As we approach November, the children have been busy created poppies and writing poems to mark Remembrance Day. The children’s learning is up on display at Cannon Park Shopping Centre. Please do pop in to take a look at the fantastic display.
Platinum Jubilee
To celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, every child has created a commemorative plate. Six finalists have been selected from each class to be on display at Cannon Park Shopping Centre. Please do go to the shops and have a look at the fantastic display. One winner from each class has been selected and their plate has been made into a real plate – winners will be announced during Friday’s assembly.
Year 6: How did propaganda influence behaviour during World War II?
As historians, we have been looking at propaganda posters produced during World War II.
We worked out who the intended audience was, and how the words and images would evoke an emotional response in different sections of society. This was so that they would be more likely to behave in the way that the Government wanted them to, whether that be mothers from big cities sending their children to live with others in the country, women going to work in factories or on farms, or growing your own veg!
Then we created our own posters to persuade the British population to help the war effort in different ways.
Year 5: Welcome to Victorian School!
Today, Year 5 experienced what life was like in a Victorian School. They practised their times tables and handwriting, the capital cities of Europe, and completed drill, which was the Victorian equivalent of PE. Not all of the children adjusted quickly to the extremely strict rules and found themselves wearing the Dunce Hat, and one or two even faced the cane. We even had a go at some Victorian playground games.
Here’s what the children thought:
- The rules were really strict! I’m glad in modern schools the staff can’t hit us!
- It makes you feel as though you have to concentrate more because if you don’t you’ll get punished really badly.
- There was a lot of chanting and repeating things we had to learn.
- It was really hard trying to write with my right hand. It would have made me feel really sad to be treated like that every day just because I am left-handed.
- It was a really fun way of learning how different life was because we got to do lessons in a different way.
- I never knew Mrs Reihill and Miss Cleveland were so good at acting mean…
- I’m really grateful I wasn’t a child in Victorian times.
When I grow up…
The children this week have been thinking about what they want to be when they grow up! They have done some amazing drawings, paintings, models and writing about their dream job.We have also been learning about Florence Nightingale and people who work in hospitals. Every child then designed a card for the NHS to say thank you to all the workers for their hard work!
Year 5: Investigating history through artefacts
Year 5 have been discovering more about how Victorians lived through exploring artefacts from that era.
We recognised the yo-yo, diablo and spinning top, but couldn’t make that work. The spinning monkey was simple but great fun. It helped us to think about how differently rich and poor people lived. Poor children wouldn’t have been able to afford extravagant toys like rocking horses, tea sets, china dolls or even marbles!
None of us knew what the warming pan was for – we thought it would have been used for cooking on a large fire – or the match lighter, and we thought the whip for the spinning top was linked to the ink well.
Thank you to Mrs Aston’s Mum for lending us the artefacts and bringing history to life!
Poppies for Remembrance Day
This morning, Year 3 marked the importance of Remembrance Day by making their own poppies and holding them whilst observing a two minute silence. We spoke about the sacrifices of all the people who fought in the war and how we should never forget their bravery. They also had the privilege of holding a World War One victory medal which was kindly donated to us for the day.
Remembrance Day
On Wednesday afternoon, Year 2 learnt about Remembrance Day. The children thought about the importance as well as the significance of the poppy. They spoke about the how the poppy was the only flower to grow on the battlefields after World War One before making their own poppies.
Cookie excavation
In our learning of the pre-historic period, Year 3 had an exciting afternoon finding out about the job of an archaeologist. Using cookies and cocktail sticks, the children carefully chipped away at the dirt (the cookie) to slowly reveal the hidden artefacts (chocolate chips). Any findings were recorded on grids, noting the exact point where they were found using co-ordinates and axes. The children used great precision and realised how long the process can take and how careful archaeologists need to be. Well done Year 3 for showing great enjoyment in our learning in History.
VE Day Celebrations and a Competition
As you all know, this Friday is the 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, which marks the end of the fighting in Europe during the Second World War. Nearly 18 million service people were killed on Europe’s battlefields on all sides, as well as 45 million ordinary people.
Germany surrendered on 7th May 1945. The 8th of May was declared a national holiday, and large crowds gathered to celebrate together, and street parties, parades and thanksgiving services were held across Britain. They were a mix of relief at the fighting finally being over, thanks that so many people had survived and sadness at all of the suffering and lives lost, as well as understanding that communities would now have to start rebuilding their lives.
While many celebrations were planned for this year in Coventry and around the rest of the country, unfortunately because of Covid-19 we can’t gather in crowds and many cannot go ahead. But that does not mean that we can’t celebrate in our homes with our families!
There are lots of activities to keep you busy, while learning about an important part of our history.
The BBC have created the Great British Bunting Pack which is free to download. If you don’t have a printer, you can use the instructions to create your own templates. There are also posters and colouring pages for you to complete here.
We would love to see photos of any preparations you are making and any celebrations you hold. There is even a VE Party Planning Page with recipes people used on 8th May 1945 and a suggested play list (just click on the picture to be taken to it on Spotify). And no party would be complete without a delicious dessert. This is why Great British Bake Off Judge, Prue Leith, has released a special flapjack recipe to help you bake a traditional treat while you stay home, save lives, and celebrate #VEDay75.
On Friday 8th, there will be a special VE Day story in you Google Classrooms at 10.30am (as well as your usual story at 3pm), before the official commemorations begin at 11am, with a national moment of remembrance and a two minute silence. Details of other activities taking place, including the broadcast of Winston Churchill’s famous speech, during the day can be found here.
And don’t forget to mark this historic occasion, Her Majesty The Queen will send a message to the nation at 9pm on BBC One, the exact moment her father, King George VI, gave a radio address in 1945, followed by a national singalong of Dame Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’. Open your doors and join in with this national moment of celebration.
∇*∇*∇*∇*∇ Competition Time ∇*∇*∇*∇*∇
Historian, Dan Snow, is looking for budding journalists to find out how you would tell the story of VE Day today to mark this special 75th anniversary. You could:
- Write a short news report in the style of today or 75 years ago
- Make a short video that tells the story of VE Day, either in the style of 75 years ago or how you would tell it today
- Design a newspaper front page or article
- Write or perform a poem, song, drawing or other work of art
- Share the story of someone in your family or area who was involved in the War
- Write or perform a short play about VE Day and what it would have been like 75 years ago
The best entries will be featured on the official VE Day Website, which has a host of useful links to assist you with your research. Details of how to enter can be found here. Entries need to be submitted by Wednesday 6th May.