UKS2 were very proud to present their learning to their adults last week. After giving an introduction explaining all about our expedition titled: Justice through time, the children explained what we had done during our case studies to answer our guiding question: Does the punishment always fit the crime?
From showcasing their writing to demonstrating their growing historical knowledge, pupils have taken great pride in sharing what they have achieved.
We were all super proud of UKS2, we cannot wait to see and share our final product!
Last week, our UKS2 Crews had a very special visit from an expert artist and Tudor enthusiast. She brought with her a remarkable portrait of King Henry VIII, which had been painted for her by her father. Seeing the portrait up close was a fantastic experience for the children, as it helped bring our Tudor learning to life.
During the session, she shared fascinating information about Hans Holbein the Younger, one of the most famous artists of the Tudor period. Holbein is well known for painting incredibly detailed and realistic portraits of important figures at the court of Henry VIII. His paintings were not just about showing what someone looked like — they were carefully designed to show power, wealth and status.
We looked closely at some of the features that made Holbein’s portraits so distinctive. The children noticed the rich fabrics, detailed jewellery and confident poses used to show the importance of the people being painted. We also discussed how artists used colour, position and symbolism to send a message about the subject.
Our visitor also gave the class some helpful critique and advice about their own Tudor portrait work. She encouraged the children to think carefully about proportion, detail and expression, just as artists like Holbein would have done hundreds of years ago.
The session was a brilliant opportunity to combine history and art, helping the children understand not only what Tudor portraits looked like, but also why they were created in that way. It was a memorable experience and gave everyone lots of inspiration as we continue developing our own Tudor-style portraits.
For this week’s crew challenge, Crew McLoughlin and Crew Gray worked on strengthening their memory skills. They were given 15 seconds to carefully observe a selection of objects on the board before they were covered up. The children then had to recall and list as many items as they could remember. It was wonderful to see their focus, teamwork, and determination as they challenged themselves to improve each round.
Today Crew Gray have been drafting their Tudor self-portraits, focusing carefully on our eyes, nose, mouth, and eyebrows. The children have been learning about proportion and placement, noticing the small details that make their faces unique. It has been lovely to see their concentration and growing confidence as their portraits begin to reflect who they are as Tudors.
In Crew Gray this week, we have been sharing our fantastic writing from our recounts of our Tudor banquet with one another. We shared two stars and a wonder for each others work, allowing us to edit and revise them, before we share them with Miss Ramsey our audience for this piece of writing.
In Expedition, Crew Gray have been expanding our knowledge on Tudor crimes and their punishments. We ordered the crimes from most severe to least severe, before matching them to what we thought would be a suitable punishment. We were shocked to discover what punishments in the Tudor times were actually like.
Today we were very lucky to have a visit from volunteers Sandy and Trevor from the Children’s Air Ambulance. They shared lots of facts about how the air ambulance works and how their missions save the lives of children and babies who need urgent care. Did you know it costs £5500 each time the ambulance is launched!
We were delighted to invite parents into school for our Art Exhibition, where children had the opportunity to proudly showcase their writing, art and DT (Design and Technology) skills. The hall was transformed into a gallery space, allowing families to walk around, admire the work and celebrate the creativity and effort that has gone into each piece.
The displayed work was beautifully framed to reflect our expeditionary learning, with a strong focus on understanding how we can help our planet survive. These frames helped bring together the children’s knowledge of sustainability, environmental responsibility and global care, giving real purpose and meaning to their creations.
The children were excited to talk confidently about their learning, explaining their ideas, techniques and the processes behind their work. From carefully crafted written pieces to imaginative artwork and thoughtfully designed DT projects, the gallery highlighted both creativity and skill development. It was wonderful to see the children take such pride in their achievements and to share this special experience with their families.
