Pixel Art – Year 3/4
Computer Games have great graphics that are created using pixel art. This has been a fabulous addition to our Computing topic and the children have such brilliant ideas.
Pixel art is a form of art, created through the use of software where images are edited on the a pixel level. In most pixel art, the colours used are extremely limited in size, with some pixel art using only two colours.
We’ve been trying to recreate some in class using a few colours on squared paper. Lots of counting, repetition, sequencing and decomposition – lots of crossovers with out programming vocabulary.
Here are some of our efforts – they’re awesome! The children are very proud of their results.
Terrific Computer Games
Our Computing topic has been a huge success.
We’ve been very busy making computer games using Scratch software.
There are so many skills that we have learned and words that we can now use confidently.
The children were asked to design and create a crossy road game, where we had several sprites (characters) that needed programming.
The aim of the game was to get the cat sprite to cross the roads and get to the other side without being hit by a car.
A challenge was to get the cat sprite to go back to the beginning if it hit a car.
Why don’t you ask your child about their game?
Some children have decided to explore this app at home too.
Here are some examples of our finished games done in school.
Computing – algorithms and de-bugging
We have been really enjoying our computing topic this half term. We have used our BlueBot programmable floor robots – making mazes and inputting algorithms. It doesn’t always to go plan so we have to de-bug and review our algorithms sometimes. We have also used the new iPads, in particular the BeeBot app. It gets really tricky as you go through the levels but is very satisfying when you make it!
Science : Tree planting
Our science topic has been all about plants and growing this half term. We ordered trees from the Woodland Trust and then each child in Key Stage One has planted a tree. We talked about how the saplings would grow into mature trees but that is would take a long time! We looked carefully at the saplings, observing the roots, stem/trunk and little leaves. We protected each one with a supporting stick and plastic protector.
Living and learning: I know what a drug is
Last week, children in year 5/6 discussed what they know about drugs. The children were very keen to point out that some drugs can be good for you and others can cause you harm. They discussed the difference between legal and illegal drugs.
Children drew a human and labelled the effects that some drugs might have on the body and mind.
Making cress sandwiches : science, food technology, reading and writing!
It was an exciting week in Key Stage One. We have been growing cress in science and reading about how to make cress sandwiches in our reading fluency lessons. This week, we made cress sandwiches and then wrote about how to do it. We talked about all the verbs we were using to tell someone how to make the sandwich: put, get, cut, sprinkle, spread.
PE (indoors due to rain!)
Due to the very wet weather recently, we have had to do some PE lessons inside. We really enjoy Cosmic Kids Yoga in Key Stage 1. It is yoga through stories and there are so many to choose from. Have a go at home!
Marvellous Minibeast
This week, we have continued our learning on minibeasts.
We read the story Superworm.
The children enjoyed sharing their favourite parts of the story.
I like when he lifted the rock. Dexter
I enjoyed when all the animals came back to save him. Faith
I like when he went into the trash site. Harry
I liked his black feather. I think he was bad because he took the worm away.’ Juveria
In Maths, we explored the number 14 using Numicon, 10 frames , part whole models, number sentences and created our own number stories.
After observing our caterpillars on their life-cycle, they finally emerged as butterflies. We were fascinated watching them drink sugar water through their proboscis. After a few days, we released them in our outdoor area.
In Rainbow class, we have enjoyed developing our gymnastic skills in PE. We have learnt to straddle, hedgehog roll and teddy bear roll.
Reminder
Please ensure your child has a full change of clothes in school. We enjoy being outside in all weather and jumping in big, muddy puddles!
Home-link
Learn some facts about minibeasts to share with the class.
Where do they live? What is their life-cycle? What do they eat? How do they move?
A very busy week!
We don’t know where to start with this week’s post about our learning in Nursery; we’ve done so much! We thought the best way to show you, is through some photos and a video.
Butterflies
Our butterflies began to emerge from their chrysalides on Wednesday; it was very exciting. We’ve been learning all about the life cycle of a butterfly and we have watched and waited patiently for the last 2 weeks. We enjoyed watching them for a couple of days and set them free on Friday.
Bye bye, butterflies!
More minibeasts
We’re still enjoying spotting minibeasts in the garden. This week, we managed to find more little eggs on the back of a leaf, some ladybird larvae that had just hatched and a very tiny caterpillar. If you look very carefully, you can just see the hole that it had munched in a leaf.
Creative
Inside, we explored a printing technique to make butterflies with symmetrical wings.
On the thundery afternoon, we danced to music and used claves to tap in time with the beat. We also made a long tunnel, made from children, to drive the remote control car through!
Lava
At the start of the week, some children showed an interest in lava erupting as they were playing in the water. They filled their containers to the top and continued to pour, enjoying watching the water flow over the top. To build on this interest, we had a go at making our own volcano eruption. Watch this video to see what happened.
Measuring
After our work in maths where we compared the length of different worms, children have shown interest in measuring. At the end of the week, Mrs Beesley and some children made their own measuring stick because the one that they were using, just wasn’t long enough!
Weather
The weather has also provided lots of excitement this week. We’ve had hail stones, thunder and lightening, rain, wind and some sunshine. Please remember to send your child with a waterproof coat (with a hood) EVERYDAY, even if it’s sunny in the morning. As you’ll see from the photos, we learn outside, whatever the weather. Children especially enjoyed splashing in the puddles and exploring the patterns that their footprints made in the mud!
We hope that you can see from the children’s faces, there were lots of happy and engaged learners in Nursery this week.
Living and Learning : Drug education
Our Living and Learning discussions have focused on drug and alcohol education. We have talked about what we put into and on our bodies and why. We discussed these scenarios in class. Ask you child what they would do in these situations.
