This experience helped the children make links to their learning in Science, investigating the key question ‘What are the characteristics of an animal?’. Mark showed them a range of animals including a millipede, tarantula, snake, lizard and an owl. The children used their knowledge to work out which animal group they belonged to and if they were a carnivore, omnivore or herbivore. Mark shared lots of interesting facts about the animals and talked about if they would be suitable to be a pet. For children who were brave enough there was an opportunity to hold the snake and the tarantula! The children showed respect to the animals handling them with care and asked questions throughout the afternoon to find out more about them.

40 Years of Looe Primary!

The celebration went so well and Foundations effort to make stones for the stall and decorate the pirate tombola was appreciated by everyone that had a go!

We made lots of money for our school equipment and so much fun was had by all! 

Well done Foundation and well done Looe Primary! 

We love our school! 

This week Class 3 took part in a coding workshop with Robert from Tech Cornwall. In the workshop we programmed micro:bit led devices using  Python computer coding program. We were able to program written messages and control lights in a led strip.

This week the children in R/1 have been busy labelling a tomato plant along with writing their own smoothie equipment list. Next week they will make smoothies, they are very excited about this!!

In Maths this week we have been learning about number bonds to 10 and systematic number bonds, we have used part whole models, bar models and cubes to support our learning!!

In PE we worked as a team and in pairs to practice balancing, throwing and catching skills, they then finished off with a game of duck, duck, goose!

In RE, we have continued to learn about Judaism and in particular Tu B'Shevat, which is a Jewish holiday (The Jewish New Year for Trees). 

Today we will be spending time outside to celebrate 'Mental Health Day'!!

Picture: Two children labelling tomato plants.

Choo-choo Tuesday!

Both Year 3/4 classes visited the Bodmin and Wenford Railway on Tuesday as part of their 'Learning Adventure' on 'The First Railways'.
We received VIP treatment with our own carriages and enjoyed keeping the ticket collector busy, punching 60+ tickets. We are very grateful to the Cornish Heritage Trust for funding our travel and offering us a grant for the coach travel - thank you.
During our lessons we've:
- described how the first trains and railways were developed and composed a timeline of important events in the history of rail travel.
- explained why some steam locomotives are historically significant, say how and why steam locomotives changed over time and describe the similarities and differences of different steam locomotives.
- described how and why the railway network in Britain grew and changed over time.

The Bodmin and Wenford Railway opened in 1834 during the Victorian era, we situated this on our British History Timeline within the class and discussed the use of the branch line in transporting minerals and agricultural sea sand.
During the journey, we completed train -themed booklets and following on from National Poetry Day, we were able to practise our choral poetry remembering the rhythm, rhyme and repetition.
If you'd like to book a trip yourself or find out more, please visit: The Railway - Bodmin Railway

Wednesday 9th October

Wow what a week so far!  We hope that you enjoyed the party last Friday!  Our class stall went well and so many children were enjoying our tattoos!

We have had a very busy week already!  On Monday, we had a guest speaker Ms Clifton.  She came in to talk to the children about when she was at school and also when her grandmother was at school during Victorian Times!  The children learned many different things including that there were no carpets - just wooden floors in school.  They were shocked at this and said it must have been so uncomfortable!

Today, they also had a "visit" from "Florence Nightingale".  They asked so many questions such as "What school did you go to?", "What did you do for work?" and "When were you born?".  They were so shocked again that Florence did not know what electricity was!  And tried to explain to her what a Playstation was!

In maths, we are coming to the end of our place value unit and will begin addition and subtraction next week.  Please do not forget that assignments are set on mathletics every week.  The children's logins are in the front of their reading records.

The children had the last of their science lessons for this half term today.  The Year Two children completed a wonderful experiment about hygiene and the Year Three children made a working arm to show how the biceps and triceps work!

The children also have their last French lesson for this half term tomorrow.  They will be learning the names of the colours.  It has been lovely to hear the children using their french language knowledge in the playground too!  I hope that they have been practising at home!

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"Beary" Good Art! 

This week in Year 1, the children have been experimenting in Art using different grades of pencils. We learnt that 'H' pencils are harder and make lighter lines and that 'B' pencils are softer and make darker lines. 

The children spent the first Art lesson making different lines - curved, wavy, straight, diagonal - as well as exploring how to cross hatch and make other marks, such as scribbled lines and dots and dashes to create different effects. 

For our second lesson, we carefully studied some teddy bears and photographs of real bears and talked about the different shapes, textures and tone. We then practiced sketching small parts of the bears in our sketchbooks - the ears, the muzzle, the sharp claws. We used the different marks we experimented with the previous lesson to see which effects worked best for each body part. 

Finally, we put together all our skills and sketched our chosen bear - either a teddy bear or a from a photograph in the style of Henry Moore, an artist who used different lines to create sketches of animals. Wow! We were so impressed with their efforts and we had an art gallery in our classroom so we could visit each other's work and comment on the parts we liked. The children were really positive about each other's work and the bears have made a fantastic display in our classrooms and in the corridor for all the school to enjoy - look out for them on parents evening! 

Activities and adventures

We are still having a great time - but as teachers we are battling the very poor wifi.  We promise to share the many photos we have taken with you when we return.  Today we have been incredibly busy through the rain and sunshine.  We have climbed walls, battled the high ropes, leapt from the trapeze platform, built shelters and made fires and solved a multitude of different problems.

We have worked together, encouraged each other and built memories that will last a lifetime.  We finished the day off with a sing-song around the campfire!

Looe Primary's 40th Celebration! 

We have had a wonderful week in Foundation/ Year 1.

On Friday it was Looe Primary’s 40th birthday! Our stall was cupcake decorating and the children decorated the signs for it. We had some wonderful little helpers too. Thank you to everyone that bought a cupcake from our stall, fingers crossed we raised the most money!

We also had the Pop up Play Village in to visit us. We loved the construction area and the bakery area the best. The children were so excited when they saw everything to play with, and they practised their sharing and taking turns really well.

In English, we finished our Bear Hunt learning journey by writing our own verse of the story. We changed the story to ‘We’re going on a Monster Hunt!’ Foundation helped us to think of actions to our new verse and year 1 wrote it down. We are moving onto poetry next and will be focusing on ‘Owl and the Pussycat’ by Edward Lear.

We have had a great week and I look forward to the next!

Thank you.

The Foundation / Year 1 Team.

Our Harvest Festival

Brunel Primary and Nursery Academy recently held a heart warming Harvest Festival, bringing together pupils, families, and the wider community to celebrate the season of giving and gratitude.

The event, attended by Reverend Parkman from Saltash Baptist Church and Elizabeth from the local Foodbank, highlighted the importance of community spirit and support. The children showcased their talents by singing a variety of hymns, including the enchanting “I Am the Earth” and the playful “Cauliflowers Fluffy.”

As always our children's joyful voices filled the hall, creating an atmosphere of celebration and reflection on the abundance of nature and the generosity of others.

This year, the Harvest Festival was particularly meaningful as families contributed food and donations to support Saltash Food bank. Elizabeth expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming generosity shown by the Brunel community, especially during these financially challenging times. “Every donation helps us make a difference in the lives of those in need,” she stated, underscoring the vital role of community support. As the event drew to a close, headteacher Mr. Woolner thanked everyone for their contributions, emphasising how important it is to come together and support one another. “We are incredibly grateful for the kindness of our families,” he said. “Your generosity not only helps those in need but also teaches our children the value of compassion and community.” The Harvest Festival at Brunel Primary and Nursery Academy was a beautiful reminder of the strength that comes from coming together, especially in challenging times. What a wonderful celebration we had with the whole of our Team Brunel community.