Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Education 2024/2025

Nursery

Nursery have been busy with lots of activities about the Space Race and the importance of the Black Women in the ‘Hidden Figures’ story. In the morning we made star biscuits, created some chalk pictures of the moon and rockets.

During the afternoon we made some flying saucers and some space themed sun catchers. We all joined together to do some African dancing to celebrate our day.

Reception

Today we had a fabulous day learning about Black History. We learnt about Dorothy Vaughan. We learnt that she was a brilliant mathematician who helped NASA. Finally, we discussed how she faced unfair treatment but overcame these to be the figure she is today.

Year 1

Year 1 have had fun celebrating Black History Month. We have learned about the story of the four ‘hidden figures’, wrote an acrostic poem on equality and took part in lots of different fun crafting activities including making our own rockets and using clay to create influential figures. We also enjoyed reading books that celebrate diversity and took part in a debate over whether certain things are ‘fair’ or ‘not fair’.

Year 2

Today we have been learning all about Black History Month. We started off by discussing that Black History Month is a celebration of the achievements and contributions of Black people to British society and culture. We read the story ’Hidden Figures’ and found out about Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden. We read inspirational quotes and talked about these before creating our own universe to link to the ‘Space Race’. We painted paper plates, painted them black and decorated them with stars, planets and sequins before hanging our quotes onto the bottom.

Year 3

In Year 3 today we have been reading the story ‘Hidden Figures’ the true story of the Four Black Women and the Space Race. We learnt about the amazing achievements of the four ladies known as; Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden. We researched all four women and gathered information to create our own fact file. We chose who we wanted to write a fact file about and highlighted all the important and useful information. Once we created our very own fact file, we used our favourite facts of the women to create a collaborative fact file all together, as a class. We then drew around our hands and shared a fun fact we found out about these four women today. Then, we coloured our hands in different colours to resemble us as a community. This shows that it does not matter about your skin colour or gender we all deserve to be treated with respect. The four women we learnt about today were segregated because of their gender and their race. However, they proved everyone wrong that they were just like everyone else if not better and achieved some incredible things during their time at NASA.

Year 4

Year 4 have been busy with lots of activities surrounding the theme of ‘Reclaiming Narratives’ during our Black History celebration. We looked in depth at the story ‘Hidden Figures’ and created news reports that signified the importance of the story. During the afternoon we created a collaborative piece of artwork that celebrates the mathematical genius of the inspiring women in the story ‘Hidden Figures’.

Year 5

This October, Year 5 celebrated the Black History Month, focussing on the Hidden Figures story. Hidden Figures is a true story which retells how people of colour were not treated fairly during one of NASAs greatest achievements. Although these ladies worked under extreme conditions, they still were not discouraged and worked to their full potential regardless of the inequality showed. Year 5 participated in created and performing their own persuasive speeches inspired by this story. In the afternoon, the children looked at symmetry and created their own Black History Month logos with their partner.

Year 6

Year 6 have had a wonderful day, immersing themselves into their learning of ‘Black History Month’ and the theme of ‘Hidden Figures’. The children started the day listening to the story of Hidden Figures, then used iPads to find further information about one of the inspirational women from the story. We then created our own fact file about our chosen women and how their efforts helped the space race. In the afternoon, we linked our art to our artist ‘Andy Warhol’ and created a collective art piece in the style of ‘Pop Art’

Nursery

Nursery started their day by learning about the significance of Remembrance Day. We then began printing our handprints to create our class poppy wreath. We made some stunning suncatchers in the shape of a poppy and then made some In the afternoon we made some soldiers to represent the people we remember and also celebrated the animals who have helped in keeping our country safe.

Reception

Reception had a fabulous day remembering our fallen troops on Remembrance Day. We learnt that we remember the soldiers, navy and air force who have died for our country. We also learnt why Remembrance Day is also called Poppy Day by planting poppies all over the school grounds. We created our own clay poppy and took this home to discuss the meaning of the day with our family at home.

