Ancient Egyptian fact-finding

This week, in Crew White we have been delving deeper into the history of Ancient Egypt to find how just how advanced they were as a society and civilisation. We started by ordering some key events over the time period then became historians and looked at a range of secondary sources. We finished our lesson by answering the question, ‘How do we know the Ancient Egyptians were advanced?’

Roy of the Rovers! 

That’s right…he’s back. Roy of the Rovers is a football-themed book that has caught the attention of many of our Crew mates. At first, we only had three books but we had to go back to the school library to collect many more. During independent reading, it has been really quiet this week because everyone has engaged with their book. Members of Crew White enjoyed the book and told us that it’s easy to read, very catchy and it’s very interesting. 

-Written by Tiarna 

Sharing our Stories: 05/06/2026

Beautiful work this week

Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across the XP Trust!

To read about other stories from across the XP Trust, visit xptrust.org.

Top of the Blogs

Class 5 Artists @ Green Top

Y5 Scientists @ Plover

Crew McLoughlin Become Historians! @ Carcroft School

POL and our first XPG Live for all families @ XP Gateshead

Seaside explorers @ Norton Infants

Spotting Greatness in X32 Skipper: Working Hard, Getting Smart, and Being Kind @ XP School

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It might be something you or your students have achieved, a charity you’re supporting or anything at all that deserves a wider audience.

Write to us at [email protected] –  we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!

Crew McLoughlin Become Historians!

This week, Crew McLoughlin stepped into the role of historians as they explored a range of Ancient Egyptian artefacts. Using their Historian’s Note Pages, the children carefully examined each artefact and recorded their observations, describing exactly what they could see, including shapes, materials, symbols and patterns. They then used these clues to make inferences about what the artefacts may have been used for and what they could tell us about life in Ancient Egypt.

As part of their historical enquiry, the children also generated thoughtful questions about the artefacts, considering who may have used them, why they were created and what they reveal about Ancient Egyptian society. Through discussion and investigation, the children demonstrated curiosity, critical thinking and a growing understanding that historians use evidence to build a picture of the past. We were incredibly impressed with the insightful ideas and questions that emerged and look forward to continuing our journey into the fascinating world of Ancient Egypt.

P.e

Today in P.E., the children practised their throwing skills. They took part in a variety of activities designed to develop their accuracy, control, and coordination. The children worked hard and showed good focus while improving their technique.

Cheese Garlic Naan Bread

In Life Skills today, the children made their own cheese and garlic naan bread. They mixed 190g of self-raising flour with 250g of fat-free Greek yoghurt to create the dough. They then rolled out the dough, placed cheese in the centre, folded the dough around the filling, and rolled it out again. Finally, they fried the naan on each side for one minute before brushing the top with garlic butter. The children enjoyed developing their measuring, mixing, and food preparation skills while creating a delicious snack.

Crew McLoughlin Takes Part in First Aid Training

Crew McLoughlin recently took part in an exciting and informative first aid training session, supported by their adults from home. The session gave young people the opportunity to learn important life-saving skills and develop a better understanding of how the human body works.

During the training, the crew learned about DR ABC, a simple but essential process used when responding to an emergency. They explored what each step means:

  • D – Danger
  • R – Response
  • A – Airway
  • B – Breathing
  • C – Circulation

Understanding DR ABC helps people assess a situation safely and decide what action needs to be taken to help someone who may be injured or unwell.

The group also learned about the circulatory system and discussed what makes it healthy or unhealthy. They explored how the heart pumps blood around the body and why it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle through good nutrition, regular exercise, and positive habits. The young people considered how choices such as smoking, poor diet, and lack of exercise can negatively affect the circulatory system.

One of the most engaging parts of the session was learning how to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Crew members practised the correct techniques for chest compressions and learned when CPR may be needed. They discovered how quick action can make a significant difference in an emergency situation.

The training also introduced the crew to the use of a defibrillator (AED). They learned what a defibrillator does, when it should be used, and how the device provides clear instructions to help people respond confidently during a cardiac emergency. Practising with training equipment helped everyone feel more comfortable and prepared.

The session was a fantastic learning experience, and Crew McLoughlin showed great enthusiasm throughout. A big thank you goes to the adults from home who supported the event and helped make the learning possible. By developing these first aid skills, the crew has gained valuable knowledge that could one day help them save a life.

Well done to everyone involved for their participation, teamwork, and commitment to learning such important skills.