Grebes Activities

In Design Technology Grebes were set the challenge of adapting and developing a classic recipe. And what could be more classic than spaghetti bolognese! Taking this BBC Good Food recipe as a starting point (https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/best-spaghetti-bolognese-recipe), children made changes – sometimes based on taste (e.g. removing meat for vegetarians and replacing with additional vegetables such as red peppers) and sometimes for other reasons such as nutritional value and reducing cost. Children learned to safely  chop resistant vegetables such as onions. Several have since been cooking at home. Fantastic work!

In History Grebes have been pondering the question “How hard was it to invade and settle in Britain?” Focusing mainly on invasions by Anglo-Saxons, we attempted to build using the Anglo-Saxon wattle and daub technique. These miniature walls are made from frames of pipe cleaners or paper straws (the wattle) with a mixture of clay, straw and water (the daub). All children agreed that this building technique has many challenges, but makes for surprisingly strong construction. It would have been more authentic but very smelly if we had used manure instead of clay!

This week in Forest School children built sturdier dens using the reef knot and the round turn and two half hitches; made a grave for a hedgehog and learned to whittle and knit.

Year 4 have been exploring electricity, learning that it is a form of energy and that it can be generated in many ways. They learned about the National Grid and how electricity makes its way from the power stations into our schools, businesses and homes. Now they are building and testing circuits of their own.

Grebes went to Gressenhall Workhouse and Farm to deepen their understanding of what childhood was like in Victorian times for both rich and poor. Under the strict schoolmistress’s eye, they set the table, shone shoes and polished brass. Children also made candy canes and dolls, as well as enjoying some traditional dance, song and drama. A HUGE thanks to FOSS for funding this trip!

This week in Forest School we used reef knots to connect ropes to each other, and a new knot – the round turn and two half-hitches – to construct sturdier shelters suspended between trees. Some children performed their own dance and puppeteering shows for classmates. At the end, we all came together for some hot squash and a high energy snack of flapjacks freshly made over the fire. A wonderful end to a chilly week!

Forest School is all about teamwork and today Grebes worked together to saw branches and build dens. Some children chose to clear brambles with the loppers to make the Forest School area safer.