Year 1

We started the morning by understanding the importance of Remembrance Day. We wrote a description of Flanders Field using the knowledge we had gained. Of course we also demonstrated one of our British Values, Mutual Respect, when we took part in the minute silence at 11am. In the afternoon we took part in lots of creative activities. We used apples to stamp a painting of Flanders Field, created our own remembrance poppies and even wrote our own acrostic poems to remember the soldiers in the war.

Year 2

Today we have been learning all about Remembrance Day. We started the day off by discussing that Remembrance Day is all about remembering people who have sacrificed their lives serving the Country in the armed forces. We all took part in a 2 minute silence. We created our own acrostic poetry all about Remembrance Day. Our final task was to make our own poppy art using plastic bottles with red paint for the outline, a black paper circle for the centre and to draw on the green leaves.

Year 3

In Year 3 we spent time researching Remembrance Day, including why it is commemorated and what a poppy symbolizes. We then presented the facts that we had learned in a non-chronological report so that the children now have a good understanding of the importance of Remembrance Day. We also carried out a variety of craft activities linked to Remembrance, including silhouette art and decorating poppies.

Year 4

In Year 4 we spent time creating a Remembrance Day fact file, including why it is commemorated and what a poppy symbolizes. We then gathered all our facts together to create a collaborative fact file so that the children now have a good understanding of the importance of Remembrance Day. We also carried out a variety of craft activities linked to Remembrance, including stained glass art and decorating poppies.

Year 5

This November, year 5 have celebrated Remembrance Day. We started the day pretending we were a solider, and exploring the feelings and emotions they would be feeling. Then, we wrote a letter to our family back home, explaining life in the trenches. To finish the day, we designed our own poppies in chalk and different fabrics.

Year 6

Today we looked at Remembrance Day and how it originally came about following World War 1. We then looked at conditions in the trenches for the soldiers and we wrote a diary entry under the tables, whilst listening to war sounds. Our diary entry was from the point of view of a soldier who was about to “go over the top”. After this we got creative and all made poppies in our own style and stuck them onto a life-size silhouette of a soldier to create a collaborative piece of art work.

Nursery

Nursery have been busy making some traditional Scottish shortbread as part of our Burns Night celebration. As well as this we have been looking at tartan patterns and trying our hand at some weaving. We tried our skills at some Scottish dancing and listening to poetry by Robert Burns. To complete our celebrations we made Burns Night cards and flags.

Reception

Today, Reception have been learning about the Scottish celebration, Burns Night. We had a sing and a dance to one of Robert Burns’ most famous song, Auld Land Syne. We talked about the mysterious Loch Ness Monster and mad traditional Haggis food.

Year 1

We have had a great time celebrating burns night! First we learned that Burns Night is celebrated on the 25th January in light of the famous poet and song writer Robert Burns. We really enjoyed listening to his most famous song, Auld Lang Syne and dancing in a circle! Once we had answered some questions in our books, we spent the rest of the afternoon making Scottish Highland Cows!

Year 2

In Year 2, the children found out what Burns Night is all about and we discussed why people celebrate it. The children then created their own tartan weaves and wrote about what they had created. We even played traditional Scottish music during the afternoon.

Year 3

In Year 3 we learnt all about Robert Burns and why he is remembered today. We listened to some of his poems and folk songs that people still love to listen to today. Looking at how they celebrate and the activities and food they enjoy on his birthday to remember the greatness of Robert Burns. As Robert Burns is Scottish, we decided to make and create our own Thistle flower- which is the Scottish flower. They were amazing!

Year 4

Year 4 have been busy making some traditional Scottish thistles as part of our Burns Night celebration. We used different mediums to create our pieces. Whilst working we listened to a selection of poetry by Robert Burns. We tried our skills at some Scottish dancing and sang Auld Lang Syne whilst joining hands in celebration of Burns Night.

