Linked to our science and history, we visited the Wind Energy Museum which showed how the Norfolk Broads were drained using different sorts of pumps as so much of our land here is below the river level. Wind energy and later developments have enabled landuse to change from marsh to farmland. We have learnt about the importance of the rivers in the past as a transport network (see history). We walked from the museum along the river to see the marsh, river, drainage ditches and farmland until we reached Thurme Mill, one of the last working windpumps in Norfolk. We watched the sails turn the cogs to pump the water into the river.
Herons Activities
Herons Art and Technology
After our visit to the Wind Energy Museum, we investigated wind power and forces such as air resistance and gravity in science, then tried out making several types of kites, before designing and making our own.
Herons Core Values
During forest schools, we foster co operation, compassion, trust and respect for each other and our environment. We enjoy creating different “restaurant” dens together, shelters for the homeless, hotels and even cinemas amongst the trees in our school grounds.
We have also marvelled at nature – how can conkers be such different sizes.
and the power of nature- on windy days we like to try and fly with giant tarpaulins and on wet days, slide down the mound, always taking care of ourselves and each other.
As the days get colder, you can’t beat a good fire with hot chocolate and marshmallows.
Herons Maths
We have worked hard on expanding our knowledge of decimals and fractions, including converting cm to mm.
The measurements resulted in spirals.
Herons RE
We have created zig zag books to re-tell the Creation story using alliteration and as many adjectives as we can and then linked it to our colour-mixing skills with watercolours. We continue to ponder over the power of God and the beauty of the Earth.
Herons Science
We have been exploring pre- history to find out about how the fossil record millions of years ago can explain changes in climate and evolution.
We have made our own fossils from by casting plaster of paris in moulds of seashells pressed into clay.
We had to be paleantologists and “dig out” the fossils we had made from the clay using tools and toothbrushes!
We have investigated different rock characteristics- some rocks are permeable and absorb water.
Earth wind and Fire Art
We have made eerie people in the style of Anthony Gormley.
We have used watercolours to tell the Christian creation story.
We have layered tissue paper to show vents, magma and lava to create volcano pictures in the style of Margaret Godfrey.
Herons’ Autumn Term’s Learning
As part of the whole school topic “Funny Bones”, we have found out about how amazing our bodies’ organs and systems are, including a rather disgusting demonstration of the digestive process which involved a pair of tights, coffee and breakfast….. We finished the science part of this topic by cooking healthy recipes such as flapjacks and carrot cakes and even making our own apple justice using a press, it looked weird and was hard work but was named “tastyfresh” and tasted just like that.
We have become proficient at using google classroom and google slides to make presentations for assemblies on the core value of Respect to share with other classes and also to show our knowledge about NHS heroes. Here are some examples showing animation or transition of slides and our researching skills, putting information in our own words:
Following on from reading the new book “Health heroes” by Emily Sharratt, we were inspired to apply for jobs in the NHS to show off our writing skills in a formal letter. Here is the start of one:
We worked on rhythm and rhyme to write poems based on Michael Rosen’s “These are the hands”:
These are the hands,
That open the gate,
To welcome the children,
Make sure they’re not late.
These are the hands,
That write on the board,
Help us learn.
The classroom “Lord,”
Helps find our future,
Teaches us lessons,
That are super duper,
Help us find the answer,
Towards our dream job
Maybe .. a dancer?
These are the hands
That let us have fun
While working hard
Until it’s all done, Whose hands are these?
Forest School Fridays have helped develop our intra-personal skills, problem solving abilities and physical and mental well-being. Here are a few of the activities we have done so far: cooking pasta, hot chocolate,making rope swings, dens, learning knots, making parachutes and slides. 
Art and music have been taught together by looking at music from different cultures,trying out the rhythmic ideas from this and then representing them pictorially through collage. What different sounds can you see here?
We have also been developing our printing and stencilling techniques ready to make Christmas cards. 
Herons’ forest school
To celebrate Bonfire Night, we created our own firework displays with natural materials.
Herons self portraits using ict skills
Actually Harvest portraits following work on Guiseppe Archimboldo.
