Classification keys

In science we have been revising how animals are classified and how they can be grouped and sorted using classification keys.  We did this using haribos to begin with, working in groups before doing our own keys to classify living things.

Dissolving Science Investigation

Kestrels have had a great afternoon carrying out a dissolving investigation, learning about materials that are soluble and insoluble and about solutions.

Electricity Science Investigation

Kestrel class have had a great afternoon investigating electricity using electrical circuits. We investigated how the brightness of a light bulb changes when you add more light bulbs linking it to voltage and current.

Owl Visit-The Raptor Trust- Wednesday 23rd May 2018

We have been finding out about raptors and particularly owls, linked to reading Skellig by David Almond: we are collecting information, ready to write some non-chronological reports about Owls or Raptors, to make a class book. To bring this to life, we have been very lucky to have a visit from the Raptor Trust, bringing a Little Owl and an Indian Eagle Owl.

A wonderful experience for us all, to be with these amazing animals...

A very memorable event...

Testing materials for hardness

As part of our Science curriculum, we have been testing materials to compare how hard they are. Which would be the best for making a kitchen work top?

We used a nail to scratch each material as a test for hardness. We agreed to have the same person in each group scratching each material to keep the test fair. Different groups decided on their own method for recording results. Many of us devised our own rating key to record accurate results.

Chick update

The chicks are 9 days old  and already you can see the feathers growing.

As you can see the chicks are continuing to grow - it's probably all that food they are eating!

Today they are leaving school and going back to the egg man Mr Hawes to be reared; who know we might incubate their eggs one day !

Chick update, about one week after hatching...

Here are the chicks today:

Some are growing adult feathers on their wings!

We have taken turns to hold the chicks gently, over a couple of days. Here are some photos...

Chicks arrive!

After 22 days incubating, our eggs have hatched! The excitement began on Tuesday morning, when Kestrel Class arrived to find that 4 of the chicks were pipping: starting to break through their shells, to hatch. 

Number one chick emerged at about 5pm, so one lucky class member, who had been at after- school club was first to see it and it was also filmed as it hatched...

Then by Wednesday morning, this sight awaited us...four chicks!

And number five at lunchtime on Wednesday- a bit smaller and weaker- so later in the day we moved three of the first-hatched chicks into a brooder to give the two smaller chicks some space. It is incredible how much they have developed in less than a day!

The remaining egg hadn't developed and we hope that these five will be OK; we will have to wait and see...