Year 5

Today, we have spent our time celebrating Burns Night (a Scottish celebration) by beginning to understand the life of Robert Burns. We also explored some of his famous poetry. We listened and read some of his more traditional poems, while discussing the themes behind his work. During the afternoon we created our own version of bagpipes and decorated them in a classic Scottish tartan pattern.

Year 6

Year 6 have had a wonderful afternoon, immersing themselves into their learning of Burns Night. The children started the afternoon looking at a poem inspired by Burns Night and translating it to English. Children then spent the remainder of the afternoon creating their very own origami Scotty Dogs.

Nursery

Nursery have been exploring the festival of Ramadan by making Mendhi patterns, creating crescents and moons out of salt dough and making colourful lanterns. In the afternoon we had a lovely tasting some of the traditional foods shared at Ramadan such as dates, apricots, raisins and samosas.

Reception

In Reception we have learnt all about Ramadan we celebrated the Muslim festival. We made tasty fruit snacks and wrote all about why Ramadan is important. We made moons and stars to represent Ramadan.

Year 1

We started our day by reading a story all about Rameena’s Ramadan. We really enjoyed listening to the way that Rameena and her family partake in Ramadan and to hear about some traditions within the Muslim culture.

We then had a discussion about the fact that Muslims fast during Ramadan and how we would feel if we couldn’t eat or drink all day long. We then learnt about iftar – the mean that breaks the fast after sunset. We discussed foods that are typically eaten during iftar and we even got to try some ourselves – very yummy!

In the afternoon we took part in a craft activity to create our own prayer mat. We used our knowledge of using different colours and textures from our Art lessons to make our beautiful mats. We also learned some Bangra dance moves to perform our own sequence.

Year 2

In year 2 we have been learning about Ramadan. We learned that Ramadan is celebrated by Muslims. Ramadan is a period of ritual fasting. It marks the time when the Quran (their holy book) was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. We also learned about Eid Al-Fitr which is a celebration at the end of Ramadan and created our own cards. In our class we discussed and wrote about what Muslims do to be charitable during Ramadan. During the afternoon we made Eid Al Fitr cards.

Year 3

In Year 3, we discussed Ramadan and talked about why it is an important event in the Islamic religion. We looked at different items linked to Islam, including a prayer mat and prayer beads, as well as tasting dates, which are traditionally eaten to break the fast. We then completed a diary entry from the perspective of a child observing Ramadan, and created a mobile decoration using the crescent moon symbol.

Year 4

Year 4 have explored Ramadan traditions across the world. Each country has its own specific traditions and celebrations. We located these countries on a map. After, we created a good deed calendar as a class, as Muslim children try to behave their best during Ramadan. Then, inspired by the Egyptian celebrations, we created lanterns to symbolise unity.

Year 5

Today in year 5, we have created a fact file detailing everything we know about Ramadan. We have explored why Ramadan happens at different times of the year every year and the different events that happen during Ramadan: it is not just fasting! It includes praying more, charity work, and a festival called Eid! During the afternoon, we created Islamic tessellations on the computers and paper in the style of Islamic art. We are aiming to celebrate in a variety of different ways that immerse us in Islamic culture.

Year 6

This morning, children planned and then took part in a debate, on whether or not children should be asked to fast during Ramadan. In the afternoon, children were able to express themselves creatively, by sketching their own design for a mosque, before creating their mosque out of clay.

Nursery

Nursery have been busy looking at how the Red Cross help others and then how they can do things to help as well. To show love for people who help at The Red Cross, the children made a happy heart using their own hand prints. We also used bandages and helped the dolls feel better.

Reception

In Reception we had a lovely time celebrating World Red Cross Day. We learned all about The Red cross and how they help people. We enjoyed making their special symbol. We worked together to make a huge poster that showed the different ways that that The Red Cross help us. We also made kindness bracelets to give to our friends.

