Thursday, 26 January 2012

Reflections on the Week


Reflections from our evaluation session:

We have had an amazing week!  We have achieved so much and have created many memories.  Here are some of our thoughts and reflections about the challenges we've faced and our favourite things:

- I have really pushed myself and done things that I never thought I could.
- It's been amazing, I'll never forget this week.
- I loved the canoeing and the kayaking and I got much better at it - I was faster than Mr Darnley in the end.
- I have done lots of new things and made new friends.
- It was extremely hard work getting to the top of the mountain and the waterfall but I felt great when I'd done it.
- It was so funny when we were running into the sea and we fell over in the waves.
- I loved re-enacting the battle between the Welsh and the English at the castle at Criccieth - especially pushing Mr Darnley to the floor.
- It was so funny when Miss Szyndler fell in the lake.
- I have become more independent.
- I loved the ice cream!
- There were times when I thought I was going to give up but I didn't.
- I loved the mine and mountain experience.
- I overcame many of my fears.

Thank you all for viewing this blog over the last week - your comments have been great and really lovely to read.  Keep on reading what we are up to when we get back to school!

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

Day 3 - A brief summary!

Today has been very busy!

Group A have been to Plas dol-y-moch lake in the morning and to the pottery (Bryn Mawr) on the Afon Dwyryd in the afternoon.  (Afon is a Welsh word - can you work out what it means?)

Group B have been to Wrysgan Mine and Moel yr Hydd (which means the hill of the stag) - we reached the summit in strong wind!

Group C have been to Llyn Mair (Mary's lake) and Coed Mair Stream (in Mary's forest).




Simon (Garry's dad): Having been given a great opportunity to go with all from Howes, it has been a great privilege to witness all of the achievements and high standards that all of the pupils have accomplished so far.  Thanks!

Labyrinth Stories!

Night Adventure - The Labyrinth.

We found 5 objects in the 5 pods of the labyrinth.  Afterwards we had to write a short story using these objects - they are quite strange!

Story 1:
Once upon a time in a secret labyrinth there lived five different living objects; they were: a brush, a glove, a gardening glove, a lizard and a spade. On the night that the items arrived, lightning struck! Then suddenly the items came to life.  A few hours later, the items broke out of the labyrinth and caused chaos, as the night that the lightning had struck, powers were sent to them.

Story 2:
Once upon a time in a land far, far away, there lived a male lizard with scales all over his skin.  He had beady eyes like a torch shining into the night.  He longed to live with a sweet lovely girl but alas, he lived on the spokes of a wheel.  He travelled around the four corners of the earth to find his true love, but all he found was a spade and a hairbrush.

Story 3:
On a bright summers day, Tracy and Spencer went to the beach to find gold.  When they started digging all that they could find were dead lizard bodies.  Then Tracy got her hair tangled with Spencer's spade so Spencer kindly untangled the knot with Tracy's hairbrush.  After hours of searching they found a mysterious looking oval egg which was extremely shiny.  Could this be their day...?

Tuesday, 24 January 2012

Group C's Activities-Beach day


Today our first activities were orienteering and the beach!

 Deepak: 'I loved making the volcanos, loved going to the castle and I LOVED the Ice-cream!'

 Mr. Smith: 'Great day on the beach (in the middle of January!) making sand-volcanoes! Lovely walk up to Criccieth Castle followed by a very tasty ice-cream. Brilliant effort by all. Another very busy day lined up tomorrow!'

 Mrs Brammer: 'Everyone has had a great day - orienteering, volcanoes in the sand, lunch (sand- sandwiches!), walk across the beach at Criccieth, a climb up to the castle and then back down for ice-creams. I thought it was great that teacher's got a free ice-cream! I would recommend the toffee flavour but most the children opted for blue bubble gum (and therefore interesting blue coloured tongues!)

 

Group A's activities- Mine and mountain

Today, we went to Mt Moel y hydd which was a huge mountain. We had the challenge to climb the steep mountain and enter the slate mine. It was enormous in the slate mine, dark and challenging for all. 

Shyan: It was really funny when Kuran fell over and had a water fight with Mr Darnley in the waterfall. Had a fantastic time and have never seen so many sheep trying to climb up the mountain.

Charlotte: It was really fun, enjoyed climbing up the steep slope in the mine and it was hilarious when Shyan got his foot stuck in the mud.

Kuran: I enjoyed the exercise up the mountain and have never seen so much sheep poo in all my life. 

Colin: I loved climbing up the rope in the mine and we saw a dragon. We went inside the waterfall to clean our clothes and got very wet! Luis: I enjoyed going into the slate mine and climbing up the steep slope. When we finally got out the mine, the view was fantastic and we were all relieved but we still had to walk down.

Ciara: I had fun today but was falling over all day, got soaked through when we had the challenge of crawling through the tunnels! Jacob: I liked it when we climbed up the steep slope in the mine. When we past 'the dragon' we could see people below us.

Joshua: I enjoyed going through the waterfall, got soaking wet and went through the tunnels which was great.

