In our theme of ‘Happily Ever After’ we have been looking at fairy tales, one of which being ‘The Ugly Duckling’. This led us to discuss other birds in our area and what they need to live a happy life. We made bird feeders using seeds and lard and placed them in our school garden for the birds to enjoy.
PSQM Press Release September 2022
Hebburn Lakes Primary School Awarded Primary Science Quality Mark
Over 400 Primary Science Quality Marks have been awarded to infant, junior, primary, middle and special schools this month to celebrate their commitment to excellence in science teaching and learning. So far, since its national launch in 2010, over 5000 schools across the UK have achieved a prestigious Primary Science Quality Mark.
Primary Science Quality Mark is a one-year school improvement programme for primary science, which provides professional development for new and experienced subject leaders each year. PSQM enables confident, knowledgeable, reflective leadership which results in an improvement in the way in which science is planned and taught across the whole school.
The Primary Science Quality Mark is led by the University of Hertfordshire in collaboration with the Primary Science Teaching Trust.
Associate Professor Jane Turner, PSQM National Director said: “There was never a more important time for primary children to have a high-quality science education. The coronavirus pandemic and climate change crisis have made everyone aware of the importance of science in our world. Primary schools have an important role to ensure that children understand how science works and keeps us and our planet healthy and safe. Schools that have achieved a Primary Science Quality Mark have demonstrated a significant commitment to science teaching and learning. The profile and quality of science in each awarded school is very high. Children are engaging with great science both in and outside the classroom, developing positive attitudes towards science as well as secure scientific understanding and skills. Science subject leaders, their colleagues, head teachers, children, parents and governors should be very proud.”
We have launched our first theme of the year, which is based all around COMMUNICATION. During assembly the children found out how meerkats communicate with each other. Did you know that they take it in turns to watch out for predators and when everything is ok they make a low constant peeping known as ‘The Watchman’s song’? If a predator is spotted the guard alerts the others with a bark or a whistle.
People have been communicating with each other throughout the whole of human history, but how we communicate with each other has changed massively over the last 30 years.
We are going to be investigating all sorts of weird and wonderful ways of communicating in our new theme.
Reception had a fabulous day at the beach. Sunshine, a shallow dip, ice creams and so much sandy fun and exploration! A perfect end to an amazing year!
UKS2 were given the opportunity to take part in this year’s ‘STEMFEST Net Zero’ event, to raise the aspirations and opportunities available to our young people within the North East.
Throughout the day, we were immersed in STEM-based industries, who showed us a range of different career pathways and what we could expect to see in the future – including zero-emissions transport and a futuristic robot trolley!
We were able to experience it, play with it, use it and develop it.. skills we have been integrating in our own school learning.
We had an amazing day and are truly inspired by what the future holds for us!
As part of our previous theme ‘What on earth?’ and then linking into our current theme ‘Over the Rainbow’ Reception were very lucky to look after some caterpillars. We investigated the life cycle and then watched out caterpillars grow, change to the chrysalis stage and then finally our beautiful butterflies emerged! We observed them for a day or two and fed them fruit, when they were ready, we let them go free! Some of them flew off straight away, but one of them stayed as it seemed to like sitting with one of our girls!
Year 1 and 7 Red went on a trip to the Centre For Life in Newcastle as part of our theme of Light and Dark. In the scientific part of the visit we experimented with moving cogs, built rockets, researched how astronauts live out in space (including how they go to the toilet!) and manned a space station. We also visited the planetarium and watched the story of Little Bear and saw all the constellations in our skies. In our geographical section of our trip we looked at animals from different continents and were able to name the continents and discover what the habitat is like on each continent. We then went into the play zone where we were able to create structures, shadows and role play. We had an amazing day and our behaviour was exemplary! We are so proud of you all!
This week during our theme ‘What on earth?’ we have been looking at small things. Then Reception used the story ‘Little Red Hen’ to support some of our learning. We decided to make some bread, the smell of baking bread was amazing and it tasted delicious! We certainly have some contenders for Great British Bake Off!
We had a great day at the ‘Space’ themed exhibition at the Life Science Centre.
Lots to do and lots to explore, from launching rockets in Mission Control to watching a film about star constellations in a 360 degree movie dome. We even helped with some science experiments, investigating space travel and exploration.
Today in our Forest School, we ‘experienced it’ by going on a bug hunt. We had great fun exploring in the garden and looking for minibeasts. We used magnifying glasses to look closely at all the different minibeasts and name them. We also talked about where they lived and what they looked like. Why don’t you ‘use it’ and have a look at home to see if you can find any minibeasts?