Year 1

Today we learned all about the amazing work the Red Cross does around the world to help people in need, especially during emergencies and disasters like floods, earthquakes, and fires. The children explored the different jobs Red Cross workers do, such as:

• Giving food and clean water
• Helping people find safe places to stay
• Providing medicine and first aid
• Rescuing families during floods

Each child became a Red Cross worker and wrote a postcard from a disaster area, telling their friends how they were helping people. Their imagination and empathy really shone through! We then got creative and made our own charity craft boxes, filling them with pretend supplies like food, blankets, water, and medicine — just like real Red Cross supply kits.

🎨 Creative Craft Time:

In the afternoon, the children made their very own charity boxes filled with pretend supplies like:

• Blankets 🛏️
• Water bottles 💧
• Canned food 🥫
• First aid kits 🩹

We decorated the boxes with Red Cross symbols and kind messages. They look amazing!

Year 2

In year 2 we have been learning about the World Red Cross Day. We looked at the different areas that build up Red Cross and decided to focus on how to be good friends. We talked about being kind, including others, helping others and sharing and taking turns. We then made hand prints and joined them together to make a wreath.

Year 3

Year 3 looked at all the amazing work that the Red Cross Charity do. All the rules and regulations they follow to ensure that everyone is living the best they can. Once we looked at what they do, we discussed how they are heroes and what makes a good hero. Thinking of heroes, we created Red Cross heroes using socks and turned them into puppets. We used, socks, felt tips, card and attached capes on to our very own Red Cross Heroes.

In Year 3, we discussed World Red Cross Day and the seven principles that The Red Cross adhere to. We talked about the various jobs that the volunteers do, including health services, rescue service and prison service. We then created our own ‘Red Cross Hero’ finger puppets and acted out each of their roles within the organization.

Year 4

Year 4 have been busy looking at how the Red Cross help others and then how they can do things to help as well. The children wrote persuasive letters encouraging everyone to be more like the Red Cross. To show love for people who help at The Red Cross, and for the people they help, Year 4 created kindness chains, displaying acts of kindness and tips on how to help each other.

Year 5

Today in year 5, we have learnt about the Red Cross. We learnt that Red Cross provides aid and assistance to those affected by armed conflict, natural disasters, and other emergencies, both in the UK and internationally. They adhere to seven key principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, universality. In the afternoon, we created a Red Cross symbol mosaic art using red and white paper squares.

Nursery

Nursery have been very creative for our celebration of Shavuot. To recognise the tradition of having dairy products we made cheesecakes and ice cream. To recognise other symbols of Shavuot we made pictures of Mount Sinai and our own Torah scrolls which contained pictures or words of kindness.

Reception

In Reception we learnt all about why Shavuot is important to the Jewish religion. We learnt all about harvesting fruit and vegetables and we even got to taste some exotic fruits. We made special crowns decorated in flowers which they do in their place of worship (the synagogue). We made Torah’s and learnt about their special book and why it was special to them.

Year 1

We have having a great day celebrating the Jewish festival: Shavuot. First we discussed why and when Shavuot is celebrated and then we discussed the agricultural roots of the festival in regards to harvest. We learned that Shavuot is associated with the offering of “first fruits” to the temple of Jerusalem: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. We focused a little more on these fruits when we made our very own calligram poem to describe the fruit. In the afternoon we made our own harvest wreath as well as designing and painting our very own “first fruit” basket.

Year 2

Today we looked at and discussed Shavuot and what it means in the Jewish religion. We had a go at creating our own Ten Commandments, listened to Shavuot songs and created our own helpful hands.

Year 4

In honour of Shavuot, Year 4 students have been studying the differences between the traditional and modern Jewish celebrations of the holiday. We have developed strong ties to the ways in which people have accepted the Torah and expressed gratitude to God. We engaged in a variety of artistic pursuits during the afternoon, including crafting our own rule wheels and commandment tablet.

Year 5

Today to celebrate Shavuot, Year 5 have been learning how the story “The Book of Ruth” from the Book of Exodus is comparable to the festival Shavuot. We have made close relations to how people have thanked God and accepted the Torah. While also in the afternoon, we created different styles of lanterns.