Aoife: It wasn't very pleasant when we stood in puddles that reached our waists and when we stood under the waterfalls, our boots filled up with water and we had to wait till we returned to the house to empty them. It was awesome! :)

Mr. Darnley: Thoroughly enjoyed the challenges and it was great to see the great team work which allowed us all to conquer them! :D

Gemma: Brilliant group, worked really well together, overcame all the challenges set! Had a brilliant day! Well done Group A!

 

Group B's activities-Wet day!

Betina: The best part of the day was watching Miss Szyndler fall into the lake!

 Danni: I fell in 3 times but it was really funny (and cold!).

 Ellie: At first when we went in backward I didn't want to do it - but I persevered and then I did it!

 Ella: I enjoyed falling into the water, I got absolutely drenched but it was worth it at the end of the day! 

Tyler: I found the Kayaking the best thing today. I enjoyed playing a game called "Pirates" and I also got splashed (by Miss Szyndler!!!)

Karam: The best part of the day was falling into the water and I am still shivering from the cold! I am looking forward to the Labyrinth as I always was!

 Lewys: I liked it when Miss Szyndler fell in. I laughed until I cried and Danni said "don't laugh, it's cold you know!)

Leah: When Miss Szyndler fell out of her boat her trousers were filled with water!

Sam: I really liked the gorge walk - It was amazing!

Miss Szyndler: Team B have done themselves proud! A group of top class kayakers! You are lucky to be able to see the photos on here for group B as my camera and I did take a trip to the bottom of the lake, (thank you very much Betina for holding onto my Kayak so well!!! I'm sure Mr Darnley, Mr Smith, Mr Tarry and Mr Jones will pay you later for your efforts!)

 

Monday, 23 January 2012

Day one activities

We have had a very busy evening.  The children have been a real credit to Howes school and have already been very responsible.  Now they are fast asleep and the staff are chilling out in the newly refurbished staffroom! Delightful!

Take a look at what we've been up to so far today...


We Have Arrived!

Shyan: I feel happy today because I've reached Dol-y-moch and my friend and I are in the same room! We made our beds before everyone else, so we got to explore first.

Colin: I made my bed all by myself (Gemma says - sort of!!!).

Ellie: On the way here on the coach I could smell porridge but I have no idea where it came from - although bags of sick kept coming past me (no-one from Howes fortunately!)

Aarid: The journey was very annoying because it was very long but I am relieved to be off the bus and I can't wait for the activities tomorrow!

Ikash: I felt fantastic today because I was excited about Dol-y-moch. I enjoyed the walk to the house and we had to walk carefully over the cattle grid.

 Leah: I felt excited today at Dol-y-moch because I can't wait for the activities tomorrow. I am doing canoeing! 

Ciara: I felt a bit sad to leave my parents at home but I am excited about all of the activities.

Aoife: I was happy with the rooms we were in because we were mixed with some of our friends and some people we don't usually spend so much time with.

Phoebe: I had dinner and pudding but I'm still hungry so it's a good job we are having biscuits and hot chocolate any minute now!

Joshua: I was getting really stressed with making my bed because I didn't know how to put the duvet cover in - but I was dead chuffed at the end when it was all done!

Danni: I am looking forward to the week ahead and I think we will all overcome a challenge or two!

Mr Darnley: Loving life! This is the life! Hot chocolate soon. Ready for bed.

Mrs Brammer: Now I know why Mr Tarry and Mr Jones always used to come here! Now it's my turn! More comments tomorrow! Animoto in a few minutes!!!

Classic quote of the day!


Child: Erm, can we use the staff toilets to brush our teeth with?


Miss Szyndler: Yes!

Friday, 20 January 2012

Cluster Maps

How to put a map onto your blog. Click on the map on the right and it will take you to a site that will guide you through how to do it! Click on Get one!

Thursday, 19 January 2012

Dol-y-moch here we come!


So, there are only a few days to go until year 6 are off to Dol-y-moch in North Wales. (See maps below)




Look for Coventry on the map and find the route to point A.


A message to Year 6 pupils (and Year 6 parents) - please leave some comments to answer this question:
What are you looking forward to the most about next week?

Monday, 16 January 2012

Year 6 Egyptian Museum

On Friday we opened our museum up to the general public and visitors from reception class to year 5 came to admire our work.  We shared with them interesting facts and information about the objects on display.  It was a very successful afternoon!

Our Ricoh Trip - Journalistic Writing

Thursday, 12 January 2012

Weather predictions!

What will the weather be like at Dol-y-moch? Well at the moment there appears to be a high chance of snow especially on Thursday 26th! Watch this space...


Please comment about this post!

Tuesday, 10 January 2012

Animoto

In year 6, we have been using ANIMOTO to create photo and video slideshows.  Look out for more examples of these in the next few weeks and get ready to see an explosion of ANIMOTO presentations when we head off on our adventure to Dol-y-moch (Wales) from 23rd-27th Jan!  We can't wait!




dol-y-moch


I'm really looking forward to Dol-y-moch. I love going to Do-y-moch because it take 4 hour on the bus and going to sleep there. I am sleeping 4 nights there.

Wednesday, 4 January 2012