Learning Journeys with Mr Atkinson

Hello to all the P6B blog readers, it’s Mr Atkinson here! As you will know this year I am doing NCCT for P6B with a focus on developing Crookfurs Enquiry Based Learning approach so I wanted to give you an update of what we have been doing.

Building on our knowledge from the P5 Learning Journeys, the class have explored  what can be constructed on land and investigated the pros and cons. They also applied their curiosity by finding out the impact the different land uses have on the environment. Equipped with this information, the pupils utilised their Meta-Skills of collaborating and communicating to prepare for their debates on this issue. I was highly impressed with their thorough research and well-structured arguments resulting in some compelling points being made. In pairs the pupils have also written fact files about how specific flowers have benefited modern society as they are used for medicine and textile which they presented and shared to their peers.

The class has recently been learning about two new Meta-Skills, leading and feeling. We first discussed how there are many ways to display leadership qualities and that they can be used differently depending on the situation. Then the pupils were challenged to visualise and think of everyday examples of leaders. We also reflected on why it is important to listen to our feelings but also be considerate of others. Following this, everyone drew a picture of their ‘happy place’ which can be used as a strategy to help self-regulate our emotions.

Light Learning Journey

This week we started our class Learning Journey where we use an inquiry-based approach to investigate a ‘big question’. Our ‘big question’ this time is: How can light be used creatively?

We have come up with smaller questions to answer as a class and last week we investigated shadows.

Once we learned how shadows are formed we used light in a creative way to make shadow puppets!

Marvellous Maths

“In Problem Solving today we were trying to make a 1-step, 2-step and 3-step pyramid. We used these to work out how many bricks are needed to make a 10-stpe pyramid.”

“I enjoyed the Problem Solving because I liked using the Kapla.”

“We used Numicon to help us with our division in Numeracy. It helped us to see the numbers in front of us instead of just in our heads.”

“I liked using the Numicon because I haven’t used it in a while and it helped me with my division.”