Year 5

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The last few weeks we have been learning about first aid and how to treat: burns; stings; bites and splinters.

We’ve also been learning about wild first aid.

Growing on lawns and tracks, the crushed leaf of greater plantain is fantastic for insect bites & stings, allergic rashes, cuts & wounds and infected cuts.

Its leaf blades can be round or long and narrow; its veins are always parallel.

They run from the bottom to the top without visibly branching

The first photo is greater plantain, with round leaves.

Yarrow (Achilleum millefolium), makes an excellent first aid poultice for deep cuts and wounds.

In Greek myth (Homer’s Iliad), this member of the daisy family was used by the hero, Achilles, to heal his soldiers in the Trojan war and this plant is named after him.

Millefolium means ‘thousands of leaves’ and refers to the profusion of small, feathery, fern like leaves.

Apparently, it symbolises everlasting love.

Year 6

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The most sustainable compost is homemade.

It helps the planet as waste is not sent to landfill where it will rot and release methane, a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide.

Shocking fact: about a third of all food produced is wasted.

When we waste food we also waste all the energy and water it takes to grow, harvest, transport and package it.

We have been learning how our hot box works to make compost.

Hot composting is an aerobic composting technique, which is actually the same process that works in a cold compost bin.

The compost is made by natural micro organisms in the garden waste breaking down the organic material, releasing heat, water, and carbon dioxide.

It is a natural process.

The difference between hot and cold composting is that the heat produced in this process is trapped inside the hot compost bin.

The heat accelerates the composting process, it helps the micro organisms break down the organic matter faster, and that is why the compost is ready much earlier than in cold composting.

Garden Gang collect the waste fruit and veg from the classes and mix it with strimmed paper from the office; mix and add a few handfuls of bulking agent (wood mulch) to allow space and oxygen.

Bacteria work inside the thick insulation system to break the mix down and the by product is heat.

In just over three months we have compost.

We also compost leaves and chicken waste.

The latter is high in phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium: rots down and in six months will be good for soft fruit.

With cheery signs that early spring is on its way we are busy repairing and preparing the outdoor areas as well as begin or continue with projects.  

Emily: We had to refix fences. We got hazel and used the axe to make a point at the end and a mallet to knock them in. We shortened the rods so they are shorter and more sturdy.

Jack: I used a sharpie to draw the green king, a bow saw to cut. We used a hammer and nails to connect the pieces.  I made a Kubb piece.

Riley:  I made a cross because my Great Nan died yesterday. I’m going to put it in my garden.

Kristian and Blake: I improved on my design from last time. We put a pattern on the knife.

Maggie, Millie and River: We improved the kitchen and the bridge and we made a wall to block that hole. We all contributed to different designs.

Henry: We’ve made this gate and you can just unhook it. We are going to improve this bit next week.

Josie: I enjoyed playing Viking Chess because it was fun and we were working as a team and encouraging each other.

Maria: When we got really close, even though we didn’t get it down, we were encouraging each other and cheering.

Year 5, 13th January

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Such a lovely day with Year 5!

This term we will be focusing on: whittling wood; first aid (including wild first aid – my favourite!) and fire skills.

These first few sessions we have been continuing a class project on bridges.

We are making a truss bridge and evaluating it.

The children learnt to use a tenon saw and measure and saw, including at 45 degree angles, which were more difficult.

Just as builders do: we measured twice, cut once.  

The children really got to appreciate how focused and precise builders have to be to achieve accuracy.

After discussion they agreed some lengths just weren’t accurate enough and were discarded.

Rather than feel despondent, they persevered, considered the difference at the end and were so pleased that they set high expectations.

We are using pine for this, a soft wood.

These come from conifers, that have cones and needles.

Hardwoods come from broadleaved, deciduous trees.

Amelia shared with us a poster she made about litter.

“I saw lots of litter around my home area so I thought I should do this poster about littering. I think it has made a difference as there is less litter now.”

For free choice, we had some wonderful creativity and use of tools to make: frog sticks, spears and spud guns.

There was a café selling watery tomato soup and bread.

I was charged £55 initially for this, which was kindly reduced by 75 percent as “You are a teacher”.

Ronnie said, ‘Really, you should have it for free!” to which Joey replied, “No way! How are we going to make any money?”

Year 6, 11th January

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Great to see Year 6 again!

This term we will be focusing on: classifying animals and plants using branching keys; climate change; waste and energy and natural navigation.

Of course, every session there will also be free choice as children navigate their own learning journeys.

This week we recapped vertebrates and invertebrates and looked at branching keys to help identify animals.

A classification key is a series of questions that determine an organism's physical characteristics.

We will continue to re-enforce this throughout the term as well as look at field guides.

We also played blindfold drum stalk.

Seth played the drum and the children, wearing blindfolds, had to listen and move towards the sound, as Seth moved around.

There was lots of environmental noise and they really had to focus.

By the end they were less like zombies, more stalking ninjas, kind of.

Lucas: I had to really focus during the drum stalk because I felt unsteady as I couldn’t see.

Olivia: It was kind of scary initially.

Harry: I had to live in nature for a while and trust my other senses, that became my eyes.

Lucas: I measured and cut the elder. I wanted to finish today, so used a glue gun, to be quick. There were frustrations and a blood blister but I am very pleased.

Children’s voice last week:

Maria: First I learnt how to make an elder whistle. First time wasn’t a successful as I broke it but persevered. Now I just need to add the reed, then I can have some fun.

Harry: Today I chose to make a spud gun. I thought it would be easy, it wasn’t. It took me two hours but it was fun. I am really happy I persevered. We started firing apple but when I get home I’ll grab a potato and practise.

More pictures from last term, Years 1 & 2

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