walk around Lickey Hills with Year 10

The pupils showed an interest in exploring the sights of Lickey Hills as they enjoyed finding a variety of movements their bodies could take to travel around the hills such as running to the top or walking diagonally in and out of the trees with the end goal of seeing who could get to the path the quickest. One of the pupils brought along their mountain bike and enjoyed making tracks in the mud and sharing the bike with his peers seeing how high of a wheelie they could achieve. As we were walking through mud and puddles the pupils found a pile of big tree branches with one pupil saying "I am going to sit down as I am tired and need a rest". 

When we got back to the minibus the teacher set up the gas stove and the pupils took it in turns to have a go at cooking bacon with one pupil demonstrating to their peer how to turn on the gas bottle and how much butter to put in the pan before putting the bacon on. 

Year 8 supported with the set up of the rope swing

The pupils supported the teacher with having a go at throwing the rope towards the tallest tree branch while the other pupils watched as the teacher took over and attached the rope to the branch for the set up of the rope swing. While one group was helping the teacher, the other group showed an interest in finding a variety of different ways they could travel to the top of the hill bank such as walking up the steps and exploring through the forest trees. 

The pupils after sat down on the tree stumps and enjoyed drinking a cup of hot chocolate with the choice of having marshmallows sprinkled on top or not as one pupil said "I don't like marshmallows they taste like farts". The pupils feedback for the hot chocolate was positive with a couple describing their enjoyment "this hot chocolate is really good but I do like milk in mine too" and "i really like my hot chocolate it is hot and chocolatey". 

exploring Habberley Valley with Year 9

Some of the pupils enjoyed exploring the various forest and woodland areas of Habberley Valley as they showed an interest in climbing to the top of a variety of either small or high up hills and travelled through bushes or jumped over a watering trough. A small group of the other pupils in the class enjoyed taking it in turns to have a go on the rope swing as they produced the movements of either back and forth or spinning around to guide the rope in which direction they wanted to swing with one pupil saying "I want to go as high as the sky and then come back down spinning to the ground". The pupils also worked together by helping to push each other to go as high as they could with one pupil sticking their hand out for another pupil to grab as they explained "hold my hand and we can go further back together so you can go as high as the branch".  

making a rope swing with long rope and a log to sit on with Year 7B

The pupils showed an interest in exploring a hill where they discovered big trees and began swinging from the branches. We continued walking and found a smaller hill where they engaged in running races to see who could be the quickest. As we got to the bank the pupils decided which directions they were going to take to achieve the goal of getting to the top for example; walking through the forest trees or climbing the steps with one pupil saying "I am the king of the mountain". The pupils watched as the teacher attached the rope to the tallest tree branch with another pupil showing the teacher how to throw the rope "you should throw it really high and I will catch it when it comes down". As the rope was set up the pupils took a break and sat down together to have a drink of hot chocolate with marshmallows. After some of the pupils had a go on the swing as they supported each other by demonstrating and talking through how to position their legs with both of them on each side and then to use their feet to push themselves off. One pupil advised "keep your legs out or you will stop yourself from going high". 

hot chocolate and playing tracker with Year 7A

 

The pupils showed an interest in having running races with each other seeing who could go the fastest. The pupils also enjoyed walking to the top of the hill talking about the sights and what they could see with one pupil saying "look at the view" as they pointed to the buildings which were far away from where we were standing. As we continued to walk the pupils found a really big tree and showed an interest in climbing along the branches. The staff set out a challenge for the pupils of who could reach to the other end of the branch they were sitting on. One pupil explained "I won't be able to walk along that branch it is too thin and won't hold my body". When all of the pupils were sitting under the tree they all enjoyed drinking a cup of hot chocolate with sprinkle of marshmallows on top. After they had finished their drinks the pupils played a couple games of tracker.  

