We had lots of fun counting forwards and backwards in 2s, 5s and 10s. We used different objects to make groups and used some mathematical language to describe our thinking. We loved writing in our class and in our choosing time some children created some lovely stories.
As part of our expedition on Transport this term we have been looking at maps. Today during a maths related activity, Nursery were exploring a familiar route. First they learned about what a route is and then they used a map to guide them and thought hard about positional language including; forward, left and right. They walked the route and then explained how they got back to Nursery talking about familiar landmarks and beginning to use key words above. Well Done to our little Orienteers!
What a way to start our new case study! Exploring space in the WonderDome. We can’t wait to use what we have found out to help us answer our guiding question – where could your journey take you?
Would you like to work at Norton Infant or Norton Junior Schools?We are recruiting for dinner time supervisors across both schools. If you are interested and would like to be considered, please follow the link below and register your interest by completing the Register your Interest form on the XP Trust vacancies website. Please specify which school you are interested in.
https://xptrust.org/vacancies/
Over the last two weeks children in EYFS have been exploring the story Handa’s Surprise by Eileen Brown. This links to our current expedition, exploring all the different ways we can travel, as Handa is a little girl who walks a long journey to her friend’s village with a basket of fruit on her head. Little does she know there are some cheeky animals who pinch her fruit along the way!
An exciting activity was using all of our senses to explore a pineapple, mango, avocado, orange and passionfruit that feature in the story. Afterwards we created beautiful work by writing sentences about what we found out.
Then we had great fun taking part in an African drumming workshop. Steve from Unbeatable Energy used percussion instruments to retell an African folktale about an Anansi spider.
He then taught us how to play African drums by tapping along to catching rhymes such as ‘juicy juicy mango!’. The children loved making their own music and dance moves and then performing this to their parents at the end of the day.
A big thank you to the parents who came to watch our performance. We loved that you had an opportunity play the instruments too! It was an experience the children will definitely remember. 🪘🎶
We have had a great week working incredibly hard on our writing, maths and phonics. We worked in our teams sharing facts about King Charles. We had a special treat from Year 6 children who visited us and read us a story. They gave us some biscuits for our beautiful spelling.
Students at XP in Year 11 have been preparing for their GCSE English Literature Exam studying a range of different texts. One of these was A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
As we learn predominantly through Learning Expeditions at XP Trust, students embarked on a Humanities based expedition entitled Is Charity Enough? Students studied A Christmas Carol whilst considering the work they had completed, and were continuing to study, as part of their GCSE History in the thematic module Health and Medicine through the Ages. Students focussed on A Christmas Carol considering what life was like particularly social conditions at the time the novella was written.
Students then began a detailed study of the Dickens classic by reading and writing about characters, themes and the intent of the novella. This was the foundation for the study guide that includes this content as well as beautiful artwork, interviews with Lucinda Hawksley (the Great Great Great Granddaughter of Dickens himself) as well as curators from the Dickens museum in London.
The result of this work is a fantastic guide for the students to use to help them in their GCSE revision as well as a beautiful product that reflects the students authentic voice and deep engagement with the text. However, this guide isn’t just for our students and their studies – it’s available to everyone studying A Christmas Carol at GCSE, as well as anyone else with a keen interest in Dickens!
You can buy your copy of the guide here!
All students in X25 were given a copy of the guide and further copies can be purchased through our website.
LKS2 Recount Writing @ Carcroft School
Weekly update for families @ XP Gateshead
Investigating tectonic plates @ Norton Juniors
Year 8 Spanish fashion topic @ XP
Our Coronation crown winners @ Plover
Celebration Crew @ Norton Infants
What a lovely celebration crew this morning. I was so impressed with the children who achieved awards this week for lots of different things – following HoWLs, showing incredible effort and one for being kind to all of his peers!
We loved hearing what each class had been learning this week – thank you Travis M, Lillie-May G, Reid H, Teddi S, Emily W and Rudy W for sharing your learning so confidently.
I wonder who we will be celebrating next week?
Mrs Parsons xx
Today we’ve been using online sources to research the life of King Charles III. We were able to find out so much more information to add to the anchor charts we started yesterday and enjoyed the challenge of finding the most interesting new fact to share with the class.
