Later in the week, we carried out a really fun science experiment, finding out the melting points of different foods!

Great job on the gingerbread houses, by the way!  

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummSeaton ended a wonderful learning-filled week with a coding workshop run by Tech Cornwall. 

They started off by finding out about different companies in Cornwall that use coding and technology on a large scale. They also learned about various job roles and how important AI will be in the future. 

They were then shown how to use coding to control a microbit. They enjoyed making different shapes, patterns and messages. 

To extend their learning further, they then experimented with led lights and had fun seeing all the different colours they could make. They had a great discussion afterwards about all the different types of jobs and inventions that coding is vital for. 

Perhaps we have some future tech wizards in our midst!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The children have been engaging in lots of different activities that are helping to build a Christmassy atmosphere at Nursery; we especially enjoyed getting ready for 'Hunt the Issy' when lots of visitors had a look around.

We even had a visit from 'Brunelf' - Brunel's very own Christmas Elf - who brought us a lovely Christmas book to share. Thank you!

The beautiful decorations displayed around Nursery will be going home at the end of term so the children can use them to decorate their own homes with their Christmas crafts.

We are looking forward to welcoming parents and carers next week to or Christmas craft morning on Tuesday, and Christmas craft afternoon on Wednesday, where everyone can have fun snipping, and gluing together!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

We have been like Christmas elves this week, with show rehearsals, calendar making, card making, more show song rehearsals, Christmas math's (after a very successful dress rehearsal!)...

During English we finished our class story version of Hansel and Gretel, called Woody and Taylor.

We have also been learning in Science about sinking and floating.  We tested various materials after we made our predictions to see if we were right.

Christmas Costumes

This week has definitely been all about Christmas preparations! We have been spending lots of time singing and rehearsing for our EYFS/KS1 performance of Whoops-a-daisy Angel. The terrific Tregantle children have been absolutely amazing - singing superbly and dancing delightfully! Today we showed our dress rehearsal to the other children in the school and we are very much looking forward to showing the parents and carers next week. Along with our busy rehearsing, we have been getting creative with Christmas crafts in preparation for the world famous Brunel 'Hunt the Izzy' night. We  made sparkling Christmas cards, colourful window decorations and mosaic calendars. As usual our 'Hunt the Izzy' night was so much fun! Families from the whole community joined together to search the school for the hidden Izzy's and enjoy the fun of the Christmas fair!

Christmas has officially commenced this week at Brunel Primary and Nursery Academy. This has included our own elf 'Brunelf' making his presence know around the school as he has been delivering Christmas books everyday to different classes. Catch up with all the latest news and events in our Brunel Bulletin. 

This week, our classroom has transformed into a world of gingerbread! The class have enjoyed making cards and gingerbread men tree decorations. Our new English topic of Hansel and Gretel is being immersed in well, given our classroom theme and our adored book corner has transformed too which is giving us all much joy!
Thank you to those who supported our Hunt the Issy evening and to those who entered our Gingerbread House decorating competition...winner to be revealed next week!

Test-tubes and VR

Earlier this week, Seaton class took part in a workshop about the ocean by Plymouth Aquarium. 

They started by learning about where energy comes from and the impact this has on fossil fuels and the environment. They learned about global warming and climate change and how this affected the wildlife in Plymouth Sound. 

They then became scientists and investigated the ph levels of different liquids using universal indicator. They predicted whether each liquid was acid or alkali and then watched as they changed colour. We were all most surprised by milk which turned out to be an acid. Ask them what other liquids they tested and what they found out. 

To finish off, they were all given VR headsets so that they could virtually explore the marine wildlife in the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. They were able to spot crabs, starfish, sea grass, coral and even scuba divers. 
What a wonderful learning experience! 

Crafty and Curious!

This week, Talland have been included in some lovely extra-curricular activities including table cricket and making lanterns for the Saltash Lantern Parade. Thank you to those parents who were able to join us in constructing the lanterns; it is always very exciting (and messy!).

Also, we have moved on in our 'Forces' science unit to learn about levers, pulleys and gears. The children were tasked with investigating pulley systems: they had to explain what they could be used for, and how they help. Some were very successful in being able to easily winch up some of the items on their desks! The children will be putting this knowledge to use in DT, in which we have started a railway project and are building a small electrical locomotive.

Talland get Technical!

Thanks to Hyett Education and Miss Henning, Talland got to experience what it is like to work as an engineer in the robotics sector today.

We first had to follow instructions to construct a small robot, then had to solve a series of design problems to allow a Lego figure to be attached, for the wires to stay clear of the wheels and to include a working headlight! The children then had to  produce some code to ensure that the robot did as they wanted it to do and moved where they intended.

It was a truly inspiring, and seriously fun, morning for all.

Scientist's and Architect's 

This week as well as lots of amazing writing during English and working hard with addition and subtraction in Maths, the children have been rehearsing for our Christmas performance. 

They have also been designing waterproof buildings for Incy Wincey Spider in Science and designing new Tudor/Stuart buildings in DT.  They have really enjoyed working together on their waterproof designs - though some were more successful than others.  Then they started to evaluate what they did! 