Habberley Valley with Primary 1

The pupils showed an interest in having a go on the rope swing talking about what they will do on it with one pupil saying "I want to go really high" when another explained what movements they would like to make "I am going to try and spin in a circle". As we got to the bank the pupils enjoyed climbing to the top of the hill going in different directions such as walking up the steps or exploring around and through the forest trees. The pupils watched as the teacher predicted how many times it would take to attach the rope to the tallest tree branch. When the rope swing was set up for the pupils they took it in turns, with staff support, to use their feet to push and see how high they could go. One pupil said "wow I nearly touched the clouds". 

After the pupils had a go they all sat down on logs, which were placed in a circle, together in a group and enjoyed drinking a cup of hot chocolate with a sprinkle of marshmallows on top. 

running races with Primary 2 at Worcester Woods

 

The pupils enjoyed walking around Worcester Woods as they showed an interest in exploring the natural resources and wildlife by climbing near to the top of the branches and walking along logs seeing who could balance without falling off. The pupils enjoyed seeing who could run from one tree to another the fastest between the teacher. As we were walking we found an area which has logs around in a circle and decided to sit down in a group for a hot chocolate and marshmallows. 

While we were sitting the pupils could hear a noise of a bird and we described the animal who makes the noise was a "woodpecker". One of the pupils said "it is woody the woodpecker". The pupils walked over to a really tall tree to see if they could find the bird as they looked and pointed to the top of the tree branches saying "look I can see it". 

rope swing at Habberley Valley with Primary 3

As we got to Habberley Valley the pupils enjoyed finding sticks and logs which they described them as "I need a walking stick to help me up the hill". Whilst we were walking the pupils talked about how high they were going to go when they got to the rope swing with one pupil saying "I want to go as high as the sky" as another pupil explained what movements they would need to make to go high "you need to move your feet back and forward as you swing". When we got to the bank of the hill the pupils watched on as the teacher threw the rope to attach it to the tallest branch of the tree with one pupil and staff member supporting the teacher as they found a big and long log which the teacher balanced on to help one end of the rope reaching the branch. The other pupils watched on saying "you need to throw the rope higher" and talking about how many times they thought it would take the teacher to achieve the task with a couple of the pupils saying "i think he can do it in 2 go's" when another shouted from the top of the hill "6".

After the success of attaching the rope to the tree branch the pupils sat down together in a group as they showed enjoyment in drinking a cup of hot chocolate with a sprinkle of marshmallows on top while they talked about what they had been up to while they weren't at school and how they felt about being back with one saying "seeing my friends". The pupils then found small sticks and leaves and played a game of noughts and crosses. 

Year 7A's start to shaping the outer structure for their money box

The pupils showed an interest in beginning to construct the body shape of their money box's where they enjoyed using a variety of tools for example the bandsaw to follow and cut along the lines as they began to see the pieces of wood form into the shape of a square or rectangle, planer to cut down bumps that had been formed into the wood with staff support or independently while the pupil had knowledge of what the safety instructions are and had used the various equipment in previous lessons, to follow and cut along the lines that they could see start to form the shape of a square or rectangle and use the sandpaper to smooth out the edges. The pupils worked together as they helped out each other by assigning one person to cut the shapes out and the other to sandpaper with one pupil saying "I am going to do the sandpapering that is my job".  

Year 8's brisk walk around Hartlebury Common

The pupils enjoyed walking around Hartlebury Common as they explored through a variety of obstacles of sand pits and up to the top of the hill. The pupils showed an interest in climbing trees and finding tree branches which they explained to be their "walking sticks I need one for both of my arms". We talked about how tall the tree branches were with one pupil putting the branch up their body and another pupil saying "look it is as tall as you". When we got down to the bottom of the hill the pupils played a couple games of tracker as they used the sand pit as their base and found various places to hide such as next to or behind bushes and trees.  

went for a nature walk around Worcester Woods with Year 7B

The pupils showed an interest in walking around Worcester Woods as they used descriptive words to describe what sights they could see for example "look at the clouds in the sky they are round and white". The pupils enjoyed exploring the ways to how they could brake branches from the trees in either a "I am just going to use my feet to snap the branch apart" or one pupil said "why don't you try and twist the end of the branch". As we were walking the pupils found a log campsite where they decided they would like to sit with one pupil saying "I am going to take a break" and play a few games of tracker. The pupils took it in turns to have a go at being the catcher as themselves and a peer worked together to catch their other peer's who hide in a variety of places such as behind trees, bushes or "I am going to hide by this tree 2 metres away from the campsite".

