Belonging with Beegu

For our first day back in school and in year 4 we explored the wonderful story Beegu by Alexis Deacon and used it as a starting point to think about the importance of belonging. Through class discussions and a collaborative mind map, pupils reflected on how Beegu felt when she was alone, how people treated her, and what helped her feel accepted.

The children shared their own experiences of belonging and discussed the ways we can make others feel welcome, valued and included. Together, we explored what belonging means within our school community and how small acts of kindness can make a big difference to someone's day.

This thoughtful activity helped pupils develop empathy, strengthen their understanding of positive relationships, and recognise that everyone has an important place within our Glyncollen Primary School family.

Reach for the Stars

Enquiry Question: How do people achieve extraordinary things?

This term, Gwiwers will embark on an exciting journey into the world of space exploration, discovery and innovation. Through our enquiry question, "How do people achieve extraordinary things?", pupils will explore how determination, teamwork, curiosity and scientific thinking have helped humans achieve some of the greatest accomplishments in history.

Our learning will begin with an exploration of space and the Solar System as we develop our understanding of Earth's place in the universe. Pupils will investigate planets, stars and other celestial bodies while considering why humans have always been fascinated by space.

As the term progresses, we will explore forces and energy, learning how rockets are launched and how scientists and engineers use their knowledge to overcome challenges. Through investigations and practical activities, children will discover how forces such as gravity, thrust and air resistance affect the way objects move both on Earth and in space.

Within our Historical Enquiry work, we will investigate the Apollo missions and the race to land humans on the Moon. Pupils will explore historical evidence, ask their own questions and discover why the Moon landing remains one of the most significant achievements in human history.

We will also learn about the inspiring story of Katherine Johnson through Hidden Figures. Her determination, resilience and exceptional mathematical skills played a crucial role in the success of NASA's early space missions. Through her story, pupils will consider how individuals can overcome barriers and make a lasting impact on the world.

As part of our Design and Make learning, pupils will become engineers by designing, building and testing their own rockets. Using baking soda and vinegar to create a chemical reaction, children will investigate how forces can be used to launch a rocket and explore how gravity affects movement back towards Earth. They will evaluate their designs, make improvements and apply their scientific understanding to solve real-world problems, just as engineers and scientists do.

Throughout the topic, children will develop their research, enquiry, problem-solving and communication skills while making links across Science and Technology and Humanities. By the end of the term, pupils will be able to reflect on how curiosity, perseverance, collaboration and innovation help people achieve extraordinary things.

We look forward to sharing our discoveries, rocket launches and learning journey with you throughout the term!

🚀🌍🌙

Using Dictionaries to Build Our Vocabulary

Today, Gwiwers developed their dictionary skills by learning how to organise words into alphabetical order and use a dictionary to find their meanings. The children worked carefully to identify the first, second and third letters of words to help them locate entries quickly and accurately.

As part of our learning, pupils explored a range of topic-related vocabulary and discovered what each word meant. They discussed definitions with their peers and thought about how these new words could be used in their own speaking and writing.

I was impressed by the enthusiasm, determination and teamwork shown by Gwiwers as they worked like real word detectives. This activity helped the children become more confident and independent learners while expanding their vocabulary and understanding of language.

Exploring Maths Resources and Belonging

Today, Gwiwer took part in a hands-on activity using a range of maths resources to explore the important theme of belonging. The children worked collaboratively to investigate and build structures using Cuisenaire rods, discussing how each piece had a unique role to play.

Through their exploration, the class discovered that although the rods were different shapes, sizes and colours, each one was valuable and helped to create something stronger when working together. This led to thoughtful discussions about our own classroom community and how every member of Gwiwers contributes something special.

The activity helped pupils reflect on what it means to belong, how we can make others feel welcome, and why our differences make us stronger. By linking practical maths resources to the concept of belonging, the children developed their understanding that everyone has an important place within Gwiwers and our wider school community.

Today, Gwiwer class enjoyed their first outdoor learning session in our forest area. We spent time exploring the environment, becoming familiar with the different spaces we will use throughout the year, and discussing how outdoor learning helps us develop confidence, curiosity and teamwork.

A key focus of the session was learning how to keep ourselves and others safe. Together, we explored the rules for using the area responsibly, including staying within boundaries, respecting nature, listening carefully to instructions and being aware of those around us. The children showed excellent maturity as they discussed ways to make sure everyone can enjoy outdoor learning safely and successfully.

We are looking forward to many more outdoor learning experiences that will help us build important skills while connecting with the natural world.

Learning About the Planets

As part of our Space topic, the children have been learning about the order of the planets in our Solar System. Through discussion, research and interactive activities, they explored the unique features of each planet and discovered how they are positioned in relation to the Sun.

To deepen their understanding, pupils worked collaboratively to create a 2D model of the Solar System, carefully arranging the planets in the correct order. This practical activity helped children develop their scientific knowledge while also encouraging creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills. The finished models provided a fantastic visual representation of our learning and sparked further curiosity about space and planetary exploration.

For outdoor learning today we explored our local community and wrote a list of all of the street names we spotted. To end our walk we spent time in the local park. 

This week in Literacy, we have been developing the skills needed to create persuasive posters linked to our exciting Space topic. We began by exploring bossy verbs and learning how they can be used effectively to give instructions and encourage action. The children practised identifying and using these powerful verbs in their own writing to make their messages clear and convincing.

We also investigated the purpose of a slogan, looking at how short, memorable phrases can capture attention and persuade an audience. The children explored examples of successful slogans before creating and evaluating their own.

Over the coming weeks, the class will apply these skills to design and create persuasive posters encouraging people to choose an unforgettable holiday in space. By combining eye-catching slogans, persuasive language and creative design, pupils will learn how authors and advertisers influence their audience while developing their own communication skills.

This week, our learning has continued to revolve around our exciting enquiry question, "Why do people want to explore space?" Through a range of research activities, the children have been investigating the planets, learning about space travel and discovering why some people are willing to spend billions of pounds on journeys beyond Earth.

To develop their research and critical thinking skills, pupils have explored a variety of images linked to space exploration, space tourism and the solar system. Using the "I Can See, I Think, I Wonder" approach, they have been encouraged to look closely at images, make thoughtful observations, ask questions and develop their curiosity. This has helped children move beyond simply spotting what is in a picture and begin thinking more deeply about what it tells us and what they would like to find out next.