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Year 4 - The Lunar New Year
Year 4 really enjoyed their dance workshop this week. We got to explore the Lunar New Year in a creative way and learn moves to tell a story through dance. Year 4 were very good at remembering the moves for each different animal and were even better when given the choice to move in the way of their chosen animal. The final performance was fantastic to watch - well done, Year 4!
Year 4 Science - Electrical Circuits
Year 4 are studying Electricity in our current topic and have been learning about the names of different types of components and how these come together to make a working circuit. We got to put our knowledge to the test by making our own circuits and testing if they worked! Some of us, even managed to adapt bulb brightness - some very successful circuits made!
Year 1 - History - Exploring Toys from the Past
Step back in time with Year 1! As part of our Kapow History curriculum, our Year 1 historians have been busy investigating toys from the past .We’ve been asking the big question: What were toys like 100 years ago? From wooden spinning tops to clockwork wonders, the children have loved getting hands-on with history. We aren't just looking at old objects; we are building oracy by describing textures, comparing materials, and debating which toys have stood the test of time! It’s been a fantastic, interactive way to bring the past to life. Well done, Year 1! #DarwenStJames #Year1 #PrimaryHistory #KapowCurriculum #LearningThroughPlay #Oracy #NurturingAmbition
Year 1 Lunar New Year Workshop
Celebrating the Lunar New Year with Year 1! Today, our Year 1 hall was filled with energy and excitement as we hosted an incredible Lunar Workshop with West End in Schools! The children took part in an expressive dance session to bring the story of The Great Race to life. We practiced following instructions to mimic the movements of the different Zodiac animals—from the clever Rat to the powerful Dragon! It was a brilliant, interactive way to learn about the traditions of the Lunar New Year through movement and music. Our little performers showed fantastic focus and creativity. Well done, Year 1! #DarwenStJames #Year1 #LunarNewYear #TheGreatRace #WestEndInSchools #ExpressiveDance #CulturalLearning #NurturingAmbition
World Book Day Reading Cafe
???? A Page-Turning Success: Our World Book Day Reading Café! What a brilliant way to celebrate World Book Day! It was truly wonderful to see our school community come together to transform the hall into a buzzing hub of stories, snacks, and shared imagination. From pupils to parents, the turn-out was fantastic, and the atmosphere was even better. Here’s a look at the highlights from our literary celebration: ????️ The Great Masked Reader Hunt The highlight of the afternoon was undoubtedly our Masked Reader Hunt. It was a joy to watch everyone turn into literary detectives! Using a series of clever clues, pupils had to figure out which teachers were hiding behind their favourite books. ???? A Marvellous Finale To wrap up the event, Miss Peckson took to the "reading throne" to share a chapter from her all-time favourite: George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl. There’s nothing quite like the magic of being read to, and you could have heard a pin drop as we followed George's mischievous concoctions. Why it Matters At the heart of today’s event is a simple but powerful goal: fostering a lifelong love of reading. Reading isn't just about literacy; it’s about empathy, adventure, and expanding our horizon. Seeing our pupils enjoying books together reminds us that a good story is one of the best ways to connect with each other. "A book is a dream that you hold in your hand." – Neil Gaiman #WorldBookDay #ReadingCafe #LoveOfReading #SchoolCommunity
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Year 2 Maths: Measuring in centimetres.
Measuring fever has hit Year 2 as we get to grips with centimetres! Our young mathematicians have been busy putting their ruler skills to the test, learning how to line up the '0' precisely to find the exact length of various classroom objects. There was a fantastic buzz in the room as the children compared their findings and practised using accurate mathematical language to describe their measurements. From pencils to glue sticks, nothing was safe from our rulers!
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Year 2 English: Retelling a story with a familiar setting.
Our Year 2 pupils have been diving headfirst into the wonderful world of story-telling! To explore our current text, "After the Storm", the children took to the stage for a dynamic partner freeze-frame task. It was brilliant to see the classroom buzzing with respectful listening and creative energy. The pupils have already gathered a treasure trove of superb vocabulary, and they are now fully primed to bring their own familiar-setting stories to life. What is your favourite story to tell? Let us know in the comments!
Year 4 Maths - Working Together during Lock Learners
Year 4 had an amazing time, during the Lock Learners activity Maths session. They had to work collaboratively as a team to unlock the different puzzles and get on to the next stage. There was a lot of surprises on the way! With grit and teamwork, Year 4 managed to pass the challenges and had lots of fun in the process!
Year 4 R.E. - Trust
Year 4 have been exploring how others show their trust in Jesus and how Jesus showed how he trusted them. We did some activities to show how we can show our trust in our peers. There are many of us who are trustworthy in Year 4!
Year 5 - Maths Escape Room!
Cracking the Code: Our Maths Escape Room Adventure! Last Thursday, our hall was transformed into a sea of mystery and logic as we welcomed Chris from Lock Learners for an unforgettable Maths Escape Room! The children were faced with a series of incredible pirate treasure chests, each protected by multiple locks and hidden compartments. Working in small teams, our young mathematicians had to combine their skills and knowledge to solve a trail of challenging puzzles. From deciphering codes to calculating complex coordinates, every solved sum brought them one step closer to the final "treasure" inside! It was a brilliant day of high-energy learning, proving that maths is not just about numbers on a page, but a vital tool for adventure. We were so proud of how well the children collaborated, persevered, and—most importantly—had a fantastic time putting their maths brains to the test!
Year 5 English: Freeze Frames and Thought Tapping
Step into the Scene: ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ in Year 5 In our English lessons this week, Year 5 have been exploring the art of ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ to bring their characters to life. To help us understand how to describe emotions without simply naming them, we took our learning onto its feet! The children worked in groups to ‘freeze frame’ a dramatic moment: a time traveller from a sterile, silent future space colony arriving suddenly in the middle of a bustling, modern-day playground. We focused on using our bodies and facial expressions to convey the traveller’s shock at the sensory explosion of sights, sounds, and smells. The tension rose as we moved into ‘thought-tracking’; when a child’s shoulder was tapped, they had to break their freeze frame to deliver a single, powerful line of dialogue. From the traveller's stunned whispers to the confused shouts of the modern-day pupils, it was a masterclass in character development. These physical experiences are now providing a fantastic foundation for our descriptive writing as we translate those frozen moments into vivid prose.
Year 5 - R.E. Mind Mapping Ideas about Victory
Beyond the Trophy: Exploring ‘Victory’ in R.E. This week, Year 5 kicked off their moving new R.E. topic by diving deep into the concept of ‘Victory’ and its significance within the Easter story. The lesson began with a high-energy collaborative mind-mapping session. Each group worked like a well-oiled machine, featuring a Scribe to capture thoughts, a Reporter to ‘magpie’ brilliant ideas from around the room, and a Spokesperson to present their findings to the class. It was wonderful to see such a wide range of interpretations, from sporting triumphs to quiet moments of personal success. We then shifted our focus to the wisdom of Nelson Mandela, exploring two of his famous quotes about victory being rooted in perseverance and learning from mistakes. To show their thinking, the children ‘voted with their feet’, physically moving to the quote that resonated with them most. The room then buzzed with debate as each group tried to persuade the other to switch sides, using powerful arguments to explain why their chosen quote held the strongest message. What a fantastic start to the term! Our pupils are already showing great maturity in how they reflect on the theological and personal meanings of victory.
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