creating the structure of a sign for RSS with Primary 3

The pupils showed an interest in using the bandsaw to cut out a variety of arrows which they both took it in turns to have a go at drawing around the outer template. One of the pupil's enjoyed using the electric sand machine to smooth both sides of the wooden arrow and get rid of the access material of a brown layer. The pupil also supported their peer with peer on peer mentoring as they demonstrated what movements you would need to make when using the electric tool such as "you need to move it like a circle". The other pupil, as his peer was using the sand machine, showed an interest in smoothing the edges of the arrows as they thought of their own way to use the sandpaper "look I am going to use two at the same time". As one of the sand paper's fell onto the floor, the pupil said "it is ok I have a spare one". 

At the end of the lesson the pupils each had a go at using a hammer to attach nails to the wooden post sign as they understood it was to keep the arrows from falling off. We asked the pupils for their feedback on what they thought of the sign when it was completed with one saying "it is tall, it is nearly as tall as me" while placing it on the floor as the other pupil said "I like how the arrows face different ways". 

 
 

money box project with Primary 1

The pupils showed an interest in continuing to create the shapes for their money boxes as they took it turns between each other to use the different tools of sandpaper, a planer and chisel to smooth the edges to their pieces of wood. The pupils identified as a group that they needed "four" pieces to make the body structure of their box. The pupils helped one another by showing demonstrations of what movements to make when using the various tools for example one pupil advised "you need to move it back and forward and really fast" when another pupil said "look how smooth my edges are I moved the sandpaper up and down". 

7A using tools to construct the body of their money box

The pupils showed an interest in working together in pairs or independently to cut around or along the lines for the shape of their money boxes using a variety of tools such as saws, a bandsaw, sand paper and a planer. The pupils watched as the teacher demonstrated how to use the tools safely for example; pointing the saw down to the floor, pushing the wood slowly when using the bandsaw because if you move it fast the piece of wood will start to bounce and the line will be jaggered as well as understanding that moving the planer in a back and forward motion will straighten the outer line. One pupil explained the reason for why we use sand paper "it is to help with smoothing the edges of the wood". 

The pupils also enjoyed peer on peer mentoring where one pupil supported their peers by noticing at what stages they were beginning to struggle and lending a helping hand to start the process of completing the structure of their money boxes  as they demonstrated the use of a saw to cut their wood into smaller pieces following the lines of their chosen shape.

worcester woods with Year 8

The pupils enjoyed walking around Worcester woods describing what sights they could see and enjoyed exploring through nature as they picked up different sized sticks saying "this is my walking stick to help with the mud". As we were walking we noticed a wooden pit and as a group we decided to sit down with one pupil saying "yes I need a rest from all of this long walking". The pupils showed an interest in playing a couple of games of tracker as they went around the woods hiding in a variety of places such as behind a tree, in bushes with the goal of getting to the wooden pit before the person on catches you.

continuing to decorate and shape their spears and axes with Year 7B

The pupils showed an interest in continuing to the next step of their project of using different coloured paints to decorate the various parts, such as the handle or head, of their axes or spears. The pupils worked together in pairs, or independently to start or finish the end result to their project with one pupil asking "how do I attach this top piece of my axe to my handle?". We explained they would need a nail and hammer.  

                                                                                                    The pupils also enjoyed peer on peer mentoring where one pupil demonstrated to another how to hold, turn on and navigate the electric planer as they displayed what movements they would need to create to make their wood smooth for example; "you can move it around in circles or back and forward".

deconstruction of a wooden bike and creating a wooden sign

At the start of the lesson the pupils put themselves into two groups where one half of the group showed an interest in using a variety of tools such as a screwdriver, different sized hammers and pliers to deconstruct the body shape of a wooden bike and took it in turns to share and explore the different tools as well as using a screwdriver to unscrew the nails to unattach the wheels. 

