Term 2 Week 3
Forest School
We began our week with Forest School on Monday afternoon, and honestly, it was exactly the breath of fresh air the children needed. In a world where so many young people spend so much of their home time on devices or in front of the television, getting outdoors has never been more important. Forest School allows our pupils to step away from the monotony of sitting at a desk and instead learn through movement, curiosity, and exploration.
We started the session with guidance from Mhairi MacGillivray-Edwards, our Forest School Leader and Trainer, who talked the children through the importance of safety and respecting the natural environment. She explained why we never touch mushrooms or eat anything we find on the ground, and how to recognise possible hazards while still enjoying the freedom of outdoor play.
Once briefed, the adventure began. The children set off on a hedgehog trail, hunting for wooden discs hidden around the site. This simple activity sparked real excitement and encouraged teamwork, problem solving, and careful observation.
After that, things got wonderfully muddy. The children built tents, explored the pond area, and embraced mud play with full enthusiasm. They used leaves to create mud prints, experimenting with natural textures and patterns - discovering that nature can be an inspiring.
Tree climbing was a big hit, giving the children a chance to challenge themselves and build confidence. A few determined builders even created a tree swing, which quickly became a favourite spot for everyone.
Throughout the afternoon, the children soaked up fresh air, open space, and the joy of exploring freely. They learned to appreciate nature, respect their surroundings, and understand why outdoor play is such an important part of our curriculum.
Forest School remains a highlight of our week, and Monday’s session was a perfect reminder of why.
English - Colour Idioms
In English this week, we’ve been exploring colour idioms, linked to our class book 'The Day the Crayons Quit' by Drew Daywalt. The children loved discovering the hidden meanings behind everyday expressions, especially ones connected to colours.
We started by learning the meanings of different colour idioms, then the children completed a matching activity to pair each idiom with its definition. This helped them understand the expressions properly rather than guessing, and gave them a solid foundation before using them in their own writing.
Once they were confident, the children practised writing sentences using the idioms in the correct context. This is helping them prepare for their next big task, which is writing an informal letter from the point of view of one of the crayons in the story. By building up their sentence skills first, they’ll be ready to write creative, expressive letters that really capture each crayon’s personality.
Dance
In PE this week, we continued our dance unit by exploring movements inspired by machines and factories. We started by thinking about how different objects, such as planes, cars and computers, might move if they came to life. The children had great fun using their bodies to show gliding, turning wheels and quick, jerky computer movements.
We then listened to a track called 'Inside the Factory' and moved around the hall as different machines, using clear, confident actions. The children also worked with a partner to think about electrical items they have at home, using sharp, robotic movements to bring them to life. The class enjoyed guessing which machine their friends were performing.
To finish, the children learned a short piece of choreography. This included a repeated sequence of jerky, mechanical arm movements to represent machine parts working in unison. They practised keeping in time with the music and performed the routine together, looking every bit like a busy factory in action.
The children showed brilliant creativity, teamwork and focus. A great PE session all round.
This week, the children in Owls class also took part in their reading and maths assessments. Assessment week can feel demanding, but every single child showed resilience, focus and real determination. They approached each paper with a positive attitude and gave their absolute best. It was a full and rewarding week for the class, and they should all feel very proud of themselves.