Class blog

Autumn 2024

Roman day

On Wednesday the 6^th November, Silver Birch had their Roman day. The children enjoyed dressing up and completing many Roman activities such as; pottery making, mosaics, wax tablets, games, amulets and oil burners. The children learnt how to be a Roman soldier and, in the afternoon, we enjoyed a feast full of entertainment. We watched plays such as the golden goose and the hare and tortoise, all performed by our Roman actors. 

Artwork

At the start of the year the children made a collage for the Gransden show, the theme was track and field. We all made athletes out of pipe cleaners and chose different events to draw on the colour of the Olympic rings. 

This term year 4 have made their own Roman mosaics using paint and blocks. Whilst year 5 were at Hilltop, year 4 also made their own group collage. Each child had their own section to make and we put it together to form two collages. 

Spring 2024

Purim

In RE, the children have been looking at the Jewish festival of Purim. Silver Birch enjoyed making their own hamantaschen which is a delicacy enjoyed during Purim. 

Autumn 2023

Our topic in Silver Birch this term has been 'food and farming'. We have learnt about where food comes from and the journey it takes to get from field to fork. In particular, we have learnt about the journey of a banana and the climate and conditions needed for different foods to grow. We discovered where food in UK is grown and what it is to eat seasonal food and the benefits of this. We have also learnt about how land use has changed over time and what the implications of modern technology have meant for farmers. 

In art, we made collages of a farm and thought about how we can use techniques to make it look realistic. 

In DT, we designed and made our own stockings from felt. Some children embroidered details onto their stockings as well as using ribbon to allow it to hang. The children learnt how to use blanket stitch or running stitch to sew up their stockings. Each of them was unique as they chose the shape, colour and design. 

Year 5/6 trip to Sacrewell Farm

See our photo gallery.

Spring 2023

Science Week 13-17 March

During science week we had many guests come in to speak to us about different areas of science. In these photos we are trying to replicate a knee replacement by joining two bones together. We were given a variety of different materials to use to try and fix the bone together, whilst still allowing it to move. We were also given a budget. Mrs Hall was our shop keeper and kept a close watch on how much we spent on our knee replacements! We really enjoyed listening to all our guests this week and have learnt may new things, for example did you know it takes 1 million years for a glass bottle to decompose?' 

World Book Day

Autumn Term 2021

September was a busy month as we began to settle into our new class and year groups. We all enjoyed our first big adventure of the new year at Bushcraft! All of Y5/6 enjoyed 2 nights camping in the forest, building dens and learning survival skills!

Our topic for autumn term was ‘Space’ and the children enjoyed their class book, ‘Cosmic’, about a young boy who wins a competition and ends up in a rocket to space! The children enjoyed learning about different planets and solar and lunar eclipses in science. As well as learning about NASA in Topic, and what you need to do to qualify as an astronaut! In Art, we were looking at foundational drawing skills, including add tone and texture.   

After half term, the children studied recounts of real UFO sightings by Kenneth Arnold. We explored the key features of recounts in the form of diary entries, newspaper reports, letters and personal recounts. The remainder of the autumn term was jam-packed as the children prepared for Christmas and for the well-enjoyed Christmas production.

Summer Term 2021

Sports Day - July 2021

Stibbington - June 2021

Silver Birch Class trip to Stibbington - we were WWII evacuees!

Autumn Term 2020

Making Viking Longships - December 2020

Viking Day - November 2020

Spring Term 2020

Ms Ostler's RE Challenge Cards

Autumn Term 2019

About Houghton Mill by Rosie Adelman

Houghton Mill
Houghton Mill is a fine piece of history buried in the Cambridgeshire country. It is a well-structured building situated on the Great River Ouse. The mill was first built in 974 AD so that makes it over one thousand years old. Houghton Mill was built so it could make flour for the people in London. The mill was started by the Romans and carried on by other people and it was built up to five levels. The mill has lasted a very long time and possibly even longer than that.

Houghton Mill in 974 AD
Houghton Mill was started by the Romans, then it was only one or two floors so it was rather a small mill. As well as making the flour because they had no electricity, how was the mill powered? It was powered by water and there were also three water wheels.

