We have been identifying British leaves using identifcation sheets. We then did some rubbings of the leaves using wax crayons and labelled them in our books.
Have a go at leaf or bark rubbing when out and about this weekend.
We invited the parents of Grayling 1 to come and make dens with us. There were dens of all shapes and sizes.
At the weekend when on a walk how many tree leaves can you identify? You can make your own leaf dial below.
Also a leaf spotter sheet too.
You can also use the Seek inaturalist app https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app
Also here are some more resources to identify other items in nature.
http://treetoolsforschools.org.uk/activitymenu/?cat=tree_id
We went on a wildlflower walk to the Hillfort with expert Miles King who does some work for the Duchy, Plantlife and Natural England. He showed the children how to find seeds on a buttercup (they look like a pineapple). The children collected these in their cups and then walked back to the Greatfield to sow them where the wildflowers were growing.
Miles challenged the children to have go themsleves with an adult and see if they could find anymore buttercup seeds to sow on the Great Field.
Can you identify any wildlfowers near where you live? Can you go on a Wildflower walk to identify some wildflowers too? Just like Rafi did below.
Here is an idenfication sheet to help you. You could also use the iNaturalist app https://www.inaturalist.org/
Simply identify a local habitat, get your child to explore and discover the minibeasts (bugs) that live there, draw them and record their findings. https://www.schoolscience.co.uk/bughunt
Send entries by post, including the name of the class teacher, school and year group you’re entering to: Rebecca Dixon-Watmough, ASE, College Lane, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AA by 15th July 2022.
Prizes include a bug day for the school!
Also an insect Art Competition,themes of ‘endangered insects’, ‘people and insects’, and lastly ‘moving insects’. Deadline 31st October 2022. Here is more information. https://www.insectweek.co.uk/art-competition
Three lucky children from Grayling 1 were chosen to make Orange Shortbread in the Food Technology Kitchen for the rest of the class.
They learned to weigh the ingredients, rub the ingredients together and roll out the dough and a cutter to make a circle shape.
We all ate the shortbread in the afternoon and really enjoyed them.
Here is the recipe for you to have a go at home.
We have been reading the Secret Sky Garden in Literacy this week where Funni creates a beautiful garden on a carpark roof top that previously had litter everywhere.
The children put together loads of amazing posters to encourage people not to drop litter but to place it in a bin or take it home with them.
Cricket
On Wednesday we learned how to make a Den from long sticks and bungees with Mr Moore and Mrs Beasley. We managed to all get our dens up before it rained. They were really good shelters until it got heavier.
All week with have taken part in dancing in the courtyard with the whole school.
On Monday we made fruit kebabs.
On Tuesday we learned to bowl, bat and catch in cricket.
We had an amazing turn out for our stay and sketch of plants.
We had loads of talented artists from children to parents.
Thank you for everyone that came. The next stay and… will be in July. We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.
