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Today in Citizenship crew we continued looking at our rights and the rights of others. We discovered that showing respect for others is really important, to ensure everyone feels safe and cared for. We looked at different scenarios and sorted them into two groups, those that showed respect and those that didn’t. We had some really interesting discussions and Oliver again blew us away with his knowledge and understating of social norms.
Today in Crew Haddock we did another experiment but this time with ice. They had to get 3 cups and fill them with the same amount of water and put them in the freezer. Once they are frozen we then put 1 on the table, 1 on the radiator and then we left the last one in the freezer. We then checked each cup every 30 minutes to see which one was melting first. We found that the one on the radiator melted first and the one in the freezer didn’t melt at all.
Today, we explored 3D shapes. We sorted them based on their properties and learnt some new vocabulary. We counted the faces, edges and vertices and then matched them to their name at the end of the lesson.
This afternoon in RE, we discussed the reasons why people pray. It was great to hear the children come up with so many reasons and discuss who the people are that they go to in times of worry or when they need assistance. We also had mixed opinions as to whether they though prayer helped. We’ll look forward to exploring some examples of prayers in the next lesson.
This week in computing, we carried on with out learning about search engines. We used a search engine to find information about explorers. We then worked together to research answers to questions. Quickly, we figured out that the website we were using was full of inaccurate information and fake news when we compared it to another website. We learnt that we have to be careful when searching on the internet.
In our art lessons we have been learning about Georges Seurat and how he uses pointillism to create his artwork, we did a lot of practise of this first before having a go at our final product.
In our computing lesson today we have looked at algorithms in more depth and looked at why the instruction needs to be precise so that everyone does the same and follows it the same.
We learnt that editing an algorithm is called a bug.
We have started our new text today, Lost and Found. The boy unexpectedly found a penguin on his doorstep 🐧 They little boy was confused as to who it belonged to and in order to find out where he had come from they visited lots of places. His first stop was the park. He saw lots of noisy children and chirping birds who ignored the little boys plea for help.
This week we’re proud to share the beautiful story LKS2s Expedition from last term ‘Coming to Doncaster: why then and why now?’. The incredible work from the students is on display outside the school for the community to see – make sure you go and check it out!
This week beautiful work created by students at XP Gateshead was curated and unveiled at the QE Hospital!
‘What does it mean to be human?’
As part of their learning the students considered what makes a human both in a scientific way, through study of the gas exchange, circulatory and reproductive systems, and with regard to culture and religious beliefs when studying the Abrahamic faiths and the sanctity of human life.
Students then began the analysis of the tone and structure of successful speeches, and used this learning to write persuasive speeches on the topic of organ donation.
The theme of how humans and their societies and cultures grow and develop was then explored. Studying the development of humans from a single cell, through childhood, and puberty and onwards to adulthood. Adding to this theme we also considered our evolutionary past.
Students also worked with an expert to explore innovations and advancements that are being made around the world to help and support the development of humans. Alongside this students met with experts in organ donation, Dharmic faiths and Humanist beliefs in order to reflect upon who we want to be and how we can be the best version of ourselves.
The students were then challenged to create artwork to promote organ donation, and reflect upon what it means to be Human. Students also gave a speech expressing what they think it means to be human to parents and experts.
This work displayed at the QE hospital is the result of XPG’s community collaboration and celebrates what it means to be human and how together we are stronger.
The work has been well received already and Gateshead NHS have shared this post about working with the students at XPG!
We’re on TV next week!
XP Doncaster will be featured in a BBC Two documentary to be aired on the 7th March.
Multi award winning TV company Tern TV, spent several days filming with us last summer, with the presenter Darren McGarvey, who won the Orwell prize for his book ‘Poverty Safari’.
The filming was for the second of three documentaries, which in order focus on Justice, Education and Health, titled: Darren McGarvey: The State We’re In.
Claira Salter, our Principal of XP Doncaster said:
“We love to share what we do across the XP Trust, welcoming over a thousand visitors and delegates from all over the world in the last year alone. So, when we were approached by Tern TV to take part in the education documentary presented by Darren, it was a real opportunity to engage with an even wider audience here and for our students to participate in the process of interviewing and film making.”
“We are looking forward to seeing all three programmes and are delighted that the spotlight will also be on Doncaster and the communities and partners we are proud to work with.”
All episodes are available on BBC iPlayer now and the Education documentary will be broadcast on Thursday 7th March at 9pm on BBC Two.
Weekly update for parents @ XP Gateshead
Kindness changes everything @ Norton Infants
Family Learning Y3/4 @ Green Top
Fantastic artwork in Year 9 @ XP
Fieldwork Fun at Yorkshire Wildlife Park @ Plover
Science Experiment @ Carcroft School
Year 3 are Magnetic! @ Norton Juniors
Find out more about the role and apply here to #JoinOurCrew
We now have a new dedicated news email so that you can send your stories, updates or ideas about potential news articles directly to us in Comms.
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!
