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.

designing a money box with 7A and Year 9

 The pupils showed an interest in researching or thinking of their own ideas for how they would design their money box. The pupils worked together in pairs or independently as they talked about what shape it was going to be such as a square or rectangle and then made a list of what tools or equipment they would need to construct the body as one pupil wrote down; "a saw, drill and sandpaper", as well as the technical components for example; how many slots their money box would have for the different coins, the size of the coins and how the coins were going to travel like "on a slop'" or "I want to make a hole at the top to put my coins in". 

The pupil explained what the tools would be used for "a saw to cut the wood into four pieces and then three long pieces to go next to each other in the centre, sandpaper to smooth the sides, a drill to make the holes for each money slot".

Primary 3 constructing a money box

The pupils gathered together to listen to all instructions as the teacher explained what they were going to be making and what materials such as wood, and tools they were going to use for example, a planer and sand paper. The pupils said we would need "four sides" for the money box. The pupils showed an interest in planing and sand papering one side of the wooden box and talked about their past experiences of working with wood and what tools they used. One pupil said "me and my Grandad have done this before when he was making a table for my room". The pupils took it in turns to use each of the different tools. The pupils after worked in a group as they watched the demonstration of how they were going to join the four pieces of wood and what equipment we needed to measure the length of each money slot, for example; a ruler. One of the pupils identified the number "10" with support. 

constructing a wooden table with Year 11

The pupils helped one another and the staff to carry the wooden table top and body structure from one room to the DT room. The pupils showed an interest in using different tools such as a drill to join the table top and legs together. While they were using the tools the staff member held the wooden legs in place as one pupil drilled various sized nails, either big or small, into the four holes to help keep it secure. 

continued junk modelling project with Year 7A

The pupils showed an interest in finishing off their robot's by using different materials, real life equipment's like headphones, laptop keyboards and electrical system circuits. The pupils enjoyed sharing the variety of tools and resources such as taking it in turns to use the hot glue gun to stick the materials onto their robot's as they described where they wanted the headphones or electrical system circuits to be placed for example "there in the middle" and "I want this to be glued on both sides of the robot's head ". 

The pupils showed interest in sharing their thoughts on joining the electrical system circuit pieces together to try and get the technology to work. The pupils also enjoyed using the pliers to cut the electrical pieces into different sizes of either small or long. At the end of the lesson the staff acknowledged the pupils feedback to if they enjoyed making their robot's. One pupil said "I liked giving my robot the fan so it can cool them down when they get hot". Another pupil said "I liked gluing my robot's arms and legs together for them to walk".
 

DT project with Year 8

The pupils showed an interest in making a variety of materialized objects such as using wood to construct a hammer, spear, axe. One of the pupil's, with staff support, used different materials of shredded cardboard, cardboard boxes, plastic tubes, fabric lids to make their own robot with the body features of a head, arms and legs and "I will cut a square out for the robot's face". The pupil also used the resources for "this can be his hat" and "we could use this thread for his jumper hoodie". The pupils worked together in groups as they provided each other with advice on how to smooth or demolish the outer shape of their object for example; one pupil said "I would get a wooden block and put the sandpaper over so then you will be able to move it around the wood quicker".

Year 7B's project to make spears, axe, bow and arrow

 

The pupils showed an interest in continuing with their group project of constructing their own spear, axe or bow and arrow. The pupils enjoyed using various tools such as sand paper to smooth the edges of their spear or axe, pliers, Stanley knives and saws to cut off the debris from their stick or log, as well as taking it in turns to access an electric planer which they moved in a variety of motions of back and forth or around in a circle to create and form the outer shape of their bow and arrow or "Gandalf's staff". After they had finished, one of the pupils was given the choice of what colour paint they would like to decorate their axe or spear as they identified "I am using a reddy gold".

Primary 3's junk modelling of robot's

The pupils showed an interest in making a robot out of different materials of cardboard boxes, toilet tubes, plastic tubes and plastic bottles. The pupils also enjoyed starting to decorate their robot's using electrical circuit wires as one pupil said "this is going to be the voice box" and another said "I want this wire to connect with that wire that could go into the head". 

The pupils worked together as they discussed step by step about what parts of their robot they were going to make next and where on their robot they would like the head, arms, legs and electrical circuit power units, for example; "in the middle" and "one arm at the top and the other down a little bit more" . The pupils shared each of the various tools such as; scissors, hot glue gun and drill to stick and drill the different materials together to create the shape of their robot.