Wholemeal flour
People thought of the idea of wholemeal flour and they thought it would be nicer to eat. The mill started to make wholemeal flour. Wholemeal flour is different to white flour because wholemeal flour uses all the grain including the skin of the grain. White flour only uses the insides of the grain. From discovering that wholemeal flour is very popular, the mill has only needed to sell this kind of flour and still do today.

Mill work for boys
Boys started to work at the mill when they were twelve, they had to be able to carry a sack of grain that weighed more than a fully grown man. They only got paid one shilling a week and one shilling is half a penny in today’s currency so it was very little.

Spring Term 2019

This term we are looking at the topic, Explorers. As part of this topic, we have been discovering about Dr Livingstone and how he found new and previously unknown parts of Africa in the Victorian era. In class, we are reading the book, Warrior boy by Virginia Cave. The book is set in Kenya and tells the story of a teenage boy who discovers he is from the Maasai tribe. He travels to Kenya to meet his family and faces many challenges along the way. This book has inspired us to look at the culture of the Maasai tribe and how African wildlife is threatened by poaching.

In Science, we have been looking at Living habitats and the effects changes to the environments are having on all species in the eco-system. This half term, we are investigating how our digestive system works while also investigating herbivores, carnivores and omnivores.

In Spanish, the children are continuing to expand their vocabulary learning about parts of the body, colours and numbers.

Autumn Term 2018

Where do we begin? Silver Birch has been a hive of learning and new experiences from the moment we arrived back into the classroom in September. With the exciting arrival of three new pupils, Silver Birch were eager and ready to learn from the moment we reintroduced ourselves at the first register (it all seems a very long time ago now!). In September, the Year 5 pupils thoroughly their time at Hill Top activity centre in Sheringham, Norfolk. It was amazing to see the children taking on new challenges and embracing the ethos and adventure of a residential trip. I hope the Year Five pupils enjoyed Hilltop as much as the teachers enjoyed seeing their great growth mind-set attitude towards every new activity. The Year Four pupils had an equally enjoyable with Ms Ostler in the classroom and were able to demonstrate their Road Dahl new found knowledge in an assembly presented to the rest of KS2. We are busy learning our time tables and applying them to calculation methods like chunking and soon we are moving onto measuring angles using a protractor and data handling such as bar charts. Manuel in particular has really been enjoying his maths lessons since he joined us in Silver Birch in September. Ellie has been particularly enjoying singing assemblies and PE lessons in the hall and auditioning for the school Christmas production.

Warwick Castle was fantastic fun and we have been able to do great writing after being inspired by the great attractions at the castle! Jake said he enjoyed the castle because it was based on the Tudors and he loves looking at historical places. Henry really enjoyed his first school trip as well as the adventure of Hilltop in Norfolk.

We are working very hard in preparation for the Christmas Production, Olivia! We are busy singing songs and taking on new dance moves and stage directions. It will soon be December and we can’t wait to show our audience how passionate we are about our show here at Barnabas Oley School!

Previous Work

Spring 2018

This term we are learning about Our World and specifically, South Africa.  Thank you for attending our assembly! The children were thrilled to show you all the learning they have been doing this term.  We are still learning more about Our World and busy preparing for Easter. 

The Spelling bee word list for Year 4 and Year 5 are in the document published below.  The children will be practising these words as part of their weekly spelling test this half term.  The next spelling bee test will be early in the Summer term. 

Our Visit to Houghton Mill

In September 2015, Silver Birch and Cedar Class went to Houghton Mill to find out about how flour is made and to experience the beautiful old Mill actually working. We had a fantastic day (and were really lucky with the weather!).  Some groups toured the Mill first while others visited the loch and worked through a mystery trail set by Mrs Hussey.  We all had lunch together and spent some time in the afternoon sketching and exploring the grounds.  As we were given some flour to take home, several staff members made bread and brought it in the next day for us to try.  It was all declared delicious! 

See also Special Events Photo Gallery