We have had a busy half term, with lots of new children settling in and learning all about the Nursery routines; some of the very young children have found it hard to say 'good-bye' to Mummy or Daddy, but now they are coming in with excited faces.

The older children have had to learn to be tolerant and patient with the new, younger ones and now we can see how they are all building friendships with each other, enjoying each others company and being able to play alongside and share the resources.

I think we can certainly say the highlight of this week was going to the cinema on Tuesday to see 'The Wild Robot'. We have been greatly looking forward to this since we read the book last half term. We handed out the tissues as we knew there'd be some tears, and Miss Henning certainly had a few! It was a lovely film, highly recommended. We will be writing film reviews soon!

Also this week, we published our Earthquake non-chronological reports - they're looking amazing!
We finished our unit of Maths on Area (Year 4) and are about to start on Multiplication and Division!
In Science, we drew diagrams of the 3 states of matter - solids, liquids and gases. Can you remember how the particles move in each?
In Geography, we have designed our earthquake proof buildings, ready to build them in the coming weeks!

Phew! What a week, as always!
Have a safe and wonderful weekend!

Working Together

This week Tregantle Class have been getting brilliant at being 'Teamwork Tigers.' The children have been learning about how to be a good partner and group member; we have been taking turns, listening to our friends and talking respectfully to each other. This has meant that we have accomplished some amazing things! One team of children worked together to complete a large dinosaur puzzle. They then made it into a 'dino world' by adding a wall and toy dinosaurs. Another group of children used their teamwork skills to build a whole village in the construction area. There was such attention to detail including a swimming pool and a park! Another group of teamwork tigers went to the creative area and and worked together to make a spectacular volcano. The writing table has also been very busy this week as so many children are now using their knowledge of sounds to build words. We have seen some incredible independent writing - well done Tregantle teamwork Tigers! 

As November comes to an end so does another incredibly busy week of learning at Brunel Primary and Nursery Academy. Take a peek at this week's Brunel Bulletin to keep up-to-date with all of our latest news and events. 

w/e 22.11.24

As always, Daymer children have continued to work hard across the curriculum this week, including learning about Democracy in PSHE, Rosh Hashanah in RE, continuing our work with earthquakes in geography, writing our first draft of a non-chronological report in English and column addition and subtraction in maths (Y3) and Area (Y4)! In geography, we even learned what to do in the case of an earthquake alarm - Drop, Cover, Hold on and stay calm!  

We thoroughly enjoyed our STEM workshop on Tuesday, where the children used their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical skills to work to design and code robots.

We have been delighted with the homework that has been coming in this week. Thank you so much for your support with this. The children have shone when sharing what they have done.

We also learnt some vital road safety skills in our assembly on Wednesday. Today, Friday, was ‘wear bright’ to school (on coats and/or bags-still normal school uniform) where a prize will be given to the best class.

Next Thursday is our school reading café after school where families can pop up to the KS2 hall to enjoy books together and for fun around books. It will be lovely to see your support with this.

Out and about

Well Tregantle Class have certainly had a busy week! On Tuesday we walked to Saltash Fire Station with Lantic Class. The Children learnt about how different fire fighting is now compared to when the great fire of London happened. The Fire Service were absolutely brilliant and even let the children have a go with the hose pipe - it was so much fun! 
On Thursday we were off again - this time to the cinema. Tregantle Class got a double decker bus (the excitement levels were through the roof!) into Plymouth to watch Jungle Bunch 2 as part of the national film event. The film was so funny and we all enjoyed laughing together. We even got to see snow on the way back to school!
On Friday the children came to school in high visibility and reflective accessories as part of our leaning about road safety and we now all remember the phrase: 'be safe, be seen.' What an action packed week! 

What a busy week!

We have done so much this week in Lantic Class!

At the beginning of the week we visited Saltash Fire Station - we learnt about fire safety ay home and who to call in a fire.  We then were shown around a fire engine and we even got to have a go using the water hose.

On Thursday we visited Vue Plymouth to watch Jungle Bunch World Tour - we all really enjoyed the film it was very funny.

In DT, we have started to look at designing Tudor buildings.  We have done this by studying Tudor buildings and finding their features.

Marazion class have truly made us so proud this week. They performed their class assembly to an incredible high standard. The oracy skills shown were superb. Thank you to this parents and grandparents who were able to join us.

As well as our rehearsals and performance, the children have continued to work hard across the curriculum which has included learning about Democracy in PSHE, Rosh Hashanah in RE, continuing our work with earthquakes in geography, writing our first draft of a non-chronological report in English and column addition and subtraction in maths (Y3)!

We thoroughly enjoyed our STEM workshop on Tuesday where the children used their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical skills to work to design and code robots.

We have been delighted with the homework that has been coming in this week. Thank you so much for your support with this. The children have shone when sharing what they have done.

We also learnt some vital road safety skills in our assembly on Wednesday. Friday is ‘wear bright’ to school (on coats and/or bags-still normal school uniform please) where a prize will be given to the best class.

Next Thursday is our school reading café after school where families can pop up to the KS2 hall to enjoy books together and for fun around books. It will be lovely to see your support with this.