As the one group were taking the wooden bike apart, the other group enjoyed working together to smooth the edges of each arrow for the RSS display sign using sand paper and a planer by taking it in turns to have a go and understanding who was going to take part in what job such as "if I scrap to the line you can sand paper after". The pupils then had a go at using a hammer to attach the nails and wooden arrows to the long post with one pupil talking about their past experience of using a hammer and making a post "I have used a hammer and nails before with my Grandad". 

constructing the shapes of their money boxes with Primary 1 and 2

The pupils showed an interest in continuing to create the body structures of their money boxes using a variety of tools such as hand saw's and a bandsaw. One of the pupils, with staff support, had a go at working the mechanics of the bandsaw by using their foot to stop the machine and then lift their foot up for it to start as they worked together with a staff member to push the four pieces of wood for the shape of their money box slowly while they watched the thin blade cut around the lines. 

All of the pupils enjoyed using the tools as they took it in turns to use each hand and mechanic saw and helped each other by demonstrating what movements they would need to make to cut the wood for example; back and forward, and with staff support began to understand that pointing the saw to the floor makes you cut quicker.    

constructing Year 7A and 9's money boxes

The pupils showed an interest in using the material of wood to make their own box. The pupils listened to all safety instructions with how to use the variety of tools such as pointing the saw downwards as they cut the pieces of wood. The pupils understood that they needed to wear goggles and a apron when using the tools and at a what time for example; one pupil said "you wear the goggles when you are using the saw as it stops the dust from getting in your eyes". The pupils sat around in a group as they watched demonstrations of what equipment they would be using for the creation of their box and how they were going to achieve the final result. 

• The pupils worked individually or in pairs as they began to understand that the numbers on the ruler would match with the dimensions to how long the pieces of wood would need be and the length of width for the sides to complete the structure of the box. As a group the pupils identified, with staff support, the measurements of "20" cm long and "6" cm wide. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The pupils then had a go at measuring the lengths out by using a pencil and ruler and continued to look at a diagram of what sizes the sides of the boxes will be, this was drawn on a whiteboard. 
• The pupils identified that they would need "four sides" for their box as one pupil labelled each one with the words "bottom, side, other side and top". 
• After the pupils each took it in turns, or worked together, to use a saw to cut along or around the lines, with staff support, for each side. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Near the end of the lesson the teacher gathered the pupils around a cutting machine and explained that it was used for cutting smaller pieces of wood whilst showing them how to use the machine such as moving the wood slowly while it is cutting because if you do it quickly then the line for their sides would be jaggered and not straight. One of the pupils said "you have to put your foot on the red button for the machine to start and stop". As we were travelling back to school from RSS, I asked all pupils if they had enjoyed the lesson and what they liked the most. One pupil said "I liked using the saw but it was really hard to cut the wood", when another pupil said "I didn't like the saw it took ages to cut and afterwards my arm really hurt and was tired".

making a wooden sign with Primary 3

 

Some of the pupils showed an interest in using pieces of wood to create the shape of an arrow for the developing structure of a school sign. The pupils acknowledged the recognition of numbers as they began to see that those numbers are placed on a ruler which helped them to develop the skill to measure the outline shape of the arrows. The pupils worked together in pairs and independently by taking it in turns to explore a variety of tools such as sandpaper to smooth the edges and operating an electric cutter as they followed the lines which created the cut out body of each arrow. The other half of the group went on the laptops and participated in purple mash as they matched numbers together to make one higher number or understood that one number plus another number will calculate an answer such as what is 3+2=5. 

designing their own money box with Primary 1 and 2

At the beginning of the lesson we had a group discussion about the pupils making their own money box out of different materials such as wood or cardboard. The pupils took it in turns to research a design to how they would like the box to look and be constructed. The pupils talked about how many slots they might have depending on what numbered coins they are thinking of putting in, what shape it could be for example, a square or rectangle and if they are going to put adding graphical features. One pupil said "I want mine to have glasses and a funny face like this one". The pupils then had a go at using the app paint, with staff support, to create the body and design to what their box could look like at the end of the project.